More than a hundred participants from the Catholic teachers sodality in the Archdiocese of Honiara together with teachers from different church denominations and non government schools, youth and catechists gathered at the Laura Vicuna Hostel at Henderson (Salesian Sisters) for the one week seminar on the YOUCAT from the 16th-20th June.
The YOUCAT stands for Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church which was presented to Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 in the light of helping the young people of the Catholic Church to understand and live out the teaching of the Catholic Church in their lives.
The teachers are the ones who are constantly in contact with the young in schools so they need to understand the Catechism of the Church.
The two facilitators from the Mariarist Religious Order in the USA, Br. David and Br. Patrick facilitated this workshop for teachers for the three dioceses in the Catholic Church.
This workshop is known as the MAST which is the Marianist Apostolic Spiritual Training. They ran a one week workshop for teachers of Gizo diocese from June 9th – 13th, and the Archdiocese of Honiara on 16th-20th and now facilitating a workshop for Auki diocese from June 23rd – July 4th.
Sr. Sesilia Sala FMA- CTS Animator and Mr. Cypriano Nuake AHEA Secretary welcomed the facilitators, Archbishop Adrian Smith sm, and the participants.
The opening remarks were delivered by the Archbishop who said; “Teachers, you come together to fill your cups with spiritual treasures in order for you to share with your students and your educative community. Youth and catechists, you too can share with your peers and Sunday school children in your parishes. I wish you well and enjoy the whole week with one another and with the Lord.”
In the end of the seminar the participants were awarded certificates from the facilitators. It was such an enriching moment for all the teachers, catechists and youth.
The CTS expressed their gratitude to the Brothers for the great week and also their gratitude to Bishop Chris Cardone op, who continuously support the Catholic Teachers Sodality with this spiritual training. It concluded with the Eucharist Celebration presided by Fr. Dominic SDB. T
he catering was provided by the LVH & MMDC students. The heart was fed spiritually as well as energy was taken care of by the caterers.
By Sr. Sesilia Sala FMA
