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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.