'It is great joy to share God's messages with children,' says Singaporean catechist

"When I was a child, I always wanted to be a teacher. However, it did not materialize, so the next best thing was to be a catechist," says Lisa Soh, a catechist at the Church of St. Stephen, 30 Sallim Road, Singapore.

The Archdiocese of Singapore is celebrating September as catechist’s month.

A catechist is a person of faith who aids others in understanding religious concepts, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The catechist's ministry is crucial to the church.

Men and women who are devout Catholics in good standing are chosen and trained by the Archdiocese of Singapore. His or her lifestyle should be a living example of the Catholic Church's and the Gospel of Jesus Christ's teachings. One is prepared to acquire knowledge of and effectively impart the teachings of the Catholic Church to others.

When asked what motivates Lisa, she said, "I feel motivated knowing that I can share the Word of God with children every Sunday. At the same time, it allows me to build my knowledge and deepen my Catholic faith through these sessions."

Explaining some challenges, she faces and ways she overcomes them, Lisa said every Sunday morning is indeed a challenge. As a working adult, getting up early on Sunday to prepare for a catechism session is a challenge.

"During catechism sessions, we are also faced with the challenges of managing children who are from different backgrounds—the poor, the rich, the normal children, and the special needs children," she said.

"I leave these challenges in the hands of the God who sent me there," she added.

As God’s servant, her purpose is to share God's messages with His children. "The satisfaction and joy I get from knowing that the children can understand and be able to provide correct answers regarding faith and religion," Lisa said.