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from whence Catechesis? from the Greek: καταξειν (katachein) “to sound forth” “to resound” “to echo” The word implies oral instruction
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from whence Catechesis? Apostolic Discourses: Peter (Acts 2:14-41) Paul (1Cor 3:1) Philip (Acts 8:35)
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from whence Catechesis? Catechesis - the teaching - Catechist - the one who passes on the teaching - Catechumen - the one who receives the teaching -
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from whence Catechesis? “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers… …every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (NAB, Acts 2:42-47)
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First Catechesis A process designed to introduce the would- be candidate for baptism to the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and to the gradual turning-over of their lives to God. praying with the scriptures an introduction to the liberation and salvation stories of the tradition.
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First Catechesis Sponsors available to assist the catechumen address questions, seek out answers, and learn more about the practices of the believers the responsibility of training the catechumens in the process of reflecting in the light of the faith Formal Instruction homilies shared by the presider of the community readings from instructional texts that were available to the community such as the Didache (Instructions of the Apostles)
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Early Catechetical Formation Marked by communal prayer with and for the candidates and catechumens. Faith sharing by full members of the community Gradual sharing in rites that led to full initiation, and life in the community. Π
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Catechesis Responding to Needs Edict of Milan – 313 Council of Nicea – 325 The Patristic Age
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Catechesis Responding to Needs Catechetical instruction came to be reserved to the formation of Clergy General instruction consisted of Our Father Hail Mary Creed Ten Commandments
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Catechesis Responding to Needs Dark Ages Middle Ages The Scholastic Era The Age of Reformation
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As the World Turns… Reformation Luther’s Catechism CounterReformation The Council of Trent The Roman Catechism
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from whence Catechism Latin catechisare The act of catechizing catechismus The subject matter, the teaching of the Church
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from whence Catechism People ‘attended’ catechism, were ‘instructed in’ catechism, ‘learned’ their catechism enjoyed ‘knowledge of’ the catechism.
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from whence Catechism Catechism Instruction consisted of Our Father Hail Mary Creed Ten Commandments Lists Sins Virtues Vices
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As the World Turns… Milan C onfraternity of C hristian D octrine Charles Borromeo > Rome Papal Approval 1571
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As the World Turns… Age of the Enlightenment First Vatican Council Franco Prussian War Second Vatican Council “[A] directory should be composed concerning the catechetical instruction of the Christian people…” Vatican II, 1965 Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops Christus Dominus n44
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A timeline to help… Jesus: Encounter Liturgical Year Baptism Eucharist Vatican II Catechumenate Baptism without Catechumenate Past 50 years Lifelong formation Conversion The whole community gathered 350 The rosary Sermons Stained glass windows Catechisms to memorize Largely un-converted Catechumenate restored 36 19651997
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Modern Catechetical Documents For the Universal Church 1971 – General Catechetical Directory 1975 – Evangelization in the Modern World/ Evangeli Nuntiandi 1979 – On Catechesis in Our Time/ Catechesi Tradendae 1986 – Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 1990 – Adult Catechesis in the Christian Community 1992/94 – The Catechism of the Catholic Church/ 2 nd edition 1997 – General Directory for Catechesis 2006 – Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
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Modern Catechetical Documents From the Bishops of the United States 1972 – To Teach as Jesus Did 1973 – Basic Teaching for Catholic Religious Education 1979 - National Catechetical Directory: Sharing the Light of Faith 1999 – Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us 2005 – National Directory for Catechesis 2006 – Adult Catechism
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Introducing the National Directory for Catechesis Purposes of NDC To provide fundamental theological and pastoral principles To apply principles to pastoral activity To offer guidelines for the application of principles To set forth the nature, purpose, object, tasks, basic content, and methodology of catechesis
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Situating the NDC Audience Those who have primary responsibility for catechesis in dioceses, parishes, and schools in the United States Authority Official document of the USCCB Received recognitio from Congregation of the Clergy in December 2004
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Characteristics of Catechesis Authentic Complete Systematic Integral Divine Pedagogy Lifelong Inculturated
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Catechesis that is Authentic The Message is centered on Christ (i.e. Christocentric) Introduces the Trinitarian character of the Message Proclaims the Good News of the Kingdom (i.e. news of salvation and liberation) Has an Ecclesial Character Has an Historical Character Actively Seeks Inculturation Is Comprehensive and Hierarchical in Nature Is Oriented to the Meaning of the Person Fosters a Common Language of Faith
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Catechesis that is Complete Complete catechesis presents the doctrines of the faith as an integrated whole and should present the complete content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church the articles of the Creed, the seven sacraments, the Ten Commandments the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer
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Catechesis that is Systematic The core or basic teachings of the faith need to be taught in a planned manner and be continually reinforced throughout the lifelong learning cycle A variety of methods is required … (NDC 29)
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Catechesis that is Integral The teachings of the Church are interrelated and complement one another, forming an organic whole Single Source – Jesus Christ Scripture Tradition
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Divine Pedagogy in Catechesis All that we teach comes from God as gift. Divine Revelation is intrinsically pedagogical In teaching the faith, we teach about the very nature of the God who loves us Catechesis is ordered to bring about a response to this love: a conversion to Christ that leads to a living of the faith as it is celebrated, lived, and prayed.
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Catechesis that is Lifelong “Catechesis is that particular form of the ministry of the word which matures initial conversion to make it into a living, explicit, and fruitful confession of faith.” (GDC 82) Formation for Transformation Conversion to Christ is a lifelong process
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Catechesis that is Inculturated “The Word of God became man, a concrete man, in space and time and rooted in a specific culture…” (GDC 109, citing AG 10, 22) Evangelizing catechesis seeks to transform the culture.
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Catechesis that is Inculturated Catechesis is: To discover the seed of the gospel within the culture To know and respect the essentials of the culture To recognize that no single culture can contain the gospel To proclaim the transforming, regenerating power of the gospel in every culture To use the language and culture of the people To maintain the integral content of the faith and to avoid obscuring the Christian message
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Six Tasks of Catechesis CATECHESIS Knowledge of the Faith Liturgical Formation Moral Formation Teaching To Pray Community Life Missionary Initiation
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6 Tasks of Catechesis (GDC 85-86, NDC 20) Catechesis promotes knowledge of the faith It develops a knowledge of the content of divine revelation in Scripture and in Tradition Knowledge of the Faith
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Liturgical Formation 6 Tasks of Catechesis (GDC 85-86, NDC 20) 2. Catechesis promotes a knowledge of the meaning of the Liturgy & the Sacraments It not only explains what happens, but forms people for fuller sharing in the mysteries
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6 Tasks of Catechesis (GDC 85-86, NDC 20) 3. Catechesis promotes moral formation in Jesus Christ Encourages people to give witness to Christ’s teaching both in their public and private lives. Moral Formation
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6 Tasks of Catechesis (GDC 85-86, NDC 20) 4. Catechesis teaches the Christian how to pray with Christ Leads people to adopt Christ’s own disposition of reflection and prayer to the Father which is the context for Christian action Teaching To Pray
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Communal Life 6 Tasks of Catechesis (GDC 85-86, NDC 20) 5. Catechesis prepares the Christian to live in community and to participate actively in the life of the Church Concern for the poor, care for the alienated, common prayer, simplicity & humility are characteristic of the Christian life
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6 Tasks of Catechesis (GDC 85-86, NDC 20) 6. Catechesis promotes a missionary spirit that prepares the faithful to be present as Christians in society Our ‘world’ is the place wherein we give witness to our faith in word and in deed Missionary Initiation
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Situating the NDC Defining The Scope of Catechesis “…the whole of the efforts within the Church to make disciples, to help people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, so that believing they might have life in His name (cf Jn 20:31), and to educate and instruct them in this life and thus build up the Body of Christ.” John Paul II, 1979 Catechesi Tradendae n1
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Situating the NDC Catechesis in a Nutshell The primary goal of catechesis is to pass along the faith, with which we have been entrusted, to the generations who follow us… …it is the faith of the people of God, the Church, which we are determined to share in the catechetical ministry.
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Catechesis is… “…an education of children, young people and adults in the faith, which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life.” John Paul II, 1979 On Catechesis in the Modern World Catechesi Tradendae n18
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Catechesis is… “intended to make the faith, as illumined by teaching, a vital, explicit and effective force in the lives of [people].” Vatican II, 1965 Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops Christus Dominus n14
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Catechesis is… That work which always “aims at putting people… in communion… with Jesus Christ” 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church 426
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Shifting Paradigms for Faith Formation: A Context
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