|
RESOURCES
|
|||
|
REVISED GRADED COURSE OF STUDY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY CATECHETICAL PROGRAMS The 2009 revised edition of the Graded Course of Study for Early Childhood and Elementary Catechetical Programs was posted on the web site of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in early August.
This document replaces Growing Together: Ministry to Children (1998, 2001).
Some highlights of the revised Graded Course of Study:
We hope that the new format makes the Graded Course of Study more user-friendly. We urge catechetical leaders and principals to familiarize your catechists and teachers with the new document. If you are unable to access the electronic Graded Course of Study, please contact your regional office of Evangelization and Catechesis to request a hard copy for $ 4.00. For more information about implementing the Graded Course of Study in your parish or school religious education programs, please contact your designated consultant in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.
PARISH PROCESS FOR EVANGELIZATION Several parishes in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati have been involved in Why Catholic?, a process from Renew International. The materials and events are being revised and updated and are more inviting and usable by those in the parishes who participate.
Some parishes have expressed an interest in beginning the Why Catholic? Process. If you are interested in learning more about this process and determine if it would be good for your parishioners, please contact Tanya Monsour Stager, Assistant Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese. For additional information please go to www.renewintl.org and click on “Our Ministries” to display the dropdown menu and then select the Why Catholic? link.
FAITH SHARING RESOURCES FOR YOUNG ADULTS “A Little Leaven ... A Faith-Sharing Resource” is designed to assist in the organizational set-up of RENEW Theology on Tap events within the context of prayerful faith sharing. The Scriptural selections are presented as an invitation to join with Jesus as he transitions from the private phase of His life into active ministry. Young adults are encouraged to use their Theology on Tap experiences as a stepping stone to service in their individual parishes. The Word on the Go Session by Session Online Year B is an on line resource which invites small Christian Community faith sharing in the context of Theology on Tap. Each session guides the participants through an intellectual exercise but as a prayerful experience of daily life. Please visit RENEW Theology on Tap for additional information.
CO-WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD The National Association for Lay Ministry announced recently that it has released the National Association for Lay Ministry’s first Distance Learning Directory for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. This directory represents NALM’s commitment to the formation of lay ministers. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in their document “Co-Workers in the Vineyard,” state that people ministering within the Catholic Church need education in theological studies as part of their formation for ministry. The bishops affirm the need for education of lay ministers and suggest the use of techniques such as distance learning to enable participation of lay ministers. Christopher Anderson, Executive Director of NALM, offers his hope that this directory will be a way for you to begin your journey and deepen your service to the Church. A complete listing of all the schools participating in the Directory can be found by Clicking Here.
RESOURCES FOR LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION AND BIBLE STUDY PastoralPlanning offers resources to buy and receive by email as well as some free resources on Planning for Lifelong Faith Formation, Forming Parish Teams, Bulletin and Training Articles, Questions of the Week, Intergenerational Faith Gatherings, Retreats and Prayers, Lenten Resources and Sacramental Formation Resources for Parents and Children.
New to this web site is “Outlines for Adult Bible Studies.” The four study guides include “The Whole Bible Study in a Zip File” (also available in Spanish), “The Bible Study in Plain English – One Section at a Time,” “Bible Study in Plain English – Just the Psalms” and “Bible Study in Plain English – Just the New Testament.”
Included in each study are lesson plans, reproducible hand-outs, conversation starters and activities that help users integrate the Bible into their own lives. Old and New Testament chronological charts show the creation of each book in chronology with the major historical events of the times. Each session is designed for one hour of content plus prayer and refreshment and social time.
|
|
|
MEDIA UPDATE FROM THE OEC We have some new video and print material available in the media centers. Come in and browse! Click here for a look at the new media update.
.ADULT
FAITH FORMATION The staff of the OEC in Sidney, Jane Pierron and Carolyn Stucke, have put together a very helpful resource list of parish programs in Adult Faith Formation. For a copy of the list, click here.
NEW WEB PAGES ON WHOLE PARISH APPROACH TO CATECHESIS The OEC has developed a whole new section of our web site devoted to what is known as the Whole Parish Approach to Catechesis. There you will find resources, sample strategies and a process for moving your parish in this direction. If you need help in implementing a Whole Parish Approach the OEC staff stands ready to work with you on developing a planning process, and/or giving presentations on WPC to your staff and parishioners. Click Here to access these pages.
BAPTISMAL PREPARATION RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES The occasion for a baby’s baptism is a wonderful opportunity both for faith formation for the family of the child, and for the parish to reach out to young adults. Helping parents to reflect on the meaning of their own baptism as well as the commitment they are making to bring up their child as a disciple of Christ, can be a powerful, life changing experience for the whole family. For a list of the current published baptismal preparation programs, Click Here.
THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS Pope Benedict XVI has declared June 2009-June 2010 a “Year for Priests.” It opened with a special ceremony on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and will conclude on this same Feastday in June 2010. The patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney, said “The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. A good priest is the greatest treasure that God can give a parish.”
In order to assist Catholic communities in planning events to honor and support their priests, Twenty-third Publications offers The Sacred Heart of Jesus, written by Stephen J. Binz, as a resource for spiritual renewal during this Year for Priests. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is an ideal way to ignite the entire community with spiritual fervor during this year. This work makes use of the ancient tradition of lectio divina, which has been so encouraged through this past Year of St. Paul. Please visit the following websites for additional comments and ordering information. www.ThresholdBibleStudy.com or call 800-321-0411 to place an order.
WHAT ARE YOU READING All catechetical leaders face the challenge of keeping current with new developments in their field. In addition to attending workshops and conferences, regular reading of professional periodicals can assist them in this task. Two helpful resources are Today’s Parish Minister, published monthly by Twenty-Third Publications, and Church, published quarterly by the National Pastoral Life Center. Today’s Parish Minister contains a variety of short, practical articles on evangelization, liturgy, adult faith formation, RCIA, catechesis, stewardship, parish councils, etc. For more information, Click Here. Church covers theological and pastoral topics relevant to all areas of parish life. To subscribe, Click Here. Both magazines offer useful ideas for more effective ministry.
“TO TEACH” NEWSLETTER To Teach is a free monthly electronic newsletter for Catholic educators published by the US Catholic Conference of Bishops. This subscription driven e-zine suggests ways for educators to use materials produced by the USCCB for faith formation activities with different groups. To subscribe Click Here.
RESOURCES TO NURTURE Educators and catechists have long known that the key to a child’s faith formation lies in the home. There are a host of resources, both in print and electronic form, available to help families create “households of faith.” Follow the link listing many of the best of these is found on the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry website. The OYYAM is making this list available to parents as part of its “Will Our Kids Have Faith?” presentations. These presentations are available on request from the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
|
