Archive for the 'Teaching Skills' Category
I was struck by a line in yesterday’s Gospel that I think speaks to catechists:
“Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority to expel unclean spirits…” (Mt 10:1)
Two things in particular strike me. One is the notion of authority. Catechists need to know that they have been given authority to teach. All authority belongs to God, who is the Author of all of creation. God, in turn, has given all authority to Jesus (Mt. 28:18). Jesus, in turn, has given authority to the Church (Mt. 16:19). The Church, in turn, authorizes catechists, to minister in Jesus’ name, proclaiming the Gospel. We are to teach with authority because we have been given (entrusted with) that authority. Knowing this should give us confidence and courage to do our work.
Second, I’m struck by the notion of “expelling unclean spirits.” For so long, I associated this verse strictly with the notion of “driving out demons” from people who are “possessed.” In many ways, I’ve dismissed this phrase an anachronistic…harkening back to a time when people thought that many maladies (which today we can diagnose and treat) were caused by demonic possession. Upon further reflection, however, I realized that the term “unclean spirits” need not be (nor should be) interpreted in such fantastical supernatural terms. We ALL deal with unclean spirits - those “forces” that separate us from the love of God and render us “unclean” - not fit to participate in the divine life. The most basic examples would, of course, be the Seven Deadly Sins: pride, covetousness, envy, anger, gluttony, lust, and sloth. We are all too familiar with these “unclean spirits” from our own lives and we see them in the lives of those we teach. IT IS OUR JOB AS CATECHISTS TO EXPEL THESE UNCLEAN SPIRITS! Not through rituals of exorcism but through our teaching: we have been given authority to expel that which is contrary to the will of God.
We don’t have to become some kind of wacky Benny Hinn-type preacher to expel unclean spirits. We just have to teach the Gospel with authority - with confidence and courage, knowing that the Author of Life has revealed the truths we are imparting!
I spent a good chunk of Saturday with about 30 catechists at St. Paul the Apostle parish in Gurnee, IL, not far from the Wisconsin border. The catechists were from 3 or 4 parishes within the area and they were there for a catechist certification module on the theological foundations of catechesis (10 hours, spread over 2 Saturdays). We had a very productive day, looking at the vocation of the catechist, the ministry of catechesis, and a variety of teaching techniques, especially lesson planning, selecting activities, and preparing the learning environment. We had a very nice mix of people with little to no experience as a catechist to some with 10, 20, and even 30 years experience! That always makes for some great small-group discussions, where the more experienced catechists can share their wisdom with the “newcomers.” So, a big “shout out” to all the folks I met up in Gurnee on Saturday and I hope you enjoy your next session on June 21 with my co-facilitator, Colleen Walery!
Here is more of my dialogue with an Anglican minister from Rwanda who has been sent to the United States to do missionary work and to form catechists:
Joe,
I feel similarly blessed by this contact.
The reason why the Rwandan curriculum wouldn’t work in scope (it would to some extent in sequence) is that the general education level in Rwanda is very low and catechist, according to the canons, only have to be able to read and write, basically an elementary education. Also, Anglican parishes, even very small rural ones, tend to have a much higher level of education—college degrees are the norm. (BTW, this is changing in our mission (www.theamia.org) not because of fewer educated people but because of intentional outreach to other groups).
Obviously, in this situation, while we’re not looking for a compressed seminary education, we do need to offer a higher standard. We’re looking at not only teaching methodology and basic pastoral skills, but also doctrinal, biblical, and church historical content.
I’m hoping to move beyond this pilot project at some point and offer it on a much broader scale and use it as a DMin project (yes, I already have a doctorate—I’m just a glutton for punishment).
What I’m especially interested in at this point is how the Catholic Church trains its catechists, both scope and sequence, content and materials.
Thanks and blessings.
Rev. -N-
Here is my response:
Dear Rev. -N-
Thanks so much for your follow up. This is very helpful.
Catechist formation in the Catholic Church differs from one diocese to another, however, more and more diocese are requiring catechists to become certified, after participating in so many hours of formation and training.
For example, here in Chicago, the Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry requires catechists to achieve 50 hours of formation for certification. Now, in reality, most catechists begin their ministry without this formation and then work toward certification while on the job. The requirement, at least in Chicago, is that catechists must be working toward certification and that responsibility falls to the parish director of religious education. Here is the curriculum for Chicago (this is actually the old one which required 48 hours…the new one is not yet posted):
http://www.catechesis-chicago.org/FF/FF_Curriculum/ffcurrintro.htm
I highly recommend checking the Web sites of other dioceses, big and small, to see what they require. Look for their catechetical office, usually named either the Office for Catechesis or Office for Religious Education, or some variation thereof. Here are a few examples:
http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/church/certification.asp
http://www.archdiocese.la/learning/ore/formation/certification.html
http://www.cdob.org/catechesis/certification.htm
You’ll notice that this last link to Brownsville, TX, makes mention of a video series titled Echoes of Faith. This video series is used by many rural dioceses where catechists simply cannot get to central locations for training and formation. It is a very effective tool. Check it out:
http://faithfirst.com/html/eof/modules.html
Of course, I myself have authored a very popular book titled The Catechist’s Toolbox: How to Thrive As a Religious Education Teacher (Loyola Press) which focuses on the teaching skills and methodologies that volunteer catechists need for their ministry. I have a follow up book coming out this summer titled A Well-Built Faith: A Catholic’s Guide to Knowing and Sharing What We Believe (of course, this one will be a little too Catholic for you, I’m sure!). This one focuses more on the content, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
I hope these suggestions are a start. I’m happy to talk more after you’ve done some of this initial exploring. This may just scratch the surface of what you are looking for, so by all means, feel free to follow up and we can delve further. It’s a pleasure to be of assistance to you. Peace.
-joe
What an amazing world we live in today where I am engaged in a dialogue with an Anglican minister from Rwanda about catechist formation!!! See below:
Good morning, Joe.
First, a little background.
I’m a missionary priest with the Province of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. In an ironic circumstance which could only come about by the providence of God, the missionary jurisdiction to which I’m assigned is here in North America—Africa is sending missionaries back to the US in response to the situation in the Episcopal Church.
In Rwanda, the ministry of the catechist is very important, not just in terms of teaching the faith, but also because many of them serve as lay pastors of churches, since parishes typically only have one priest and there may be several congregations which are a part of that parish.
In the missionary context of North America, we have many lay-initiated church plants and a number of small parishes which do not have an assigned priest and may only have a priest visiting once a month. In these types of situations, a licensed catechist would be very helpful.
While I realize that the catechist in the Catholic Church do not have all of these functions, they do share the common role as lead teachers of the faith and I would assume that the content of the training required to become a catechist would be similar. I have the curriculum for this training in Rwanda, and it would not work in the US or Canadian context.
So, to my point …
I’ve been tasked to come up with a pilot program for training catechists. Any suggestions in terms of methods and materials would be greatly appreciated and a blessing.
Thanks for your work for the Kingdom.
Here’s my initial reply:
Dear Rev. -N-,
Praise God for the Internet which can bring people like you and me together! Who would have thought?
Thanks so much for your e-mail. I have heard that the role of the catechist in places like Africa and South America is quite different than in North America - a role of great honor and responsibility. Too often in the United States, it is seen as a minor form of volunteerism - a type of religious tutor. I’ve been working to bring about a transformation in that understanding…the catechist has a vocation!
Enough preaching!
Please tell me a little bit more about why the curriculum from Rwanda would not work in North America. Perhaps with a larger frame of reference, I can begin to respond to your inquiry and offer some specifics.
I look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks!
-joe
I’ll share more of our dialogue tomorrow.
I’m pondering a different kind of homework for my religious education students for next year.
Typically, we think of homework as completing some type of worksheet, writing an essay or a paragraph, or reading a chapter and answering questions.
I’m talking about a different kind of homework: assignments that amount to practicing what we preach. In other words, we hope that what we teach our young people will have an impact on how they live on a daily basis. We are trying to apprentice them into a way of life. Perhaps we can devise assignments that require them to attempt a new “skill” for Christian living with the idea that, on the following week, we could talk about their experience.
What might I be thinking about? Here are some examples based on Catholic social teaching:
- Life and dignity of the human person: Think of someone at school who is often “left out.” Go out of your way to sit with this person at lunch or during recess.
- Call to family, community, and participation: Go out of your way to do a chore at home that will make life easier for your parents and family.
- Rights and responsibilities: Focus on a responsibility that has recently become yours (at home, in school, as part of an extra-curricular activity) and do your best to fulfill it.
- Option for the poor and vulnerable: Select an opportunity this week, either at school or at your parish, to contribute to or participate in efforts to help those who are poor (e.g. a food or clothing drive, Catholic Relief Services, working at the soup kitchen, etc.)
- The dignity of work and the rights of workers: Visit www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/food and find out what FAIR TRADE is all about and come back with one example
- Solidarity - Visit www.hcakids.org to find out about the HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION and come back with a story about children in another country who need our help.
- Care for God’s Creation - Keep a tally of how many items you can recycle in one week (e.g. plastic bottles, glass bottles, newspaper, aluminum cans, and so on)
As much as possible, I’m looking for these ideas to be practical and simple enough for an individual to accomplish on their own without requiring them to “make something” (no posters, etc.) and without repeatedly asking them to give money to causes that address these various needs. Likewise, various categories can be used to inspire the assignments. There can be assignments based on the Beatitudes, the Virtues, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and much more.
My inspiration for this is Luke 10 in which Jesus sends out the 70 disciples in pairs with a mission to accomplish and then they report back to him. Likewise, in Luke 24, the Emmaus story, the 2 disciples go on to Jerusalem after their encounter with the Risen Christ and they report what they have experienced. I believe that this is an important part of the process of mentoring: assignments are given and then a “report” is given at which time advice can be offered. It is often in the telling of these experiences that the hand of God is recognized in the experience. I think we need to give our young people more experiences!
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve updated my list of speaking engagements (see the link to the right). Here’s where I’ll be in the weeks and months to come:
MAY(2008)
19 – Diocese of New Ulm, MN “Spring Fling” - Tentative title: “Enter the Journey of Love: The Catechetical Ministry as a Ministry of Love” (mini-retreat for catechetical and youth leaders)
JUNE (2008)
7 - St. Paul the Apostle (Gurnee, IL), Fostering Faith Catechesis Module
16 - St. Julie Billiart (Tinley Park, IL), Monday Night Medley Catechist Formation - God’s Library: A Catholic Introduction to the World’s Greatest Book
AUGUST (2008)
7 - Lafayette (IN) Catholic Schools - 15 Ways to Make Your Class More Catholic
14 and 20 - O’Hare Cluster of Parishes (location TBA), Bringing Liturgy and Catechesis Together (with Todd Williamson) 26 - St. Thomas (Naperville, IL) - The Catechist’s Toolbox (catechist training)SEPTEMBER (2008) 3 - Dyersville Diocore (Peosta, Iowa) - God’s Library: A Catholic Introduction to the Bible (catechist formation)4 - Dubuque Diocore (Dubuque, Iowa) - The Catechist’s Toolbox (catechist training)10 - St. Mary’s (Mokena, IL) - God’s Library: A Catholic Introducation to the World’s Greatest Book (Catechist formation)
13 - Diocese of Charleston Catechist Conference (Charleston, SC), The Catechist’s Toolbox (catechist formation)
20 - Orlando (FLA) Diocesan Faith Formation Day - topic TBA
27 - White Plains (NY) - Encountering the Living Word - Catechetical Conference
OCTOBER (2008) 8 - Waterloo (Iowa) - Catechist and Religion Teacher Inservice17 - Chicago Catechetical Conference - 5 Steps to Dramatically Increasing Your Students’ Bible IQ 18 - Diocese of Austin Conference (Austin, TX) - The Intersection of Liturgy and Catechesis 21 - St. Hugh (Lyons, IL) - Living the Mass (Parent Formation)
25 - Joliet (IL) Scripture Festival - God’s Library: A Catholic Introduction to the World’s Greatest Book
NOVEMBER (2008) 2-3 - Diocesan Adult Education Conference (Springfield, IL), The Worshipping Steward: How the Mass Calls Us To Stewardship 8 - Saint Xavier University Pastoral Ministry Institute (Chicago, IL), Bible Today 22 - Northern California Faith Formation Conference (Oakland, CA) - topic(s) TBA
With the end of most religious education program years occurring, this is a good time for catechists to do a little bit of self assessment. Feel free to use the following by yourself, with a peer or group of peers, or with your DRE.
1 = poor/I disagree
2 = fair/I somewhat disagree
3 = good/I somewhat agree
4 = excellent/I agree
I became more aware of my vocation as a catechist
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I took time to deepen my own understanding of the teachings of the Church
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I faithfully practiced my faith, participating in the life of the Church
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I paid attention to my own spiritual life and sought to grow spiritually
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I dedicated adequate time to planning my lessons
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I was welcoming to my students
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I got to know my student’s names quickly
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I became very familiar with the textbook/resources I was using
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I covered the material that I was responsible to cover
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I was prepared for my classes (materials, equipment, etc.)
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I used a variety of activities to keep the students engaged
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I made adjustments for various learning styles/special needs in my classroom
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I prepared my learning environment
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I kept my students engaged in the learning process
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I included opportunities for prayer in each session
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I became a more effective prayer leader
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I effectively handled discipline challenges
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I tried new things to stretch myself and widen my “repertoire”
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I kept a good sense of humor
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I included Scripture in my sessions
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I integrated technology in my sessions (CD, DVD, VCR, computer, PowerPoint, etc.)
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I facilitated effective class discussions when appropriate
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I effectively assessed the progress of my students
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I had the pleasure of listening to Bishop Blase Cupich (pronounced soopich) of Rapid City, South Dakota, speak at the NCEA convention in Indianapolis the other day. He spoke about exploring “proven pathways” for facing the challenges that we face in the catechetical ministry in our culture and times. In particular, he presented an Augustinian model of passing on the faith, grounded in St. Augustine’s communications to Deogratias (A.D. 403) titled “On the Catechizing of the Unistructed.”
Deogratias, a deacon, was having a hard time teaching the faith. He felt that his teaching was being perceived as “boring.” Sound familiar? Augustine responded with his advice for catechetical instruction. Bishop Cupich mined this tradition to speak to today’s catechists. He emphasized the following:
- the need for the catechist to know his or her subject which means that we each need to strive to know Jesus more deeply
- the need to know (really know) one’s students and to adapt catechetical methodology as needed
- the need to recognize prayer as the first duty of teaching the faith and for that prayer to be rich in sign and symbol
- the need to connect the present to the story of salvation history
- the need to teach with cheerfulness which he (Augustine) called hilaritas - an enthusiasm for teaching and a love for what we teach and who we teach.
Here is a good article written by Paul Turner about Augustine’s catechetical advice.
Thanks, Bishop Cupich, for offering these “proven pathways” for meeting today’s challenges!
Not too long ago, I offered information about my “new” DVD, Welcome to God’s Library. Read the details here: http://www.catechistsjourney.org/2008/02/10/welcome-to-gods-library-on-dvd/
I wanted to pass along some very nice feedback I received from a catechist by the name of Vera:
Dear Joe,
A few days ago I watched the Welcome to God’s Library DVD and was impressed with how you un-complicated the Bible. I’ve always thought that I had to memorize where certain stories were in the Bible. Now I know how to break down the Bible to make it easier to find the stories I’m looking for. I will begin teaching my children this method. I also bought your book God’s Library for the bookmarks. Thank you for the great work you are doing for our Lord.
Sincerely,
Vera
Thanks, Vera, for the kind words.
You can order copies of the DVD by sending me an e-mail at welcometogodslibrary@comcast.net, providing me with your name, shipping address, and quantity and I’ll get back to you with details. Thanks!
Thanks. -joe
