Question 10 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 10:

Who is responsible for the production of the ICCA?

Answer 10:

The gratitude of the Irish Episcopacy is due to their United States colleagues for their support and generosity in allowing the adaptation. Thanks is due to Rev. Joseph McCann CM, who adapted and edited this important text for Ireland, to Mr. Brendan O’Reilly (National Director for Catechetics) for his initiation and organisation of the project, and to the final editing team, Rev. McCann, Brendan O’Reilly, Maura Hyland and Bishop Donal Murray for bringing it to a conclusion. Congratulations are due to the Episcopal Council for Catechetics for promoting the proposal with enthusiasm. Gratitude is also due to the Episcopal Commissions/Councils for Doctrine, Education, Theology and Liturgy for their professional contributions. Very special thanks and appreciation are due to Veritas for the design, preparation and production of this very attractively presented volume. May it go forth and prosper!

Question 9 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 9:

Is it envisaged to produce any supplementary materials in order to aid people engage with the ICCA?

Answer 9:

Supplementary materials are always useful when engaging with a new publication. Every chapter in the ICCA refers the reader to the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ (CCC). Therefore having access to the CCC will be a help to anyone who wishes to seriously engage with the ICCA. As mentioned previously both the ICCA and SGN (the National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland) both deal with faith development in the Irish context and so SGN would be invaluable regarding faith development in all its various moments and possibilities.

To aid specific engagement with the ICCA a ‘Study Guide for the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ has been prepared. This Study Guide provides scriptural references, catechesis, suggestions for further reading and study etc. and should be beneficial in an individual or group setting.

Question 8 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 8:

In 2010 the Irish Episcopal Conference published ‘Share the Good News’ (SGN) – the National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland. Is there any connection between SGN and the ICCA?

Answer 8:

In 2010 the Irish Episcopal Conference published ‘Share the Good News’ (SGN) – the National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland – and there is a close connection between SGN and the ICCA. In the preface to SGN its purpose is stated as ‘to make the Good News of Jesus Christ more fully known and available to all.’ SGN points out that its role and that of the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA) are as sources for those dealing with faith formation, religious education and evangelization. The Catechism is also for those simply interested in knowing more about the Catholic faith. Both of these initiatives (SGN and the ICCA) have the capacity, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to revitalise the faith of the Catholic Church in Ireland. In short, therefore, SGN is a ten-year plan for evangelization in Ireland. The ICCA is a specifically Irish source to give substance to that important and crucial endeavour.

Question 7 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 7:

Given the close connection between the American (USCCA) and Irish (ICCA) catechisms do they differ much from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)?

Answer 7:

Both the American (USCCA) and Irish (ICCA) catechisms, while being based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), seek to take into account various national and cultural situations, practices, traditions, prayers etc. so that the faith itself and the culture would both be enriched. Thus in the ICCA various Irish Bishops’ statements, traditional Irish prayers, Irish saints and holy men and women are presented in order to foster faith.

However, there is one major difference between the CCC and the Americanand Irish catechisms. The CCC follows a numbered paragraph format whereas both the American and Irish catechisms supplement the usual Question and Answer (Q&A) approach traditionally associated with catechisms. Every chapter in both catechisms is divided into the following structure:

1. A story or lesson of faith relevant to the chapter is provided.

2. The foundation and application of the teaching of the chapter is given.

3. A ‘sidebar’ containing three Q’s and A’s from the CCC follows.

4. Next the relationship of Catholic teaching to the culture is teased out.

5. Questions for discussion are then provided.

6. Doctrinal statements covering points of doctrine from the chapter are reviewed.

7. Every chapter concludes with a meditation or prayer drawn from a saint or spiritual writer.

 

In using such a structure the ICCA seeks to engage adults with the person of Jesus Christ, with Scripture and Tradition, with exemplars of the faith, with other Christians and with God’s creation so that they might come to know the one true God and his son Jesus Christ whom he sent to save us.

Question 6 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 6:

Why did the Irish Episcopal Conference choose to adapt the USCCA?

Answer 6:

The Irish Episcopal Conference chose to adapt the USCCA because at the time of engagement with the North American Conference in 2008 the USCCA was the only National Catechism based on the CCC available in the English language. After the 1875 Synod of Maynooth the ‘Maynooth Catechism’ was published in 1882. Many older Irish Catholics will remember this school book as the “Green Catechism”. It was a pioneer at the time and supplied many of the Q’s and A’s to the ‘Baltimore Catechism’ which was used in North America. Given such historical cooperation between the two countries it was not surprising that the North American Bishops gave permission for the Irish Episcopal Conference to adapt the USCCA for use in Ireland.

Question 5 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 5:

Why do we have an ‘Irish’ catechism? Is not the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ (CCC) sufficient for the needs of the Irish Church?

Answer 5:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is a statement of the Church’s faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium and is presented to the universal Church as an authentic reference text for teaching Catholic doctrine. However, in the Apostolic Constitution (Fidei Depositum) at the beginning of the CCC, Pope Saint John Paul II states “this catechism…is meant to encourage and assist in the writing of new local catechisms, which take into account various situations and cultures, while carefully preserving the unity of faith and fidelity to Catholic doctrine” (Fidei Depositum 3). One of the first catechisms in the English language to follow this encouraging lead was the ‘United States Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (USCCA) – on which the ‘Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (ICCA) is based.

Question 4 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 4:

What does the ‘Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (ICCA) contain?

Answer 4:

The ‘Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (ICCA) obviously seeks to present the content of the Catholic faith in the clearest and most coherent language available. The text of the ICCA is divided into four parts:

Part 1. The Creed: The Faith Professed

Part 2. The Sacraments: The Faith Celebrated

Part 3. Christian Morality: The Faith Lived

Part 4. Prayer: The Faith Prayed

This fourfold division of content follows that presented in the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’ (1992) and the ‘Catechism of the Council of Trent’ (1566).

Question 3 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 3:

Why have a catechism ‘for adults’? Is this a new trend?

Answer 3:

When we hear the words ‘catechism’ and ‘catechesis’ we tend to think of the catechesis/instruction of children. However, the catechesis of adults takes primary place in the renewal of catechesis in our time. The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) states: ‘Catechesis for adults, since it deals with persons who are capable of an adherence that is fully responsible, must be considered the chief form of catechesis. All other forms, which are indeed necessary, are in some way oriented to it’ (GDC 20).

A catechism is an authoritative statement of Catholic and Christian teaching. It is the “go-to” resource for any serious query about what Catholics believe, how Catholics pray and the different details of Catholic life. For the devout believer or sincere seeker, this Catechism will provide easily understood information, with clear explanations and apt examples. For both Catholics and others, we hope that this Catechism might inspire and console, stimulate and encourage, nourish and satisfy the heart and soul as well as the mind. Thus this Catechism is intended for the spiritual formation of adult Irish Catholics and for the religious information of other interested readers.

Question 2 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Question 2:

Will the ‘Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ be used in Irish schools?

Answer 2:

As the title of the ‘Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (ICCA) suggests it is intended to be used by and with adults and is not intended to be used in schools. In the past catechisms were widely used in schools but now-a-days religion texts used in schools are more correctly called series or programmes. This is because while generally ‘catechisms’ concentrate on doctrinal content, series or programmes present content taking the age and stage of development of the recipient into account; they engage with different methods of prayer, music, sacred art, poetry, video, online platforms, various educational activities, involvement in the apostolate etc. etc. in order to follow Christ ‘the way, the truth and the life’ (John 14:6).

Question 1 in a series of Q’s and A’s concerning the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA).

Introduction: On Monday 9th (ICCA) was launched by His Eminence Seán Cardinal Brady in Renehan Hall, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Question 1:

What is the ‘Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (ICCA)?

Answer 1:

The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults is a sure and authentic reference text for teaching Catholic doctrine to adults in Ireland. It is an adaptation of the ‘United States Catholic Catechism for Adults’ (USCCA); it has been prepared under the direction of the Irish Episcopal Conference, approved by the archbishops and bishops of Ireland and been granted a recognitio (approval) by the Holy See.

In 2008 Seán Cardinal Brady, on behalf of the Irish Episcopal Conference, wrote to His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, OMI, the then President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops seeking permission to adapt the USCCA for use in Ireland. In the same year approval for such an adaptation was granted by the North American Conference and consequently work on the Irish adaptation took place 2008-2013. In 2013 the revised text called the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults (ICCA) was approved by the Irish Episcopal Conference and forwarded to Rome for a recognitio. The recognitio approving the text of the ICCA was granted at the beginning of 2014.