Welcome to St. Patrick's!! Thank you for your consideration and interest in becoming a Catechist!!!
First, let's set up an appointment so that we can meet, share our catechist job description, and answer any questions you might have about our Faith Formation program. My office hours are Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and I can be reached at (308) 254-2828.
Second, I will introduce you to the St. Patrick's staff, and give you a tour of the parish center. You will see our spacious dining hall, the class rooms, craft supply room, and library. The library is filled with great resources like: videos, coloring pages, inspirational books, and posters.
Next, I will share the curriculum that you will use for your specific grade.
I will also introduce you to some of our other catechist so that you can have mentors to help you. Less experienced individuals will be placed with those who are more experienced.
Last but not least, in order to promote child safety, I will walk you through the steps of fulfilling the Diocesan Safe Environment requirements. All of our catechist, volunteers, and staff are required to be in compliance with the Grand Island Child Protection Policy. For more information contact Safe Environment Coordinators-Joan Falcon and Amy Colerick at (308) 254-2828.
So, what is a Catechist?
A catechist is someone commissioned by the parish to share their faith experiences and traditions with our parish youth.
You do not have to have a degree in theology to become a catechist.
Here are some qualities that will help you thrive as a catechist.
Qualities:
- a desire to grow in and share the Catholic faith
- an awareness of God’s grace and the desire to respond to that grace
- a commitment to the Church’s liturgical and sacramental life and moral teachings
- a strength of character built on patience, responsibility, confidence, and creativity
- a generosity of spirit, respect for diversity, and a habit of hospitality and inclusion
Knowledge and Skills:
- a basic understanding of Catholic teaching, scripture, and Catholic Tradition
- honest and caring relationships with the age group being served
- effective teaching techniques and strategies.
Most of all, catechists need a commitment to grow. We don’t have to be flawless in all of these areas, however, we need to recognize where we might be deficient and strive to enrich ourselves.
adapted from https://catechist's journey.loyolapress.com.
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If you are a new catechist, assistant, or substitute, please contact Joan Falcon for (K-6th), Amy Colerick for (7-12th) at (308) 254-2828 to start the volunteer safe environment process.
http://amazingcatechists.com/
www.relevantcatechesis.com
https://outsidedabox.com/
http://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/sowing-seeds-faith
http://www.thereligionteacher.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ten-tips-maintaining-discipline.pdf
For planning a lesson, here are some great resources!
http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Religious-Education-Session-Planning-Form.docx
http://go.sadlier.com/religion/january-lesson-preparation-planner
