We begin our journey into the heart of the Catholic Faith as pilgrims, exploring the reality of God, who he is, and how he expresses himself to us in the most meaningful way imaginable.

If God, the all-powerful Creator of the Universe, loves us, then how does he communicate with us? The answer is surprising, yet it establishes an essential part of what we believe as Catholics.

Is the Bible more than just a collection of ancient writings, more than simply an important historical document to be appreciated but ultimately dismissed? Is it possible that God reveals his truth to us through Sacred Scripture? If so, what does that really mean for our faith?

The story of salvation began with Creation itself—and a decision that affects all of us to this present day. How did the events of an ancient past set into motion God's rescue operation to save us from eternal death?

No one has ever had a greater impact on the world than Jesus of Nazareth—and the question of Jesus's identity is central to our faith.

"The Paschal Mystery" is a phrase we hear and use in the Mass and sacramental rites, but do we understand what it means in the greater story of Salvation, from the Passover in Egypt to the Last Supper and Crucifixion of Jesus?

Who is the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit work in our lives and in the life of the Church? Why is it so important that we know and love him?

Though Jesus saves us as individuals, he calls us to live out our salvation as members of a communion of believers. But that can be hard if we don't understand what the Church is and what it is meant to be. Why does the Church claim to have authority over what Catholics believe? How do we reconcile both the divinity and humanity of the Church that Christ himself created? Why is the Church essential to the life of every believer?

What do we think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and how does our relationship with her impact our relationship with her Son? What is the connection between our understanding of Mary and the rest of the saints? Why do we ask Mary and other "dead people" to pray for us? The answers to these questions serve to give us a framework for the Catholic Church's teachings on life after death and what we call "The Communion of the Saints."

What does the Church really teach about death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell? It's time to separate the myths from the reality.

Most of us are familiar with the word "sacrament." We participate in sacramental rites often as Catholics. But do we understand what a sacrament is—and what it means for us and our everyday lives?

It looks like bread and wine, yet it is called the Real Presence of Jesus. It is also called the Eucharist, but many Catholics would struggle to explain what that word means. What do Catholics really believe about the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and why has it become the center point of the Mass and our lives as Catholics?

Every Sunday, Catholics gather together to celebrate the Mass. But do we understand the deeper meaning of what happens there? Now we can.

Why is the Sacrament of Reconciliation essential—and potentially life-changing—for Catholics? How does the Anointing of the Sick make a difference to those who are suffering or dying?

More than merely a contract between two people in love, marriage was created by God as part of his plan for humanity. How we fit within that plan may depend on our view of the Sacrament of Matrimony and its profound meaning for the world.

How does following the moral vision as taught by the Church lead us to whole and happy lives, especially when the world around us seems to be in moral turmoil?

There now seems to be a free-for-all idea of "love"—personally decided and self-centered—that often leads to heartbreak and unhappiness. Is that what God intends when he is called "Love" by the writers of the New Testament? What does it mean when we talk about love—and God's calling for us to love him and those around us?

In an age when life itself seems disposable, how can we follow God's call to protect and promote the dignity of the human person in all places and circumstances?

What is the New Evangelization? What is "new" about it? Why does evangelization in the twenty­ first century require new ardor, new methods, and new expressions? How can we incorporate a deeper understanding of the New Evangelization into our apostolic work, our service to the Church, and our prayer life? This introductory session on catechetical methodology will address these questions as a launching point for training in catechesis for the modern era.

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When we accept God's call to catechize, we are agreeing to do more than just show up at the right time and teach a class or two; rather, we are agreeing to let Jesus Christ teach through us. As St. John Paul II said, "In catechesis it is Christ, the Incarnate Word and Son of God, who is taught-everything else is taught with reference to Him; and it is Christ alone who teaches­ anyone else teaches to the extent that he is Christ's spokesman, enabling Christ to teach with his lips" (Catechesi Tradendae 6).

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In this third session of Catechetical Methods, we will discuss the necessity of a Christocentric catechesis, where the catechist puts "people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity" ( CT 5).

As catechists, we often understand what to teach, but, especially in regards to the New Evangelization, the question remains: how do we teach it? One of the greatest challenges of catechesis lies in methodology: how can we convey the grand and beautiful truth of Jesus Christ to the people whom we serve in a way that allows them to understand it more deeply and to conform their lives to it?

"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you:' These words helped to define the service and love of St. Teresa of Calcutta, one of the greatest saints of the last century. Catechists should take up the call of St. Teresa to treat each person that we catechize with individual love and respect, taking into account the unique and specific needs of each person.

In this final session of our Catechetical Methods series, we will get down to the nuts and bolts of catechesis: how to plan and deliver an effective catechetical session. We will focus on the key questions that should lie at the heart of any teaching, as well as five crucial elements of a catechetical session. By the end of this session, the catechist will have the tools necessary to confidently plan a catechetical session that is faithful to God and faithful to the human person.