Why be a catechist?
Christ calls us all to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Being an OCIA teacher is a direct answer to that call, helping form future Catholics and helping them discover a love for Christ and his Church!
Teaching any form of content is the most sure way to learn it. Teaching OCIA will grow your knowledge and love for Catholicism!
Finally, being part of the OCIA process is so rewarding. It is so beautiful to see how God works in each person’s heart and it is truly a gift to be a part of that journey.
But what if I don’t feel qualified to be a catechist?
An effective OCIA catechist is one who is in love with Christ and the Catholic faith and loves to share what he/she knows. You don’t have to know everything about being Catholic, but you should know (or be willing to research) specific topics that you could be assigned to. OCIA catechists can teach as frequently as once a month, but if you feel confident on only covering a specific topic or two, we can work with that as well!
If you are passionate about your faith, you have taken the time to learn more about it (in any capacity, individually or otherwise), you like to learn more about your faith, and you love to share what you know with others, being a catechist might be a great fit for you!!