In Celebration of Catechists

On June 20, His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo celebrated Mass with a Blessing of Catechists at the closing retreat for the 2025-2026 Archdiocesan Catechist Formation Program. More than 100 catechists were in attendance, both current program participants and alumni.

The Archdiocesan Catechist Formation Program is a program of study, prayer and accompaniment for catechists that are sent by their pastors for an extended period of formation. It is comprised of courses and seminars in Catholic doctrine, biblical foundations, spirituality, Marian theology, catechetical pedagogy and resources, and virtuous leadership.  The program culminates with a morning retreat for both the current participants and alumni.  This year there were 61 registrants from 29 parishes and one religious community.

The retreat took place at St. Augustine’s Seminary.  Fr. Kevin Belgrave, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of the Institute of Theology, welcomed the participants and invited them to consider further formation at St. Augustine’s.  Current program participants attended a morning seminar on virtuous leadership by Dr. Josephine Lombardi, Academic Dean at St. Augustine’s; alumni attended Dr. Anna Boyagoda’s presentation on the catechist as storyteller, based on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Dr. Boyagoda is Director of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the Archdiocese of Toronto.

At Mass the entire group was inspired both by Cardinal Leo’s homily and his prayer of blessing for those in catechetical ministry. His Eminence expressed his gratitude to them for their time and commitment to formation and for their important ministry of catechesis at their parishes.

The learn more about the Archdiocesan Catechist Formation Program, please visit https://bit.ly/ArchdiocesanCatechistFormation.