For Catechetical Leaders
Role of Catechetical Leader
The role of the catechetical leader or youth minister responsible
for catechesis includes:
How to use PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS for Catechist Formation gives parishes a flexible plan
of training for their catechists. Catechists may work through the
guided learning modules individually,
or they may work together in groups. The PARISH and SENIOR levels
of training progressively guide the catechist
to deepen their spiritual life, develop skills and knowledge in teaching/facilitation and Catholic
theology. Catechists are asked to complete both the Parish and
Senior levels for their diocesan certification.
How to BEGIN:
Establish how PATHWAYS for Catechist Formation will be used for
catechist training in your parish. For the PARISH level, one
school year or less is typically sufficient time to complete
the process. Provide periodic enrichment and prayer gatherings to
encourage catechists on their formation journey.
1. Review the Self-Evaluation Guide for
Adults, Youth, or Children. Provide the catechist with the appropriate
guide for their ministry.
2. Review the Resource List for Catechists
of Adults, Youth, or Children. Obtain all of the necessary resources
and make them available to the catechists.
3. Review the Mentor-Companion information.
Meet with catechists and assist them with selecting mentors.
4. Provide the mentors with a copy of the Self-Evaluation Guide
and the Mentor-Companion Information page. Help the mentor establish
a regular contact with the catechist.
How to COMPLETE the process:
1. Write your affirmation on the Affirmation and Witness page of
the guide.
2. Check the completed Self-Evaluation Guide to insure all
questions are completed and all affirmations are written on
Affirmation and Witness page.
3. Return the completed Self-Evaluation Guide to Registrar,
Office of Christian Formation, by email (pathways@richmonddiocese.org)
or by mail (811 Cathedral Place, Richmond, Virginia 23220-4801).
4. The Office of Christian Formation will return the guide to you
with the certificate and catechist pin once the certification is
completed by the diocese.
Where to find resources
The specific resources to be used for PATHWAYS for Catechists of
Adults, Youth, or Children include the Echoes of Faith video assisted
learning modules and other videos, various books, publications and web sites. A specific
Resource List is attached to each of the Self-Evaluation Guides
for Catechists of Adults, Youth, or Children.
Most parishes in the diocese have purchased The Echoes of Faith
videos identified in the Resource List through the Bishop Sullivan
grant in 1998. Now the videos and booklets may be purchased from Resources
for Christian Living (RCL) at a reduced price by identifying
your parish in the "Adoption" Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. The
Echoes videos must be viewed
together with the companion booklet. Replacement videos and multiple
copies of booklets may be ordered individually from RCL.
Many resources are available online (URLs are identified in the
Resource List and linked in the online pdf format of the guide)
for direct viewing by the catechist. You may also print them from
the PATHWAYS for Catechist Formation web pages or from the PATHWAYS
CD that is provided to each parish. Multiple copies of the PATHWAYS CD
may be obtained through the Office of Christian Formation.
All resources listed in the Resource List have the publisher and
contact information included so you can order directly from the
publisher. An easy price list of required resources is
linked here for your convenience as well.
To ensure all catechists have access to curriculum the Bishop
directs as a standard for catechist certification, substitutions for
church documents, videos, named texts and articles on the web
site/CD are not accepted. Exceptions may be approved by contacting
the Office of Christian Formation,
dbeeman@richmonddiocese.org.
Role of Mentor
What is a Mentor-Companion?
For the PARISH Catechist, the Mentor-Companion is a Catholic in
good standing who is available to meet with the catechist periodically
throughout the PATHWAYS process of formation and fulfill the role
of mentor-companion with enthusiasm.
For the SENIOR and MASTER Catechists, the Mentor-Companion is a
Catholic in good standing who is available to meet (in person or
electronically via phone/email) with the catechist periodically
throughout the PATHWAYS process of formation and fulfill the role
of mentor-companion with enthusiasm.
What is the ROLE of the Mentor-Companion?
The Mentor-Companion is an advocate for the PARISH Catechist, encouraging
formation, listening, offering helpful feedback, sharing faith,
reading the catechist’s Self-Evaluation Guide, and writing
an affirmation statement on the guide.
The Mentor-Companion is an advocate for the SENIOR and MASTER Catechists,
encouraging formation, listening, offering catechetical resources
and helpful feedback, sharing faith, reading the catechist’s
Self-Evaluation Guide, and writing an affirmation statement on the
guide.
Who may be a Mentor-Companion?
A Mentor-Companion for the PARISH Catechist may be the designated
parish catechetical leader/Youth Minister, a fellow catechist, a
parish friend, or a spouse. A Mentor-Companion may mentor one or
more catechists if this is mutually agreeable.
A Mentor-Companion for the SENIOR and MASTER Catechists may be
the designated parish catechetical leader/youth minister, or an
experienced catechist who has completed the PATHWAYS for Catechist
Formation process from the parish or a neighboring diocesan parish.
A Mentor-Companion may mentor one or more catechists if this is
mutually agreeable.
Does the Mentor-Companion have to complete the PATHWAYS process?
For the PARISH Catechist, it is not required that the Mentor-Companion
has completed the PATHWAYS for Catechist Formation process.
For the SENIOR and MASTER Catechist, it IS required that
a catechist chosen as the Mentor-Companion has completed the PATHWAYS
for Catechist Formation process to the level of the catechist being
mentored.
Who can help the catechist find a Mentor-Companion?
Catechists begin with their parish catechetical leader/youth minister
to seek suggestions for a suitable Mentor-Companion. They may also
seek recommendations from the persons listed below.
Who can help the Catechetical Leader/Youth Minister find a Mentor-Companion?
A
Catechetical Leader/Youth Minister new to ministry may wish to find
a mentor with specific catechetical training and experience. Contact
one of the persons listed below for assistance.
Southwest Virginia Parishes
Contact the Region 10 Ministers of Christian Formation Marty Huber
and Jo Ann Detta at 276-623-5285, or at jomart@naxs.com
Tidewater Parishes
Contact the Office of Christian Formation Consultant Debbie Stollery,
757-467-6952 or debbi@cavtel.net
All Other Parishes
Contact the Office of Christian Formation Associate Director Emily
Filippi, 804-359-5661, x111 or efilippi@richmonddiocese.org,
or the Associate Director for Youth Ministry Pat Novak at 804-359-5661,
x115, or pnovak@richmonddiocese.org.
Diocesan Recognition Process
Each catechist who successfully completes the PATHWAYS for Catechist
formation process is recognized as a Catechist of the Diocese of
Richmond as PARISH, SENIOR, or MASTER Catechist.
Each catechist receives a certificate of recognition signed by
the Bishop and a catechist pin. The catechist names, parish names
are published in the Catholic
Virginian.
To receive diocesan recognition for each catechist, please complete
the following:
PARISH Catechist
- Completes each page of the Self-Evaluation Guide in writing
(print or online).
- Shares the completed guide with mentor.
Mentor
- Reads through the completed Self-Evaluation Guide.
- Writes a statement of affirmation on the Affirmation and Witness
page and returns guide to catechist.
Catechetical Leader/Youth Minister
- Confirms catechists has completed each question in Self-Evaluation Guide.
- Writes a statement of affirmation on the Affirmation and Witness
page and invites Pastor/Pastoral Coordinator to do the same.
- Mails or email the completed Self-Evaluation Guide to
Registrar,
Office of Christian Formation at
pathways@richmonddiocese.org or 811 Cathedral Place, Richmond, Virginia 23220-4801).
Office of Christian Formation
- Reads and approves the completed Self-Evaluation Guide.
- Completes the recognition certificate and returns the guide,
certificate, and pin to the parish catechetical leader.
Parish Recognition
It is strongly recommended that the parish celebrate the accomplishments
of their catechists and recognize them in the midst of the gathered
assembly during a Sunday liturgy or a Liturgy of the Word. (See
General
Directory for Catechesis, # 225, #246, #247 and "Order
for the Blessing of Those Appointed as Catechists" in Book
of Blessings.
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omplete
the self-evaluation guide on your computer!