Catechesis in Our Diocese
Catechesis is a lifelong journey of growing in relationship with Jesus and discovering how the Gospel shapes the way we live. While Sacred Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and the traditions of our Catholic faith remain constant, the ways we accompany people in discovering and living that faith can respond to the realities of families today.
Our diocesan renewal vision of Encounter • Equip • Evangelize invites us to begin with an encounter with Christ, to be equipped through deeper understanding and formation, and then to live and share the Gospel.
This reflects Pope Francis’ teaching in Evangelii Gaudium (nos. 164–165) that the kerygma—the first proclamation of the Gospel—must remain at the heart of catechesis: “On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.’” Pope Leo XIV echoed this call in his Jubilee Audience – Catechesis: To Hope is to intuit (September 27, 2025): “As you instruct others in the faith, keep in mind the importance of teaching them to cultivate a relationship with Jesus.”
In this light, we are happy to share Families Encounter Jesus, a new family-centred catechetical initiative developed collaboratively by the Dioceses of Charlottetown and Saint John. Families Encounter Jesus itself is rooted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and seeks to bring the substance of our faith into a family-centred experience of encounter, growth, and lived discipleship. It is offered as a suggested way forward and is intended to support parish teams as they discern what will best serve their own parish lived realities.
Alongside Families Encounter Jesus, you will find “Be My Disciples”, an established catechetical resource that parishes may also choose to use. In the coming weeks, we will continue to add solid sacramental resources to help parishes more fully accompany children, youth, and families on their journey of faith.
