September 14, 2016 – Excerpted from Put Out Into the Deep, Bishop DiMarzio’s column in The Tablet: 

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

This Sunday we will celebrate Catechetical Sunday. This year’s theme is “Prayer, the Faith Prayed.”

Catechetical Sunday is always celebrated at the beginning of the academic year because this is when our programs of catechesis begin in earnest. Several years ago, the Bishops of the United States published the National Catechetical Directory, which set out several tasks or goals for what catechesis should produce.

First, catechesis must promote knowledge of the faith. It goes without saying that unless we know our faith, we will not be able to live out our faith. Second, catechesis must promote knowledge of the meaning of the liturgy and the sacraments. This is because our faith as Catholics is tied to the sacramental system, which allows us to live our faith in worship.

Read the full text of the Bishop’s column on The Tablet website.