Catechetical Institute graduates share faith with renewed confidence

Kelly Wahlquist said the one thing she loves to hear from participants in the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute is how excited they are to share their faith. “They’re just so thrilled that they can have conversations and share their faith with a renewed confidence, with conviction and hope,” she said. Wahlquist is director of the institute and founder of the national ministry, Women in the New Evangelization.

Participants have strength and support for “Holy Mother Church” not only financially but also in giving of their time and talents, Wahlquist said. “And it’s joyful giving,” she said. “They’re very excited to go back and be part of RCIA, to teach a class and lead a confirmation class, to be a sponsor, to become a DRE (director of religious education), to become involved in different aspects of the Church, in the archdiocese and all of it.”

She and Father John Paul Erickson, pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale, recently joined “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley to discuss the upcoming Catechetical Institute’s class “Pillars: A Journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

Transfiguration is the host site for the two-year class. Each of four modules take place over 11 weeks, with breaks in between sessions, from fall 2021 to spring 2023.

Father Erickson said every institute participant he has spoken with has described it enthusiastically — and how important and impactful it was for their own spiritual life and understanding of the Church. “Most of the people that have gone through the program are more committed than ever to helping out at their own parish and to helping out at the diocese,” he said.

Father Erickson added that “we’re thrilled to be the host site at Transfiguration this coming year.” He described the speakers — which include Bishop Andrew Cozzens — as top notch and very engaging.

Sessions will be livestreamed from Transfiguration to six other sites: Our Lady of the Prairie in Belle Plaine, Holy Family High School in Victoria, St. Timothy in Maple Lake, St. John Neumann in Eagan, St. Patrick in Oak Grove and St. Stephen in Minneapolis. Each of the six sites will have a live, in-person, formative session, Wahlquist said.

Father Erickson said a direct consequence of the institute is support for and strengthening of Holy Mother Church.

Asked about the importance of highly formed laity within parish life, Father Erickson said just as clergy receive significant formation, “rightly so,” so do the faithful of God need formation. “…The levels will depend upon what you’re called to do,” he said. “But the call to be a disciple and to be a living stone of this Church — that flows right from our baptism. That’s not just for people that think intellectual stuff is kind of cool, or we like to read books. To be formed in the Catholic faith is to take our baptismal dignity seriously.”

Formation is gravely important, he said, “perhaps now more than ever, where the Second Vatican Council has called us to really remember that, to use a phrase that can be abused, ‘We are the Church.’ Well, that’s actually, fundamentally true. And we have to take that seriously.”

Opening Mass for the next class will be at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Having the large venue enables participants’ families and catechetical institute graduates to also attend. “I think it’s just going to be a wonderful opportunity for Catholics to come together and support, encourage and nurture one another,” Wahlquist said.

To learn more about the upcoming Pillars class and to register by the Aug. 20 deadline, visit cistudent.com. To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show. It airs at 9 p.m. Aug. 13, 1 p.m. Aug. 14 and 2 p.m. Aug. 15 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Father Stephen Hilgendorf, who describes his journey from Anglican minister to Catholic priest, and Cathy Carson and Karen Sester, who discuss how the Cana Institute can help moms navigate the ins, outs, ups and downs of motherhood.