Cathal BarryNew catechetical resource to hit the shelves as early as June 12
Adult faith formation in Ireland is set for a major shakeup following the long awaited approval of the country’s first ever adult catechism.
The Vatican has approved the new tool aimed at helping Irish Catholics to better understand their faith.
The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults was given the go ahead by Irish bishops in December 2012 and subsequently received the official recognitio of the Holy See last month.
Publishers Veritas now expect the new catechetical resource to hit the shelves as early as June 12.
The document was adapted for the Irish Church from the United States Catechism for Adults by the Council for Catechetics of the Irish Episcopal Conference. It is divided into four parts, including the Creed, the Sacraments, Christian morality and prayer.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Veritas Director Maura Hyland said the new catechism is “much more readable and ultimately more accessible” for adults interested in engaging more with their faith.
Noting that the official Catechism of the Catholic Church is an authoritative statement of the teachings of the Catholic faith, Mrs Hyland claimed this edition “seeks to situate those teachings in the context of culture and people’s lives through stories, suggested reflections and recommended prayer”.
Resource
“It is the ideal resource for adult faith formation and for people who are already committed to their faith but seeking a better understanding of how it applies to their lives,” she said.
Catechetical Specialist, Elaine Mahon said the new Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults “presents the Faith in a language that is easy to understand and applies the teachings of the Church to the lived experience of Irish people”.
She noted the accompanying study guide is the “ideal companion to the text”. “It draws out the key teachings from the Catechism and offers further discussion and reflection points,” she said.
A wide range of extra resources, including web links and videos are available online at www.irishcatechism.ie