A Catholic Catechism

A CATHOLIC CATECHISM
By Kenya Episcopal Conference Commission for Doctrine ccc

ISBN 9966-08-136-4; 344 pages; Publication 2008; price: US$ 6.00

Introduction
The gift of faith that we have received in Baptism through the Church,
needs to be nourished and strengthened. We do so especially when we
read the Scriptures, when we pray, when we celebrate the sacraments and live our Christian life to the full in charity and holiness. Besides these necessary means, catechesis is of the utmost importance, since it helps us understand the depth and richness of our Catholic faith, to bring it to maturity and also to share it with others.

At times we may be confused about some important points, or we do not know what the Church teaches about some controversial issues. This Catechism will lead us along the journey of knowing our faith, so that we may become better Christians, ready to witness to our faith and to enter into a life-giving dialogue with others. As Catholics we are called to give reasons for our faith and the hope that is within us (cf. 1 Pt 3:15) in order to bring people closer to God, to faith in Jesus Christ, and to become members of the Church. In our daily life we hear so many messages and voices. Many times we do not know the answer to many of the questions that arise in our hearts or that people ask about our faith. This Catechism offers us the opportunity to listen to the message of Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:6) and to see the direction of our life.

This catechism reflects the richness of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and leads us to focus our existence on Christ and to be his true disciples. Our Christian life is to be lived in faith, and especially faith in the Trinity, as the Creed shows (1st part). This faith cannot be just an intellectual activity, but it must be celebrated in our daily life together with our brothers and sisters, especially through the Sacraments (2nd part). Then we are called to live according to our faith and to embody the message of Christ in the concrete choices that we make every day (3rd part). Finally, all this will nourish our life of prayer (4th part) as we deepen in our daily life the communion that God desires to establish with us. As we embark on this journey, we shall become true disciples of Christ, and be ready to share our faith-encounter with others. A deepening of our faith is meant to awaken in us the desire to come closer to the Lord and to share with all our brothers and sisters his message of life.

This Catechism has been prepared with a few aims in mind, namely: close reliance on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium; a simple language; reference to the African context; the use of drawing and other catechetical tools to foster a deeper understanding of the message.

1. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Compendium are at the basis of this edition of this Catholic Catechism. References to both documents are made all the time, in the conviction that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the basic text for catechesis today.

2. Aware that many Christians find it difficult to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, each topic is presented in a language that enables ordinary people to grasp the richness of the faith.

3. The faith that is proclaimed and lived, must touch every aspect of our life, and needs to be inculturated. In this perspective, references are made to the African culture and context, thus enabling the readers to see what is positive and good in the culture and also to understand the challenges of the Gospel messages.

4. The whole text is enriched with original drawings as a way of creating a dialogue between the catechist and the reader. At the same time, other catechetical tools are presented at the end of each lesson, as a way of involving the reader in the journey of faith that is presented and of linking it, as much as possible, to life.

Section One:I Believe – We Believe
1. Christ, the Light of Nations
2. God Wills Everyone to Be Saved
3. Our Desire for God
4. God Revealed Himself to Our Ancestors
5. God’s Revelation Through Israel
6. God Reveals Himself Through His Beloved Son
7. The Handing on of Revelation
8. The Books of the Bible – The Canon
9. The Bible Is a Divine-Human Composition
10. The Bible in the Life of the Church
11. A Holy Book From a Holy Land
12. Our Response to God

Part One: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH
Section Two: The Creed
1. I Believe in God the Father
2. I Believe in God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth
3. I Believe in Jesus Christ
4. I Believe in Jesus Christ, Born of the Virgin Mary
5. I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Saviour
6. I Believe in Jesus Christ Who Was Crucified, Died and Was Buried
7. I Believe in Jesus Christ Who Rose From the Dead
8. I Believe in Jesus Christ Ascended into Heaven
9. I Believe in Jesus Christ Coming as Judge
10. I Believe in the Holy Spirit
11. I Believe in the Catholic Church (1)
12. I Believe in the Catholic Church (2)
13. I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins
14. I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body and in Life Everlasting

Section One and Two:The Paschal Mystery and The Sacraments of the Church
1. Liturgy
2. The Paschal Mystery
3. Sunday – The Day of the Risen Lord
4. The Liturgical Year and the Liturgy of the Hours
5. The Sacraments
6. Baptism
7. Confirmation
8. The Sunday Eucharist
9. The Eucharist
10. Penance and Reconciliation
11. The Anointing of the Sick
12. Holy Orders
13. Marriage
14. Sacramentals
15. Christian Funerals

Part Three: LIFE IN CHRIST
Sections One and Two:The Human Vocation and The Ten Commandments
1. Human Dignity
2. Moral Acts and Conscience
3. Virtues and Sin
4. Community Life
5. Law and Grace

6. The Ten Commandments
7. The First Commandment
8. The Second and Third Commandments
9. The Fourth Commandment
10. The Fifth Commandment
11. The Sixth Commandment
12. The Seventh Commandment
13. The Eighth Commandment
14. Ninth and Tenth Commandments

Part Four: CHRISTIAN PRAYER
Sections One and Two:Prayer in the Christian Life and The Lord’s Prayer
1. African Prayer
2. What Is Prayer?
3.The Revelation of Prayer in the Old Testament
4.The Revelation of Prayer in the New Testament
5. Praying with Mary
6. Prayers for Various Occasions (1)
7. Prayers for Various Occasions (2)
8. Difficulties in Prayer
9. The Lord’s Prayer – The Our Father

Section Three: Expressions of Prayer
12. Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)
13. Gospel Contemplation (Ignatian Method)
14. Praying Our Experiences
15. Contemplation – Prayer of Presence

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