Posługa katechisty w świetle Listu apostolskiego Antiquum ministerium papieża Franciszka
The Ministry of the Catechist in the Light of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Antiquum ministerium

Summary/Abstract: Each person called into the Church has his or her own share in its mission of evangelisation. This mission is fulfilled in the spatial and temporal conditions that determine its form and define the tasks of the individual. Various forms of ministry have developed in Christian communities since their beginnings. These ministries were exercised by both ordained ministers and laity. Over time, however, they became clericalised. They became associated with preparation for the reception of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The return to their original meaning is due to the liturgical renewal brought about by the Second Vatican Council. The renewed vision of the Church set out in the Council documents and the associated theology of the liturgical assembly made it possible to restore the various ecclesial offices that had been conferred on the laity. The first two of these ministries – Lector and Acolyte – were introduced by Pope Paul VI in 1972. Another – the ministry of Catechist – was introduced by Pope Francis in 2021. The ministry of Catechist, introduced by Pope Francis, on the one hand refers to the ministries of the apostolic times and the early Church, and on the other hand responds to the challenges of today. This study is an attempt to present the ministry of Catechist as outlined by Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation Antiquum ministerium. The analysis covers both terminological and substantive issues related to the newly created ministry of Catechist. The general considerations relate to the situation of the Church in Poland.

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