Education for the faith in Malta : a parish and school enterprise

Abstract

This paper seeks to demonstrate how in Malta the education for the faith of children is a joint venture between the parish and the school through catechesis and Religious Education respectively. Catechesis unfolds in the realm of the parish while Religious Education in a subject taught in schools. The unique Maltese setup allows for the teaching of the Catholic Religion in all schools including State funded schools, thus catechesis and Religious Education are not seen as mutually excluding each other but as two distinct but complementary modes of education for the faith of children. The paper seeks to highlight the distinct aims of catechesis and of Religious Education, and the differences between the two modes of education for the faith, thus showing how they are distinct and complementary but nonetheless contribute to the holistic education for the faith of children.