Content of Catechesis
description
Transcript of Content of Catechesis
How can we think about our message?
We will explore possible frameworks which might help
JP11: our teaching/sharing should be ‘a systematic teaching of doctrine’ and have ‘integrity of content’
Spend a few minutes thinking about your own life of faith. 5 mins ?
Good times? Bad times? Affirming experiences? Shattering experiences?
Doldrums? Ecstasies? Friendship? Euphoria?
Routine? Dull?.............................
What is MY vision?
My ‘ecclesial’ role – who / what am I speaking for?
What difference (if any) will that make to what I say?
Creed, code, celebration, community
Eichstatt 1963/4 ish
Groome: 1990s
Dunning: 1990s
4 major elements:
Bible
Church Teaching / Tradition
Witness / Experience
Celebration / Liturgy
OT and NT
Commentaries – informing yourself
Breaking the Word
Translations - which one ?
What form? Tatty bits of paper?
Written word or visual?
Helpful alternatives e.g. imaginative prayer
Older people not used to scripture reading
Bible stories
Keeping it fresh
Church windows
Teaching(s) / TraditionAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Doctrine: a treasure house of riches An An ‘and / and’ ‘and / and’ churchchurch
How to access this?How to access this?
Can be found in:
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
EncyclicalsCouncils of the Church Writings of the Church FathersWork of theologians
The original documents are easily accessed online
Simplified versions exist e.g. the Grail publications
Books such as Bill Huebsch (1997)
Look at the index.Find an interesting topicLook it upRead what is saidPay attention to the references
underneathTo translate the sources look at the
table in the beginning When were these sources written?
My StoriesOur stories – the Christian
communityWhat we do (Michael Warren)How we are Church
What we did: our communitiesWhat they did: our saints
Stories are the basic building blocks of religious belief
Experience per se is limited for all of us
Revelation in personal experience may be helpful but it’s dangerous to allow it to be the only source of faith
Celebration the work of God in our lives
Social - coffee after Mass etc
ReligiousEucharisticNon-eucharistic
Bible
Church Teaching / Tradition
Witness / Experience
Celebration / Liturgy
storytelling questioninga living community of faith traditionconversioncelebrationmission
‘Praxis’ What is your present story-experience-
praxis? What are your present vision-assumptions
behind your praxis? What is the Christian story-tradition vision? Dialogue (reflect/share/discuss) between
your own experience and the Christian tradition
What will your future story-experience-praxis be?
Balance and emphasis
Choose elements thinking about the aims of the activity
Your aims will depend on your perception of the formational needs
Why?
How would you feel about putting it into practice?
Any additions you would make?
Instruction – by an expertFacilitated discussionReflection / sharingBuzz pairsStory tellingOne to oneGroup workSilence
JP11: our teaching/sharing should be ‘a systematic teaching of doctrine’
Not selective but addresses ‘integrity of content’
‘Hierarchy of Truths’ – some things are more important than others!
Is selecting certain areas of Christian truth permissible?
How can we be ‘systematic’ in our catechesis?
What are the really fundamental truths?
Which truths are most important to YOU?
Do you feel that you speak for the Church?
Do other people see you like that?
Is it intimidating to feel that you are a representative of the Church?
Does the Church acknowledge lay people as credible witnesses to the Christian life?
Who should provide this?
To whom?
When and how?
What challenges might there be?
Take one of the topics you thought about at the beginning and consider how you would devise a session for this.
Which framework would you use?
Make plan!