SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS AND CATECHESIS

Liturgy guru, Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB, gave the second session of day 2 of the Annual Meeting of Catechetical Ministers at the Family Country Hotel in General Santos City on July 8, 2008. The afternoon session was dedicated to the study of the Post-Synodal Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis. He emphasized that the exhortation does not treat directly the task of catechists but it contains points that need to be implemented through catechetical activity. Quoting Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 19, he reminded us that all the celebration of the sacraments are venues of catechesis. The Pope stresses in the document: "Receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion are key moments not only for the individual receiving them but also for the entire family...". Fr. Chupungco reminded us the need to involve the parents in the pre-sacramental celebration. There is a need to emphasize on adult confession to prepare not only the children but also the parents who are in need of the gift of reconciliation. We are to catechized not only the children but also their parents so that they can make a good confession. He also told us that first communion should take place in the parish, not in schools. The catechesis on the pastoral care of the sick, the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the Sacrament of Marriage were also contained in his talk.