Pope Francis has recognised catechists as ministers of the Church, which is nice. Formerly they were mostly nuns, who didn’t expect, or get, formal status. Yet there’s a patent divide between people who were lucky enough to be catechised by nuns in their sacramental preparation, normally at school, and those who aren’t. It varies from parish to parish but in my experience their place has been taken by well-meaning amateurs, mostly volunteer parents, who are almost all unqualified to teach.

It’s one reason why our sacramental preparation is often so dire. In the case of Confirmation, it’s probably the last chance the Church has to teach young people what they’re meant to be professing, but while it’s sometimes done well – some parishes are lucky to have brilliant lay catechists – it’s inherently flawed. I recall one dismal programme which was light on doctrinal content but included an embarrassing American film featuring teenagers trying to make their faith seem relevant to other teenagers. The First Communion sessions included filling in words in the gaps in word games and colouring in holy pictures.