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Note to Parents, Catechists, Teachers

In his apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes, “In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples” (120). It is the privilege and responsibility of parents, as the first teachers of the faith, and all educators to form children for this task of sharing the Gospel as they follow Jesus.

As intentional disciples, we are called to share the faith, both in word and action, first in our own families, then in the parish and larger community, and in a particular way with the poor and marginalized. However, we cannot share a faith we do not know.

This short booklet is an important first step to helping children understand what it means to follow Christ as a member of His Church. They are already living the faith in certain ways as they grow up in a Catholic family and parish, but to live as intentional disciples, and to continue living the faith you are handing on to them, they will need to know why they do what they do. It is our hope that, by learning the principles of faith articulated in A Pocket Catechism for Kids, the children you are forming will begin to draw connections between the “what” and the “why” of their Catholic faith — laying the foundation for a life of discipleship.

May God richly bless you as you hand on the treasure of our Catholic faith to His children.

Dr. Joseph D. White

National Catechetical Consultant

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