In the years following the Second Vatican Council, when the Church was learning anew how to listen as well as teach, leaders like Jane Wolford Hughes helped shape a vision of catechesis rooted not only in doctrine, but in encounter.

Appointed by John Cardinal Dearden as the first Executive Director of Adult Education for the Archdiocese of Detroit, she stepped into a role few women had held at the time. Yet her significance lies not simply in being “first,” but in how she exercised that leadership: with attentiveness, creativity, and a deep trust in the lived faith of ordinary people.

At the heart of her ministry was a simple but demanding conviction: authentic faith formation begins with listening. The programs she helped design did not emerge from assumptions about what people should need, but from careful attention to what they were actually experiencing—their questions, struggles, hopes, and hunger for meaning. In this, she embodied a catechesis that is less about delivering content and more about accompanying persons.

For catechists today, her witness invites an honest question: Do our efforts begin with the real lives of those we serve, or with our own plans and preferences? True catechesis requires the humility to listen before we speak, to receive before we offer.

Jane Wolford Hughes also understood that good intentions are not enough. Those who serve as facilitators of faith must themselves be formed—intellectually, spiritually, and pastorally. She recognized that catechists are not merely transmitters of information, but witnesses and guides. Their readiness, preparation, and openness to the Spirit shape the effectiveness of every encounter.

Her emphasis on creative methods reminds us that the Gospel is not bound to a single mode of expression. To reach “everyone,” as she envisioned, requires flexibility: storytelling, dialogue, small groups, shared reflection, and spaces where people feel seen and heard. Creativity in catechesis is not about novelty for its own sake; it is about removing barriers so that the Word can take root.

In a time when many adults still long for meaningful engagement with their faith—but may feel distant from traditional structures—her approach remains deeply relevant. She challenges catechists to see adult faith formation not as an optional supplement, but as essential to the life of the Church.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• How am I forming myself—not just to teach, but to accompany?

• What creative paths might open the door for someone who feels excluded or hesitant?

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/

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Blog thumbnail portrait photo sampled from: Biola University