The “Training and Faith Formation of Catechists” project will prepare a group of 125 catechists to work in Roman Catholic parishes throughout the Salesian Guwahati Province, headquartered in Assam, India, teaching religious education courses to the faithful. Assam, the targeted region for the project, has a slightly larger Christian population than the rest of the country (4% vs. 2%), but the vast majority are Hindu (62%) and Muslim (34%). Catechists must navigate ingrained societal prejudices and barriers in order to draw upon the richness of the local culture while firmly planting the seeds of the Catholic faith: a challenge that demands solid formation.

Christianity in Assam is found almost entirely within Scheduled Tribes and Castes, the two groups most systematically excluded from society and economic growth. Given the subjugated nature of the Christians in Assam, effective evangelization is desperately needed to ensure the health and future propagation of the faith. Just as Christ visited the poorest in society, so too does the Church continue its mission of bringing hope and aid to the most marginalized. Training and empowering the laypeople to assist in the mission of evangelization is both a practical and spiritual concern, as it not only increases the avenues of faith education but also lends dignity and participation to those who carry out the teaching, allowing them to collaborate in God’s work.

Catechists who complete the training will be qualified to serve as educators in a variety of religious topics. Catechetical training enables laypeople to reliably convey Church teachings in a way that is understandable and relevant to the local circumstances of their particular parish. Motivational classes give individual laypeople the means to live their faith in a deeper and more authentic fashion in their daily lives. Family Bible Studies strengthen connections between the generations as they explore the way God moved in the stories of the Scriptures and how He continues to move in our lives today. Finally, sacramental preparation classes prepare Catholics to take steps into fuller communion with their faith community and with God through the traditional rituals of the Catholic Church. All of these courses advance the needs of the Catholic Church in an impoverished region, helping the growth and spread of the faith among laypeople.