European Congress for Catechesis focuses on Challenges of Forming Children in the faith

May 08, 2012: The challenges of forming children and teenagers in the faith was at the heart of a keynote address given on Monday by Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster to the opening session of the XII European Congress for Catechesis.
This four-day meet from 7 -10 May is organized by the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), and is attended by bishops and national directors of the offices and national bodies responsible for catechesis in Episcopal Conferences in Europe.

The Congress focuses on the theme of 'Christian Initiation in the context of the new evangelisation, with particular attention to children and young people aged from 7 to 16'.

As President of the CCEE commission for catechesis, schools and universities, Archbishop Nichols spoke of the "intuitive sense of hope" of young people and their "desire to know and discover the underlying patterns and purpose of their existence and experiences".

Speaking at the opening session Fr Luc Mellet, head of the National Service for Catechesis and the Catechumenate (France) said that ‘a recent survey found that the family as the primary and essential framework of a child’s initiation. It concluded that the family is the first place where one establishes the proper relationship with reality and therefore also with God and with the Church. Religious practice in the family is the most important positive factor in Christian initiation’ said Fr. Mellet.

The Church has always recognized the importance of communicating the faith to the youngest. This work of transmission is called catechesis, explained Fr Luc Mellet. He also presented the results of a survey conducted recently on Christian initiation in Europe. The survey had more than 3,600 people interviewed, including children, adolescents, parents and grandparents.

It has identified 3 main themes viz. the physical setting and its influence on the Christian initiation of the child; the Christian community, its members and its liturgical life, and the importance of the personal journey of the child in his or her Christian initiation.

In general, it is noted that private Catholic schools have a positive role in Christian initiation. It survey also found the importance of the activities of groups and movements for the formation of Christian faith in children and adolescents.

The Christian community is decisive in the life and faith journey of children and adolescents. The survey also showed how negative and joyful personal events can play an important role in the Christian journey of young people.