Introduction to Religion Curriculum
Guide
Archdiocese
for the
Military
Services,
USA
Forming Disciples for the
New Evangelization: Archdiocesan
Religion Curriculum Guide
Session III: Ongoing Training and
Resources for our roles
José Amaya
In this session we plan to …
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Review what will be available to help priests, lay
catechetical leaders, parents and catechists on the AMS
website and other online venues
Clarify expectations for leaders, catechists and families.
Review what additional resources have been created to
help you.
Give you opportunity:
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–
to give input on what additional resources are
needed for full implementation in the
next program year starting August 6, 2013.
The Mission: Evangelization!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I
have commanded you. And behold, I am
with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mt. 28:18-20
Activity #1: Taste and See
Looking at the following chart:
1. Do any look familiar to you?
2. What looks new to you and what will you
do to gain more understanding?
This chart shows the Key elements and standards
and how they relate to the Four pillars of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
This chart shows how disciples’need to live out their
faith in Community of the Church and in service to
the World.
Activity #1: Taste and See
Looking at the following chart:
1. Do any look familiar to you?
2. What looks new to you and what will you
do to gain more understanding?
Expectation
That you
become familiar
with standards
and indicators in
the guide
Resource(s)
The AMS
website has the
complete guide
www.milarch.org
Expectation
Resource(s)
Expectation
Resource(s)
That you
become
familiar with
the supporting
materials in
the guide
See the table of
contents:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Complete
Curriculum
Parent Segments
Catechist Segments
Appendicies 1, 2, 3
Catechetical
Leaders’ Manual
Catechists’ Manual
Expectation
Become
familiar with
the approach to
assessment
Resource(s)
See the
Catechist
resource on
Assessment on
the AMS
website
Contact Expectations
Minimun annual faith
formation requirement
for Pre-K through 8th
grade levels
30 hours of catechesis
Catechist Certification
Expectations
 University of Dayton’s
One course or 2
seminars equal basic
certification for 5
years
Virtual Learning
Communities of Faith
Formation (VLCFF)
 Catholic Distance
University (CDU)
Activity #2: Expectations?
1.
Review expectations for the roles for
others with whom you work
(See the Introduction to the curriculum)
2. Discuss with the person to your right
and left. Are there surprises?
Affirmations?
Role of Program Participants
 Exhibit their willingness to learn through active participation in the
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learning environment.
Collaborate with catechists and peers.
Show evidence of literacy and proficiency in the catechetical message
and its application to daily life.
Come to know how Jesus Christ is central to their lives.
Show earnestness in preparation for active participation in the life of
the Catholic Church.
Show evidence of moral decision-making and critical thinking.
Demonstrate understanding and application of Catholic social teaching
to current societal situations.
Role of Program Participants
 Articulate Christian virtues as applied to personal decision-making and
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behaviors.
Show understanding that they are loved by God, created for union with
God, and of inestimable value before the Creator.
Exhibit spiritual growth through prayer, sacramental participation,
maturing understanding of Christian discipleship and stewardship.
Respect and appreciate the cultural and religious heritage of all people
no matter the race, ethnicity or religious identity of the person.
Exhibit understanding of their relationship with the triune God and
their ultimate destiny with their Creator.
Role of Catechists
 Meet the diverse needs of participants through differentiated
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instruction, approaching the catechetical message with various
strategies that will help participants learn.
Utilize a variety of catechetical resources and assessments in order to
help the student learn optimally.
Use technology and other appropriate instruments that enhance the
learning process.
Provide for varied learning situations that include various grouping
methods, peer leadership, and cross-curricular methods to integrate the
learning process.
Be fully informed of the catechetical content.
Role of Catechists
 Inform and involve parents in the catechesis of their
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participants through understanding of the curriculum,
assessment and reporting.
Participate in ongoing professional development.
Pursue initial and ongoing certification as catechists in the
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
Participate fully in the liturgical and sacramental life of the
Church.
Attend to their own spiritual lives through reflection,
prayer and reading of the Scriptures.
Role of Parents and/or Guardians
 Witness and teach the faith to their children as primary
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educators.
Maintain their homes as “domestic” churches wherein
relationship with God is evident and participation in parish life
is promoted.
Esteem their children, seeing in each the face of Christ.
Witness their own relationship with God in their love for their
children as the outcome of God’s love.
Be actively involved in the life of the Church through
participation in Sunday liturgies, the sacramental life of the
Church, the community life of the parish and stewardship.
Role of Parents and/or Guardians
 Help their children to respond to the vocation God calls them to
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in the life of the Church and society.
Be socially aware, promoting the dignity of human life and
nonviolence in the home and in the culture.
Educate their children in the sanctity of human life and
sexuality.
Collaborate with catechists by promoting and assessing the
development of faith in their children.
Prepare their children for their participation in the sacraments.
Attend to their own spiritual lives through reflection, prayer and
reading of the Scriptures.
Role of Priests (DRE) and Lay Catechetical Leaders
 Develop and implement a total Catholic faith community plan for
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catechesis encompassing the catechetical needs of adults, youth and
children.
Ensure that suitable time is given to catechesis in Catholic faith
community programs for adults, youth and children.
Assure that catechetical formation is available for all language groups and
members with special needs.
Provide for a vital catechumenate that serves as an organizing component
for the organization of catechesis in the Catholic faith community.
Oversee the implementation of the Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum
Guide of the Archdiocese of Washington as adopted and adapted by the
Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
Role of Priests (DRE) and Lay Catechetical Leaders
 Collaborate with the Archdiocese for the Military Services in
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the certification requirements for lay catechetical leaders and
catechists.
Support parents in the faith education of their children,
especially through good liturgies, meaningful homilies, pastoral
counseling, guidance and prayer.
Engage families in preparing children for sacramental
participation.
Witness one’s own faith through personal spiritual development,
skill as a liturgical presider, integrity of life and participation in
the Church’s mission to the world.
Engage qualified and skilled catechetical leaders who can
directly implement effective programs.
Archdiocesan Leadership
 Utilize resources at the central level to accomplish responsibilities for the total
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catechetical mission of the Archdiocese throughout the world.
Collaborate with Priests in establishing effective catechetical ministry at all
levels.
Promote the professional development of lay catechetical leaders and
catechists.
Develop and administer certification guidelines and programs that promote
effective catechetical leadership in Catholic faith communities.
Research resources to assist catechists in effectively teaching the Religion
Curriculum Guide of the Archdiocese.
Assist lay catechetical leaders, catechists in developing a deepening
spirituality that strengthens their commitment to their vocation as ministers of
the word.
Activity #2: Expectations?
1.
Review expectations for the roles for
others with whom you work
(See the Introduction to the curriculum)
2. Discuss with the person to your right
and left. Are there surprises?
Affirmations?
3. Send in your contributions?
What resources have been created to support
catechetical leaders?
The following resources are going to be provided for
Catechetical Leaders on the AMS website:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Catechesis within the Context of Evangelization
Catechetical and Theological Elements
History and Rationale of This Guide
More on the Six Key Elements of a Catholic Life
The Family and Catholic faith community partnership
Choosing Textbooks
Children’s Catechesis (Catholic Faith
Community) Observation Form
What resources have been created to support
catechists?
The following resources are going to be provided for
Catechists on the AMS website:
 Frequently Asked Questions
 Basics of Lesson Planning
 Assessment and Religious Education
 Catechist Self -Inventory
 Key People and Places of the Old and New
Testaments
 Textbook Correlations
What resources have been created to support
parents in their role as primary educators?
The following resources are provided for Parents on the
AMS website
 Parent Segments by Grade
 Appendix #1: General Schedule for
Teaching/Learning Key Practices and Prayers
for Catholics.
 Appendix #2: Key Practices and Prayers for
Catholics
 Appendix #3: Alphabetical Glossary
Ongoing Training:
Catechetical Methodology Course
 Through the University of Dayton’s Virtual Learning Communities
of Faith Formation (VLCFF)
 Objectives
 To learn how to use Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization: Archdiocesan
Religion Curriculum Guide
 To apply five core catechetical methodologies to effective lesson planning using the
curriculum standards and indicators
 The Person of the Catechist
 Art and Environment
 Storytelling
 Critical Thinking
 Service
 To use textbooks as resources to reinforce the teaching of the standards and
indicators
Summary:Implementation Timeline
 Archbishop Broglio promulgated Forming
Disciples for the New Evangelization on January
25, 2013 on the Feast of the Conversation of St.
Paul
 First Online Orientation: Tuesday, March 19 from
4:00-7:00 p.m. EST
• Additional online orientations will be scheduled: feedback?
 Ongoing catechist training: Catechetical
Methodology Course online through VLCFF
 Curriculum effective date: August 6, 2013 –Feast
of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Activity 3: Discussion
1. How can this initiative, this emphasis
on teaching the faith more effectively,
be a tool for the new evangelization?
2. Discuss with the person to your right and
to your left what else you will need to
effectively teach the faith using this
curriculum.
Follow up to today…
 Review the resources on the AMS website.
 Participate in any future workshops offered.
 Thank you for all you already do!
Q/A: What questions or insights
would you like to ask or share?
 Today we learned…
 We would still like to learn more about….
 Because of today we will….