Why Catechesis? Why not CCD or Religious Education?

Despite the frequent use in the United States of the term CCD for parish religious educations programs, today the initials CCD do not have a real significance. From 1934 to 1974 in the United States the letters “CCD” meant “Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, which during that time there was a national office of the confraternity which spread into every part of the country. Today this office no longer exists.

Religious Education is a term used interchangeably with catechesis, but religious education can also refer to an education activity that has no personal connection with faith in Jesus Christ. The term religious education can have associations that are more limiting than the term catechesis. For example, religious education is usually associated with children’s programs or a school model. There is much more to catechesis than what we do in religious instruction. Religious instruction is one dimension, an important one but not the only dimension of catechesis. (See Articles 85 and 86 in the General Catechetical Directory for the fundamental tasks of catechesis.)

Catechesis is the preferred term because it is not an ambiguous in its meaning. The term “catechesis” means to resound or to echo. Its roots are in the New Testament and it is the term most used in the Church documents.

From: On Catechesis in Our Time (Catechesis Tradendae, John Paul II, 1979)

“The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ.” (CT5)

“The more the church, whether on the local or the universal level, gives catechesis priority over other works and undertakings the results of which would be more spectacular, the more she finds in catechesis a strengthening of her internal life as a community of believers and of her external activity as a missionary Church (#15)

From: Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, (Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1999)

“Adult Faith Formation… must be “the central task in catechetical enterprise,” becoming “the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age.” (#5)

Facts

The position of Director of Religious Education (DRE) has its beginnings in the late sixties and beginning of the seventies. Director of Catechetical Ministry (DCM) is the term that is now frequently used.
In the Diocese of San Jose

• Each parish has a person who is responsible for catechetical ministry or a portion of it.
  
• 1/3 of the Directors of Catechetical Ministry has a Masters Degree or are working towards a Masters Degree.
  
• There are 1, 800 volunteer catechists.
  
  Nature and Purpose of Catechesis
  
  Initiatory Catechesis
  Ongoing Catechesis
  
  Important Resources
  
  The Holy Bible
  The Vatican II Documents
  Catechism of the Catholic Church
  General Directory for Catechesis
  Sharing The Light of Faith , National Catechetical Directory 1979
  National Directory For Catechesis ( to be published May 2005)
  The Catechetical Documents: A Parish Resource, 1996
  The Rite of the Christian Initiation of Adults
  The Sacramentary
  The Lectionary
  The Rites of the Catholic Church
  Our Heart Were Burning Within Us: a pastoral plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States – Bishops of the United States
  Without Borders/Sin Fronteras- Evangelization guide
  
  References of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
  #4-7
  #426 – 428
  #906
  #1074-5
  2226
  2685

Pope Benedict XVI

Dear Catechetical Leaders of the Diocese of San Jose,

Cardinal Ratzinger was elected today as Pope, and chose the name Benedict XVI.
This is an excerpt of the translation of the homily delivered Monday by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger during the Mass "for the election of the Roman Pontiff" in St. Peter's Basilica, before the conclave. I feel these are inspiration words for the catechetical leaders of our diocese.

“We have received the faith to give it to others; we are priests to serve others. And we must bear fruit that abides. But, what abides? Money does not last. Buildings do not last, or books. After a certain time, more or less long, all this disappears. The only thing that abides eternally is the human soul -- man created by God for eternity. The fruit that abides, therefore, is the one we have sown in human souls, love, knowledge; the gesture capable of touching the heart; the word that opens the soul to the joy of the Lord. So, let us go and ask the Lord to help us to bear fruit, a fruit that abides. Only thus is the earth transformed from a vale of tears into a garden of God.”

Visit the the following web site for information and frequently asked questions about the succession of a Pope.

http://www.smp.org/PopeBenedictXVI.cfm

http://www.christiancoloring.com/cmpdf2005/Pope%20Benedict%20XVI.pdf

Remembering Pope John Paul ll

Dear Catechetical Community of the Diocese of San Jose,

In reflecting on the life and death of Pope John Paul ll, I find the words “Be not afraid” echoing in my mind as I think of him as his ministry to the church. May these words give us courage and hope to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. The statement from the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership for Pope John Paul ll says it well.

Wendy

“The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership joins the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II. Since his election as pope in 1978, John Paul II has consistently called upon those of the faith to follow their baptismal call to catechize all peoples. Pope John Paul II has empowered the laity to join with bishops, pastors and religious in the responsibility of catechetical ministry.

Throughout his years as pope, John Paul II continued to address the need for quality catechesis in all areas of faith. Whether documents concerned family, evangelization, the role of the laity or the quality of all life, there has always been a call for catechesis by the clergy, religious and laity. The commissioning of catechists for all age groups was outlined in Catechesis Tradendae (1979) with the understanding that catechetical activity at all ages was of great value.

Two other important catechetical documents were written and published under the leadership of Pope John Paul II; the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the new edition of the General Directory for Catechesis. Both these documents have served to enhance and affirm the work of catechesis. As a result of these two publications catechetical leaders have a set of values and criteria by which to develop programs and materials that will best accomplish their task.

Pope John Paul II led us in the mission to follow the command of Jesus to “go out and make disciples”. His ongoing personal effort to spread the message of Jesus to people throughout the world continues to inspire and affirm us all.”

Rosaries for the Troops

Want to provide some spiritual comfort for the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines serving in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan? The Military Archdiocese is collecting Rosaries to send overseas to our Catholic (and non-Catholic) servicemen. It seems even non-Catholics are taking comfort in the prayers of the Rosary.

So clean out your drawers of old Rosaries you don’t use anymore, or if you know how to make your own start making them again, or even just go down to your local Catholic bookstore and buy a whole bunch. (This is a great service project for a youth group or confirmation class, by the way.)

When you do, send them (and a small donation to help defray postage costs) to:
Jo Ann Redmond
Director of Administration Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
415 Michigan Avenue, N.E., Suite 300
P.O. Box 4469 Washington, D.C. 20017

The troops will be very grateful.