The witness of the 10 Martyrs of Quiché offers catechists not simply a story from the past, but a living mirror of our vocation today.

In late April 2020, the Catholic Church in Guatemala celebrated the beatification of the 10 martyrs of Quiché, three priests and seven laymen killed between 1980 and 1991. Six of the seven laypeople were catechists, including 12-year-old Juan Barrera Méndez, who helped prepare younger children for their first Communion.

They remind us that catechesis is never just about lessons or programs. It is about keeping the faith alive in real lives, in real communities, often in the midst of struggle. They were described as “missionaries on the move,” going from house to house, carrying the Word of God and the rosary, accompanying others in faith. Their classrooms were not only parish halls, but kitchens, fields, and village paths. Their method was presence; their curriculum was the Gospel lived with courage.

For us as catechists, this is both consoling and challenging.

It is consoling because it affirms that what we do matters deeply—even when it feels small or unseen. Like those catechists in Quiché, much of our work happens quietly: preparing a session, listening to a child, encouraging a parent, planting seeds you may never see grow. Their lives remind us that faith shared with love has a power far beyond what we can measure.

It is challenging because their witness strips catechesis down to its essence. They did not teach from comfort or security. They taught in the face of fear, opposition, and even violence.

The martyrs of Quiché were called “contemplatives in action.” This may be one of the most important insights for catechists today. Their strength did not come from activism alone, but from a deep interior life—a relationship with Christ that sustained them. For us, this means that effective catechesis flows not just from preparation, but from prayer; not just from knowledge, but from communion with God.

Finally, their refusal of revenge and their commitment to healing point us toward the heart of the Gospel. Catechists are not only teachers of doctrine, but builders of peace, unity, and reconciliation. In a world still marked by division and suffering, our role is to help others encounter a faith that heals rather than wounds, that gathers rather than scatters.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• What does it mean for me to follow Jesus of Nazareth in my context?

• Do I see catechesis as a task… or as a way of life?

Author:

Sister Janet Schaeffler, OP
Member, NCCL Board of Directors

Her book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications
[GET YOUR COPY HERE]

Learn more about Janet and her publications at https://www.janetschaeffler.com/