DOING CATECHESIS ACCORDING TO NCDP

Three Basic Characteristics of the New Methodology in Catechesis

1. INTEGRATED and SYSTEMATIC (Fidelity to God)

 “To integrate” means “to bring the parts together to make a unified whole”

Why Integrate?

 The aim is to “close the gap” between how the faith is taught and
communicated and the way the faith is actually lived in daily life.

Different Kinds of Integration:

 Source Integration: integrated use of the basic Catholic sources:

o rooted in the Word of God in Sacred Scripture
o as interpreted and applied in Church Teaching,
o and experienced in daily human living.
 Life Integration: the interplay of the Christian Message with life situation or HE
of the learners
 Structural Integration: interrelates D, M W
 Content Integration: integration within each dimension (DMW)

Systematic:

 not disordered, partial or improvised, but programmed to reach a precise

goal.
 dealing with the essentials
 sufficiently complete
 constitutes an integral Christian initiation

2. EXPERIENTIAL and INCULTURATED (Fidelity to Man)

 Experiential: relating to the students’ own level of experience

 Inculturated:
o taking into consideration the persons to be catechized: their personal,
social, economic, political, and spiritual backgrounds, the family and
the larger community where they belong, along with their value system
and tradition
o expressing the Christian message through Filipino images, symbols
and rites
o viewing Filipino cultural values, attitudes, and practices in light of Christ
and in terms of their basic Christian dimensions
  Aim of inculturation:
o So that the Filipinos being catechized might perceive the “Good News”
as addressed to them personally, in their own uniqueness and
concrete Philippine context
o Thus, the Filipino can respond to Christ’s call in a uniquely Filipino
manner.

3. COMMUNITARIAN (Fidelity to the Church)

 must be able to build up one another and to nourish each other’s faith.

General Directives for Catechetical Methods

1. The effectivity of any methodology depends on its intelligent use.

2. There is no single best method of catechizing.
3. Every adequate catechetical methodology must be grounded explicitly on three
bases: Scripture, Tradition (Church Teaching), and Human Experience.
4. Focus on the total catechetical environment (socio-religious-cultural context)
5. All catechetical methods gain their effectivity ultimately only through the work of
the Holy Spirit.
 HOW TO PLAN AND DO CATECHESIS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES
OF NCDP

PHASE I
PREPARING A LESSON

Over-all Topic

 Consider the general subject matter.

Example:

GRADE FIVE
Sacraments

Level

 Identify the age group of the learners and their profile: socio-economic,
educational, spiritual, etc.

Example:

GRADE FIVE PROFILE

Age: between 10 – 11 years old
Socio-economic status: mostly from poor or middle class families
Education: public education
Religious: mostly Catholic
Spiritual: poor / irregular Mass attendance

Subject Matter

 Select a particular aspect of the over-all topic as subject matter for the day
and decide on the focus, whether Worship, Doctrine, or Morals.

Example:

Subject Matter for January (2nd week):

Jesus Christ Empowers All Families to Witness to His Love

(The Sacrament of Christian Marriage / Matrimony)
Sources and Means

 Sacred Scripture (SS) and Church Teaching (CT) such as Vatican II, NCDP,
CFC, CCC, etc.

Choose carefully the SS texts and other supporting texts from CT. CFC cites
a good deal of these passages. Gospel stories are excellent choices.

Example:

Sacred Scripture:

Ephesians 5:24-33: Wives and Husbands

Church Teaching:

Gaudium et Spes 48: The Christian family springs from marriage.

 Means and Hyman Experience (HE)

Choose life situations that are relevant to the learners. Decide on the
appropriate teaching technique to be used, such as: story-telling, question-
answer dialogue, debate, news analysis, radiocast, dramatization, song
analysis, slide or film viewing, etc. Teaching techniques are means to assist in
communicating the Christian message: they should not take too much of the
time in teaching.

Example:

Human Experience:

Pupils love their parents and care a lot for their respective families. They
need to know their role in building a true Christian family and how they
contribute to the strengthening of the love relationship of their parents.

Means:

Our Family Portrait

Faith Affirmations / Christian Message

 Formulate the content of the teaching according to the three-fold dimensions

of Catholic Faith: doctrine, morals, worship. Focus on one dimension only.
The first to be written is the focus. The focus is the subject matter.

Example:

Worship: In the Sacrament of Marriage, God blesses the love of a man and
a woman and empowers them to build a Christian family.

Doctrine: God created human persons out of His love. He created them in
His image and likeness.

Morals: Our Christian family is called to witness to Christ’s love.

Objectives

 The objectives serve to guide in preparing the lesson and in evaluating the
outcome. Formulate them in relation to the faith affirmations.

Example:

The lesson is ordered to lead the pupils to:

Worship: Pray sincerely for their parents that they may live and love as
faithful husband and wife and for their family to be true witness of
Christ’s love;

Doctrine: Understand the meaning of being created out of God’s love;

Morals: Strive to live as faithful, obedient, and cooperative members of

their family.
 PHASE II
LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Opening Prayer

 It is better to connect prayer with the lesson.

 Provide a variety of prayer experiences.
o Common / Traditional Prayer
o Spontaneous Prayer
o Prayers composed by the learners
o Prayer service / paraliturgy
o Reading of the Scriptures
o Period of Silent Reflection or Guided Reflection
o Singing a song / hymn
o Listening to sacred music
o Procession
o Enthronement of the Bible or image of Christ

A. Context: Consideration of the Life Situation

 Present the life situation or HE through the teaching technique chosen.

 Reflect on and discuss the life situation (processing):
o how it affects themselves and their families
o how it affects other people
o what they think about it
 Confront the problem:
o looking for an explanation and a solution, if any.
o seeking light in the SS and CT, deeds, attitudes or teachings of Jesus
(This serves as the link to the Exposition.)

Example:

Introduction:

Show a picture of a wedding or of a happy family.

Give a brief description or let the pupils describe the picture/s.

Context:

Individual Work: Our Family Portrait

 Let the pupils paste and label their family picture.
Or: Pupils may be asked to illustrate / draw their family.
 Processing: Ask volunteers to describe briefly what each family
member does to build a happy home. Lead the pupils to
recognize and appreciate the members of their family. Each
member of the family plays a significant role at home.
B. Exposition: Proclamation of the Christian Message

This is the main body of the lesson implementation – the MAIN TASK of the
catechist. Prepare this painstakingly. The dimension in focus is thoroughly explained
by interrelating the SS, CT and HE (source integration).

 Read, narrate, or dramatize the SS text.

 Develop the SS thoroughly using the CT, or develop the CT and ground it with
SS.
 Identify the Christian values.
 In the light of the Christian Message, examine the HE. Interrelate Christian
Message with the life situation presented. Together with the learners, find out
how the Christian Message gives light to the life situation presented.

Example:

Sacred Scripture:

 Prepare the pupils for the reading of God’s Word.

 Proclamation of God’s Word (you can use the format of the liturgy of the
word in the Mass)
 Short silent reflection
 Guided reflection:
o Based on the reading, how should a husband love his wife?
o How should a wife save her husband?
 Short discussion / explanation. Make it lively. Ask questions. Let the
pupils participate. Give examples. Relate to human experience.

Church Teaching:

 Read and explain carefully the exposition based on the Church

Teaching. (It is suggested that the catechist should prepare materials
containing the texts of Sacred Scripture or Church Teaching, e.g. on
manila papers or cartolina.) Present and explain the Sacrament of
Marriage.
 Activity: In your family, how do you cooperate with each other so that
Christ’s love is experienced by all members?
o can be done in groups, or
o prepare strips of cartolina each containing a way of cooperating
with one another in the family. Post these on the board. Let the
students fall in line parallel to their chosen answer/s, or
o let the learners enumerate their answers on their own paper /
notebook.
Cont:

 Integrate HE with SS and CT. Example: The marriage between your

father and mother is the foundation of the Christian family to which you
belong. Like Jesus, every family member can help build a family of love
and mutual care for one another. As a family, we can bear witness to
Christ’s love. (Make necessary adaptations.)

C. Integration

 Bring in the other two dimensions by interrelating them with the focus.
 Create a smooth link from the dimension in focus to the other two dimensions.
 Conscious effort must be made to interrelate the Morals with Doctrine, and
Morals with Worship, since Morals is the weakness of Filipino Catholics.

Example:

Integration:

 Present the following questions to the learners and guide them in

answering:
o Worship: How does the Sacrament of Marriage become a
channel of God’s grace for the family?
 In the Sacrament of Marriage, God blesses the love of a
man and a woman and empowers them to build a
Christian family.
o Doctrine: How did God create every family member?
 God created human persons out of His love. He created
them in His image and likeness.
o Morals: How does our Christian family respond to Christ’s love?
 Our Christian family is called to witness to Christ’s love.
We respond to Jesus Christ by making every good effort
to live as faithful, obedient, and cooperative members of
our family.

D. Personal Response in Faith

 The learners find out, realize, and understand how the Christian Message
confront / affirm people in similar situations:
o whether their own and other people’s actions correspond to Christ’s ways
or not
o what they can change
  The learners affirm by:
o act of faith (silence)
o living the faith by….
o turning to God in prayer.

Example:

Through the Sacrament of Marriage, every Christian family is empowered

to witness to Christ’s love. By serving others, we are able to witness to
His love. How can you serve the members of your family?

Take Note: Before you end the session present a synthesis or summary of the lesson.

E. Conclusion

 Assignment – practical, realistic, relevant, short enough to give time for the other
subjects of the learners.

Closing Prayer

 Write / Compose a personal prayer for your family.

 Or: any prayer may do. It is suggested that the prayer be relevant to the topic.

REMEMBER:

In preparing the lesson, consider the following factors:

 time given (30 minutes, 1 hour)

 the learners (their age, their level of understanding, different family backgrounds,
etc.)
 availability and suitability of learning materials
 appropriate teaching techniques
 Saint Michael College
Cantilan, Surigao del Sur
Christian Formation Office

SAMPLE CATECHETICAL MODULE

FOR GRADE V

Module No. ______

Jesus Christ Empowers All Families to Witness to His Love
(The Sacrament of Marriage)

GROUND PLAN

Christian Message Sources and Means Objectives

Worship: In the Sacrament of Sacred Scripture: The lesson is ordered to lead the
Marriage, God blesses the love of pupils to:
a man and a woman and Ephesians 5:24-33:
empowers them to build a Wives and Husbands Worship: Pray sincerely for their
Christian family. parents that they may live and
Church Teaching: love as faithful husband and wife
Doctrine: God created human and for their family to be true
persons out of His love. He Gaudium et Spes 48: witness of Christ’s love;
created them in His image and The Christian family springs from
likeness. marriage. Doctrine: Understand the
meaning of being created out of
Morals: Our Christian family is Means: God’s love;
called to witness to Christ’s love.
Our Family Portrait Morals: Strive to live as faithful,
obedient, and cooperative
members of their family.
Human Experience
Pupils love their parents and care a lot for their respective families. They need to know their role in building
a true Christian family and how they contribute to the strengthening of the love relationship of their parents.

LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Opening Prayer

Lord, we come to You today. We ask You to bless the marriage of our father and mother. Help us to
become good, loving and responsible members of our family. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A. Introduction:

 Show a picture of a wedding or of a happy family.

 Give a brief description or let the pupils describe the picture/s.
B. Context:

Individual Work: Our Family Portrait

 Let the pupils paste and label their family picture.

Or: Pupils may be asked to illustrate / draw their family.

 Processing: Ask volunteers to describe briefly what each family member does to build a happy
home. Lead the pupils to recognize and appreciate the members of their family. Each member of
the family plays a significant role at home.

C. Exposition

Sacred Scripture:

 Prepare the pupils for the reading of God’s Word.

 Proclamation of God’s Word (you can use the format of the liturgy of the word in the Mass)
 Short silent reflection (if time permits)
 Guided reflection:
o Based on the reading, how should a husband love his wife?
o How should a wife save her husband?
 Short discussion / explanation. Make it lively. Ask questions. Let the pupils participate. Give
examples. Relate to human experience.

Example:

We are discussing about the relationship of husband and wife. Why? You love your parents and
care a lot for your family. You need to know that the Christian marriage of your parents is an image
and a sharing in the love between Christ and His Church. What may be happening in your home is
not what is described in the reading. But knowing the ideal Christian marriage helps us work
together and persevere in building a happy home. Young as you are, you can surely contribute in
building a Christian family.

Church Teaching:

 Read and explain carefully the exposition based on the Church Teaching. (It is suggested that the
catechist should prepare materials containing the texts of Sacred Scripture or Church Teaching,
e.g. on manila papers or cartolina.) Present and explain the Sacrament of Marriage.

 Activity: In your family, how do you cooperate with each other so that Christ’s love is experienced
by all members?
o can be done in groups, or
o prepare strips of cartolina each containing a way of cooperating with one another in the
family. Post these on the board. Let the students fall in line parallel to their chosen
answer/s, or
 o let the learners enumerate their answers on their own paper / notebook.

 Integrate HE with SS and CT.

Example:

The marriage between your father and mother is the foundation of the Christian family to which you
belong. Like Jesus, every family member can help build a family of love and mutual care for one
another. As a family, we can bear witness to Christ’s love. (Make necessary adaptations.)

D. Integration:

 Present the following questions to the learners and guide them in answering:

o Worship: How does the Sacrament of Marriage become a channel of God’s grace for the
family?

 In the Sacrament of Marriage, God blesses the love of a man and a woman and
empowers them to build a Christian family.

o Doctrine: How did God create every family member?

 God created human persons out of His love. He created them in His image and
likeness.

o Morals: How does our Christian family respond to Christ’s love?

 Our Christian family is called to witness to Christ’s love. We respond to Jesus

Christ by making every good effort to live as faithful, obedient, and cooperative
members of our family.

E. Personal Response in Faith

Through the Sacrament of Marriage, every Christian family is empowered to witness to Christ’s love. By
serving others, we are able to witness to His love. How can you serve the members of your family?

Closing Prayer

 Write / Compose a personal prayer for your family.

 Or: any prayer may do. It is suggested that the prayer be relevant to the topic.

Adapted from:

Arriola, Ma. Angelica D. Growing in Jesus Christ 5. Manila: Rex Book Store, 2008.
Being a Catechist means:
 responding to the call to be “witnesses to the
Gospel,” “fellow workers for the truth in the Lord;” a
mediator between the catechized and the mystery of
God (GDC 156)
 teaching the Faith through the pillars of the Christian
Message (Creed – Commandments – Liturgy – Prayer)
(GDC 240)
 fulfilling this prophetic and missionary vocation, in
communion with, and under the guidance of the
pastors of the Church;
 animating “a profound familiarity with Christ and the
Father, in the Spirit” through instruction, good moral
witness and especially by sharing the joy, love and
enthusiasm that comes from this ever-deepening
relationship with Christ in prayer, (GDC 235)
 thus manifesting that fidelity to God and to man
which is indicative of authentic commitment to the
Church, in loving service of the community. (GDC
156)

- New National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines,

Chapter VI, no. 38
 SOME TEACHING TECHNIQUES
Take Note: Up to the age of nine or ten, or even above, children learn better through
stories, games, pictures, and music.

There is no single best method in catechesis.

 STORY-TELLING

May be used to introduce, illustrate, or end a lesson.

o Go over the story. Memorize the sequence. Clarify what is necessary for
the children to know and understand. Make changes when necessary to fit
the present situation. Use simple words appropriate to the children’s
understanding.
o Relate the story to the class as vividly and as colorfully without losing the
main elements. Tell the story as if you saw the event happen, heard
everything said, and felt the emotional reactions of the characters.
o The voice must be natural, informal, and loud enough to be heard by all in
the class. Repeat key ideas.
o After telling the story, check how much you have come across by asking
few questions and soliciting responses. Then bring out the morals.

 QUESTION-AND-ANSWER TECHNIQUE

May be used to preview the matter on hand, stimulate discussion, motivate or

call attention, review the matter of previous lesson, or explore depth of
understanding of the lesson.

o Questions should be simple, relevant, and clearly formulated.

o Direct the question to the whole class, pause and call a name.
o Avoid repeating the answer unless the class is too big to hear it. It wastes
time.
o “How” and “Why” questions probe deeper understanding and insights.
o Questioning period must be limited inasmuch as it causes tension.
o Draw questions from the class. If you are not ready to answer a question
you should not attempt to give one. It is best to say politely, “We will take
this up later,” or “I’ll try to find out.”

 CHALK-TALKS

o The chalk board is an indispensable equipment in teaching.

o The student-catechist should learn and be at home in using it for visual
aids, diagrams, new terms, outlines, etc.
 PICTORIAL TECHNIQUE

o What words may fail to transmit, pictures will fill in.

o Pictures must be large enough for everyone in the class to see.
o They must be well-chosen to provoke interest in the lesson on hand and
stir imagination.
o They may be shown while a story is related, or presented for the children
to interpret.

 MEMORIZATION

o Memorization of texts is one of concrete ways of transmitting the faith to

the next generation.
 Expressions of the Faith (Creed)
 Basic Prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be, Acts of Faith, Hope,
and Love, Act of Contrition)
 Prayers and responses in the Mass
 Texts from the Bible (verses, 10 Commandments, Beatitudes,
Commandments of the Church)
o In every major lesson in the faith, always include some kernel to be
committed to memory (a verse, definition, faith statement, etc.).
o For every memorized prayer, or creedal proposition, always require a
simple paraphrase (explanation), or a simple example of how what is
memorized can be practiced in daily life.
SOURCES:

Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education. Revised National

Catechetical Directory of the Philippines. Intramuros, Manila: Word and Life
Publications, 2007.

Episcopal Commission on Education and Religious Instruction. Maturing in Christian

Faith: National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines. Manila: Catholic
Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, 1983.

Esmero, Sr. Alma, SPC. A Program Manual for Forming College Volunteer Catechists.
Antipolo: Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, 1997.
WHAT TO DO EACH WEEK BEFORE CLASS BEGINS

 Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you.

The Holy Spirit is our interior teacher and our constant guide as we pass on the
faith to others. It is the Holy Spirit who uses us, our words, our actions, our joy,
our love for God to inspire those we teach.

 Prepare and Review your lesson.

Preparation is 70% is the success of your lesson. If you take the time and
prepare you are in a position to have a very successful class. Don’t forget to
review your lesson before you walk into your classroom. That way, you’ll be
ready to execute from the start with no wasted time (especially since the average
religious education class is only between 1 hour and 1.5 hours.)

 Have materials ready.

Be ready before arriving at class with the materials you will need to carry out your
lesson. That way, you won’t need to go after something in the middle of class or
you won’t need to take any time in front of your students doing last minute prep
work.

 Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to the hearts of your students.

We should not only pray that the Holy Spirit works through us but also that the
Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of our students. It is the Holy Spirit who is
drawing them closer to Himself. We must beg God for His help so that they will
be touched, so that they will encounter Christ more fully through each lesson we
cover.
SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL CATECHIST
By Debbie Stollery
What’s the secret to becoming a successful catechist or teacher? Make room for the
Holy Spirit! Here are six ways to do that.

 Pray
Pray that you will be animated by the gifts of the Spirit. Pray for your fellow learners,
that they will experience Christ.

 Prepare
Know your diocesan requirements. Review what your textbook’s teacher manual offers.
Gather all the materials offered by your principal or director of religious education.
Check out textbook publisher websites. Remember the goal of all catechesis is an
intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Know how your learners learn best: how much verbal, how much artistic, how much
physical movement, how much technology? How should you pray together to invite a
relationship between your learners and Christ?

Now return to your materials, and, trusting the Spirit’s guidance, select those offerings of
activity, prayer, story, teaching, dialogue, art, and music that will hand on Christ and the
church. Prepare your plan.

 Organize
Organize your meeting space, your materials, and your technology. Create a prayer
space that echoes the symbols of the liturgy. Gather CDs and DVDs or videos. Gather
the supplies needed for an activity, and arrange them for easy use.

 Reflect
Consider what you learned during this period of preparation. What is new information?
What filled you with hope, possibility, and energy? What makes you anxious? What do
you need to do to allay that anxiety? How has the Lord spoken to you during this
preparation?

 Practice
Do a dry run of the activity. Walk through the prayer, especially if you are using
movement and sacred objects. Practice aloud any reading you will be doing. Then
practice again. Focus on those things you are anxious about. Use a family member or
friend to be your practice audience.

 Pray
Pray again. Sit quietly with the Lord and all that you have planned. Pray for the Spirit’s
gifts to be abundant, for your learning community to be open, and for you to be an
instrument of the presence of Christ. These people are entrusted to your care, and they
are God’s beloved. Pause in gratitude for the wonder of that gift. Ask for God’s spirit to
work through you. May you have great success!
7 HABITS OF EFFECTIVE CATECHISTS

Do you like to develop skills and habits that foster good experiences for students in your
classroom? I stumbled on a website that quoted from Joe Paprocki, Author of The Catechist’s
Toolbox, who came up with 7 habits for highly effective catechists. These 7 great habits should
be developed and maintained by every catechist.

1. Ongoing Formation – they never stop learning about and growing in their faith.

2. Planning and Preparation – they prepare their lessons thoroughly and prayerfully.

3. Creating a Learning Environment – they create a learning space that is conducive to faith
formation.

4. Using Engaging Activities – they know how to make their learners active, not passive.

5. Maintaining Discipline – they know how to keep order.

6. Leading Prayer – they not only include prayer in their lessons but create a climate of prayer
that pervades their lessons.

7. Positive Presence – they utilize skills that command attention and encourage participation.
TOP 10 REASONS YOU SHOULD BECOME A CATECHIST
One frequent complaint I hear from readers about the state of our Church today is that too few
Catholics know their faith (of course, living it is a separate matter). The temptation is to spend so
much time assigning blame that we neglect our duty to do something about it.

One important way we can help pass on knowledge of the faith and love for Christ is by being a
catechist in our parish.

Last year, regular writer Woodeene Koenig-Bricker prepared a list of 10 reasons to consider
becoming a catechist. Here they are:

10. The best way to learn is to teach.

If your own faith education ended years ago, the resources and materials you are exposed to as a
catechist will surely refresh and expand your own knowledge.

9. Catechists tell the truth.

The world needs the message of the Gospel and the way to true happiness; as a catechist, you
offer a hungry world that sustenance.

8. Sharing the faith is an honor.

It’s estimated that fewer than 1 percent of Catholics are catechists.

7. Your own faith will come alive.

As a catechist, you will discover that prayer, liturgy and your own relationship with God will
become more vibrant and meaningful.

6. You become an active part of the most active part of your parish.

When you join the catechists in your parish, you enter into a community that will support you on
your faith journey, pray for and with you and encourage you in your Catholic way of life.

5. A catechist is a role model.

As a catechist, you get to model behaviors young people might not learn anywhere else.

4. You will be practicing stewardship.

Being a catechist is a way of being a good steward by giving a bit of your most precious resource
— your time.

3. You show your own family that you value religious education.

Taking time out of your life to teach the faith shows your own children, grandchildren, siblings
and family members that you put a high priority on religious education.

2. It’s fun.

Kids remind adults to live and laugh in the moment and get enthused about things like holy days
and stories of saints.

1. It’s what we are called to do.

At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus said: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”
WHAT TO DO EACH WEEK BEFORE CLASS BEGINS

1. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you… The Holy Spirit is our interior teacher and our constant
guide as we pass on the faith to others. It is the Holy Spirit who uses us, our words, our actions,
our joy, our love for God to inspire those we teach.

2. Prepare and Review your lesson – Preparation is 70% is the success of your lesson. If you
take the time and prepare you are in a position to have a very successful class. Don’t forget to
review your lesson before you walk into your classroom. That way, you’ll be ready to execute
from the start with no wasted time (especially since the average religious education class is only
between 1 hour and 1.5 hours.)

3. Have materials ready – Be ready before arriving at class with the materials you will need to
carry out your lesson. That way, you won’t need to go after something in the middle of class or
you won’t need to take any time in front of your students doing last minute prep work.

4. Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to the hearts of your students – We should not only pray that
the Holy Spirit works through us but also that the Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of our
students. It is the Holy Spirit who is drawing them closer to Himself. We must beg God for His
help so that they will be touched, so that they will encounter Christ more fully through each
lesson we cover.
EIGHT BEATITUDES FOR CATECHISTS

Blessed are the catechists who listen to their students, especially the one with repeated questions,
for they possess The Ears of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who see the needs of their students, especially the ones unrecognized
by others for they possess The Eyes of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who speak kindly to their students, especially the ones without
positive motivation, for they possess The Mouth of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who gently touch their students, especially the ones who feel the
stings of home violence, for they possess The Hands of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who think prayerfully of their students, especially those who don’t
know God, for they possess The Mind of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who show love to their students, especially the ones with unlovable
traits, for they possess The Heart of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who walk patiently with their students, especially the ones lacking
spiritual guidance for they possess The Feet of CHRIST.

Blessed are the catechists who persevere in their faith sharing ministry, especially when their
efforts seem in vain, for they possess The Healing Presence of CHRIST and theirs is the
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
TOP 10 SKILLS TO DEVELOP AS A CATECHIST

Every catechist desires to grow in his/her ability to be a good communicator and witness of the
Faith. Here are 10 skills that will contribute to anyone seeking to pass on the faith and engage the
students you are ministering to.

1. Planning Good Lessons – taking the time to plan your lesson is one of the best gauges
of weather your lesson will be successful or not.

2. Leading Prayer Experiences – Helping lead children in pray is a sure way of getting them
not only to hear and know “about” God but also to encounter Him.

3. Communicating Effectively – It is important to find ways to communicate to

students effectively. Often in our educational environment in the U.S. kids seem to allow very
little to go from what they are hearing to what they are actually processing and actually
comprehending. Catechists need to communicate in a way that engages students.

4. Involving Children – The more you involve your students the more engaged they will be and
the more they will enjoy their Religious Education experience. Lecturing or reading from the
text alone will not draw the students into the truths and message that you as a catechist are trying
to communicate. At the heart of our message is a person – Christ.

5. Establishing Discipline – Either you discipline the kids or they discipline you. In today’s class
environment students that distract draw their classmates attention away from the lesson and onto
the themselves. Classroom time is very valuable and there is no time for students who seek to
distract you (the catechist) or the other students from the precious little time you have with your
students each week.

6. Using A Variety of Teaching Methods – one week break your students into small
groups, another week have them work individually, and another week ask for volunteers, etc…
Also, use different ways or means to communicate your message (art, video, music, illustrations
to name a few).

7. Asking Questions Properly- if you ask questions that require yes or no answers that is all
you will get. Ask questions that will draw more out of your students and that will draw the
students deeper into the subject at had. Sometimes the very questions that are asked actually
distract from the main points you want to make because students begin to share various
experiences that don’t help focus on the lesson.

8. Leading Good Discussions – depending on the age discussion has the potential to really
help students not only think and absorb what they are learning about but also to draw more out of
them because they desire to share. It is not that they don’t have something to share. It could be
that they are not receiving the right questions that will draw them out and allow them to share.
9. Offering Children Positive Feedback – St. Paul said “Encourage one another while it is
still today” (Heb. 3:13). Students desire to be encouraged in their lives. It is no different when it
comes to their faith. The only requirement is that you are authentic in your encouragement.

10. Working Well with the Text – The textbook is only a tool. It is not the crux of your lesson.
You as the catechist are the primary communicator, not the textbook. You are the primary
witness and messenger of the Good News, not the textbook or the video you show, or the activity
you have your students participate in but you are the one who brings it together so that the
students are able to grow in their knowledge of the faith and their relationship with God. Yes the
textbook can be a good guide for what you are going to cover but it should never be the sole
thing you depend on to teach your students (I only recommend very small doses of reading out of
the textbook).