Dr. Gabriel Moran, AFSC, was a theologian, educator, author, and lifelong learner whose work invited the Church to continually ask: How is God calling us to respond in this time and place?

Through more than 400 essays and 31 books, he explored the meaning and purpose of religious education in a changing world. In the years following the Second Vatican Council, he challenged catechists and educators not simply to preserve what had always been done, but to listen deeply to the Spirit and discover new paths for sharing faith.

For 45 years, Gabriel Moran and his colleagues published Alternative Religious Education, a newsletter that encouraged educators to imagine creative responses to the needs of their communities. The word alternative was not about rejecting tradition; it was about recognizing that the living tradition of the Church continues to grow, adapt, and speak to each generation.

Catechists are called to carry the same spirit of openness and courage. We do not simply pass on information about faith; we accompany people into a deeper relationship with the living God.

The ministry of catechesis requires both roots and wings—roots in the wisdom of Scripture, tradition, and the community of faith; wings that allow us to respond creatively to new circumstances. A catechist honors the past while remaining attentive to God’s unfolding future.

Gabriel Moran’s life reminds us that faithful catechesis is never static. The Good News is always ancient and always new. Each generation needs to encounter Christ in ways that speak to its own questions, experiences, and dreams.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• Where do I see the Spirit inviting me to “create new ways” of sharing faith?

• How do I balance honoring the richness of our tradition with being open to new expressions of faith?

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: National Catholic Reporter Obit