1. Welcome
Introduce yourself
Introduce the Effective Catechetical Leader series as a joint effort between Loyola Press and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)

2. That’s SO last millennium!
The Effective DRE
Explain that the original collaboration was titled The Effective DRE series and that it was published in the late 1990s
Talk about how the Church, society, and the world have experienced significant changes in these past several decades leading to the need to revise the series
NCCL approached Loyola Press about collaborating on a revision several years ago and the new series came to fruition in 2017.
That’s SO last millennium!

3. The Effective Catechetical Leader
Do a brief overview of the titles and their authors:
Called by Name: Preparing Yourself for the Vocation of Catechetical Leader – Joe Paprocki (National Consultant for Faith Formation, Loyola Press)
Catechetical Leadership: What It Should Look Like, How It Should Work, and Whom It Should Serve – Adrian Alberto Herrera (Associate Director for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston)
Developing Disciples of Christ: Understanding the Critical Relationship between Catechesis and Evangelization – Julianne Stanz (Director of New Evangelization, Diocese of Green Bay)

4. The Effective Catechetical Leader
Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage and Retain Successful Catechists – Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy (Director of Religious Education, Diocese of Honolulu)
Excellence in Ministry: Best Practices for Successful Catechetical Leadership – Tom Quinlan (Director of Religious Education, Diocese of Joliet)
All God’s People: Effective Catechesis in a Diverse Church – Donna Tolliver Grimes (Assistant Director for African American Affairs in the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

5. Excellence in Ministry
Best Practices for Successful Catechetical Leadership
By Tom Quinlan
Introduce the focus of this book: Excellence in Ministry: Best Practices for Successful Catechetical Leadership. This book shares time-tested skills and strategies for successful catechetical leadership, while also identifying and proposing new approaches to leadership.
Tom Quinlan was a parish DRE and has served as a diocesan catechetical director since He holds a Masters of Divinity from University of St. Mary of the Lake. Tom has been active in NCCL, including as a board member. A strong voice for evangelizing catechesis, Tom does conference presentations and consultation work across the country. He and his family live in the Chicago area.​

6. Don’t Go It Alone – Develop a Shared Vision
An Advisory Board
A Vision Statement
Begin by talking about the importance of developing a shared vision.
Talk about the diagram from Simon Sinek that indicates the importance of starting with WHY?
Discuss the role of an advisory board in implementing a vision statement.
Explain that, whereas a mission statement addresses the WHY, a vision statement addresses WHAT, WHEN, and HOW.
Consider using the printout Ch. 2 “Structure for Planning” to further the discussion.

7. Planning Set goals Name objectives Determine strategies
Identify tactics
Invite participants to talk about their experiences being part of a planning process. Identify the advantages of planning as well as the challenges.
Identify and discuss the steps of a planning process outlined on the slide:
GOALS:
Goals have a broad primary outcome. They should be few in number. Aim to only have two or three goals at a time.
OBJECTIVES:
Objectives are measurable steps towards accomplishing your goal. Objectives helps you assess your success too.
STRATEGIES:
Strategies are the methods for achieving an objective.
TACTICES:
Tactics are a set of specific activities that implement a strategy. They small actions that can be numerous and varied.
Ask for a volunteer to present an example from their parish where a planning process is needed and, as a group, walk through the steps to identify and explain each step and to brainstorm examples.
Continue using the printout Ch. 2 “Structure for Planning” to further discussion.

8. Evaluation
Introduce the concept of evaluation as a critical step in growing a catechetical program.
Ask if any participants have experience with the assessment tool(s) provided by NCEA – IFG (Information for Growth) and ACRE (Assessment of Children/Youth Religious Education)
Share information about IFG/ACRE from the NCEA Web site.
Discuss how these assessment tools are not intended to assess individuals’ progress but to evaluate the progress, strengths, and weaknesses of the entire program.

9. Finding Your Fit Within Various Structures
Parish/pastoral staff
Diocesan structures
Groupings/Clusters
Associations
Universal Church (Canon Law)
Talk about the challenge of putting together a jigsaw puzzle when you don’t know what the whole picture is supposed to look like.
Emphasize that parish and diocesan structures can sometimes be puzzling to us and that we need to know where we “fit in.”
Talk about the complexities of the various structures listed on the slide: parish/pastoral staff, diocesan structures, groupings and clusters, associations, and, of course, the Universal Church.
Invite participants to share their experiences navigating and fitting into these structures.
Consider using printout Ch. 3 “Resources to Enrich Your Ministry” to further discussion.

10. Catechetical Models RCIA Intergenerational Model
Family Faith Formation Model
Special Needs
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Home-Schooling
Ask participants what model car they drive. Talk about the many varieties available from which to choose.
Introduce the reality that, when it comes to catechetical models available to us, we also have a very large variety from which to choose.
Introduce the list on the slide by reading this full list:
RCIA
RCIA adapted for Children
Children Out-of-Sequence
Parish-Based Schooling Model
Intergenerational Model
Family Faith Formation Model
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Special Needs
Sacramental Readiness
Lectionary-based
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Vacation Bible School
Home-Schooling
Engage participants in discussion about the various models asking them to share insights and experiences about each model.
Add your own insights about the realities of these various catechetical models.

11. Operational Aspects – “Setting the Table”
Office help
Arrive early
Consider transitioning into the next topic by using the printout Ch. 5 “Every Week is a Grace-Filled Week” to further discussion.
Point out that, in the midst of each grace-filled week, the catechetical leader has many responsibilities with regards to the operational aspects of the catechetical program.
Explain there are operational aspects related to “setting the table” for the program
Before the Session – “Setting the Table”
Office help (absentees, substitutes, making copies, hall monitoring, parking lot attendees, etc.)
Arrive early (greetings, preliminaries, visible presence, supplies, equipment, etc.)
Invite participants to share their insights and experience of “setting the table” for the catechetical program.

12. Operational Aspects – Coaching from the Sidlines
During the Session
Welcome
Secure the building
Trouble-shooting
Attendance
Observing
Continue discussing and sharing about the operational aspects of running a catechetical program.
Discuss the responsibilities of the catechetical leader during the session(s).
During the Session
Welcome, PA announcements, opening prayer
Secure the building
Trouble-shooting
Attendance
Walking about, observing (informal and formal), echoing
Invite participants to share their insights and experiences related to their responsibilities while sessions are being conducted.

13. Operational Aspects – That’s a Wrap!
After the Session
Safe and complete send-off
Chat with parents
Meet with staff to debrief
Return space to original condition
Secure the building
Continue discussing and sharing about the operational aspects of running a catechetical program.
Discuss the items on the slide that pertain to responsibilities of the catechetical leader after the session(s).
Invite participants to share their insights and experiences related to their responsibilities after sessions have concluded.
Add your own insights and experiences related to the “before, during, and after” responsibilities of the catechetical leader.

14. Record-Keeping Catechist Information Child Information
Incident Documentation
Budgeting
Explain that the administrative aspects of ministry need not be a distraction but contribute to the overall effectiveness of the parish’s proclamation of the Gospel.
Explain:
The catechetical leader is responsible for keeping a variety of records related to the catechetical program.
These include, but are not limited to:
Catechist Information
Child Information
Program Information
Incident Documentation
Family Financial Account
(Tuition) Records
Budgeting
Generating Revenue
Handbook
Assessment/Progress Reports
Arrange participants in small groups to discuss the examples listed on the slide and to share insights and experiences related to each.
Add your own wisdom to the discussion of each of the items on the slide.

15. Marketing Your Program
Word of mouth
Parish bulletin
Web site
Social media
Your ad here
Talk about the importance of marketing the catechetical program.
Explain:
There are a variety of strategies and approaches to create a comprehensive marketing plan for your catechetical program. For example:
Word of mouth
Parish bulletin
Web site
Open House
Local media
Public institutions
Businesses
Mailings
blasts
Signage
Social media
Invite participants to add ideas or to expound on their approaches to these strategies.
Consider using printout Ch. 6 “An Evangelizing Marketing Strategy” to further the discussion.

16. Creating a Catholic “M-O”
Sign and Symbol
Hospitality & Comfort
Prayerful/Liturgical context
Scripture/Song
Seasons and Feasts
Pastoral tone and demeanor
Catholic “way of proceeding”
As a group, brainstorm a list of the various types of gatherings that a catechetical leader is responsible for hosting such as catechist meetings, parent sacramental prep meetings, and so on.
Explain that it is the responsibility of the catechetical leader to ensure that all gatherings in the catechetical program embody a robust Catholic identity.
Go over the list on the slide of various “ingredients” of the Catholic “M-O” or modus operandi.
Ask participants to expound on each item and to share their experiences and insights.
Consider using printout Ch. 7 “Adult Gatherings That Engage” to further the discussion.

17. Mentor the Next Generation of Leaders
Affirm
Invite
Enlarge responsibilities
Accompany
Pray
Theologically reflect with them
Mutually assess
Explore opportunities for formation and education
Empower
Consult
Share stories of individuals who mentored you into ministry at various points along your own journey.
Arrange participants in pairs and invite them to do the same.
Talk about the importance of catechetical leaders mentoring others into the catechetical ministry.
Go over the items on the slide and invite participants to share their insights on how each can be effectively employed to mentor future leaders.
Consider using printout Ch. 10 “Mentoring Future Leaders” to further the discussion.

18. Available for iOS and Android in the app store.
The ECL App
Available for iOS and Android in the app store.
Make reference to the ECL App and note that it is FREE.

19. More Resources
Continue to train and equip your catechists with The Catechist’s Toolbox Series.

20. More Resources www.LoyolaPress.com
Visit our home on the web for resources for catechists and lesson plans.
Sunday Connection
Catechist’s Journey