School catechesis as a contribution to the institutional educational project and consolidation of the school as an ecclesial place

Abstract

This article examines how school catechesis in Catholic schools contributes to the Institutional Educational Project (IEP) and to consolidating the educational community as an ecclesial locus, in light of the Directory for Catechesis (2020) and the Guidelines for Renewing the Catechesis of Christian Initiation in Chile (2025). Within this framework, catechesis is conceived as a pastoral dimension that is not limited to sacramental preparation but fosters the encounter with Christ, dialogue between faith and culture, and community life. Employing a qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews and focus groups, the article analyzes the perceptions of coordinators and catechists regarding this relationship, highlighting both progress and areas for improvement in integrating catechesis into the IEP. The findings underscore that the educational community becomes a truly ecclesial locus when it remains faithful to its own IEP, within which school catechesis plays a central role in the Church’s evangelizing mission in response to contemporary challenges.