The welcoming and attentiveness that are core to evangelization demand good listening skills. Catechists do not minister to a general group or class. They minister to unique individuals within a group setting. Helping others travel their faith journey both as individuals as well as in the community requires listening to the life story of each person. For example, a mother with grown children has learned much in life and may simply need help seeing the church s story in her life, while a teen may be struggling to see God s love at all in the uncertainty of adolescence.
People take in and learn information in different ways.
When catechists develop various creative ways of bringing alive the message of Jesus, more people are able to connect that message with their lived experiences. Skills in group dynamics are important. It is in the group experience that children and adolescents develop their personalities and social sense and that adults are able to experience community and promote an attitude of Christian responsibility. Catechists are called upon to help form and nurture the small group interactions of those they minister to, helping to draw out the wisdom of the group to be shared by all. Group dynamics involves more than getting people into small groups and telling them to share.