Office of Catechesis

Catechesis is Greek for communicating the message of our faith.

The Office of Catechesis serves the Religious Education Programs in the 65 Catholic parishes and 43 missions of the Rio Grande Valley. This includes 30,000 children and youth, pre-Kinder through 12th grade. The number represents a small percentage of those attending public schools
and in need of education in the faith.

These programs have various names including:

• CCD:
  Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (original meaning)
  Continuing Christian Development
• CCE: Continuing Christian Education
• CCF: Continuing Catholic Formation
• Doctrina: Spanish title
• PSR: Parish School of Religion
• EDR: Escuela de Educación Religiosa

The Director of Religious Education (DRE) or Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) in each parish directs its catechetical program and organizes the catechist volunteers. The Diocese has more than 3000 catechist volunteers.

MISSION/ROLE OF OFFICE OF CATECHESIS

“Faith lives in the hearts of believers.”
GDC – General Directory for Catechesis.

In the Office of Catechesis we focus all our efforts on encouraging and animating this faith in the hearts of catechetical leaders and catechists.

• organizing opportunities for continuing formation
• planning gatherings for mutual support and sharing
• assisting with selection of materials and resources
• helping to plan and evaluate programs
• on site visits for consultation

OUR AIM:
“to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy with Jesus Christ.”
GDC - # 180

Calendar Events for Catechetical Leaders

• Catechetical Convocation – 2nd Sunday in September
• Catechetical Sunday 3rd Sunday in September (nationally observed)
• Professional Days 4 annually
• Retreat Day 1 annually
• Summer Study Days 1st week of June

Groups that Gather Regularly

• Advisory Team
  A group of six representatives, one per deanery, to assist with
  collaboration and communication between the Office of Catechesis
  and the Catechetical Leaders of their deaneries.
• Deanery Area Catechetical leaders
  The leaders of a deanery gather regularly for planning, especially for
  Echoes of Faith Catechist Formation sessions, for communication,
  sharing of ideas, resources, prayer and mutual support.
• New Leaders
  New leaders and those with one to three years experience participate
  monthly in formation sessions centered on a particular topic each year.

Formation Opportunities for Catechetical Leaders

• Professional Days
• Summer Study Days
• Catholic Schools Religion Certification Courses
• SACC – San Antonio Catechetical Convention
• Incarnate Word University Pastoral Program, San Antonio

Catechetical Resources

• Diocesan Guidelines for Religious Education
• Approved Textbooks
• Media Resource Center
• Curriculum Library
• Echoes of Faith Catechist Formation Program

, Director of the Office of Catechesis
, Associate Director
700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd. • San Juan, TX 78589 • Phone 956-787-8571 • Fax 956-784-5081

last updated 05-Jun-2008 9:48 sitemap