Catechetical Notes – unknown text by Father Walenty Gadowski intended for parents “to be able to help in teaching”

Abstract

Abstract

Fr Walenty Gadowski was one of the pioneers of the catechetical renewal movement, a promoter of new methods of religious education in its broadest sense. Fr W. Gadowski developed catechisms with a new way of transmitting knowledge. He introduced illustrations, texts of the Holy Bible, biblical stories, examples from native history and the lives of saints. Thus the catechisms appealed to the whole personality of the pupil.

Fr W. Gadowski's contribution to contemporary catechetical studies is immense. He was first and foremost a practitioner of catechesis, a courageous pioneer who was not afraid to look for new ways and solutions in teaching religion, not abandoning the scientific achievements and experience of his predecessors and catechists, and most importantly, he himself was not only the author of catechisms for children, adolescents and adults, but also an excellent practitioner who placed a great emphasis on adapting the teaching to the perceptive capabilities of the audience, i.e. on the accessibility of the teaching.

The Diocesan Archive in Tarnów has in its resources a rich scientific legacy of Fr Walenty Gadowski, including texts that are practically unknown because they have not been published anywhere, or published only partially.

These writings include: Religious Education, Didactics and Methodology, Christian Pedagogy and the so-called May Readings written for May services in the diocese but also outside the diocese. In addition to those mentioned above, the collection also includes less extensive texts, such as Preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion for Pre-school Children, Elementary Catechesis, or the extremely important text On Improving the Catechism. In the collection of Fr Gadowski's legacy there is also an extremely interesting text, consisting of 7 pages, entitled Uwagi katechetyczne (Catechetical notes ) written in Bochnia in 1951 and concerning guidelines for parents on religious education and upbringing. All the texts mentioned above remain in the collection of the Tarnów Diocesan Archive.