Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Jose (Agenzia Fides) – The Catechetical Center in the Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose del Amazonas in Iquito (Peru) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. They have been 10 years of many fruits, in working with the youth and in offering catechism classes in many villages, even the most difficult to reach.
On this occasion, Monsignor Alberto Campos, Apostolic Vicar of San Jose, has written a letter to all the catechists, to congratulate them and thank them for their valuable service to the Church. “The Catechetical Center has been for us, missionaries and pastoral workers, a dream that has finally come true,” Monsignor Alberto said. In fact ten years ago, “we did not have a common place to gather and offer formation based on the reality of the Amazon, that would lead them to an encounter with the living Christ and enable them to be catechists for children, youth, and adults.”
In his letter, the Apostolic Vicar expresses his hopes as a Father and Pastor of his catechists, “who have received a quality formation in this Catechetical Center.” In the first place, he mentions the hope that “this center can strengthen them in their vocation as missionary disciples of Christ,” reminding them that their vocation and mission “is a very high one, as it involves carrying out the work of Christ the Catechist, the apostles, bishops, priests, and missionaries in order to offer sustenance (with the Word of God and Christian Doctrine) to children and youth.”
Secondly, he asked them to “place careful attention in learning all they can in the Catechetical Center and in the parishes, because no one gives what he does not possess.” In fact, we should all “be prepared to carry out the task entrusted to us” and have Christian communities that take their faith seriously and “we need catechists and animators who are well-prepared to help us in our integral growth.”
Thirdly, he asks for “perseverance and adhesion to the Catholic Church,” as some catechists leave their apostolate or go on to move to the city of Iquito or other places. “There, where they are, they should continue their mission as catechists, participating in the parish and offering their service. Being a catechist is not something passing or an activity to take up free time. Being a catechist is a noble and important vocation.” He also shows his concern that “some of the animators and catechists abandon the Catholic Church to join other religious groups for selfishness or economic interests” and tells them “they should not betray their faith, nor their Church that has placed trust in them and needs their testimony and perseverance.”
The Catechetical Center began as just a dream in the heart of Bishop Lorenzo Guibord, in the early 1990s, his final years as Bishop. He felt the need to offer better formation in the Vicariate, especially considering the rural population, mostly composed of farmers and indigenous peoples. However, it was impossible at the time and everyone was sent for formation at CETA. Once CETA could no longer receive more young people from the Vicariate of San Jose in their summer courses with the catechists, the Vicariate decided to form their own Center.
The Catechetical Center was demanding with its missionaries of the Vicariate: they had to renounce an entire month of summer vacations. But the Center was also a very enriching experience: working together for the formation of the catechists, unifying criteria, sharing the same goals, etc. as had never before been seen in the history of the Vicariate. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2009)
