The Good Catechist “…what you hear whispered in the dark you must shout from the rooftops…” Mt. 10:27

“Lord, who is good? “  “….and Jesus said,’anyone who does the will of my father…”  “…well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful in a small matter and I will give you responsibility over greater things…”  “Why do you call me good? No one is good by one, that is, God. But you can be good by following the commandments”  “It is good for us to be here”  “….and Jesus said,’anyone who does the will of my father…”  “…well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful in a small matter and I will give you responsibility over greater things…”  “Why do you call me good? No one is good by one, that is, God. But you can be good by following the commandments”  “It is good for us to be here”

THE “GOOD” CATECHIST/TEACHER IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS THAT HE/SHE HAS BEEN CALLED TO THIS WORK. WITHOUT THIS AWARENESS, THE JOB IS “THIN”; THAT IS, IT LACKS THE RICHNESS AND MEANING THAT MAKES IT HOLY WORK.

The Good Catechist is Knowledgeable  About students  About Church teaching  About teaching  About the culture  About students  About Church teaching  About teaching  About the culture

The Good Catechist can Communicate  Knows the language  Knows that witness is greater than words  Knows the difference between connectivity and connectedness  Keeps at it until there is understanding  Knows the language  Knows that witness is greater than words  Knows the difference between connectivity and connectedness  Keeps at it until there is understanding

The Good Catechist Cares  Knows that grace builds on nature  Knows that the direct object of teaching is student, not content  Gets down and dirty  Is accountable  Knows that grace builds on nature  Knows that the direct object of teaching is student, not content  Gets down and dirty  Is accountable

The Good Catechist Knows Teaching  Don’t smile before Christmas!  Be prepared!  Understand that you are part of the larger picture  Pay attention to pedagogy  Develop your own “bag of tricks”  Don’t smile before Christmas!  Be prepared!  Understand that you are part of the larger picture  Pay attention to pedagogy  Develop your own “bag of tricks”

The Good Catechist sees the Big Picture  This is holy work  This is an act of faith  The greatest gift is hope  It’s built on small insights  It’s all about the kingdom  You gotta know…  This is holy work  This is an act of faith  The greatest gift is hope  It’s built on small insights  It’s all about the kingdom  You gotta know…

The Good Catechist Shares Him/Herself  Role models: what it means to be an adult Catholic  The place of God in our own lives  Telling our stories  Leading an exemplary life  Role models: what it means to be an adult Catholic  The place of God in our own lives  Telling our stories  Leading an exemplary life

Some questions for your consideration:  How will we retain students in religious education programs, even after Confirmation?  How will we meet the special needs of children and adolescents?  How will we increase and deepen parental involvement in religious education programs?  How will we retain students in religious education programs, even after Confirmation?  How will we meet the special needs of children and adolescents?  How will we increase and deepen parental involvement in religious education programs?

Some More Questions:  Where will we find the next generation of catechists?  How will we train them?  How will we create a learning and loving community among our catechists?  How will we increase the number of children in religious education programs?  Finally, how will we know that we did a good job?  Where will we find the next generation of catechists?  How will we train them?  How will we create a learning and loving community among our catechists?  How will we increase the number of children in religious education programs?  Finally, how will we know that we did a good job?

“ And they asked, how do we know that you are the one? “And Jesus said to them, ‘the blind see and the lame Walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the Dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel Preached to them.’” Mt. 11:5