KATEKEO, from the Greek word κατηχέω (katēkhéō) which means to sound through, to instruct orally or to catechize is from two words κατά (kata) which means “down” and ἠχή (ēkhḗ) meaning “sound”.
The Katekeo Movement is an offshoot of the YOUCAT initiatives in the Philippines and the strong desire to augment the need for sound catechetical instructions not only for young people but also for adults. The practical goal of this movement is to provide an effective instrument for creatively handing on the Catholic Faith to people – by words and deeds – and to contribute effectively to a Renewed Integral Evangelization.
Founded by the former National Director of YOUCAT Philippines, Fr. Richard Lagos together with its first 12 founding members in 2021, Katekeo Movement envisions a Christ-centered community of evangelizers living the fullness of life whose mission is to live with Christ in the peripheries. Each member is called to live the movement’s four core values to be effective and credible evangelizers. These core values are summarized in one word: E.C.H.O. which stands for Empathy, Charity, Humility and Openness.
About
CORE VALUES
EMPATHY
Empathy is the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation. After the example of the Emmanuel – the God with us – each member of the movement is being formed to contemplate the mystery and live the spirituality of incarnation. In order to do so, the Kenosis or “self-emptying” in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is imperative in the daily examen of each member.
CHARITY
Charity in Christian thought is the highest form of love, signifying the reciprocal love between God and man that is made manifest in unselfish love of one's fellow men. It has been a constant reminder of Our Lord to His disciples, “they will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). This is the measure of a true evangelizing community by which every member of the movement should guard and maintain.
HUMILITY
Humility is a quality by which a person considering his own defects has a lowly opinion of himself and willingly submits himself to God and to others for God's sake. According to St. Thomas, humility consists in keeping oneself within one's own bounds, not reaching out to things above one, but submitting to one's superior" (Summa Contra Gent., bk. IV, ch. lv, tr. Rickaby). The credibility and authenticity of each member of the Katekeo as witness is found in this virtue.
OPENNESS
Openness is another term for availability which can be understood as being at hand, or handiness, so that a person is ready to respond to another when called upon. To evangelize is to be like in a state of emergency. Every member of the movement shares with the sentiment of Paul when he said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Preaching the Gospel entails greater generosity, availability and openness on the part of the member of the movement. The sense of readiness to respond all the time when someone is in need to hear the Word of God must be visible to each member.
