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Catechist Certification - Level II & III Course Descriptions
The sessions at Faith Enrichment Centers are open to all adult Catholics interested in growing in knowledge of their faith. The sessions described below are applicable to diocesan Catechist Certification requirements as Core Sessions for Levels II and III (full certification).
• Remember! Please register 10 days before the start date of the site you will attend
• Individual registration forms should be completed and mailed to the Office of Catechesis
Level II & III Course Descriptions
CHURCH - ECCLESIOLOGY
This session will introduce the basic themes and ideas of the church's self-understanding with an emphasis on the characteristics, dimensions, and structure of the Church.
CHURCH HISTORY
This session will focus on the historical movements of the Church from the catacombs, to medieval monarchy, to a contemporary emphasis on the Church in the modern world.
GOD AND REVELATION
This session will cover some basic teachings on the existence of God and the revelation of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
HUMAN SEXUALITY
The purpose of education in human sexuality is to enable individuals to understand, value, develop and responsibly exercise their sexuality. This session will attempt to reinforce these qualities in the catechist so that he /she may present the educational content in a manner that is faithful to the Catholic tradition using Church documents and age appropriate materials.
JESUS
This session will present Jesus as His contemporaries saw Him and His call to radical discipleship, with special emphasis on the impact of His message for us.
LITURGY
Liturgy celebrates the union of God and Church as expressed in the Eucharist, the sacraments and other formal celebrations of Church. The focus will be on the fundamental components of liturgical celebrations.
MORALITY
Morality reflects the human capacity to freely choose actions which can be evaluated as good or evil. This session will explore major elements of the moral process: grace, human nature, conscience, natural law, virtues, sin, theories of moral development.
NEW TESTAMENT
This session will review the Church as it emerged from the Easter and Pentecost event and note differences in the various early Christian communities. The letters and the gospels will also be studied
OLD TESTAMENT
A brief overview of the Old Testament will be presented. God's relationship to His people will be examined from the point of view of Covenant. A survey of the four basic divisions of the forty-five books of the Old Testament will be covered: the Pentateuch, the historical books, the Wisdom books and the Prophetic books. The four major traditions from which these sections flow will be discussed: namely, the Yahwist, the Elohist, the Deuteronomic, and the Priestly traditions.
PRAYER
Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God. This session will develop a theoretical as well as experiential back-ground for prayer in order to enable the participant to be a better leader of prayer.
SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL
The sacraments continue the sanctifying work of Christ in and through the Church. This session will explore the fundamental components of the sacramental life: sign, symbol, ritual, human communication, the role of scripture, etc. from the catechetical perspective.
SACRAMENTS OF COMMITMENT
Marriage and Holy Orders contribute to the building up the people of God, each in their own unique way. This session will present an overview of the theological and pastoral issues related to these sacraments.
SACRAMENTS OF HEALING
Christ's ministry of healing and forgiveness continues through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of the Sick. This session will focus on the communal nature of forgiveness and healing in the renewal of these sacraments in Church today.
SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION
This session will present the three sacraments of initiation - Baptism, / Confirmation and Eucharist - as they were celebrated in the early Church and their development up to the present time.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Service of God compels the Church to work for a just society. This session will present an overview of social justice teachings, the contemporary challenges facing the Church and ways to become more involved in the work of social justice.
SPRING 2008 FOCUS SESSIONS
CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER: WHO CARES FOR YOU?
Family caregivers take heart! "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8. Sacrifices must be made, dreams set aside and challenges met. Family caregivers provide countless hours of physical, emotional and spiritual support to their loved ones in hospitals, at home and in healthcare facilities. Truly the human hands that provide care in the name of Jesus are an extension of the open hands of God. Allow yourself the opportunity to be spiritually renewed and to celebrate the sacredness of your work as caregiver. Practical and spiritual resources will be made available.
CHASITY TALKS: WHY WAIT? BECAUSE TRUE LOVE WAITS!
Come learn more about the positive virtue of chastity and how it can assist you in laying the foundation for a long term healthy lifestyle for the young people in your life. This talk offers parents and catechists of middle school and high school students the facts they need about Catholic Church teaching, healthy relationships and the physical, psychological and emotional consequences of sexual activity before marriage. Practical tips and resources to present chastity as a positive, realistic choice for young people will be shared. The topics to be discussed will include: family, marriage and sexuality from a Catholic perspective; dangers of toxic exposure to images in advertising, media and Internet sources that objectify the person; facts about sexually transmitted diseases; respect for the sanctity of life; setting boundaries; and, standing firm in chastity.
CHILDREN AND GRIEF
When traumatic loss enters a child's family, whether through the death of a loved one, separation or divorce of parents, terminal illness. Incarceration or abandonment, concerned adults often face the biggest challenge of their lives. How can we assure that the child will not become a "forgotten griever?" Through exploring the elements of the grief process in children and relevant suggestions to help them to cope with their pain, we may heed the healing message of Jesus, "Let the little children come to me."
***FAITH DEVELOPMENT
This session will examine some of the basic research in human development, cognitive and psychological growth and faith development. The point of emphasis will be to show how Religious Education is related to other influences in a person's life.
JR. HIGH CATECHESIS
Adolescents today ask questions and raise issues. With guidance and direction, they can become critical thinkers. Paulo Freire, noted educator, writes, "We are not imprisoned within a permanent today. We can think critically with a critical consciousness and are not manipulated by a distortion of truth." This session will focus on strategies that will enable religious educators to clarify truths in the lives of adolescents.
PASTORAL VISITATION: THE ART OF HOLY LISTENING
PART I & PART II
We the baptized serve as God's compassionate outreach to the world. We are called to continue Jesus' healing ministry on earth. This two-part interactive workshop will explore how the healing power of God reveals itself through pastoral presence and active listening skills. These skills are applicable to anyone in ministry but especially for those who minister to the sick, homebound and residents in healthcare facilities.
Part I focuses on the development of a pastoral attitude and a set of communications skills that reflect a ministry of presence and caring. Participants will gain greater appreciation for journeying with the care-receiver and for making Jesus' presence a felt reality via the pastoral visit.
Part 2 examines the theology that frames our Catholic Christian understanding of illness and suffering and how this understanding impacts the way we communicate. Active and reflective listening skills will be practiced in greater detail with feedback and group discussion.
PASTORAL VISITATION: HEALING MISSION OF CHRIST
Pastoral Visitors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and all 'care' ministers to the sick are invited to explore and reflect upon the scriptural and spiritual foundation of pastoral care to the sick, frail and lonely. This session serves as the foundation to the pastoral visitation skill building/enrichment series. It focuses on the sacredness of ministry to the sick. We revisit the "why we do what we do" as ministers of compassionate care through scripture, reflection, and small group sharing. Come and join us for a little spiritual renewal!
PRAYING IN A RELATIONAL WAY: COMMUNING WITH GOD THE GIFT OF RELATIONAL PRAYER
God is closer to us than we are to ourselves! However, often God seems distant and beyond our reach. We will explore and experience a concrete way to enter into a personal relationship with God: relation prayer. This heartfelt form of prayer includes four moments: looking at, listening to, sharing with, and responding to God. Come enjoy a quiet evening of reflection and Prayer!
SCRIPTURE AND STORYTELLING
God is constantly revealed through everyday events and people and in the story of our lives. God's Word is alive and present through these events. This session will focus on ways that we can encourage children to recognize God working in their lives.
USING YOUR GIFTS FOR GOD
You have bee blessed with a unique set of gifts and talents. You're a "one of a kind"! Come and learn about yourself and about how you might serve God for the sake of the Kingdom.
All Sessions are Applicable to Level II/III Catechist Certification
Individual registration forms should be filled out and returned to the Office of Catechesis 10 days before start of first session.
Contact Us:
Office of Catechesis
Diocesan Pastoral Center
701 Lawrenceville Road
Trenton, NJ 08648-0147
Phone: 609-406-7400 ext. 5620, ext. 5554
Fax: 609-406-7418
E-mail: cathed@dioceseoftrenton.org
Associate Director: Dr. Eileen Hoefling
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