After the uncertainty of the past 12-plus months, Mary Anne Serra believes the Catechetical Sunday theme for this year – “Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed” – is more than fitting.
“There is a tremendous need for healing. People are hurting physically, and they are hurting from confusion and the unknown. The healing is spiritual, and we need it desperately,” said Serra, faith formation and family life coordinator in All Saints Parish, Millville.
Catechetical Sunday, which the Church will celebrate Sept. 19, is the annual tradition of highlighting catechesis and commissioning the faithful called forth for this ministry. It is also an opportunity for every Catholic to reflect on his/her role in the mission, by virtue of Baptism, to hand on the faith.
“The past year has highlighted the urgent need for healing – physical, spiritual, emotional – in ourselves and in our world. As our world struggles to heal, complete healing is not possible without Jesus as the Divine Physician,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in speaking about this year’s theme.
The image that accompanies this year’s theme – by the Greek artist El Greco – depicts the Gospel account of Christ healing a blind man by anointing his eyes.
“The words we pray at Mass, ‘Say the Word and My Soul Shall be Healed,’ have the power to remind us of, to open our eyes to, the healing that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist, which is essential, eternal and ever open to us,” the USCCB said. “We humbly ask him to say the word, and with that prayer, we have faith that, with the fantastic and improbable prospect of Jesus entering under our roof, our souls shall be healed.”
Trudy Cranston, adult and family faith coordinator in Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood, is hoping this year’s theme will resonate with all of the faithful across the Diocese.
“Many of our parishioners have been hurting from loss of jobs, maybe loss of family members, and they don’t always have the words to express that,” she said. “So many of our families are in need of prayer. And hopefully they can come together and heal within the parish community.”
Dolores Mozzillo, director of religious education in Christ the King Parish, Haddonfield, said she often tries to carry on the Catechetical Sunday theme in activities and lessons throughout the year.
“With the hurting that is going on, I’m hoping to highlight the Sacrament of Reconciliation this year,” she said. “It’s a healing sacrament, it helps those that are hurting – for adults but also, I think, for our children as well. When I see the children come out of Reconciliation, they say, ‘I feel great!’
“We all want to feel great,” she continued, “and when I think about the Catechetical Sunday theme this year, I think, ‘Just step into the confessional, and you are healed.’”
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