What is Evangelizing Catechesis?

For many years, the Catholic Church often treated evangelization and catechesis separately. Missionary work was associated with those who traveled to foreign lands to preach the gospel. And catechesis was understood to be a classroom-like memorization study of the Catechism. 

Over time, the Church came to see that this separation did not reflect the heart of her mission. 

The Second Vatican Council offered a renewed vision. It taught that the Church's mission is to proclaim the Gospel and make Christ known to all people in every ministry and sphere of influence. By doing this, the Council seemingly united two different things: the Church’s mission to evangelize and catechize. Evangelization, the Council emphasized, is the mission of the entire Church. It is not limited to missionaries, clergy, or religious. 

 This renewed vision also reshaped the Church’s understanding of catechesis. Catechesis no longer means simply memorizing what the Church teaches, but now operates within the mission of evangelization, in helping people encounter Jesus and proclaim him. 

Since the Council, all of the popes from Pope St. Paul VI to Pope Leo XIV have called for evangelization to be one of the top priorities in the Church, as well as a reframing of catechesis within evangelization. Sacred Scripture’s story of salvation, together with the Church’s doctrine and Tradition reflected in The Catechism of the Catholic Church, provides the stability and depth needed to teach and proclaim the gospel effectively.

In 2020, the Church published a new Directory for Catechesis calling for a closer alignment between evangelization and catechesis, based on the teaching of Vatican II and that of recent popes. Recognizing the need for practical guidance, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) coined the term “evangelizing catechesis” to describe this inseparable unity between the two as an application of the Directory for Catechesis.

The USCCB explains in their definition that at the heart of the Church’s mission to all people, an evangelizing catechesis seeks to accomplish five goals outlined here:

This vision gave clear and foundational guidance to the Church in the United States. But a question remained: How could this be lived out in everyday faith formation—especially in classrooms, parishes, and with families at home? 

Ascension saw an opportunity to bring the Church’s vision of evangelizing catechesis to life in a concrete, accessible way. The Pillars of Faith Catholic curriculum, paired with the first-ever set of complete Bibles and Catechisms uniquely designed for children, is inspired by the American Bishops’ definition of an “evangelizing catechesis.”

Rooted in Scripture and Tradition, and shaped by engaging, family-centered learning, the curriculum seeks to build strong biblical and catechetical literacy, and help young learners encounter the love and Person of Jesus Christ. 

This is more than curriculum or methodology. It is about renewal of the Church’s mission: forming joy-filled disciples of Jesus Christ who learn, love, and live the Catholic Faith throughout their lives.