Welcome Parish Leaders!
Welcome to our catechist formation support page for pastors, clergy, and parish leaders in children’s catechesis, youth evangelization and OCIA/Adult Faith Formation.
Prospective Catechist Trainers
Interested instructors in catechist formation must go through workshops for catechist trainers before instructing catechists. For more information, please email Kino Catechetical Institute at kinoinstitute@dphx.org
Frequently Asked Questions
About the process
a. Catechist:
A catechist is one, chosen by the pastor or his delegate, who helps others grow in their relationship with Christ by mentoring them and passing on the Deposit of Faith Christ left the Apostles.
After completing the course of catechist formation, Diocesan certification would mean that a catechist is qualified to pass on the Deposit of Faith to parishioners and other interested adults.
b. Trainers of Catechists:
The two levels of trainers of catechists are:
1. Catechist Trainer:
After completing systematic catechetical formation on an undergraduate or certificate level (such as The Adult Faith Formation & Parish Leadership Combined Program) and the catechist trainer seminar, Diocesan certification means that the person is qualified to form:
a. Parish catechists.
b. Catechetical/Youth Evangelization leaders in areas of specialization (specifically children’s catechesis, youth evangelization and OCIA/Adult Faith Formation methodology). A leader in catechesis or youth evangelization is a person, publicly appointed by the pastor, with the responsibility of administering a particular parish program.
2. Master Catechist:
After completing Master’s level work in Catholic theology and the catechist trainer seminar, Diocesan certification means that the leader is qualified to form:
a. Parish catechists.
b. Catechetical/Youth Evangelization leaders in the areas of doctrine and in areas of specialization (specifically children’s catechesis, youth evangelization and OCIA/Adult faith formation methodology).
The Church’s mission of catechesis is carried out primarily by the Bishops of the Church (General Directory for Catechesis #222), but also incorporates members of the Church’s mission of catechesis is carried out primarily by the Bishops of the Church (General Directory for Catechesis #222), but also incorporates members of the entire Body of Christ.
Catechesis is also the responsibility of priests, religious and the laity gathered in the parish community. John Paul II’s Catechesi Tradendae (CT), the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) and the National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) recognize the calling of the laity to work as catechists.
In our Diocese, the definition of a catechist includes the following:
a. Catholic School Teachers
b. Children’s Catechesis Catechists
c. Youth Evangelization Core Team
d. OCIA/Adult Faith Formation Teams
Since 1997, there has been a tremendous renewal in the catechetical documents of the Church. These documents include:
a. Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) – 1997
b. General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) – 1997
c. Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us – 1999
d. National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) – 2005
e. Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church -2006
f. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) – 2006
Catechist formation in the Diocese of Phoenix has been updated to incorporate these documents in all aspects of catechist formation.
If a catechist is to be capable of passing on the Faith he/she must know it, understand it and live it. The GDC and NDC highlight the necessity of forming catechists:
“The quality of any form of pastoral activity is placed at risk if it does not rely on truly competent and trained personnel. The instruments provided for catechesis cannot be truly effective unless well used by trained catechists (GDC #234).”
“Catechists need to be practicing Catholics who participate fully in the communal worship and life of the Church and who have been prepared for their apostolate by appropriate catechetical training (NDC p. 229).”
Formation of catechists begins with the Bishop and the Diocese.
“The organization of catechetical pastoral care has as its reference point the Bishop and the Diocese. The diocesan catechetical office is “the means which the Bishop as head of the community and teacher of doctrine utilizes to direct and moderate all the catechetical activities of the diocese” (GDC #265).”
While not meant to be an exhaustive overview of the Church’s catechetical documents on catechesis and catechist formation, the following themes highlight what these documents are calling for in catechesis and catechist formation.
a. Catechesis is Christ-Centered.
“The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy, with Jesus Christ”. (236) All evangelizing activity is understood as promoting communion with Jesus Christ. Starting with the “initial” (237) conversion of a person to the Lord, moved by the Holy Spirit through the primary proclamation of the Gospel, catechesis seeks to solidify and mature this first adherence (GDC #80).”
b. Catechesis today is to be missionary in nature.
“In this way catechesis, situated in the context of the Church’s mission of evangelization and seen as an essential moment of that mission, receives from evangelization a missionary dynamic which deeply enriches it and defines its own identity. The ministry of catechesis appears, then, as a fundamental ecclesial service for the realization of the missionary mandate of Jesus (GDC #59).”
c. The Baptismal catechumenate, as the model for all catechetical activity, shows us the progressive nature of conversion.
“Post-baptismal catechesis, without slavishly imitating the structure of the baptismal catechumenate, and recognizing in those to be catechized the reality of their Baptism, does well, however, to draw inspiration from “this preparatory school for the Christian life”, (295) and to allow itself to be enriched by those principal elements which characterize the catechumenate (GDC #91).”
d. Catechesis is to be Biblical, rooted in Salvation History.
“Catechesis should attend to the presentation of salvation history by means of Biblical catechesis so as to make known the “deeds and the words” with which God has revealed himself to man: the great stages of the Old Testament by which he prepared the journey of the Gospel; (359) the life of Jesus, Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary who by his actions and teaching brought Revelation to completion; (360) the history of the Church which transmits Revelation: this history, read within the perspective of faith, is a fundamental part of the content of catechesis (GDC #108).” For its part, “Sacred Scripture should be the very soul of this formation (GDC #240)”.
e. Formation in the Deposit of Faith is to be systematic and complete.
“So as to respond to the more profound needs of our time, adult catechesis must systematically propose the Christian faith in its entirety and in its authenticity (GDC #175).”
“The context of this (the catechist) doctrinal formation should be drawn from the various areas that constitute every catechetical program; the three great eras in the history of Salvation: the Old Testament, the life of Christ and the history of the Church. The great nuclei of the Christian message: the Creed, the Liturgy, the moral life and prayer (GDC #240).”
“The Catechism of the Catholic Church remains the fundamental doctrinal reference point together with the catechism proper to the particular Church (GDC #240).”
f. Catechesis prepares the person for deeper participation in the liturgical life of the Church.
“Catechesis is intrinsically bound to every liturgical and sacramental action (GDC #30)”
g. Catechesis is directed towards “the love that never ends (CCC #25).”
GDC #238 talks about the importance of the witness of the catechist, of being able to articulate a relationship with Christ, of being formed with the skills and know-how of passing on the Faith, and of having a sense of witnessing for Christ, of spirituality and of apostolic consciousness.
The updated Catechist Formation process seeks to:
a. Facilitate conversion in the life of the catechist.
b. Impart to the catechist the story of salvation history, developing the foundation for Biblical catechesis.
c. Provide the catechist with an overview of the Church’s mission of evangelization and catechesis.
d. Train the catechist in the necessary skills to assist in conversion of those they serve and to pass on to them the teachings of Christ.
e. Help catechists know the Deposit of Faith through a systematic and complete study of United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA).
The following principles help to shape the catechist formation process:
a. Christ calls the person to be a catechist.
The Lord Jesus invites men and women, in a special way, to follow him, teacher and formator of disciples. This personal call of Jesus Christ and its relationship to him are the true moving forces of catechetical activity (GDC #231).
b. Catechists lead busy lives.
The biggest obstacle and challenge of the formation of catechists is time. Given family and work responsibilities, formation of catechists must be accessible.
c. Adults learn best through a systematic, theme-based curriculum.
This updated process is driven by learning objectives, not by hours, and is systematic and progressive in how catechetical content is learned. The primary reason for this is so that adults can understand the interconnectedness of the Church’s major catechetical themes. The previous catechist formation process was driven by hours, in that the goal of the formation was to expose the catechist to 60 hours of content, composed of classes that lasted anywhere between 2 and 4 hours. Classes in this model were not taken in any systematic process but as the catechist had time or the parish offered them. In order to accomplish an objective-based formation, a variety of methods, formats and models will be used to serve the learning styles of the catechist.
d. The best presenter/trainer of the catechist is the parish leader.
This updated process seeks to empower the parish catechetical and youth evangelization to be the primary trainer of his/her catechists.
Forming Catechists
How pastors and parish leaders discern a person’s call to serve as a catechist is up to their discretion. That being said, the following elements will assist in this process. The period of initial discernment is done by the catechetical or youth evangelization leader at the parish setting. Kino Catechetical Institute offers tools to assist the leader in this process, and parish leaders are encouraged to develop and share their own resources in this area.
a. Potential catechists should meet individually with the parish leader for a get-to-know-you appointment.
b. There should be an initial observation period by the leader, in which the leader should evaluate the suitability of the person to serve as a catechist.
c. After this, there should be a formal interview and application at which point the person would either begin service as a catechist or, through prayerful discernment, be asked to serve elsewhere in the parish.
d. At the outset, the catechist should receive an introductory training in the initial skills needed to catechize. Catechists are mandated to go through Diocesan Safe Environment training.
e. There should also be a time for an evangelistic and spiritual retreat, preferably at the beginning of their service as a catechist, in which the catechist reflects on the call to follow Christ on a daily basis. Cursillo, Christ Renews His Parish, and the retreats offered by Renew are an example of this kind of retreat and would provide a great spiritual foundation for the catechist.
Scripture is the soul of doctrine. Catechist formation equips the catechist with an understanding of the key themes of Scripture. This formation helps to make Scripture the driving force behind their catechetical work, encouraging basic Biblical literacy.
After the Scriptures, the USCCA will be the text for the majority of the formation process. Each participant is expected to have his or her own copy of it. It is available at www.usccbpublishing.org.
An overview of the entire process is available on the Kino Catechetical Institute website at http://www.kinoinstitute.org/catechist.
Because of the systematic nature of doctrine, coursesESS101 through ESS108 are meant to be taken sequentially. Courses CAT101 and CAT102 can be taken at any time and out of order.
As stated above, courses ESS101 through ESS108 are meant to be taken sequentially. If they miss a session, catechists are encouraged to find the course at another location by contacting Kino Catechetical Institute. To assist catechists when they miss a session, worksheets have been developed to help the catechists process the content
With the exception of the above courses that deal with catechesis (CAT101 and CAT102), all of the other sessions can be open to any interested adult where these sessions are offered.
Non-catechists are encouraged, but not required, to go through the process in a systematic
manner.
The purpose of the sessions is to allow for a deeper conversion in the life of the catechist. While there will not be one methodology that a trainer has to use, the methodology needs to facilitate conversion. Sessions will include time for instruction, application of the content to one’s life, and prayer.
There is not one way the formation will be formatted. Courses can be offered in a variety of ways, depending upon the needs of the catechists and the life of the parish. Some sample formats include weekend sessions, weeknight sessions and intensive summer courses.
In addition to the completion of the courses above, to be certified by the diocese as a catechist, one must also undertake the following:
– Renewal Experience/Retreat (as done in the discernment stage).
– Observation of an experienced catechist (mentor).
– Observation while functioning as a catechist by a mentor.
– Final Interview with leader.
– Completion of one year of catechetical experience.
Catholic School Teachers who are not responsible for catechizing are exempt from CAT102 Catechetical Specializations. Although it is highly encouraged.
Costs for formation are determined by each site that hosts the sessions. There will be a $15 processing fee for completed applications turned in to Kino Catechetical Institute for final approval.
Completed catechist certification applications can be sent to Kino Catechetical Institute at any time and will be processed within a month, unless it is during the holidays.
Catechist recertification requires 24 hours of continued catechetical formation over a three-year period. For an overview of these requirements, please go to http://www.kinoinstitute.org/recertification.
No. Previously certified catechists cannot take the same formation process to receive credit for catechist recertification.
Yes. Kino Adult Faith Formation and Parish Leadership Combined Program courses can be taken individually and provide up to 15 hours of continuing education towards catechist recertification per course.
Please visit our website http://www.kinoinstitute.org/recertification for more information for more recertification opportunities.
All of our schedules are posted on our Kino Catechetical Institute website at http://www.kinoinstitute.org/catechist/catechist-formation-schedule.
In order to offer this formation at your parish, please contact us at kinoinstitute@dphx.org or at 602-354-2300.
All formation must be presented by trainers who are approved for catechist formation in the Diocese of Phoenix by Kino Catechetical Institute.
Qualifications of Catechist Trainers
Catechist Trainers are to have the following qualifications:
- Kino Adult Faith Formation & Parish Leadership Combined Program, BA or MA in Theology/Religious Education/Catechetics/Scripture/etc.
- Two to Three years catechetical and administrative experience.
- References.
- Formation can also be provided by priests (excluding CAT102 and CAT102, unless they have experience and training in catechesis) who have completed the catechist trainer seminar.