Forming Engaged Church Catechists and Teachers Certification Program

Forming Engaged Church Catechists and Teachers Certification Program

Catechesis is a pillar of faith education and we need good catechists! Thank you for your service to the Church and in the Church Pope Francis

Lifelong Formation Not a program, but a way of life The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity. (Catechesi Tradendae)

Lifelong Formation The Journey The Journey of the Catechist is a continuous cycle of answering, witnessing and inspiring the call. We begin our journey in the womb of our mother Church, through the waters of Baptism. Here, we are joined to Christ and share in His mission. God begins to call us by name. This journey is designed to help us in being attentive to our BAPTISMAL call.

We listened and studied Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium I dream of a 'missionary option', that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today s world rather than for her self-preservation #27

Making Pope Francis dream a reality in Chicago! Newly designed program calls all ministers and teachers to engage in ongoing formation Level II and recertification courses offer a variety of elective courses All online courses are interactive and call for collaboration, reflection and group discussion All levels of certification conclude with a retreat catechists requested in their selfassessment report

Current Process Fostering Faith Catechist Certification Valid for 5 years Renewal of Certification Every 5 years 50 hours of formation divided in 5 courses Ongoing Formation 50 hours of ongoing formation completed in 5 years. Retreats, Publishers In Service, Conferences, Workshops, etc.

Fostering Faith New Model* Certification Process Courses for Catechist Certification One single process On-site only Only the courses provided by OFCYM Emphasis on hours Theological and Ministerial Formation only More accessible Based on the same requirements for all Online and in-person experience Shorter Cheaper Encouraging ongoing formation Building a community of service and of prayer Spiritual, Theological and Ministerial formation Addresses the whole person Combination of Core and Elective lessons (*) Based on consultation with 733 individuals, including Pastors, Parish Catechetical Leaders and Principals

ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO OFFICE FOR CATECHESIS AND YOUTH MINISTRY Catechist Certification and Ongoing Formation Certification Ongoing Formation Renewal Level I Answering the Call Initial Catechist Certification Within 1 year 25 lessons 1 retreat Level II Witnessing the Call Permanent Catechist Certification Within 2 years 30 lessons (*15 per year) 1 retreat Level III Inspiring the Call Renewal of Ongoing Catechist Certification Within 3 years 45 lessons (*15 per year) 1 retreat Spiritual Formation I: Living our Faith 3 Core lessons Online or Onsite Retreat (onsite) Spiritual Formation II: Living our Faith 5 Core lessons Online or Onsite Retreat (onsite) Spiritual Formation III: Living our Faith 15 Elective lessons Online or Onsite Retreat (onsite) Renewal every 3 years Theological Formation I: Understanding our Faith 12 Core lessons Online or Onsite Theological Formation II: Understanding our Faith 12 Core lessons Online or Onsite Theological Formation III: Understanding our Faith 15 Elective lessons Online or Onsite Renewal every 3 years Ministry Formation I: Transmitting the Faith Ministry of Catechesis 5 Lessons Methodology I 5 lessons (*) Suggested number of lessons per year. Ministry Formation II: Transmitting the Faith Methodology II 5 lessons Ministry Elective Tracks 8 Lessons Ministry Formation III: Transmitting the Faith 15 Elective lessons Online or Onsite Renewal every 3 years

Initial Catechist Certification- Answering the Call All who share the gift of the Catholic faith in RE programs as well as all elementary Catholic school teachers who were never certified are asked to conclude this step within the next academic year (2016/17) This certification is good for two years. All who took over 25 hours of instruction in the current system are only asked to participate in a retreat to conclude this step! The price for the Level I is $139 and it can be made in 10 installments of $14 a month! Scholarships are available!

Permanent Catechist Certification Witnessing the Call- Level II All who share the gift of the Catholic faith in RE programs as well as all Catholic elementary school teachers who concluded Level I or certification are asked to take this step within two years after their initial level certification (only 15 online or in-person sessions/ year!) The price for the Level II is $150 and it can be made in 10 installments of $15 a month! Scholarships are available!

Renewal of Ongoing Catechist Certification every 3 years- Inspiring the Call All who are certified at Level II are asked to take 15 lessons a year (45 lessons total) and participate in a renewal retreat to uphold their certification as catechist in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The new certification structure is based on Pope Francis call to ongoing spiritual renewal of all who teach and witness Catholic faith!

Important Questions! Who exactly should be certified? As per Archdiocesan policies, certification is required of all Catholic school principals, elementary teachers (of all grades/subjects), parish catechetical leaders, catechists and youth ministers. All others are welcome to take this process of ongoing formation. What about someone who has a theology degree or has taught for a long time? Do they have to take Level 1 Certification? No, individuals who have a good understanding of the Church s teaching can register online for an assessment test. Anyone registering a score of 85% or better can attend the retreat and spiritual formation session and be granted the Level 1 Certification automatically before taking the Level 2 certification What if you have already started the certification program? All catechists and teachers who have taken over 25 hours of classes will be asked to attend a retreat and spiritual formation session, and then will be granted the Level 1 Certification without taking additional classes.

What about Catechetical Leader Certification? Starting July 1, 2016, the University of St. Mary of the Lake will be responsible for the catechetical leader certifications and the Office of Lay Ecclesial Ministry will accompany the Directors of Religious Education in their journey of recertification and professional placement. This change comes in response to feedback from discussions with Pastors and the Directors of Religious Education and other catechetical leaders calling for simplified, shorter and more flexible programs in English, Spanish and possibly Polish. In the near-term, the University of St. Mary of the Lake will share with you a new model of catechetical leader certification program.

Pope Francis challenge to catechists So, as I look out at you, I think: Who are catechists? They are people who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves and they are able to revive it in others. This is something beautiful: to remember God, like the Virgin Mary, who sees God s wondrous works in her life but doesn t think about honor, prestige or wealth; she doesn t become selfabsorbed. Instead, after receiving the message of the angel and conceiving the Son of God, what does she do? She sets out, she goes to assist her elderly cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant, she goes to serve

Thank you for keeping the memory of God alive!