Catechetical Leadership

Through the Year with the DRE: a chart outlining the “typical” responsibilities that a catechetical leader/DRE is faced with over the course of a year.

10 Tips for New D/RE's: new to religious education? Download this exclusive eBook
from Sadlier.

A Catechist Role Description: call people to the vocation of serving as a catechist, with a role description to describe what you are calling them to.

Looking for Archdiocesan Catechetical Office handbooks, forms, and publications?

Professional Associations:
 

• Federation for Catechesis with Hispanics: approved by the NCCL Board to become the first federation in NCCL to serve those who minister in catechesis with Hispanics.
• National Catholic Educational Association: a professional membership organization that provides leadership, direction, and service to fulfill the evangelizing, catechizing and teaching mission of the Church.
• National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL): a Catholic association dedicated to advancing the Church's teaching mission in the United States, especially by promoting excellence in catechetical leaders.
• National Association for Lay Ministry: a professional organization that supports, educates and advocates for lay ministers and promotes the development of lay ministry in the Catholic Church.
• The Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership: designed for those leaders who serve the Bishops in Diocesan level roles as Vicar, Secretary of Education, Superintendent of Schools, and Directors/Staffs of Diocesan Office of Religious Education or other office staffs with a catechetical responsibility.

• A Cyberpilgrim's Blog: it's about digital discipleship and how to transform ministry through technology.
• Be My Disciples: find ways to help teachers, parents, catechists, and students articulate the gospel message so that others will better understand it. A ministry of RCL Benziger.
• Relevant Catechesis: a blog designed to share insights and ideas for carrying out the work of catechesis in a Catholic Parish.
• Catholic Education Resource Center: online source for information on Catholic faith and culture.
• Finding Copyright-Free Images for Catechetical Use: understanding copyright issues for catechists and leaders, and where to find copyright-free images.
• Formed: the Catholic faith on demand; provides streaming Catholic content for religious education programs and parishes.
• Handing on the Faith: a catechetical blog by Ms. Maureen McKew, Director of Communications for the Catechetical Office.
• Marc Cardaronella's Catechetical Blog: where parish leaders, catechists, and parents can find ideas, information, and resources for handing on the beauty of the Catholic Faith in a way that inspires others to change their lives for Christ.
• Sadlier's We Believe and Share: a blog of inspiration and resources for Catholics.
• Hints for Caring for Catechists: catechists look to catechetical leaders for inspiration, guidance, and support.
• Tools to Evaluation a Religious Education Program: suggestions from the Nationa Catholic Educational Association.
• Transforming Catechesis: helping catechists, parishes, and school catechetical leaders become more effective in their roles.

• Three Minute Retreat
• Pray as You Go

Catechetical Documents:

• The Catechetical Leader in the Third Millennium: a Statement of the Catholic Bishops of New York State regarding the importance and scope of the catechetical leader in the parish.
• The Catechist in the Third Millennium: addresses the new urgency and concern for both the quality of catechesis and those who are called to this ministry; published by the New York State Roman Catholic Bishops in 1998.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: The teachings of the Catholic Church in an authoritative form.
• Compendium: Catechism of the Catholic Church: An abbreviated form of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in question and answer format.
• Conformity Listing of Catechetical Texts and Series: The most current listing of religious education texts and series that have been found in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church; published by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Directory for Masses with Children: guides how Mass is to be celebrated with children; from the Congregation for Divine Worship.
• General Directory for Catechesis: from the Vatican Congregation of the Clergy, good resource for catechetical leaders.
• Living as Missionary Disciples: provides dioceses and parishes and other church ministries with a roadmap to "new paths for the Church's journey" of evangelization.
• In Support of Catechetical Ministry: Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommitting to the development and support of the catechetical ministry. (Issued June 16, 2000)
• Journeying Toward a Future Full of Promise: reflections and challenges from the NYS Bishops on catechesis in New York State (1988).
• Social Media Guidelines: USCCB's "best practices" for Church personnel using social media in ministry.

Professional Periodicals

• Catechist: written for catechists in parish religious education programs and for teachers of religion in Catholic schools. For nearly four decades, Catechist magazine has been the leading periodical that helps both the veteran and the first-year catechist/teacher be more successful.
• The Catechetical Review: an international quarterly catechetical journal primarily written for Directors of Religious Education, catechetical leaders, religious educators, youth ministers, RCIA coordinators and anyone involved in faith formation. From the Franciscan University of Steubenville.