A Catechist Blessing

What our Church needs most today is men and women who are willing to touch the heart and not just the head. As Pope Paul VI once wrote, we need to be more like witnesses than teachers. We need people who will not only catechize, but evangelize our Church’s youth.

The following blessing for catechists is meant to inspire you and all volunteer catechists and teachers to become Christ’s witnesses. It is based on the principles in the book To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, which is inspired by the threefold ministry of Jesus Christ.

An Evangelizing Catechist’s Blessing

Heavenly Father, you are the source of life and love.

Send down your Spirit upon these catechists. Inspire them to be not only teachers of your truth, but witnesses of your love.

Give them the courage to heal. Help them to see the pain of those around them so that they may offer hope through loving gestures of support and prayer. May they be merciful to others as you are merciful.

Give them the joy to proclaim the Good News of salvation. Help them see your will at work in their lives so that they may share it with others. May they, in their words and deeds, offer continual praise to the one who saves us.

Give them the wisdom to teach. Help them discover the mysteries of our faith in new and exciting ways. May their curiosity inspire those who they instruct to become your loyal disciples.

We pray to you, almighty Father, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ the Master-Teacher, the Healer, and the Savior, and in unity with the Holy Spirit who inspires us with knowledge, courage, and understanding.

Amen.

Other Catechist Prayers and Blessings

There are a lot of other great catechist blessings out there. Always look first at the resources that the USCCB publishes around Catechetical Sunday.

Here are some other blessings and prayers for catechists that you might like to use:

A Prayer for Catechists (Loyola Press)

Catechist Prayer (Faith First)

Thank You Prayer & End-of-the-Year Blessing (Catechist Magazine)

Teacher’s Prayer (The Religion Teacher)

Catechist’s Prayer Cards (USCCB)

Saint Augustine Prayers for Catechists (The Religion Teacher)