ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on religious education from the perspective of the Christian, Catholic faith community. It explores the ecclesiology of communion and refers in particular the vision of Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium. The chapter reviews the theology of Church as communion - a community of faith, bonded by the Spirit so that together they are the body of the risen Christ in the world. It considers the implications of viewing the practice of religious education as participation in structural reform. The chapter also reviews consistently to the understanding of religious education presented in Share the Good News: The National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland, published by the Episcopal Conference in 2010. The new curriculum for preschool and primary religious education in Ireland offers a robust Christian education in the classroom as a support to the faith development in homes and parishes.
