Religious Education & Youth Ministry

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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. The Church is bidden by God and by events - each of them a call from Him - to renew her trust in catechetical activity as a prime aspect of her mission. She is bidden to offer catechesis her best resources, in people and energy, without sparing effort, toil or material means, in order to organize it better and to train qualified personnel.

Approved Available Catechetical Resources - these materials are approved by the USCCB and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe

SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
2020-2021 Catechetical Year

Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness Pope John Paul II
Catechesi Tradendae- #15
On Catechesis in Our Time
(St. Paul Editions, 1979)

Six Fundamental Tasks of Catechesis

1. Knowledge of the Faith
2. Liturgical Education
3. Moral Formation
4. Learning to Pray
5. Education for Community Life and Mission of the Church
6. Missionary Discipleship and Service

National Catechetical Directory, pp. 60-62

Mission Statement

The Religious Education Office operates in the context of the ongoing evangelization and conversion process that is the goal of the Church for every Christian. It will provide for pastors, parents and pastoral teams, Directors of Religious Education (DREs), Parish Catechetical (PLCs),  Catholic school principals and teachers, leadership, enablement, support and coordination through which they may effectively grow in and find success in catechetical ministry. It will provide the encouragement, means, and challenge for continuing growth in vision, purpose and commitment for the catechetical ministry of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.

Pastoral Goals

Leadership Development

• Implement standards and competencies for catechetical leaders
• Conduct quarterly in-service meetings for Parish Catechetical Leaders 
• Provide ministry formation and certification for catechists and other leaders
• Sponsor a yearly on-going formation day
• Sponsor a yearly celebration day for the affirmation of catechetical ministers
   

Communication and Collaboration

• Consultation (phone or on-site) with clergy and other parish leaders and catechists
• Communication and help to parish catechetical leaders in implementation of archdiocesan sacramental preparation policies and guidelines
• Identification and promotion of new models for catechesis and religious education
• Communication and collaboration with all pastoral ministries
• Communication and collaboration with the Province of Santa Fe Diocesan Directors (5 dioceses: Gallup, Las Cruces, Phoenix, Santa Fe and Tucson)
• Communication and collaboration with the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) and other national organizations, e.g. NCEA, NPCD, NACAMP, NCPD, NACAMP
• Communication and collaboration with Archdiocesan Religious Education Advisory Board and task forces
• Personal consultations for all parishes on new or ongoing catechetical issues, trends and concerns

Resources

• Personal consultations for all parish catechetical leaders on choosing and using a/v
• Resources available through the Ministry Resource Center
• Information sharing on catechetical matters through direct mail, PMD Newsletter as well as through quarterly meetings with parish catechetical leadership
• Information sharing on presenters for local parish programs and workshops

Documentation from which Philosophy and Content are Drawn for Catechesis 

• The Documents of the Second Vatican Council, 1962-65
• The General Directory for Catechesis, Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, 1998
• The National Directory for Catechesis, USCCB, 2005
• Good News in New Forms: A Companion for the GAC, NCCL, 1998
• To Teach As Jesus Did, USCCB, 1972
• Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI, 1975
• Sharing the Light of Faith - National Catechetical Directory, USCC, 1979
• Catechesi Tradendae, Pope John Paul II, 1979
• Guidelines for Doctrinally Sound Catechetical Materials, USCCB 1990
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, USCCB 1994
• How to Choose Catechetical Texts, NCCL, 1996
• National Certification Standards for Professional Directors of Religious Education NCCL, 1996

Other Links

• Current List of Approved Catechetical Texts and Series from the Office for the Catechism, U.S. Catholic Bishops 
• National Catholic Educational Association
• National Conference of Catechetical Leadership