Polish Episcopal Conference proposes reforms to parish catechesis

The Polish Episcopal Conference has issued a pastoral letter for the XVI Education Week, titled ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name... Education and formation in the community of faith’. The document calls for a fundamental shift in parish ministry, moving away from an administrative model toward a community-based approach.

A central proposal is the reform of parish catechesis. The bishops emphasize that parish-based religious instruction should differ from school religion classes, focusing instead on small group meetings, dialogue, prayer, and personal testimony. The goal is to create spaces for authentic encounter that welcome everyone, including those who are searching for faith or are distanced from religious matters.

The bishops suggest that these small groups allow children, youth, and adults to share personal problems and experience faith through relationships with others. They cite the Church in France as a successful example of effective evangelization through personal witness and media influence.