Transcript Document

Introduction
Vision
• “The Vision for
Catechesis is totally
bound up in the
missionary mandate of
the church to go and
make disciples
Christ is the
Center
• Teaching Christ
• Teachings of
Christ
“Catechesis is the
word used to describe
this essential ministry
of the church through
which the teachings of
Christ have been
passed on to believers
throughout the ages.”
The Lineage of the
Directory
• Vatican II
• General Catechetical
Directory (1971)
Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults
(1972-74)
Evangelii Nuntiandi
(1975)
Lineage Cont’d
• National Catechetical Directory
(1979)
Catechesi Tradendae (1979)
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
(1992-94)
• General Directory for Catechesis
(1997)
• National Directory for Catechesis
(2005)
• US Catholic Catechism for Adults
(200?)
• Signs of Vitality
• Challenges
Purpose of a Directory
• To provide fundamental
theological and pastoral
principles
• To offer guidelines
• To set forth the nature,
purpose, object, task, basic
content, methodologies
Proclaiming
the Gospel in the
United States
Chapter 1
“The circumstances in
which the catechetical
process takes place
condition both the
reception of the
Gospel and the
response to it.”
Diversity
• Religious Diversity
• Cultural Diversity
• Diversity within the
church
–Ethnic
–Autonomous churches
• Regional
American Catholics
• Demographics
• Personnel
• Families and
Home
Catechesis Within
the church’s
Mission of
Evangelization
Chapter 2
• Evangelization is
in fact the grace
and vocation
proper to the
church, her
deepest identity.
She exists to
evangelize.
Dynamics of Evangelization
Preevangelization
Missionary
Activity
Permanent
Continuing
Catechesis
Mystagogy
Initiatory
Catechesis
Catechesis—
An essential moment in
the Church’s Mission of
Evangelization
• Nature and Purpose—to
mature initial conversion,
to make it into a living,
explicit and fruitful
confession of faith.
• Initiatory and Ongoing
Catechesis
Six Tasks of Catechesis
• Knowledge of the Faith
• Knowledge of the meaning of
Liturgy and the sacraments
• Moral Formation in Christ
• Teaching the Christian how to
pray with Christ
• Prepare Christian to Live in
Community and participate
actively in the life and mission of
the Church
• Promotes Missionary Spirit
Inculturation
• The insertion of the
Gospel message into
cultures
• “A faith that does
not become culture
–is not fully accepted,
–not entirely thought
out,
–not faithfully lived.”
John Paul II
Definition
• “The penetration of the
deepest strata of persons
and peoples by the Gospel
which touches them deeply,
‘going to the very center and
roots’ (EN 20) of their
cultures” (#109)
• A Double Movement of
Mutuality
Christian Faith
Local
Culture
Principles for Inculturation
• Compatibility with the
Gospel
• Communion with the
Universal Church
Basic Principles of
Catechesis
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•
•
•
Sacred Scripture
Catechism of the Catholic Church
National Directory for Catechesis
The General Directory for
Catechesis
– Magisterium of the Church
– Second Vatican Council
– Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us
This is Our Faith;
This Is the
Faith of the Church
Chapter 3
• “The presentation of
the Gospels should be
done in such a way as
to elicit an encounter
with Christ, who
provides the key to the
whole biblical
revelation and
communicates the call
of God that summons
each one to respond.”
• Catechesis must be centered in
the Gospel because “Jesus
Christ is their center.”
• Jesus is the definitive
Revelation of God
• Gospel message proceeds
through Christ, to the Father, in
the Holy Spirit
• Leads to profession of faith in
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Trinitarian Character of
the Christian Message
• Central mystery of
Christian Faith and Life
• Moral implications for
Christians gathered into
the unity of the Holy
Trinity
Evangelization
• Christ’s message of
liberation is situated
within “the specifically
religious objective of
evangelization.”
Inculturation of the
Christian Message
• Process that brings the
transforming power of
the Gospel to touch
persons in their hearts
and cultures at their
deepest levels.
Catechesis
in a
Worshiping
Community
Chapter 5
Catechesis in a
Worshiping Community
“…faith gathers the community for
worship, and worship renews the
faith of the community.”
Second Vatican Council clearly
identifies the rites of the Church
with the Paschal Mystery of Christ,
adequately integrated with the
Eucharist as the principal
celebration of that mystery
Baptismal Catechumenate:
Inspiration for All
Catechesis
• Inspires a continuing catechesis
• Gospel message engages the
culture of the catechumens –
take flesh
• Fruitful blend of instruction and
formation in the faith
• An admirable model for the
whole of the Church’s
catechetical efforts
Church: Sacramental
Reality
• “Ecclesial” aspects of the
church’s life
• Transformation of our
humanity
• Moments of reflection shared
with one another in
community
• Persons participate knowingly,
devoutly, and actively in the
sacraments
Catechesis and Liturgy
• Liturgy is inherently
catechetical
• It is not simply the
knowledge of God—one
comes to know the
living God
Adult Education for Life
• “In other words, sacramental
life is impoverished and very
soon turns into hollow
ritualism if it is not based on
serious knowledge of the
meaning of the sacraments,
and catechesis becomes
intellectualized if it fails to
come alive in sacramental
practice.”
• “When catechesis
is permeated by a
climate of prayer,
the assimilation of
the entire Christian
life reaches its
summit.”
Liturgical Year
• Catechesis for recognizing
God’s presence in time, for
keeping time holy, and for the
interiorization of the liturgical
year is directed to every
Christian
• Parish liturgies that allow this
to happen are essential
• Liturgy Committees that are
well formed for service
Sacred Art, Architecture,
and Music
• Turns human minds,
hearts, and souls towards
God
• Enhances prayer
• Creates an atmosphere
for communal worship
that gives glory and praise
to God
Catechesis for Life
in Christ
Chapter 6
Persons are made to Live in
Communion with God
We are born through the creative
energies of God present in the
procreative activities of a man and
a woman.
-story of life
-genes, culture, consciousness,
history
-supported and energized by
forces rooted in God (Scripture)
-filtered through nature, human
society
• Challenges to the Dignity
of the Human Person
-Right to life: abortion
and euthanasia,
Capital Punishment
-Biological and
technological
developments
-Treatment of immigrants
and illegal aliens
“Be holy, for I, the Lord,
your God, am holy.”
Lev.19:2
• Moral Formation in Christ
• The Human Community
• Moral Formation in the
Gospel Message
• Catechesis on the Decalogue
• Catechesis for life in Christ
stirs the heart, enlightens the
mind and it inspires the soul
- forms correct consciences
-choose what is morally
good
-avoid sin
-live according to the
promptings of the
Holy Spirit
Catechizing the
People of God
in Diverse Settings
Chapter 7
Catechesis Directed
Towards Discipleship
• Adult Catechesis
relates the content of faith
to life experience
–enables one to read the
signs of the times in light of
the Gospel
• Elderly
• Young Adults
–
Faith Development is
Lifelong
• Catechesis of Adolescents
• Profession of Faith
• Celebration of the Christian
Mystery
• Life in Christ and Christian
Prayer
• Comprehension Program of
Pastoral Ministry for Youth
Catechesis of Infants
and Children
• Parents’ role is irreplaceable
• Structured Catechesis
• Memorization, Ritual and the
use of senses in the study of
religion
Principles, Guidelines
for Presenting the
Gospel in Diverse
Setting
• Catechesis:
–Person with Disabilities
–Special Situation
Interreligious Dialogue
• The Unity of the Church
• Ecumenical Catechesis
• Catechesis in relation to
Jews
• Other Non-Christian
Religions
Those Who
Catechize
Chapter 8
All Members of the
Christian Community
Participate in the
Catechetical Mission
• Shared responsibility of Bishop
and Diocesan Staff
• Collaboration: priests,
deacons, religious and laity
Shared Responsibility
• Pastors and Parish Leadership
• Parents and Families
• Ministry of Catechesis
–Call
–Formation
–Ongoing Formation
Organizing
Catechetical
Ministry
Chapter 9
General Principles
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•
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•
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Part of an overall pastoral plan
Person centered
Supports the family as basic
Shared by all the members
Clear statement of goals,
accountability and communication
• Equitable distribution of resources
and services
• Flow from catechetical needs.
Structures
• “The organization of catechetical
pastoral care has as its reference point
the bishop and the diocese.”
• Bishop—management of catechesis
– Priority
– Personnel
– Global program
– Goals, structures to carry out
– Norms
• Catechetical Commission
Parish Community
• Parish Plan
• Parish Catechetical
Commission
Resources
Chapter 10
Written Word
• Scripture
• Catechism
• Textbooks
Communication Technology
and Catechesis
• The Impact of
Communications Media in
Catechesis
• Instruments of Catechesis
Break
Divine and Human
Methodology
Chapter 4
• “God’s own
methodology
engages persons and
communities in light
of their
circumstances and
their capacity to
accept and interpret
Revelation.”
Human Methodology
• Inductive Method
• Deductive Method
• “The deductive method,
however, has full value
only when the inductive
process is completed.
Human Experience
• Constituent element in
catechesis
• “Human experience
serves in the examination
and acceptance of the
truths which are
contained in the deposit
of revelation.” (#29, A)
Learning By
Discipleship
Adult Faith Formation
• Each parish a center for
adult faith formation.
• Our Hearts Were
Burning Within Us
Learning Within
Christian Community
Liturgy
• The parish serves as an effective
catechetical agent precisely to the
extent that it is a clear, living, and
authentic sacrament of Christ. On the
other hand, where a parish is lifeless
and stagnant, it undermines both
evangelization and catechesis. In
such a situation, no catechetical
“program” can be expected to
overcome the catechetical message
of the parish as a whole.”
Learning Within a
Christian Family
• “Because it is the ‘church
of the home’ the family
proves a unique locus for
catechesis.”
• Parents are primary
educators and first
heralds of the faith.
Learning Through the
Witness of the Catechists
Catechist Formation
• Next to home and family,
the witness of the catechist
may be pivotal in every
phase of the catechetical
process.
Learning By Heart
Elementary Catechesis
• The ability to express the one
faith in a language that can
be understood by all within
the cultural diversity of the
Church in the United States
not only deepens the
common understanding of the
faith but also forms an
indispensable condition for
living that faith.
Making A Commitment to
Live the Christian Life
Sacramental Formation
• “As a general condition of
Christian life, the faithful
actively respond to God’s
loving initiative through
praying; celebrating the
sacraments and the
Liturgy….”
Learning by Apprenticeship
Youth Catechesis
• It is a guided encounter
with the entire Christian
life, a journey toward
conversion to Christ.
Accountability and
Evaluation
• Catechetical programs should be
evaluated on a regular basis in
light of the stated goals and
objectives
• Goals and objectives evaluated
in light of catechetical needs and
available resources
• Norms and guidelines of the
NDC provide criteria for
evaluation.
Leadership
• The single most critical
factor in an effective parish
catechetical program is the
leadership of a
professionally trained
parish catechetical leader.