The National Directory for Catechesis speaks about the need in the modern world to “investigate new possibilities offered by the existence of the new technologies and imagine whole new models and systems if the Gospel message is to penetrate the culture, make sense to the next generation of Catholics, and bring about a response of faith” (from the Introduction under “challenges in the Ministry of Catechesis).
My post today is more of a question…What are the “new models” that we ought to be considering? What are the “new systems” to bring about the Gospel message to a modern culture? I have some ideas, but for now I will just pose the question.
After listening to a presentation given by Fr. Alfred McBride about the General Directory of Catechesis I derived a few key points regarding important components that are needed in the work of catechesis today. See the following 6 points.
1. Catechesis needs a greater appreciation of the Catechumenal Process. The GDC encourages the catechumenal model as the ideal model for catechesis.
2. Catechesis must connect Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium. These three categories go together when teaching the Catholic Faith.
3. Catechesis on Jesus Christ must emphasize both the humanity and divinity of Christ. One aspect cannot be taught at the expense of the other.
4. Catechesis needs to bring forth the realities of grace and sin. Over the last 40 years the reality of sin is too often brushed over and only grace is emphasized.
5. The link between catechesis and liturgy is vital to drawing others into communion with Christ and the Christian life.
6. Catechetical methods need to focus on God’s pedagogy. Too often experience is used at the cost of authentic content. Using experience to draw people into the faith is at the service of what is true. Not truth at the service of experience.
This year we are giving our students from 1st grade – 8th grade an end of the year assessment. Yes, I said assessment (a test). I’ve just finished creating the assessments based on the textbooks our students are using. The purpose of this is to see how they are understanding the faith as it is being passed onto them in the classroom and through home study.
Some are not keen on the idea of giving a sort of test in a religious education program, becuase it may turn kids off to the faith or because it is a way of assessing knowledge through a written test and not all students are good at test taking. Finally, some think that it should not come down to an assessment at the end of the year.
On the positive side, it is a solid meas of helping a religious education or school of religion program know how well or poorly they are passing on the faith. In addition, it helps inform parents what their children know or do not know. Another positive for giving an assessment is that it will not prevent a student from moving forward to the next grade or prevent the reception of a sacrament. Our Religious Education programs, however, needs to strive to pass on the faith whole and entire. How are we to know how well we are doing if we have no instrument to help measure (as imperfect as it is) our progress or lack of it? It is very difficult to judge the success of a program merely on how many students like coming to class verses how many do not. Finally, an assessment in each grade helps attain goals. A program that does not have goals and seek to fulfill them lacks the focus it needs to move forward toward growth.
May Christ, the divine teacher, lead and guide us always to transmit the Gospel to the students in our Religious Education Programs.
At every parish I’ve worked at there has been a day of reflection for the children preparing for First Penance/Reconciliation. Often a video is shown regarding a child preparing for the Sacrament of Reconcilaition There are a number of 2nd grade videos out there, however the ones I’ve seen are all dated. Does anyone know of a First Penance/Reconciliation video that is good and has come out in the last couple of years? We, as Catholics, have a great need to improve our media resources especially in the area of sacramental preparation.
The ideal catechist is first and foremost a witness of Christ. He/she seeks to authentically transmit the truths of the Faith to others by model Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through them. Here are a few characteristics (in no particular order) that an ideal catechist in a parish would seek to live out in their in their ministry as catechists.
1. Be active in the community where they serve
2. Be committed to this apostolate
3. Be enthusiastic about their Catholic Faith
4. Be flexible to allowing the Holy Spirit to lead
5. Have a growing knowledge of Scripture and Tradition (be immersed in growing in their faith)
6. Love those you are sharing the faith with
7. Be patient (meeting the students where they are at)
8. Be a person of prayer
9. Punctuality (teaching the next generation the importance of being on time)
10. Be self-assured (be sure of what you have prepared and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you)
11. Have a sense of humor – joy and laughter opens others up to the message you are proclaiming
12. Have a willingness to be a team player (none of use does it on our own – we can always learn from others.
I read an article by Petroc Willey, editor of the Sower Magazine. In the article entitled: Renewing Catechist Formation at the Sources, he speaks of the sources used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as vital to forming catechists. The Sacred Scriptures should be the foundation of all catechesis. The Councils of the Church and the teachings of the Popes are also very important when forming catechists and offering catechist and adult formation in the parish. Other important sources to use when training catechists is the writings of the saints, especially the doctors of the Church. The last source that needs to be mention, but certainly not the least is the Divine Liturgy which is the source and the summit of the life of a Catholic Christian.
I believe this is very important to use the sources that the Church uses. Secondary sources like helpful handbooks or creative teaching ideas is good, but good only in reference to the primary sources that are ecclesial. I have been teaching the Echoes of Faith for a parish near mine these last two months and I find that their sources are more secondary than they are primary. I have found myself reformating the lessons to be supported more fully by primary sources.
To close this reflection I would like to site Petroc Willey’s last paragraph of his article:
Those leading catechetical formation are not themselves the sources. They know that they are instruments, guiding others to the living sources of the faith. Above all, they know that they are disciples – literally, learners – whose value lies in exemplifying the joy of learning and drinking from the wellspring of the sources. Their role is to grow less in order that those being formed can ‘grow in all things towards him, who is the Head, Christ’ (Eph 4:15). Catechetical growth which is renewed at the sources is always ecclesial, rather than narrowly personality-led; it is a matter of initiating others into the great Tradition of the Church where they can receive the deposit of grace and the deposit of faith.”
Over the last couple year’s I have had an increasing number of older children who need to be prepared for Sacraments. There are various reasons why a child had not been prepared at the traditional time but the most common is the parents fell away from the practice of the faith for a period of time and they are ready to begin again. What a wonderful thing – beginning again! It is very exciting to help prepare children, especially through their parents.
The following attempts to describe the average parish situation:
1) If a child is past the 2nd grade and has not received Reconciliation or Eucharist then they come to the parish seeking direction on what they need to do.
2) Parishes seem to do the following: a) they recommend that the student enroll in the Religious Education Program and the studentsattends the specific grade level class that they are in at school. b) Some parishes have a special sacramental preparation program that meets on a regular basis (once a week, every other week, or once a month) outside of the class they are already attending. c)other parishes have a one or two year Christian Initiation Program for Children (also known as CIC or RCIC). This Program not only meets on a regular basis but it follows the Rite of Christian Initiation promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. This rite came about as a result of the call for the renewal of the 4th Century Catechumenate.
3) My thoughts: The pastoral issue regarding Christian initiation for children is interesting, because Christian Initiation for Children is ideal but not easy to implement. In addition, there is not a lot of martial available which provides the necessary curriculum for a separate”class” or “session” for these students. Currently I meet with the parents and give them material to help them prepare their child for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Most of the students who need to be “caught up to speed” are in our School of Religion Program in their particular grade level class. The parents are helping prepare them for the reception of the sacraments at home.
I continue to seek input for others on what they are doing to help prepare children who are receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Eucharist at non-traditional times.
