For catechists, the life and vision of Françoise Darcy-Berube offer both a challenge and a deep source of encouragement.

She stood at a pivotal moment in the life of the Church, helping to shape catechesis in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. She was the principle author of Come to the Father, the first elementary school religious curriculum for American Catholic children written in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. She helped move religious education beyond memorization toward encounter—inviting children not just to learn about God, but to come to know God, in relationship, in trust, in love.

Darcy-Berube also insisted on something that can stretch us as catechists: we cannot truly catechize children apart from their families. Her insight—that “an authentic Christian initiation of children is inseparable from the evangelization and spiritual care of the parents, whatever their lifestyle and according to their degree of readiness” - invites us to widen our understanding of our role.

Parents come with varying degrees of faith, questions, wounds, or even distance from the Church. Yet Darcy-Berube does not present this as an obstacle, but as the very place where grace is at work. The catechist becomes not only a teacher of children, but a quiet companion to families—welcoming, encouraging, and gently witnessing to the Gospel.

In this light, every interaction matters: a word of understanding to a hesitant parent; an invitation that carries no judgment; a moment of listening that builds trust. These are not “extras” to catechesis—they are integral to it.

Her work reflects the spirit of Vatican II: a Church that meets people where they are, that trusts in the action of the Holy Spirit, and that believes formation happens within community, not in isolation.

Ultimately, Darcy-Berube reminds us that catechesis is an act of hope. We plant seeds we may never see fully grow. We accompany imperfect situations with patience and faith. We trust that God is already drawing both children and their families closer.

Our role as a catechist, then, is not to carry the whole weight—but to be a faithful presence within God’s larger work of love.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• How do I welcome and engage parents, especially those who feel distant?

• Where is God already at work in the families I serve—and how can I cooperate with that grace?

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/

--

Blog thumbnail portrait photo sampled from: Memorial page of Coopérative Funéraire du
Bas-Saint-Laurent - https://www.cfbsl.com/avisdedeces/darcy-berube-francoise