Religious Education

The Religious Education Office exists to assist the parishes of the diocese in developing effective catechetical programs.  Office staff are available to come to parishes free of charge to work with pastors, parish councils, principals, coordinators, parish and/or school catechists, parents groups etc. regarding the organization, training and resources necessary to establish effective catechetical programs.  A more complete listing of office policies and services follows:

Policies:

Human Sexuality Education: guidelines for human sexuality education in parishes and schools.

First Reconciliation and Eucharist: policy and guidelines for the preparation and celebration of Reconciliation and Eucharist with children.

Certification of Catholic School Teachers: all Catholic schoolteachers must complete religious education certification within seven years of employment.

Certification of Parish Religious Education Directors and Coordinators:  parish religious education leaders must complete orientation and leadership training.

Policy for Selection of Catechetical Programs: elementary religious education textbooks recommended for use in the diocese.

Training/Formation:

Parish Catechetical Leadership Program: a leadership course for parish religious education coordinators.

Certification Classes for Catholic Schoolteachers: a series of required courses for Catholic schoolteachers: Cultivating the Word, Creative Catechesis, Morality, Doctrine, Scripture and Liturgy/Sacraments.

Jump Start Workshops: a basic formation program for parish catechists consisting of five two-hour workshops.

Echoes of Faith: a video-based training program for parish catechists.

Religious Education Institute: an annual catechetical conference for Catholic School personnel and parish catechetical leadership.

Resources:

Media Library: approximately 2000 videos for all age levels available for use by school and parish catechists throughout the diocese.

Book Library: print material (textbooks and resources) for catechists from early childhood through adult available for examination or check out.

"What To Do When" Book: a resource manual for parish catechetical leaders containing diocesan policies, guidelines, curriculum and helpful background material.

Textbook Evaluation: a standardized evaluation process for each elementary religious education textbook series. Results are available from the Office.

NCEA/ACRE Religious Education Assessment: a standardized catechetical assessment for use in schools and parishes in grades  5, 8, and 11/12.

Consultation and Inservice:

Orientation for Volunteer Parish Religious Education Coordinators: a basic introduction to the services and resources of the Office for new parish religious education coordinators.

Support Groups for Parish Coordinators and DRE's: regional gatherings of parish DRE's and coordinators to discuss common problems, share resources and learn from one another.

Education Commission In-service: a workshop to help education commissions clarify roles, set goals, determine policy and evaluate parish religious education programs.

In-Service/Training Workshops for parishes and schools on a wide variety of topics.

Retreats, Days of Recollection: spiritual formation and community building for catechists.

One on One Consultations: meeting with DRE's and parish coordinators to assist with program planning and problem solving.

Communication:

Planting and Watering: a newsletter for catechetical leadership in parishes and schools.

Media Library Online: a searchable listing of all videos in the Religious Education Office Media library available online.

Adult Faith Formation:

Frameworks Courses: a variety of courses available for parish adult groups (see Certification Classes for Catholic Schoolteachers).

Come and See Night: a one-night presentation for parishes about parish adult faith formation and the possibility of forming a parish adult faith formation team.

Adult Faith Formation Team Building: a process to help parishes form and train a team to plan and implement adult faith formation.

Lenten Adult Faith Formation Programs: resources (usually video based) for parishes interested in providing adult faith formation opportunities for small groups during Lent.

Contact Information: