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Pastoral Plan for Catechesis
The diocesan pastoral plan for catechesis actualizes the vision for catechesis set forth in Bishop Saltarelli’s pastoral letter, Go and Teach: Facing the Challenges of Catechesis Today. The pastoral letter and plan flow from the parish, regional and diocesan conversations entitled: Faith for Tomorrow: On Good Soil. The results of the conversations can be found following the pastoral plan.
“Go and Teach: Facing the Challenges of Catechesis Today”
A Pastoral Plan
Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, D.D.
As Chief Catechist of our Diocese, it is my hope that the teaching mission we share becomes bolder and more effective now and in the years to come. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, this pastoral plan will help shape the progress and growth of the catechetical ministry in the Church of Wilmington.
I. Make the recruitment of catechists a priority for all parishes.
Goal 1: The Diocesan Board for Religious Education augmented by persons with recruiting skills will develop a program for the recruitment of catechists for our parishes and schools.
II. Establish a Diocesan Catechetical Institute (2005-2008). This Institute will focus on the formation of catechists and other adults in three areas: Theology, Scripture and Apologetics.
CATHOLIC THEOLOGY
Goal 1: Form and train catechists who can communicate effectively and compellingly the doctrinal, liturgical, moral and spiritual dimensions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The USCCB’s Best Practices for Catechist Formation (2002) will be a key point of reference.
• The Institute will provide quality in-service training and continuing education opportunities for all catechists including those who have reached the highest level of certification.
• The Institute will explore new opportunities for sharing the faith with use of multi-media sources, modern methods and other new technologies.
CATHOLIC BIBLICAL STUDIES
Goal 2: Establish a Catholic Biblical Studies component of the Institute (2007-2009) to promote biblical literacy and daily contact with the Scriptures.
• The Institute will:
>Promote the understanding of Roman Catholic theology pertaining to the Sacred Scriptures
>Communicate the fundamentals of contemporary Catholic Biblical scholarship
>Promote a prayerful and meditative lectio divina of the Scriptures
>Train catechists to lead Scripture Study and Scripture prayer groups in the parishes
CONTEMPORARY APOLOGETICS
Goal 3: Establish a Contemporary Apologetics Component of the Institute (2007-
2009)
• The Institute will introduce catechists and other adults to the best work in contemporary apologetics so that they can incorporate apologetics with the necessary charity, emotional intelligence and tact in all phases of their catechetical ministry (see the USCCB’s Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us #28).
III. Increase the Availability of Outstanding Directors of Religious Education for our parishes. (2005-2008)
Goal 1: Recruit, support and train catechetical leaders for the parishes and schools.
• The Diocese and the Office for Religious Education will:
>Work with the parishes and Association of Religious Education Administrators (AREA) to identify potential catechetical leaders
>Explore the possibility of introducing the Notre Dame University Echo program in the diocese (Notre Dame graduates with theological training working with DRE mentors in parishes)
>Work with the ethnic communities to identify potential catechetical leaders.
>Develop or adapt a program for the catechetical formation of Catholic School principals
>Provide financial support for those seeking advanced degrees in religious education
>Evaluate the effectiveness of the Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX) and explore other potential programs for graduate and undergraduate degrees in catechetics
>Promote continued study of the National Directory for Catechesis
IV. Develop New Curricula for Catechesis (2005-2007)
Goal 1: New Curricula for all age groups will be published.
• The Office for Religious Education will:
>Publish a new curriculum for elementary catechesis
>Publish a new curriculum for parish adolescent catechesis
>Publish a new curriculum for Catholic High schools that reflects the doctrinal guidelines published by the Committee on Catechesis at the USCCB
>Publish a curriculum to support the National Catechism for Adults
V. Ensure that all catechetical texts are in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2006)
Goal 1: Every parish and school catechetical text will be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
• The Office of Religious Education will monitor the textbooks in use in the parishes and schools to see that they are in conformity.
VI. Every Parish complete the diocesan accreditation process (2005-2008)
Goal 1: Every parish will successfully complete the accreditation process.
• The Office for Religious Education will work with the parishes that have not successfully completed the accreditation process.
VII. Establish Adult Faith Formation Committees in every parish to successfully implement Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: The Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States. (2007-2009)
Goal 1: Promote the interdependence of Adult Faith Formation with Catechesis for children and youth.
• The Office for Religious Education will:
>Work with parishes, especially Christian Formation Committees, to develop the Adult Faith Formation Subcommittees
>Develop a process for Catholic schools to become more active in the adult faith formation of the parents of children and youth in the schools. This program is to be done collaboratively with other parish programs.
>Work with parishes and schools to encourage parents and families in the schools and catechetical programs to become more actively involved in the weekly celebration of Sunday Eucharist, parish ministries and programs
VIII. Provide Ongoing Formation and Continuing Education in Homiletics for the Priests and Deacons (2005-2008)
Goal 1: The Priests’ Council in consultation with the Office for Deacons and the Priests’ Continuing Formation Committee will select and implement a current ongoing formation program in homiletics that will give our priests and deacons the opportunity to stir the flame of their commitment to preach the Word of God effectively.
IX. Convene a Diocesan Catechetical Congress (2007)
Goal 1: To hold a Catechetical Congress in the Fall of 2007.
• The Bishop and the Office for Religious Education will plan and execute a gathering to give the people of our Diocese an opportunity to learn from the most effective catechists in the nation and be an instrument for recruiting and training more catechists for the Diocese.
Working together on these goals and objectives, we will keep the Holy Spirit at the heart of our ministry and work. We will have a “Faith for Tomorrow”, a faith that will continue to transform our diocese and the world. We will become the disciples the Lord calls us to be as He commands each of us, “Go and teach all nations!”
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Read the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter on Catechesis, Go and Teach: Facing the Challenges of Catechesis Today. Please click on image below.
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Faith for Tomorrow: On Good Soil
Conversation Results
View the Results of the Convocation
View the Summary of the Convocation Conversations
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