The missionary catechists of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus: Its implications for catechesis in the local church and beyond

• Main Author: Avendano, Sr Zenaida L.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/382
• Institution: De La Salle University

Aware of the challenge of Ad Gentes no.35 that every Christian is a catechist by vocation, compliments with what Canon Law no.781 says that: it stipulates clearly the duty of all Christs faithful to take their responsibility to do their part in the missionary activity of the Church to proclaim the kingdom of God. Bishop Obviar aware of the social ills that prevail in his diocese seeks the face of Jesus in the poor, not only of the materially destitute, but those hungry and thirsty for the word of the living God. He saw the need for catechists to teach Christian doctrine in the public schools. But the problem of scarcity and the tepidity among those who volunteered to help in the work of evangelization remain snag. Many left the ministry for various reasons like marriage, further studies and better paying jobs among others. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he found a religious congregation for women to respond to the command to bring Christ and to make Him known to all peoples in all walks of life through the ministry of evangelization. And this was the auspicious birth of a new religious congregation, the Missionary Catechists of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus (MCST), named after Saint Therese, the patroness of the mission. The aim of putting together the memoirs of the Founder Bishop Alfredo Maria Aranda Obviar and the humble beginning of a religious congregation presented in a periodic history of the MCST in order to take seriously who they are, and what are their significant contributions in the Church particularly in the Diocese of Lucena and to find its implications for catechesis in the local Church, this research uses a historical descriptive qualitative approach and the interpretation of the data through content and photo analysis. The simple information gathered from key informants adds to the veracity of the study as they had been close associates and primary witnesses. Over the course half a century year of grace, the MCST continue to serve as a vehicle to lead the people to a personal communion with Jesus through catechesis and the very witness of their life. To become a living memento of the legacy of Bishop Obviar to spread the kingdom of God thus a new spring of hope dawns as the MCST had extended far and wide to continue responding to the challenge of the new millennium for a rejuvenated integral catechesis to the present new evangelization for the transmission of the Christian faith (Synod of Bishops 2012) . Since this study is but a fraction of the of the Institutes historical development, it is recommended: 1. That a further written memoir be continually preserved from this point of its journey to the succeeding phases of the Institutes growth and development for the next generation to treasure 2. An updated journal of the Institutes significant events 3. An on-going relevant program of formation for Catechists in the field of Catechesis for different ministries.