Transcript Parish Catechetical Leader Training

Parish Catechetical Leader Training
Diocese of
Springfield-Cape Girardeau
What is catechesis?
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Scripture
Church documents
On Catechesis in our Time (encyclical of JPII)
 The General Directory for Catechesis
 The National Directory for Catechesis
 The Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Matthew 28:18-20
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All power in heaven and on earth has been given
to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you. And behold I am with you
always, until the end of the age.
On Catechesis in Our Time
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Catechesis is an education in the faith of children,
young people and adults which includes
especially the teaching of Christian doctrine
imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and
systematic way, with a view to initiating the
hearers into the fullness of Christian life –Pope
John Paul II
Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Quite early on, the name catechesis was given to
the totality of the Church's efforts to make
disciples, to help men believe that Jesus is the
Son of God so that believing they may have life
in his name, and to educate and instruct them in
this life, thus building up the Body of Christ.
(#4)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Catechesis aims at putting people …in
communion…with Jesus Christ: only he can
lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and
make us share in the life of the Trinity. (#426)
The General Directory for Catechesis
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Catechesis is one of the moments--a very
remarkable one--in the process of
evangelization. (#63)
The General Directory for Catechesis
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“Authentic Catechesis is always an orderly and
systematic initiation into the revelation that God
has given of himself to humanity in Christ Jesus,
a revelation stored in the depths of the
Church’s memory and in Sacred Scripture, and
constantly communicated from one generation
to the next by a living active traditio.” (#66)
Write down your definition
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Catechesis is….
Objective of Catechesis
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To put people in communion and intimacy with
Jesus Christ (#80 GDC)
Tasks of Catechesis
(#85 GDC)
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To promote knowledge of the faith.
To promote meaningful participation in
liturgical worship and the sacramental life of
the Church (liturgical education)
To integrate moral formation into a Christian
way of life.
Tasks of Catechesis
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To teach how to pray with Christ, in Christ
and in communion with the Church.
To initiate the Christian into the life of the
local church community and foster active
participation in the mission of the church.
(educate for community life.)
To promote a missionary spirit that prepared
Christians to witness to Christ in society.
(missionary initiation)
How is your parish doing?
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List examples of how the parish catechetical
program is achieving the objective and these
tasks of catechesis.
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Where is there room for improvement?
The National Directory for Catechesis
Catechesis is Christ centered:
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Explicitly and consistently proclaim the name,
teaching, promises and mystery of Jesus Christ,
as well as his announcement of the coming
Reign of God.
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Develop through effective teaching, adult faith
formation, and catechist formation programs,
the personal relationship that Jesus has initiated
with each of his disciples.
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Promote conversion to Jesus Christ and
communion with him through the sacraments,
especially the Holy Eucharist.
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Teach, in a way that can be understood by
specific cultures, that Christ is the ultimate
meaning and purpose of history; and provide
programs that help all who catechize to present
the teaching of Christ “about God, man,
happiness, the moral life, death, etc. without in
any way changing his thought.”
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Help all who catechize to understand that, like
Jesus, their teaching is not their own but, rather,
comes from God.
Question:
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Is your parish catechetical program Christ
centered? Name one specific way it could be
improved, and decide how that could be
implemented.
Parish catechetical programs need to
include the following elements:
Message
Prayer and
Worship
Mission
Moral Formation
Community
Service and
Justice
Message
Scripture and the teachings of the
Church are to be presented within the
context of the faith story of each
person, the culture and capacity of the
learner.
Prayer and Worship
Learners should be exposed to many
forms of prayer and worship to help
them become persons who are in love
with Jesus and who have the ability to
to participate fully, consciously and
actively in the liturgical and
sacramental life of the Church.
Community
Christian community is formed through
interaction, faith sharing and
genuine care for each other.
Service and Justice
Students are to be exposed to the
call to service and justice, which is
inherent in the message of Jesus and
the teachings of the Church.
Moral Formation
Moral formation is necessary so that the
students learn how to apply the
teachings of Christ to their lives. We
need to help them learn how to live the
Catholic Christian way of life, which is
more than avoiding evil.
Mission
How will your parish spread the
Good News? While not all are
called to work in foreign lands, all
are called to invite others, in
various ways, to a relationship with
the Lord.
Catechetical Ministry in the Parish
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Parish
Pastor
Parents
Catechists
Catechetical Plan
Religious Education committee or commission
Catholic School
Principal
Parish Catechetical Leader (DRE/CRE)
Catechist Certification
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Parish Catechetical Leaders
All catechists should be working on it
PSR, Catholic Schools, RCIA, Youth, Adult
Formation
Information on diocesan web site or at diocese
Survey catechetical needs
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Survey at Mass
Parent survey or feedback
Assessment tools for program participants
Religious Education committee, board
Catechists
Pastor, Principal
Setting Goals
After needs assessment
Look back at tasks of catechesis
Examine resources available (time, people, money)
Set short term and long term goals
EVALUATE and re-prioritize
Reflection, re-assessment, evaluation is essential!
Three important tools
Budget
 Calendar
 Resource Library
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Working with Volunteers
Discover
Select
Discern
Catechist
Recognize
Orient
Train
Support
Catechist Recruitment
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Job description
Ongoing recruitment, all year long
Be known for excellence
Continually support. BE POSITIVE
Help volunteers reflect on their performance
and call
Appreciate!
Once you have a volunteer:
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Application
Clear expectations
Virtus training (safe environment)
Background screening: through diocese, call
references, review application
Ongoing training
Observation, feedback from parents and
students
Curriculum
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Consult diocese before you
select for any program: PSR,
sacramental preparation,
RCIA
Consult diocesan website
Why? Diocese has approved
textbook list, guidelines,
feedback from others, FREE
copies, publishers
Safe Environment
Follow diocesan policy
 Be the enforcer, record keeper or know
who is
 Be observant, vigilant
 Ask if you aren’t sure
 Report any concerns
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Safety issues
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Volunteer selection and screening
Safe Environment policy
Insurance-risk management issues
Supervision
Medical concerns
Fire, weather emergencies
Discipline
Safety issues
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Sexual Harassment
Counseling students
Privacy of students, families
Pick up and drop off procedures
Playground safety
Field trips
Permission forms
Transportation
Sacramental Preparation
It is essential to have some training in
sacramental theology.
 Read diocesan policy.
 Discuss with your pastor, evaluate each
year.
 PLAN AHEAD
 It does get easier!
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What is Sacramental Prep?
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Normally, First Reconciliation and First
Eucharist
Sometimes Confirmation
RCIA
Infant Baptism
Marriage
Ongoing catechesis on Holy Orders, Anointing
What to include?
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Catechesis for children always includes
catechesis for the parents
Catechesis should also happen at home-the
parish needs to help parents with this
“Break open” the rituals, celebrate rituals
Sacraments are celebrated, not just received
The parish catechizes, and we catechize the
parish
Other considerations
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Offer an organized, but not rigid program, with
schedules given to families far in advance
Make adaptations and allowances for individual
circumstances and needs
Be welcoming, approachable, joyful and
reconciling
Don’t be afraid to call families to become more
Celebrate the sacraments well, get help, help the
priest
Initiation for Children
It is very messy
 Get help from diocesan office
 Be approachable and welcoming
 Be creative
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Adults
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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Faith Formation
Sacramental catechesis
Small groups
Bible Study
Book discussions
lectures, DVDs, movie nights …
Family Centered
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Verbal and written communication stresses
partnership between parents and parish
Encourage active contact with parents
Be sensitive to family situations and structures
Celebrate and affirm cultural experiences
Sacramental preparation is a family event (even
RCIA)
Family life curriculum should be part of all
catechesis
Family Centered
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Parents should know what their children are
learning, and help re-enforce the learning at
home
Invite, affirm and encourage participation
Regularly communicate with families
Offer periodic family and/or parent sessions
Plan/schedule parish activities with the family in
mind
Family Centered
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Follow up with families who are not present
Follow up with families who begin and drop out
Ask for and encourage evaluation and feedback
Provide free child care for those who volunteer
Provide free child care for parent meetings
Allow families to eat together instead of going to parish
meetings
Help families learn how to pray together and
communicate with each other
Liturgy
Know the liturgical documents, discuss
with your pastor
 Celebrate liturgies well
 Involve families
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Human Sexuality
 Read
diocesan policy
 Incorporate into catechetical programs
It may not be necessary to have
separate program.
Special Needs
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Recognize the special needs of adults and
children in the catechetical programs
Ask for this information at registration
(confidential)
Work with parents, public school teachers,
doctors, if necessary
Make accommodations graciously
Check with diocesan office, church documents
Plan of Action
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Identify two personal goals:
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How will these be achieved?
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When?
Plan of Action for Parish
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Identify three areas for improvement:
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What are your next steps?
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Establish a time line for your action plan:
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Begin formulating an action plan for the next 35 years
O Word of God,
May the works of our hands
and hearts prosper.
Make us towers of strength
that can withstand all of the
buffeting winds
encountered during the
coming year.
May we be beautiful in your
eyes, a beacon of hope for
all who seek to know you.
Bless our labor, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
Bring those whom we
catechize to faith in Jesus’
name.
Amen.