Christmas shopping

Sep 7, 2012

As I write the Christmas Clock is telling me that there are only 108 days, 33 hours until Christmas Day.

Many parents, grandparents, Godparents, aunts and uncles struggle in choosing a gift for young people. Many of you are committed in your Catholic faith, but are uncertain about giving a gift that is explicitly Catholic.

If you are a parent or Godparent, you have made a public declaration that you will do all you can to support the faith education of those you ‘parent’. So, no need to be shy about giving a gift that helps to live out your promise!

Here is a gift idea. If you get hold of a copy now you can enjoy it yourself in the weeks before Christmas.

Thirty years ago the Catechism of the Catholic Church was published. While most of you have seen this catechism, few Catholic have spent time savouring the contents. Perhaps the lack of pictures and the lots of words is off-putting?

Last year a response to that criticism was published. “YOUCAT” (short for ‘Youth Catechism’). It is the Catechism in attractive format and ideal for people of all ages. It is especially directed at people aged 16 – 30ish.

In his introduction, Pope Benedict challenges young people: “You need to be more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of your parents.”