Religious education and catechesis of the synodal church: a polarisation, an aeropagus, and an oasis in the artificial intelligence era

In the opening reflections of Antiqua et Nova, a recent publication by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Culture, and Education, Father Francis pointed out the need for faith educators to approach technology with wisdom and discernment. Invariably, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced both opportunities and challenges in the fields of education and catechesis. The call to collaborate as educators in higher education is being increasingly understood as a commitment to faith formation. Within this context, the digital era has brought about several engaging discourses among lecturers, particularly concerning contextual approaches to teaching. This study aims to thoroughly explore the implications of catechetical formation within each higher education institution, adopting a qualitative design that uses interview methods and is supported by data collected using Google Forms. Thirty-six lecturers teaching catechesis from 36 different Catholic higher education institutions served as the primary respondents in this investigation. Accordingly, the obtained results showed, first, the identity of catechists as witnesses, mystagogues, and faith educators in the AI era. Second, the correlation between catechesis of synodal church, communion, participation, and mission. Third, the engagement of catechesis and synodality with concepts such as ‘polarization’, ‘aeropagus’, and ‘oasis’ in the age of AI. Fourth, the dynamic relationship between synodal catechesis, habitus, and polarisation within contemporary digital landscapes.