Towards a Renewal of Identity and Formation Program from the Perspective of Apostolate

472 Pages·2013·3 MB·English

SALESIAN PONTIFICAL UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Theology
Department of Youth Pastoral and Catechetics

CATECHISTS’ UNION OF JESUS CRUCIFIED
AND OF MARY IMMACULATE

Towards a Renewal of Identity and Formation Program
from the Perspective of Apostolate

Doctoral Dissertation of Ruta HABTE ABRHA
Moderator: Prof. Francis-Vincent ANTHONY

Rome, 2010-2011
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I want to take this opportunity to express my immense gratitude to God who has sustained,
inspired and strengthened me in the entire journey of this study. I have strongly felt his presence
and providence. I also want to express my gratitude, appreciation and esteem for all those who
have worked and collaborated with me in the realization of this study.
My deepest gratitude goes to the first moderator of this study, Prof. Francis-Vincent Anthony,
SDB, Director of the Institute of Pastoral Theology in UPS, for having orientated the entire work
with great patience and seriousness offering competent suggestions and guidelines and broadening
my general understanding. I want to thank him for his essential indications in delineating the
methodology of the study, for having indicated and offered necessary sources, for his generosity
and readiness in dedicating so much time. If this study has obtained any methodological structure
or has any useful contribution the merit goes to him. I esteem him greatly and feel so much pride
for having him as my principal guide. Again my most sincere gratitude goes to the second
moderator of the study, Prof. Ubaldo Montisci, SDB, former Director of the Catechetical Institute
in UPS, for his most acute and attentive observations that enlightened my mind and for having
encouraged me to enrich the research by offering concrete suggestions. I cannot forget his joyful
availability and very welcoming approach for it was motivating me and filling me with energy to
go ahead. I am also very grateful to the third moderator, Prof. Gianfranco Coffele, SDB, vice-
Rector of the University, who despite his busy schedule has managed to read the entire work
thoroughly providing me with suggestions for improvement.
My deepest gratitude goes also to Fr. Tedros Abraha, OFM, former Director of the Theological
Institute of Asmara and actual professor in Antonianum, Urbaniana and Oriental Institute in Rome.
He has followed this study from the beginning to the end encouraging me untiringly with great
concern and enthusiasm and making himself available in every possible way. In the same way, I
want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Madre Maria Carla Frison, vice-Superior of the
Acknowledgements
community of the Canossian Sisters, who inspired me and my superiors to undertake this study.
She was always ready to do anything she could for the success of my study. In fact, her loving care
and dedication has sustained me and made me arrive to the end. Together with them, I would like
to thank in a very particular way Fr. Awte Weldu for having corrected my English with great
patience offering his precious time.
I am most grateful to Madre Stella Cisterna, General Councillor of the Congregation of the
Little Sisters of Divine Providence, who without any hesitation welcomed me to their house and
continuously provided me with everything that I needed. I owe her a lot for the completion of this
work particularly in the last moments, in the face of several difficulties, has shown me the loving
care of God which will remain with me for ever. Again my sincere word of gratitude to the
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools who have provided me with financial support for
my study through the collaboration of Br. Alberto Gomez, General Councillor of the Institute of
the Brothers and Accessory General of the Catechists’ Union, and Br. Pedro Arrambide,
Coordinator of Solidarity and Development Program of the Institute of the Brothers. Both of them
welcomed me to their Institute with such gentleness and attention and were ready to do their best
for the success of my study. In addition, I want to thank Br. Alberto for having helped me in
getting access to the general archive of their Institute and also for having assisted me in translating
certain documents.
I owe a big debt of gratitude to the Most Rev. Bishop of Asmara, Abune Menghesteab
Tesfamariam, for his paternal care and support and for having shown great interest in my research.
I am very grateful to the former General Presidents of the Catechists’ Union Dr. Domenico Conti,
Sig. Leonardo Rollino and Sig. Leandro Pierbattisti for their continuous encouragement, for the
most valuable suggestions they offered and also for their availability for an interview. In a
particular way, I want to thank Sig. Leandro for having collaborated with me in sending the
materials necessary for my research and for having assisted me in using the general archive of the
Catechists’ Union.
Deep sentiments of gratitude to my mother Maria who sustained me by her love and prayers,
to the first consecrated member of the Catechists’ Union in Eritrea Izghilewa Ghebrehawariat, to
my sisters and brothers, to Sr. Caterina Kiflemariam, to my friends Prof. Giovanna Riboli and
Fr. Flavian Kassala who have given me great moral support throughout the study.

Ruth Habtesllassie
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SUMMARY

List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………………………………....... 6

General Introduction……………………………………………………………………………....... 9

Part One
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION AND NATURE
OF SECULAR INSTITUTES

Chapter I: Historical Evolution of Secular Institutes…………………………………………...…... 18
Chapter II: Identity, Apostolate and Formation Program of Secular Institutes………………...…... 61

Part Two
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION AND NATURE
OF THE “CATECHISTS’ UNION”

Chapter III: Historical Origin and Development of the “Catechists’ Union”…………………...….. 119
Chapter IV: Identity, Apostolate and Formation Program of the “Catechists’ Union”…………...... 187

Part Three
HISTORICAL EVOLUTION AND NATURE
OF CATECHETICAL ACTION IN THE CHURCH

Chapter V: Overview of the Historical Evolution of Catechetical Action in the Church…………... 231
Chapter VI: Nature of Catechesis in the Church…………………………………………………..... 267
Chapter VII: Identity, Apostolate and Formation of Catechists in the Church……………………... 298
Summary
Part Four
TOWARDS A RENEWAL OF THE “CATECHISTS’ UNION”

Chapter VIII: Renewal of the “Catechists’ Union” with a Focus on the Catechetical and Social
Apostolate…………………………………………………………………...……...... 347

General Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………......... 419

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………… 425

General Index……………………………………………………………………………………….. 463

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1. Ecclesial Documents

AA Apostolicam Actuositatem, Decree of Second Vatican Council on the Apostolate of
Lay People
AG Ad Gentes, Decree of Second Vatican Council on the Church’s Missionary Activity
CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church
CD Christus Dominus, Decree of Second Vatican Council on the Pastoral Office of
Bishops in the Church
ChL Christifideles Laici, Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II on the Lay Members of
Christ’s Faithful People
CIC Codex Iuris Canonici, Code of Canon Law, 1983
CSan Cum Sanctissimus, An Instruction of the Sacred Congregation for the Religious
Concerning Secular Institutes
CT Catechesi Tradendae, Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II on Catechesis in Our
Time
DV Dei Verbum, Dogmatic Constitution of Second Vatican Council on Divine Revelation
EN Evangelii Nuntiandi, Apostolic Exhortation of Paul VI on Evangelization in the
Modern World
FC Familiaris Consortio, Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II on the Christian Family in
the Modern World

*
All abbreviations for biblical sources as well as biblical quotations used in this study are as in the:
New Jerusalem Bible. Study Edition, London-Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 1994.
List of Abbreviations
FdC Formazione dei Catechisti nella Comunità Cristiana, Document of Italian Episcopal
Conference, Series N° 25, 1982
GCD General Catechetical Directory
GDC General Directory for Catechesis
GS Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution of Second Vatican Council on the Church in
the Modern World
LG Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution of Second Vatican Council on the Church
MM Mater et Magistra, Encyclical Letter of John XXIII on Christianity and Social
Progress
OIFC Orientamenti e Itinerari di Formazione dei Catechisti, Document of Italian Episcopal
Conference, Series N° 59, 1991
PC Perfectae Caritatis, Decree of Second Vatican Council on the Up-to-date Renewal of
Religious Life
PF Primo Feliciter, Motu Proprio of Pius XII Concerning Secular Institutes
PME Provida Mater Ecclesia, Apostolic Constitution of Pius XII Concerning Secular
Institutes
PO Presbyterorum Ordinis, Decree of Second Vatican Council on the Ministry and Life of
Priests
PP Populorum Progressio, Encyclical Letter of Paul VI on the Development of Peoples
PT Pacem in Terris, Encyclical Letter of John XXIII on Peace on Earth
RCIA Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
RdC Rinnovamento della Catechesi, Document of Italian Episcopal Conference on the
Renewal of Catechesis
RM Redemptoris Missio, Encyclical Letter of John Paul II on the Mission of the Redeemer
RN Rerum Novarum, Encyclical Letter of Leon XIII on the Condition of Labor
SC Sacrosanctum Concilium, Constitution of Second Vatican Council on the Sacred
Liturgy
VC Vita consacrata, Apostolic Exhortation of John Paul II on Consecrated Life

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List of Abbreviations
2. Institutions and Conferences

AMI Associazione di Maria Immacolata
CCAM Casa di Carità Arti e Mestieri
CEC Centro Evangelizzazione e Catechesi
CEI Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
CELAM Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano
CMIS Conferenza Mondiale degli Istituti Secolari
CRIS Congregazione per i Religiosi e Istituti Secolari
FRA Figlie della Regina degli Apostoli
ROMI Regia Opera della Mendicità Istruita
SCDW Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship
SCRIS Sacra Congregazione per i Religiosi e Istituti Secolari
SI Secular Institute
SII Secular Institutes
UC Unione Catechisti
UCN Ufficio Catechistico Nazionale
USCC United States Catholic Conference
UPS Università Pontificia Salesiana

3. Other Abbreviations

[n.p.] no place of edition
[n.y.] no year of edition

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GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Today a major part of our world is found under a profound crisis in the religious, cultural,
social, political and economic spheres. Young people in particular, in whom the future of the
world depends, are facing grave challenges. In many cases, there is almost a situation of
desperation. This, from the part of the Church, calls for a most urgent and a highly increased –
both in quality and quantity – pastoral care. However, in many parts of the world, the pastoral
care provided has remained to be inadequate. This is mainly due to the lack of sufficient well
prepared persons who would work in collaboration in the heart of the Church and society.
The “Catechists’ Union,”1 through its lay members, has been offering its contribution in
the educational, catechetical and social fields from the time of its foundation. However, in the
actual world context, it seems that the mission of the members is becoming more challenging.
It seems that the members are being called to strengthen their identity and to prepare
themselves more intensely for a wider and more demanding mission in the Church and in the
world. Today if the Catechists’ Union is to contribute efficiently to the mission of the Church
by way of the specific apostolate of its members, it needs to correspond to the actual demands
of the world context and situate itself properly and adequately within the entire project and
mission of the Church in the world. To respond to this “new call” it is indispensable for the
Union to revise its experiences in all aspects and look forward towards a process of renewal of
its identity, apostolate and, consequently, also a renewal in the formation programme of its
members.

1 The short form “Catechists’ Union” or simply the term “Union” is used here to refer to the Secular Institute
“Catechists’ Union of Jesus Crucified and of Mary Immaculate.”
General Introduction
This is the exact motivation for this study which attempts to facilitate a process of renewal
in the Union. Before proceeding with the systematic study, we will briefly highlight here the
nature of the study specifying the focus of the analysis, the objectives to be achieved and the
method to be followed.

1. Synopsis

As the title indicates, the main topic of this study is the “Catechists’ Union of Jesus
Crucified and of Mary Immaculate”. The focus is on the analysis of the specific identity,
apostolate and formation programme of the Union. Since the Union is a Secular Institute
whose members are called to be Catechists, this study in its development will consider these
dual aspects, i.e., on the one hand, it will try to analyse critically the nature of the Union as a
Secular Institute confronting it with the real nature of Secular Institutes, and on the other hand,
it will try to clarify the nature of the members as Catechists confronting it with the true nature
of catechists in the Church.
These dual analyses will serve as criteria upon which this study will base itself for the
formulation of a proposal towards a renewal of the identity, apostolate and formation
programme of the Union. Before proceeding with the systematic analysis of the actual
identity, apostolate and formation program of the given themes, i.e., of Secular Institutes, of
the Catechists’ Union and of catechists in the Church, this study will first deal with a
historical analysis of each one. However, this historical analysis is not purely done for finding
out historical data, but for manifesting the gradual evolution of the nature of the given themes
in time, and therefore, for a better understanding of the actual nature of these themes. We can
say it is a genetico-historical development.
In this study, a particular emphasis and therefore a wider clarification will be given to the
aspect of the apostolate since it is the main sphere calling for a major renewal. In addition,
within this apostolate, a special regard will be given to the young since young people occupy a
privileged place in the mission of the Union.

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