The Lay Catechist’s Spirituality as Perceived by Society Today

U radu su opisane odrednice identiteta vjeroučitelja laika na temelju teorijske teološko–katehetske literature te navedeni pokazatelji dosadašnjih istraživanja na tom području. Sagledavanje pojma vjeroučiteljeva identiteta odnosi se na njegovu poziciju crkvenog poslanika i dionika hrvatskog školskog sustava u koji ulaze sadržaji katoličke vjere, religioznog odgoja i kulture. Kako bi se navedene odrednice mogle odjelotvoriti u odgojno–obrazovnom procesu, vjeroučitelja se promatra kao snažnu i duhovnu osobu koja autentičnim životom svjedoči vjeru i doseže zadana obrazovna postignuća u okviru nastave katoličkog vjeronauka. Kršćanska duhovnost u ovom radu predstavlja ishodište duhovnosti vjeroučitelja laika. Teorijska istraživanja sintetiziraju mnogostruke karakteristike vjeroučiteljeve duhovnosti, od kojih je primarna tzv. funkcionalna duhovnost (spiritualità funzionale) koja ga bitno određuje, a svojstvena je vjeroučiteljevoj službi u školi i župnoj zajednici. Kvalitativno istraživanje provedeno metodom dubinskih intervjua, opisanih u ovom radu, te metodološki postupci transkripcije, redukcije i prikaza podataka omogućuju dublje razumijevanje percepcije vlastite duhovnosti vjeroučitelja laika u današnjem društvu. Navedeno kvalitativno istraživanje predstavlja iskorak u odnosu na dosadašnja istraživanja jer podatci dobiveni dubinskim intervjuom donose inovativne spoznaje o duhovnosti vjeroučitelja u Republici Hrvatskoj.The article describes the determinants of the lay catechist’s identity based on theoretical theological–catechetical literature. Also cited are indicators of research done up to the present time in this area. This approach to the concept of the catechist’s identity pertains to his position as an emissary of the Church and participant in the Croatian school system into which content of the Catholic faith, religious upbringing and culture have gained entrance. In order that the cited determinants may be applied in the education process, the catechist is regarded as a strong and spiritual person whose authentic life is a testimony of faith and who accomplishes educational tasks within the framework of Catholic catechism class. Christian spirituality represents in this article the fountainhead of the lay catechist’s spirituality. Theoretical research synthesizes the manifold characteristics of the catechist’s spirituality among which the primary characteristic is functional spirituality, or ‘spiritualità funzionale’ as it is called, and which essentially determines the person, as well as being inherent in the catechist’s ministry both in the school and parish community. Qualitative research carried out by means of the in–depth interview method as described in this essay, and also methodological procedures such as transcription, reduction and presentation of data make possible a deeper understanding of the lay catechist’s spirituality as perceived by society today. The above–mentioned qualitative research represents a departure from research done up until now because data gained through the in–depth interview conveys innovative knowledge regarding the Croatian catechist’s spirituality in the Republic of Croatia