Pastoral Letter on Evangelization and Catechesis in the Family

On October 9th, 2024, the Episcopal Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis of the English Sector of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) released a beautiful document titled, Called to Witness and Proclaim: A Pastoral Letter on Evangelization and Catechesis in the Family. 

Framed around the story of Jesus healing the daughter of Jairus, as related in the Gospel of Mark (5:21-43), the pastoral letter is divided into three sections: catechesis in the family, catechesis with the family, and catechesis of the family.

The key to the message of the pastoral letter is the analogy it draws between Jesus’ compassion for Jairus’ family and the concern and desire of the Church to provide pastoral support and accompaniment to families in the situations in which they find themselves. It is also a reminder that the Church wants to partner with families to proclaim the Good News.

The pastoral letter highlights some of the ways Jesus continues to walk with families today in the context of the parish community. The pastoral letter considers how Jesus’ encounter with families, like his encounter with Jairus’ family, is transformative, effectively turning the family into a living witness of the power of Christ. This dimension of witnessing reminds us of Pope Francis’ call to become missionary disciples. It invites families in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life to become schools of love, bearing witness to the Gospel.

The Joy of Love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church…The mystery of the Christian family can be fully understood only in the light of the Father’s infinite love revealed in Christ, who gave himself up for our sake and who continues to dwell in our midst. (Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia #1 & 59)