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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Catechist Certification

L: lntro to the Ministry of the Catechist (required for all levels of certification)The Person & Roles of the CatechistDevelopmental Theory & Lesson-PlanningMethodology & Classroom ManagementSpirituality of the Catechist (Advent or Lenten Retreat)

2: Choose your next level of certification: Basic Certification OR Master Certification andthe following courses.

Catechists may take the theology courses incombination of the two,

"live" classes, in online courses, or in

For Basic Catechist Certification (2 options):Echoes Plus "Live" Courses Echoes 3,0 Online Courses

I Believe/We Believe (Creed) I Believe/We Believe (Creed)Liturgy & Sacraments Liturgy & SacramentsCatholic Morality Catholic MoralityThe Scriptures The Scriptu resThe Church The Chu rch

For Master Catechist Certification (2 options):"Live" Courses Offered by the Office of

Religious EducationOnline Courses Offered Through the

University of DaytonSurvey of Catholic Doctrinelntroduction to ScriptureSacra m ents

lntroduction to CreedI ntrod u ction to Scriptu relntrod uction to Worship & Sacraments

lntroduction to Christian MoralityChurch History I

lntroduction to Moralitylntroduction to Church History

Catechists may take all 5 theology courses in "live" classes, all in online courses, or in acombination of the two.

For more detailed information about the cenificotion process, please refer to thecatechist certification brochu re.

Diocese of WorcesterOFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

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For questions, please contact theBarbara Rarnian (508) 929-4308

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The office of Religious Education, through RCL Benziger's Echoes 3.0 program, is pleased to offer online coursestowards Basic Catechist Certification. Take courses in the comfort of yoir oivn home in English or Spanish, log into thecourses any time of day or night, and share ideas rvith other catechists from throughoLrt the Worcestei Dioc"se ihrough theinteractive discussion board. The courses being offered are as follorvs:

Dates Cou rse Title Cou rse I nstructorApril l5 to May 19,20 l8 'fhe Scripturesllntroduc:cirin a la Sug-ada

Escritw'aM aura Srveeneyis i ndy Col lazo

May 20 to June 30, 20 l8 The Church fuot vet qveitaltle in Sprtnish) Mary Pat l{eelanJuly I to August 4,2A18 I Believe/We Believe (Creed)/

C reo/(-'reenK)sDarleen Farland/Si ndy Col lazo

August 5 to Septernber 8, 20 I 8 l-iturgy & Sacraments/Li t urgi tt 1, Sucrurne nt os

Mary Pat Heelan/Sindy Collazo

September 9 !g October 13, 20 I 8 Catlrolic Mor abty I La lv.[or-u lidud cato Ii ca Barbara Ramian, Sindy Col lazouctober l4 to November 17, l0 I 8 T'he Scri ptvresl Introclucc.irin a la Sagrudcr

Esu'ilut'nMary Pat f{eelanisindy Collazo

November l8 to Decernber 29, 20 I 8 J'lre Churclt (,\ot yet ctr'oilcthle in Spunish1 Verv Pat t leelan

'i c 8{*gis{*a-:Go to wrvrv.worcesterdiocese.org . Under "I)epartments", click on "Religious Education"On the sidebar, click on "Echoes 3.0 Registration" and conrplete the online registration form.Once you have registered through our rvebsite, rve rvill email you a code and instructions for creating youraccount and logging into the course.Please register at least one week before the scheduled start date for the course.

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Office of Religious lldLrcation:or bram ian@irvorcesterd iocese. ors

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I,lfi.at (Does tfre Cfrltrcfi. Sa1flfiout Catecfi.ist trorm"ation?

" ...Catecfiistformation proBratns cooperativefi fevefopef fu parisfres an[ fioceses must ensure

tfiat catecfrists recehte assistance in [evefoping tfteir furc,wtefge of tfiefaitfi anftfre $ospefmessage as we[[ as tfie fimension of savoiffiire, of Fpowing frow to tra.nsmit tlie message, so

tfrat it is cln dct of communicntion, " (I{DC,#54, 88)

'tlQg aft Cfiristians, catecfiists are cafkf to continuaf conr,tersion anf growtft in tfreirfaitfi an[,

for tfris reasln, are cafkfto ongoing spiituafformation. l[fre catecfiist sfrouff continue fris orfrer own spirituafformation tfirouglifrequent recepti.on of tfre sctcraments, especiafQ tfieSacraments of tfie ItoQ lEucfiarist anfQenance anffuconcifiation, tfirougfi spiituaf firectio4anf tftrougfi continuef stuf1 of tfiefaitfi. Tfre catecfiist sfroufd afso 6e providefwitftop7tortunitiesfor spiritua[growtfi sucfi as retreats, conferences, etc. In affiition to spirituaf

formation, tfre catecfrist is afso in neef of pefagogicafformation, especiaffi as socizty, teacfiing

metfio{s, onf cufture cfiange. " (^tDc,#55 C)

"lffie seruice of catecfiists to Qo[ anfto tfie Cfiurcfr is truQ irrepfaceafife. No catecfieticafmateriafs, resources, or toofs - no matter fiow e4ceffent - can repface tfie catecfrist. . .$ut sounfcatecfreticafresources, '6otfr o[[ anf new', in tfre fiands offaitfr.fut anf s{jfkf catecfiists, can 6e

powerfufinstruments in tfre procfamation of tfre Qospef anfinfostering growtfr infaitfi.'(NDC, #66)

"l[fie Cfiurcfr fias afruay require[properpreporation of tfiose wfio e4ercise a ministry. In tfiesome waj, CIC, canon 237, states tfiat'[al persons wfro fevote tfremsehtes permanentf1 ortemporari[1 to some specirtf service of tfte Cfr.urcfr are o6[ige[ to acquire tfte aytproprriote

formation rufiisfr is require I to fu tfitf tfreir function prope r[1. "'(Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, Part II, B)

{Formation'k unot simpfi a walfor catecfiists to compfete requirements or jump tlirougft fioops.R,gtfief fea[ing a catecfiist to certfrcation anf 6e1on[is one of tfre ffiost powefutwals tfrat acatecfieticaf feafer can 6ring prestige to tfie vocation of tfie catecfiist an[prepare certainin[ivifuafs to mo'ae into feadersfiip rofes tliemsehtes."

(Cttltivating Your Catechists, p. 37 )

For reflection and discussion: What words, phrases, or ideas in these quotesstrike you? How do they affirm or challenge you in your role as q cqlcrhF+ ?