That’s the stirring advice of a leading catechist in Washington, who took his message to the Sunshine State last week:

At the 14th annual diocesan Faith Formation Day Sept. 19, keynote speaker Msgr. Ray East addressed about 900 catechists on the theme of “Catechesis and the Proclamation of the Word.”

“Claim it, aim it and proclaim it,” is the three-step process Msgr. East advocated to catechists from around the Diocese of Orlando gathered at Bishop Moore Catholic High School here. He encouraged them to claim the stories of salvation revealed in Scripture and when they proclaim God’s saving word, to aim the saving message especially to those who are in most need. “Evangelization and catechesis are wedded together,” he said.

Msgr. East is pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish in the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C., and vicar for evangelization of the Archdiocese of Washington. He also serves as the executive director of the Office of Black Catholics there.
Carolyn Ziarno, center, director of religious education and Tamara Yntema, right, of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Melbourne sing the opening song at Faith Formation Day Sept. 19. The song, entitled “Proclaim the Word” was especially composed for the Orlando Diocese by John Burland, an internationally acclaimed musician from Australia.

Carolyn Ziarno, center, director of religious education and Tamara Yntema, right, of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Melbourne sing the opening song at Faith Formation Day Sept. 19. The song, entitled “Proclaim the Word” was especially composed for the Orlando Diocese by John Burland, an internationally acclaimed musician from Australia.

He made a special request of attendees: Come back next year with five young adults – a crucial and underrepresented demographic for faith formation in the Catholic Church nationwide. “Let’s get some intergenerational faith formation. There’s a hole in our whole community catechesis,” he said.

After the keynote speech, Msgr. East explained there is much to be learned from Jewish, Muslim and Protestant traditions regarding evangelization and faith formation. “We should focus on our common faith in Abraham and Sarah,” he said. “Not only are we all serving the same God, but the goal is the same.”

Prior to Msgr. East’s address, Dr. Nicholas Wolsonovich, secretary of faith formation and superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Orlando, noted that only 40 percent of the baptized children in the Diocese of Orlando receive some kind of faith formation through Catholic schools or religious education at their parish. “Pray about reaching out to those kids who have not been touched by faith formation here in Orlando,” Wolsonovich said.

Event organizer Sister of Divine Providence Linda Gaupin, senior director of religious education for the diocese, welcomed the opportunity to have Msgr. East and 28 other workshop speakers make presentations to catechists at all levels. “Faith formation really pertains to any ministry that works with handing on the faith,” she said. “The workshops we have help (the participants) to get firsthand information in their particular area to prepare them better for their ministry.”

There’s more at the Florida Catholic link.

PHOTO: Msgr. Ray East delivers the keynote address to approximately 900 people at the 14th annual diocesan Faith Formation Day, Sept. 19, in Orlando. Photo by Valeta Orlando / Florida Catholic.