Mary Perkins Ryan (1912–1993) is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century catechetics in the United States, especially in adult faith formation. Today’s insistence – in all national and universal church documents - that adult faith formation is the “axis” of catechesis owes much to her groundwork.

She was a lay Catholic theologian, writer, and educator at a time when lay leadership - especially women’s leadership - in theology was still rare. She worked in parish life, diocesan settings, and national Catholic organizations, and she wrote extensively for catechists, pastors, and Catholic parents. Her work helped shift catechesis away from a narrow, school-centered, memorization model toward a lifelong, church-wide process of faith formation.

Mary Perkins Ryan remains important for us as catechists today because many of the challenges she named are still with us:

• How do we form adults whose faith is often fragmented or undernourished?
• How do we move beyond a “program model” of catechesis?
• How do we help people connect faith with real life?

Her work invites catechists to:

• See themselves as companions in faith, not just instructors
• Trust the Spirit already at work in learners
• Focus on formation that is relational, reflective, and rooted in lived experience

Her legacy continues to shape how the Church understands catechesis - not as something we do to people, but as something we walk with them through as they grow in faith.

Reflections to Hold, Pray, and Live

• How does my parish demonstrate – practically - that adult faith formation matters? How might our parish shift energy from “programs for children” to formation with adults?

• In what ways do I help learners connect Church teaching with real decisions they face?

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: https://www.biola.edu/talbot/ce20/database/mary-perkins-ryan
Original image source unknown.
Christian Educators Database entry by: Mary Lou Putrow

Mary Perkins Ryan's book cover images from the public domain digital copies on hathitrust.org.