Studia Pastoralne
Rocznik Wydziału Teologicznego UŚ

COMMUNICATING FAITH THROUGH CATECHESIS
Summary
Whereas each generation certainly needs an education in faith, the present moment in history is particular in this respect, since the education in question must be in a way provided anew. When faith is communicated as an experience, it grows rapidly and systematically. Thus, it is essential that education in faith should stress the dimension of experience conceived of as continuous existential involvement, as the acceptance of truth by an entire person, and as volitional adherence to values one has recognized as a result of the intimacy with God in Christ. Therefore, while passing on truths of faith, catechists needs to consider all human factors, as well as the process of growth and maturation of faith, in order to combine the experience of human life with the salvific message.
Keywords: catechesis, communicating, experience, faith, person

THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASPECT OF THE THEOLOGY OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION
In our dissertation attention is concentrated on the sacrament of penance and reconciliation. The fundamental aim is to consider the anthropological dimension of this sacrament. The sacrament of penance, like all the sacraments, is a personal meeting between God and an individual person. Its intent and purpose is to restore that individual's relationship to God: that is, the community of life with Him, lost by sin. The sacrament is not only reconciliation with God, but also with the Church and with other people. Man is reconciled with himself, and what is more, with the whole world. The sacrament of penance and reconciliation is a precious gift given man by a God of Mercy, who is the Father of Mercy and the source of all forgiveness. The sacrament is also a challenge for a person to become totally involved in the process of internal conversion. It builds the identity and integrity of a human being. It allows an individual to find himself and his vocation to live the Divine Life. Finally, it remains the only obvious way of an individual's personal development, the aim of which is to reach human holiness. Our responsibility to freedom is also constantly strengthened by this sacrament.

THE PERSON OF PRESBYTER IN THE TEACHING OF JOHN PAUL II ON THE BASIS OF HIS HOMILIES DELIVERED DURING THE HOLY ORDINATION OF THE PRESBYTERATE
The article presents the analysis of the contents of John Paul II's homilies which relate to the issues concerning the identity of the presbyter. Following the Pope's thought one can notice the emphasis of the fact that the presbyter participates in the mission of Christ Himself. The participation in the mission consists in fulfilling His perfect sacrifice, celebrating all the sacraments and preaching the Gospel. The presbyter holds the ministry in the person of Christ - in persona Christi - meaning it is done by God Himself. This participation in Christ's mission is guaranteed by the laying on of hands, in which way the first disciples of the Master appointed their helpers and successors. Thus, the identity of the presbyter is shaped by a strong bond with God and His salvation. To fulfill the salvation the presbyter must efface himself and let Jesus be the master of his gestures, words and deeds. Life in such a close relationship with Christ is a great mystery of God's plan who entrusts Himself to weak and sinful people. Such reality is a great gift for anyone who, thanks to the works of the priest, can directly experience intimacy with God and His saving acts. It is also a gift for the presbyter himself who, despite his fragility, is blessed with a special friendship with Jesus Christ. The one chosen to priesthood is marked with a lasting seal of priestly ordination meaning that he becomes God's beloved servant forever, regardless of his current spiritual condition. Such a lifelong honor and commitment may at the same time fill the presbyter with fear because of his own littleness and imperfection. Nevertheless, the presbyter, trusting the efficacy of the words from the ordination ritual "And I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (cf. Phlp 1,6) can fulfill the ministry, devoting himself to Christ with trust.

Person and Tasks of the Preacher as specified in Verbum Domini and Evangelii Gaudium
Summary
Proclaiming the word of God is one of the fundamental tasks of the Church in preaching the salvific message of the Christ. It is the ministry which is effectuated in the Church community and at the command of the Church. The ministry of preaching the word of God includes: conferences, sermons, catecheses and homily. In this ministry the homily, which is contained in the strictly defined frames and which is included in the liturgical space, occupies a special place. According to the preaching of the Magisterium of the Church included in theological massage and documents of the Church this task is entrusted only to the ordained ministers: deacons, presbyters and bishops. The discussed exhortations remind the homilists about their special duties arising from the office that was entrusted to them. These duties start not only from intellectual but also from the spiritual formation. While preparing the homily the homilist must take into account a number of aspects of preaching the homily. First the homilist himself must become a disciple listening attentively to his Master in order to deliver His words considering the whole teaching of the Church, on behalf of which he speaks. In the last years the whole Church, taking into consideration the difficulties it has perceived as well as more and more frequent weakness of the homily, attended to this problem by convening, at the wish of the Pope, the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The results of the synodal proceedings were post-synodal apostolic exhortations of Pope Benedict the XVI and Pope Francis, which describe the place and the role of the word of God in the life and mission of the Church. The exhortations discussed in this dissertation are Verbum Domini and Evangelii gaudium. These documents once again remind the teaching of the Church concerning the place of the homily in liturgical space and point out the measures that should be taken into consideration by the homilists (those who preach the word of God in the liturgy) in creation of the homiletic unit. All undertaken activities shall take into account updating the word of God, which brings understanding of the biblical message to the listeners and helps them to integrate it into their everyday Christian life, bringing them closer to God. The effective sign of working of the word of God is not only its influence on the congregation, but, firstly, on the homilist himself. The effectiveness of preaching of the word of God depends not so much on the skill of the homilist, as on the testimony of his unification with the word of God.