Introduction and Overview of the

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• Introduction and Overview of the
• National Directory
• for Catechesis

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National Directory for Catechesis

• By noon you will begin answering for yourself
• What is the National Directory for Catechesis?
• Why is the NDC important to me as a Catholic and
  as a worker in the Church?
• Who are my partners in implementing the NDC?
• What are two or three implications of the NDC for
  how ministry is realized at the parish/school in
  which I serve?

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National Directory for Catechesis

• Session Overview
• Purpose, Audience, Overview of Document
• Context of the NDC
• Break
• 3 Key Themes
• Implications for Parish/School Ministry

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National Directory for Catechesis

• The National Catechetical Directory
• Offers guidelines on the what and how of
  catechesis
• Uses Church documents pertinent to catechesis
• Presents catechesis to everyone in the Church

Inspiration for Evangelization
Renewed Passion for Catechesis
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National Directory for Catechesis

• Purposes of the NDC
• To provide fundamental theological and pastoral
  principles
• To apply principles to pastoral activity
• To offer guidelines for the application of
  principles
• To set forth the nature, purpose, object, tasks,
  basic content, and methodology of catechesis

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National Directory for Catechesis

• Audience
• Those who have primary responsibility for
  catechesis in dioceses, parishes, and schools in
  the United States
• This includes parents and guardians exercising
  their responsibility as primary
  educator/influencer

• Authority
• Official document of the United States Conference
  of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
• Received recognitio from the Vatican Congregation
  of the Clergy in December 2004

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National Directory for Catechesis

• Overview of the Document
• Introduction
• Ten Chapters
• 1. Proclaiming the Gospel in the United States
• 2. Catechesis Within the Churchs Mission of
  Evangelization
• 3. This Is Our Faith, This Is the Faith of the
  Church
• 4. Divine and Human Methodology
• 5. Catechesis in a Worshiping Community
• 6. Catechesis for Life in Christ
• 7. Catechizing the People of God in Diverse
  Settings
• 8. Those Who Catechize
• 9. Organizing Catechetical Ministry
• 10. Resources for Catechesis
• Conclusion

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National Directory for Catechesis Overview

• Purpose of Catechesis
• Lead believers to knowledge and love of Christ
  and Church
• Be in communion with Jesus

To proclaim the Gospel and bring people to God
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National Directory for Catechesis Overview

• Nature of Catechesis
• Is an action of the Church
• Shapes initial proclamation of the Gospel
• Prepares the faithful
• Symphony of Faith

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National Directory for Catechesis Overview

• Six Principle Tasks (listed in GDC)
• To know the Faith (Knowledge of the Faith)
• To participate in Churchs liturgical and
  sacramental life (Liturgical Education)
• To integrate moral formation into Christian way
  of life (Moral Formation)
• To learn to pray (Teaching to Pray)
• To prepare for and actively participate in
  Christian community (Education for Community
  Life)
• To develop a missionary spirit (Missionary
  Initiation)

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National Directory for Catechesis Context

• Seeds of Promise, Seeds of Faith
• Jesus and His Message
• The Purpose of Catechesis

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National Directory for Catechesis Context

• Basic, Normative Resources
• Scripture
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• General Directory for Catechesis
• National Directory for Catechesis

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For Reflection and Conversation

• What is the National Directory for Catechesis?

• Why is the NDC important to me as a Catholic and
  as a worker in the Church?

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes

• Parents/Guardians and Families
• Context of Community
• Inculturation

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes

• Parents/Guardians and Families
• Context of Community
• Inculturation

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes

• Families in the Context of the United States
• Family life is the cornerstone of social life
• Church supports families
• Church encourages public policies that strengthen
  the role of the family
• Modern challenges changes in attitude towards
  marriage and divorce, decline of nuclear
  families, both parents working, a lower birth
  rate, and economic stresses
• Fundamental values threatened dignity and value
  of every human life, bond between husband and
  wife, natural authority of parents, and
  transmission of traditional values

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes
Family

• The Family and Catechesis
• Catechesis includes more than instruction
• Christian family is often the first experience of
  Christian community
• Christian family is the primary environment for
  growth in faith
• Parents are the most influential first educators
  who catechize primarily by their witness and
  participation in prayer and the Eucharist
• Catechesis given by parents precedes,
  accompanies, and enriches all other forms
• Parish strengthens the faith of parents and
  assists them
• Adult catechesis helps to nourish their faith and
  the faith of their children

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes

• Parents/Guardians and Families
• Context of Community
• Inculturation

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes
Community

• Differing Roles of Those Who Catechize
• Bishops and Diocesan Staff
• Pastors and Parish Leadership
• Priests, Parochial vicars, Deacons, Seminarians
• Women and Men in Consecrated Life
• Parish Catechetical Leaders
• Coordinators of Youth Ministry
• Campus Ministers
• Catechists
• Catholic Schools Principals and Staff
• Parents and Families
• Christian Community

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes
Community

• Shared Responsibility for Catechesis
• Catechumenate Inspiration
• Take Age Levels into Account
• Adults are the umbrella for all catechesis
• Adapt to fit audience adults, elderly, young
  adults, infants and children, adolescents
• Catechesis for Persons with Disabilities
• Take Special Situations into Account
• Be Mindful of Ecumenical and Inter-religious
  dialogue

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes
Community

• Relationship Between Catechesis and Liturgy
• Precedes and springs from Liturgy
• Promotes active participation in Liturgy
• Increases knowledge and understanding of Liturgy
  and sacraments

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes

• Parents/Guardians and Families
• Context of Community
• Inculturation
• includes formation in and for ecumenism and
  interreligious dialogue

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes
Inculturation

• Inculturation of the Gospel Message
• Necessary part of Evangelization and catechesis
• Jesus as model
• Is an active process
• The catechist as a vital part of the process

...echo of God's word in the world...

• Education about Media as well as using as a means
  of communicating the Gospel

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National Directory for Catechesis 3 Key Themes
Inculturation

• Criteria for Authentic Presentation
• Centered on Christ
• Trinitarian
• Proclaims the Good News
• Comes from and leads to the Church
• Has a historical character
• Inculturation of the Gospel message
• Hierarchical character of the Christian message
• Fosters common language of faith

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For Reflection and Conversation

• Who are my partners in implementing the NDC?

• 2 or 3 Implications
• What is already being addressed locally?
• What needs further investigation?
• What am I certain is missing in our current
  practice of catechesis?

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Points to Remember about the NDC

• REMEMBER
• NDC is an official document of the USCCB,
  addressed to those who have responsibility for
  catechesis
• Implementation is expected and essential within
  the life of the Church

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Points to Remember about the NDC

• REMEMBER about catechesis in general
• Purpose of catechesis is to proclaim the Gospel
  and to bring people into communion with God
• All Catholics have a catechetical responsibility
  and right
• Involves both life-long learning and teaching
  others about the faith
• All of Church life is catechetical

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Points to Remember about the NDC

• REMEMBER key points about the text
• Provides fundamental theological and pastoral
  principles
• Sets forth the nature, purpose, object, tasks,
  content, and methodologies of catechesis
• Serves as a source of inspiration for all
  catechesis
• Provides guidance as to what should be taught in
  catechesis and how it should be taught
• Is a reference point for the formation of
  catechists and the preparation of catechetical
  resources
• Provides guidance for offering catechesis to
  everyone
• Provides a resource for dioceses and parishes

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• Living Amen...