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EVANGELIZATION IN WORD AND SACRAMENT
The Church exists in order to evangelize. Those who evangelize have a ‘global vision’ of evangelization and identify with the overall mission of the Church. The Church must develop its ‘totality and completely incorporate its intrinsic dual purpose of witness and proclamation, of WORD and SACRAMENT. ¹
WORD
The Pastor is responsible to provide for the quality formation and catechetical needs of the entire parish. To assist in this task, he will identify catechetical leadership and catechists who are prepared for these ministries according to the guidelines and requirements set forth by the local Church. Catechetical personnel must be trained to inculturate the Christian message using appropriate methodologies, resources, and materials.
The parish must provide for both initiatory and ongoing formation for all ages. The program is to be comprehensive and address the 6 tasks of Catechesis as identified by the GDC¹ and the NDC²:
- Knowledge of the faith
- Liturgical education
- Moral formation
- Formation for prayer
- Education for community life
- Preparation for missionary activity
¹ General Directory for Catechesis, Holy See, Congregation for the Clergy, 1998.
² National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005.
SACRAMENTAL LIFE
The Church is the Sacrament through which we encounter Christ, living and active in our world. As a Catholic parish, Assumption continues the ministry of Jesus by initiating members into the Body of Christ, forming them in the spiritual life and celebrating with them the seven ritual Sacraments of the Catholic Church.