John ESENE

    The parish is not just a family but a community of many families brought together through Christ who united us by His redemption. Through the Mother Church, the Parish Priest heads the community of families as the Shepherd to the glory of God. We all should value the Priest for what he is and work with him to achieve the purpose of his vocation and see him as our father or the head of our community.

The vocation is not so easy and not many are called to it.  I met a man who joyfully told us “I have 15 children, over 40 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.” Know today that our priest sacrificed his right to have wife and children because of his vocation but God made him to shepherd our entire parish to God’s glory.

   The Priest then deserves to have a Personal Secretary and other supporters from among us. The Catechist serves as a lifeline of the parish and should be seen as the Personal Secretary to our priest. He is present in the Church most times during Church pastoral activities such as Wedding, Baptism, Confirmation, Catechism classes, Daily Masses, Burial and many other events. He spends more time with the priest and meets his needs when called on. So, if you call him the Personal Assistant to the Parish Priest, no one will object.

   The Catechist’s workload also involves preservation of accurate parish records or history of events in his office and make same available to the priest and parishioners when the need arises. Any priest who arrives on transfer will depend on the history so provided by him. The sacrifice involve in his vocation calls for patience, availability, humility, simplicity, righteousness, education, dedication, intelligence and commitment. Sometimes, I wonder if a Catechist has much time for his immediate family as he goes to the Church to perform his official duties for the community. He is often attracted to catechism class, security of the Church, needs of the Priest and Church members.

   Most parents in the Church hardly sit with their children to teach them the faith of the Church but the Catechist moves around the youth, children and others to ensure they are rich in the knowledge of the Church.

   Workers deserve their wages but unfortunately, only full-time Catechists are paid salary; but not commensurate to what is obtainable in the labour market. Nevertheless, some priests may out of the little they have give something to the Catechist. But the Volunteer Catechists are not paid for their services because they made themselves available for the propagation of the Gospel.

    Dear Catechists, do not allow distractions to come your way especially now that hardship and insecurity have overwhelmed our country: God first, your family and then your service. Stay focus and reject derailment of any sort because you are walking into a new dimension of glory and fulfillment in Jesus’ Name. Isaiah 43:19 says, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Stay refreshed in faith!”

    The fact that you think you are not valued should not affect your work negatively. After all, your divine reward awaits you for you are a pivotal pillar in the Church. God is your strength. The apostles left everything and followed Christ and did not aspire for worldly recognition or appreciation but relied on Jesus: today, they are all saints in heaven. If the world sing your praises beyond your expectation, then, review your contributions to ensure you have not departed from your vocational principles.

    Dear readers, let us value our Catechists who have silently been devoted to their duties and appreciate them now that they are alive and still working for the good of the Church. We do not have to wait till they are retired or dead before we sing their praises! Their vocation is not easy and not many of us can do it.

    When you think some are not doing enough, you criticize them behind closed door without realizing that you yourself cannot do it. Your priest decided to answer his call to priesthood and avoid marriage, wealth and comfort to enable him shepherd for Jesus. You are out there craving for wealth, comfort and sexual life: it’s proper to appreciate him for doing what you do not have the capacity to do. Finance his expenses if you have the means or assist him in any other way you can to make his vocation peaceful and successful: do same for the Catechist if you have the means.

    Dear Catechists, as you do your work, remember that God who sees all that you are doing will reward you and give you the strength you need to execute your duty to its fullness. Look up to the life of the Apostles and early Christians who had to forgo everything they had to enable them avoid distractions.

Thank you all for your efforts!