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

InitiatoryCatechesis

Mystagogy

PermanentContinuingCatechesis

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

• 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

• 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 HeartElementary 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 ApprenticeshipYouth 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.