Catechist InitialCatechist InitialFormation DayFormation Day

Religious Education Religious Education OfficeOfficeof theof the

Diocese of JolietDiocese of Joliet

WelcomeWelcome

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon

…and thank you for answering the call to join the apostolic mission of the Church!

IntroductionIntroductionss

In your table groups:

-Name-Parish-Grade/age level

Who Am I ?Who Am I ?

A little about me, your presenter, A little about me, your presenter, and why I am dedicated the and why I am dedicated the ministry of forming catechists…ministry of forming catechists…

Overview of the DayOverview of the DayToday is an opportunity to:

•Discover who you are as a catechist.

•Understand your role in relationship to Christ, the Church and your learners.

•Observe catechetical methods you can actually take home and use.

•Continue your own lifelong faith formation - your best qualification for sharing faith with others.

How will we do How will we do this?this?

Presentation

Reflection

Discussion

A Catechist’s PrayerA Catechist’s Prayer

Whom do YOU Whom do YOU teach?teach?

Jesus callsJesus callsthe first disciplesthe first disciples

• How did Jesus get How did Jesus get the attention of the attention of the disciples?the disciples?

• What allowed the What allowed the disciples to hear disciples to hear and respond to and respond to Jesus’ call?Jesus’ call?

Luke 5: 1-11; 8: 1-3

““Called…”Called…”

Your story: Your story:

How were YOU How were YOU called to serve called to serve

as a catechist?as a catechist?

Called by our Called by our baptism…baptism…

• We participate in the life of Christ, We participate in the life of Christ, connected to the community of connected to the community of believers in all times and places.believers in all times and places.

• We have the privilege of serving We have the privilege of serving others by sharing our faith.others by sharing our faith.

• This is how the Church continues This is how the Church continues

from age to age.from age to age.

““Called to Proclaim”Called to Proclaim”

A CATECHIST IS…A CATECHIST IS…

Catechesis is…Catechesis is…ECHOING THE FAITHECHOING THE FAITH

Authenticity & the Authenticity & the CatechistCatechist

• You cannot give what You cannot give what you do not have! You you do not have! You must attend to your must attend to your own spirituality!own spirituality!

• Openness to God, the Openness to God, the Church & the WorldChurch & the World

• Your life should be an Your life should be an example of faith in example of faith in ALL things.ALL things.

The New EvangelizationThe New Evangelization Term originated with Term originated with

Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II. .

It refers to the need to It refers to the need to preach the Gospel in a preach the Gospel in a new way, especially to new way, especially to

those who live in a those who live in a traditionally Christian traditionally Christian country and think of country and think of

themselves as Christians, themselves as Christians, but who in reality have a but who in reality have a

secular secular humanist humanist outlook.outlook.

Where do we get guidance Where do we get guidance today to form people in today to form people in faith?faith?

General Directory for General Directory for CatechesisCatechesis (1997) – for (1997) – for the world (from Rome)the world (from Rome)

National Directory for National Directory for CatechesisCatechesis (2005) – for (2005) – for the United States (from the the United States (from the US Catholic Bishops)US Catholic Bishops)

The Goal of all The Goal of all Catechesis: Catechesis:

"The definitive aim "The definitive aim

of catechesis is to of catechesis is to put people not put people not only in touch, but only in touch, but also in communion also in communion and intimacy, with and intimacy, with

Jesus Christ". Jesus Christ".

((GDCGDC #80)#80)

The Six Tasks of The Six Tasks of CatechesisCatechesis

From the NDC:

1.Promoting knowledge of the faith2.Liturgical formation3.Moral formation4.Teaching to pray5.Education for community life6.Missionary initiation

The The GDCGDC & the & the NDCNDCcall catechists to…call catechists to…

•RECEIVE our learnersRECEIVE our learners““They are special gifts given to us” – we They are special gifts given to us” – we walk with them.walk with them.

•PROCLAIM just like Jesus PROCLAIM just like Jesus ““that God is alive and active in the that God is alive and active in the worldworld

•ALLOW the person to encounter ALLOW the person to encounter God - God - we are the facilitators: the Holy we are the facilitators: the Holy Spirit is responsible. We do not Spirit is responsible. We do not makemake faith happen.faith happen.

The catechetical times The catechetical times have been a-changing…have been a-changing…

1960

Just the facts

1970

God is love!

1980

Home made

1990

Curriculum

2000

Experience Curriculu

m& Experienc

eTODAY

CCD Religious Education Faith Formation

Why is Catechesis more Why is Catechesis more difficult today?difficult today?

In the past, our work at the parish with children & youth was supported by:

1. Family

2. Community

3. Culture

That support is virtually gone today!

The Challenge of CultureThe Challenge of Culture

USE ANY MEANS FROM THE USE ANY MEANS FROM THE CULTURE CULTURE

to reach those you catechize:to reach those you catechize:

UseUse “media, audio, video, the printed word, “media, audio, video, the printed word, computers all the gifts of technology” and computers all the gifts of technology” and any other resource or means of any other resource or means of communication (NDC)communication (NDC)

……from the culture of the from the culture of the

learners – learners – notnot just from just from

your own comfort zone!your own comfort zone!

A Word about A Word about MethodologyMethodology

What do people remember the most?What do people remember the most?

Lecture (5%)Lecture (5%)

Reading (10%)Reading (10%)

Audiovisual (20%)Audiovisual (20%)

Demonstration (30%)Demonstration (30%)

Discussion Groups (50%)Discussion Groups (50%)

Practice by Doing (75%)Practice by Doing (75%)

Teaching Others & Immediate Use of Learning Teaching Others & Immediate Use of Learning (90%)(90%)

(Joseph White, PhD)(Joseph White, PhD)

Where do we get the content Where do we get the content of what we teach?of what we teach?

Scripture, Tradition, Scripture, Tradition, Church teaching – Church teaching – interpreted in:interpreted in:

• Catechism of the Catechism of the Catholic ChurchCatholic Church – 1997. – 1997.

• Approved textbooks – Approved textbooks –

in Conformity with the in Conformity with the Catechism Catechism – USCCB list.– USCCB list.

• Diocese of Joliet Diocese of Joliet Faith Faith Formation CurriculumFormation Curriculum & & StandardsStandards- 2005- 2005

NEXT: ROLES OF TODAY’s NEXT: ROLES OF TODAY’s CATECHISTCATECHIST

•Teacher-CompanionTeacher-Companion

•Leader of PrayerLeader of Prayer

•StorytellerStoryteller

•Witness for Catholic Witness for Catholic Social JusticeSocial Justice

BREAK BREAK

CATECHIST AS CATECHIST AS TEACHER-COMPANIONTEACHER-COMPANION

What did YOU hear?What did YOU hear?

How did YOU respond to How did YOU respond to Jesus?Jesus?

Journal ActivityJournal Activity

CATECHIST ASCATECHIST ASLEADER OF PRAYERLEADER OF PRAYER

Prayer Table or “Focus”Prayer Table or “Focus”

What NOT to do with a What NOT to do with a Prayer Space….Prayer Space….

Use Different Types of Use Different Types of Prayer Prayer

Prayer may be VocalMeditativeContemplative

It may consist of Blessing /AdorationPetition

/IntercessionPraiseThanksgiving

It may use Scripture, music, gesture, ritual, symbol

and silence

A note on prayer with A note on prayer with children & youthchildren & youth

Involve the students inplanning prayer experiences

Pray at their appropriate level of understanding

When possible, use experiences that speak to the culture of the students

Peace PrayerPeace PrayerPeace before usPeace before usPeace behind usPeace behind usPeace under our feetPeace under our feetPeace within usPeace within usPeace over usPeace over usLet all around us be peaceLet all around us be peace

(additional verses: Love… Christ…)(additional verses: Love… Christ…)

CATECHIST AS CATECHIST AS STORYTELLERSTORYTELLER

Jesus was a Jesus was a storytellerstoryteller

Using Your Own StoriesUsing Your Own Stories

Stories from real life can always be used to illustrate a faith concept. These witness to how God is active in everyday things.

Scripture: Story of God’s Scripture: Story of God’s LoveLove

Don’t be afraid of Scripture. The Bible is quite simply the story of how God loved his people from Creation until the time the Bible was assembled into the version we have today.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Yes, Virginia, there is a CATHOLIC Bible!CATHOLIC Bible!

Catholic Bibles have more books than a Protestant Bible. We include the “Apocryphal” books, removed by Martin Luther.

Best Bible to use in faith formation class is the New American Bible (NAB), the one we hear at Mass, or if the reading level is too difficult, be sure the title page says it is a Catholic version.

For younger students, a good Bible storybook is appropriate.

How Scripture was How Scripture was WrittenWritten

God is the AUTHOR of all Scripture, but there were human writers, who lived in a culture at a particular time and place and were talking to a particular audience in a context that is helpful to understand.

Catholic Interpretation Catholic Interpretation of Scriptureof Scripture

Catholics are NOT “fundamentalists” – the Bible text is never the only place to look for help in understanding it. A good Catholic Bible has FOOTNOTES that refer to other places besides the Bible itself.

Catholics use history, scientific & archaeological evidence, culture studies, studies of literary form and a variety of interpretative techniques. We also look at how the scripture has been used in the Church for clues to a passage’s meaning.

Context for Context for Catholic Social JusticeCatholic Social Justice

• The BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

• The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments

• The Corporal and The Corporal and

Spiritual Works of MercySpiritual Works of Mercy

The BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3-10

The Works of MercyThe Works of Mercy• Feed the hungryFeed the hungry

• Give drink to the thirstyGive drink to the thirsty

• Clothe the nakedClothe the naked

• Visit the imprisonedVisit the imprisoned

• Shelter the homelessShelter the homeless

• Visit the sickVisit the sick

• Bury the deadBury the dead““Corporal Works of Mercy”Corporal Works of Mercy”

• Admonish the sinnerAdmonish the sinner

• Instruct the ignorantInstruct the ignorant

• Counsel the doubtfulCounsel the doubtful

• Comfort the sorrowfulComfort the sorrowful

• Bear wrongs patientlyBear wrongs patiently

• Forgive all injuriesForgive all injuries

• Pray for the living & the deadPray for the living & the dead

““Spiritual Works of Mercy”Spiritual Works of Mercy”

What We Learned:What We Learned:A Catechist is…A Catechist is…

A teacher, a companion – like Jesus during his ministry on earth.

A leader of prayer who helps others connect with God through good leadership and meaningful ritual.

Always, a witness of justice, peace & mercy in our world.

A storyteller, able to recognize where God acts in his/her life and tell others so they can look for signs of God in their own lives… who understands how to read Scripture in a Catholic way.

A Catechist I will A Catechist I will Always Remember….Always Remember….

You are not ALONE…You are not ALONE…

How you can allow the How you can allow the Spirit to work in your Spirit to work in your classroom…classroom…Ask questions that invite reflection

Tell Lots of faith stories, use images, examples and creative activities

Encourage learners to “look and see” for themselves

Invite learners to make decisions to live their faith

In Your Folder . . .In Your Folder . . .

• Resources & small giftsResources & small gifts• Catechist formation & Catechist formation &

certificationcertification• Evaluation – please Evaluation – please

complete!complete!• Pick up your Catechist’s Pick up your Catechist’s

Record of FormationRecord of Formation• Create your online portfolio; Create your online portfolio;

enter 4 hours under enter 4 hours under Ongoing Formation (only 2 Ongoing Formation (only 2 more hours needed this more hours needed this year!)year!)

Questions?Questions?

Closing PrayerClosing Prayer

MAY GOD BLESS YOU MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS!ALWAYS!