Zagreb, November 28, 2000 (IKA) — On the Feast of Christ the King, November 26, the Croatian bishops sent a message to the parish priests, pastoral workers and co-workers, as well as all the faithful, entitled “Parish Catechesis in the Service of the Parish Community.” In this message, signed by all the members of the Croatian Conference of Bishops, particular emphasis was placed upon the necessity for the renewal of the parish communities, especially the inclusion of adults in parish catechism. The bishops accordingly warmly recommend that there should be study and application of the document issued by the Congregation for the Clergy entitled “General Directory for Catechesis” and the “Plan and Program of Parish Catechesis in the Renewal of the Parish Communities.” On this occasion, the bishops again took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of Catholic religious education in the schools, pointing out that it “provides a systematic manner of transmitting the whole of Catholic doctrine, while remaining in contact with the society and the culture and in an encounter with the increasingly pluralistic environment, including encounters with different philosophies and religions.”
As a starting point for the new evangelization in the renewal of the parish communities, there is emphasis on age-appropriate catechesis for preschool and all other children and young people, and the formation of small communities of believers, i.e. lively religious circles. The bishops therefore urge the recognition, support, and inclusion of various forms of assemblies of adults, as stated in the recently published “Plan and Program of Parish Catechesis.” The parish communities, the message stipulated, “must devote greater attention to the social and charitable institutions and the social and cultural events in our homeland.” A particular invitation was addressed to parish priests, parish vicars and all the pastoral co-workers. One of the main tasks of their pastoral activity is the organization of parish catechesis. The bishops therefore urge them to study all the directives regarding this matter as stipulated in the “General Directory for Catechesis,” which are expressed in a concrete manner in the “Plan and Program of Parish Catechesis.” In the message, it is also cautioned that although in certain places it will not always be possible to organize parish catechesis on a regular basis but instead on an occasional basis for children and young people of all ages, “sacramental Christian initiation should not be lightly provided to those children and young people who have not had at least one preparatory year of systematic parish catechesis.” Pointing out the importance of religious instruction in the schools, the bishops considered the practice unjustifiable that “in some parish communities, children and young people are prepared and allowed to take part in the sacraments who are not simultaneously enrolled in religious instruction in school, because these two aspects of religious training are necessary prerequisites and mutually complementary.”
The bishops also entrust the task of the renewal of the parish communities to the teachers in the Church institutions and the professors at the Church colleges, schools of theology and institutions. They are urged that besides acquiring sufficient knowledge, they should become qualified to the greatest possible extent “for the authentic communication and actualization of Christian messages.” In their letter, the bishops addressed the lay believers who are being educated in Church educational institutions and do not intend to devote themselves to religious instruction in schools, urging them to join various services in regards to animating and maintaining parish catechesis. Religious instructors in the schools are also urged to devote at least part of their time to parish catechesis. The same appeal is directed to college students who have attended religious instruction for many years. In the letter “Parish Catechesis in the Service of the Parish Community,” the bishops also address parents. Thanking them for having confirmed their desire to have religious education provided for their children again this year, the bishops pointed out that in this way they have publicly kept the vows they made when they were married in church and at the baptism of their children, to raise their children “according to the law of Christ and His Church.” In conclusion, the parishioners and all Catholics are invited “under the leadership of their priests, to make even greater efforts toward the creation of authentic parish communities.”