A National Coordinating Committee for Catechesis in the Field of Handicap has been established. It was born from people working in specific and varied sectors of handicap care.
The committee coordinates efforts, reflects on practice, and animates the work across the field.
In this initial phase, it seemed right to begin with a survey of the current situation, bringing to light a series of problems that will need examination and workable solutions.
- First is evangelization in the field of handicap—in families and in the broader community.
- The question of admission to the sacraments and how people with handicaps receive them. How do we catechize...?
- Raising awareness among priests, particularly parish priests, and among those who form and guide their communities. Parish organizations and those responsible for pastoral work—catechists above all—must understand the "vocation" and "mission" of the suffering.
- Going deeper into themes such as suffering, the cross, the celebration of the sacraments, and witness to charity.
- Training catechists—both in formal settings and in the field, with workshops and refresher courses where possible.
- Promoting formation for families; affirming the paramount value of quality of life—that is, the development of human dignity and potential with and beyond handicap. We need to educate all of society to question the logic of efficiency and profit that has become the unexamined foundation of our values.
Consistent catechetical work is essential.
The problems are many and demanding!
The National Coordinating Committee has mapped out certain tasks and initiatives and has already begun implementing some proposals.
One primary area of action is to survey what already exists in catechesis for people with handicaps—work being done by specialized centers and by individuals already active in this field.
Specifically:
- identifying all specialized centers that conduct catechesis;
- asking these centers to collaborate with the National Committee by sending tested materials to the National Catechetical Office: experiences, curricula, projects, suggestions, films, texts, resources, and more;
- collecting all this material so it can be shared, consulted, borrowed, and examined by catechists and other professionals. This will both facilitate and make concrete the contributions of suggestions, proposals, teaching methods, and learning pathways that the National Committee can offer to dioceses and catechists.
This will also enable the exchange of experiences among professionals, enriching everyone involved.
All materials remain at the disposal of Diocesan Catechetical Offices.