Looking Ahead

Catechetical Office taking stock of future needs and challenges in faith formation

By JOHN WOODS

The past year was one in which the archdiocesan Catechetical Office looked back upon its heritage of faith formation as it joined with the parishes of the archdiocese in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in New York. The milestone was marked at celebrations on the parish and vicariate levels before culminating in June at a beautiful liturgy offered by Cardinal Egan in St. Patrick's Cathedral that included participation from all corners of the archdiocese and beyond.

This coming year much of the focus of the Catechetical Office will shift to the future. "We want to evaluate where we want to go over the next five to 10 years," said Sister Joan Curtin, C.N.D., director of the Catechetical Office, who explained that "multiple models" of faith formation must be used to reach today's time-challenged, culturally diverse parishioners.

One method gaining in favor is family catechesis in which parents and their children take religious education lessons at the same time. The Catechetical Office plans to work with its regional coordinators to identify where successful programs are currently operating so that they can serve as models for other parishes through seminars involving presentations and speakers, Sister Joan explained.

"The traditional model is a fine model, but it's not for everyone," Sister Joan added. "Everyone knows the more you can get parents involved, the better it is."

Another growth area is catechesis of preschool children. A popular approach in reaching children of that age group is through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd which is based on Dr. Maria Montessori's principles of child development. The children are engaged in their personal faith formation through the use of their senses. For example, they become familiar with the articles of the Mass by seeing and holding each object, hearing its name and setting up a model altar.

The Good Shepherd method has also been adapted for blind children through a grant from the Lavelle Fund for the Blind and will be offered at centers around the archdiocese this fall. Information: Linda Sgammato, director of special and early childhood religious education, (212) 371-1000, ext. 2852.

"We're opening new roads to show that catechesis is for everybody," Sister Joan said.

A new training session for catechists interested in learning to teach the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will be offered at the Marydell Faith and Life Center in Nyack, beginning on Saturday, Jan. 24. A seminar on the Good Shepherd catechesis with a national speaker is planned on March 26 for directors and coordinators of religious education, catechists and parents at a site to be determined.

Adult faith formation is another focus of concentration. The New York Catholic Bible School program, sponsored by the Catechetical Office and the Center for Spiritual Development, offers courses of study for two and four years at various parish and school sites in the archdiocese, with new ones to open in the fall.

Brother Francis L. Zaglauer, F.M.S., director of adult catechesis, and Dr. Ann Marie Wallace, director of the Center for Spiritual Development, are working with a team of leaders in the Hispanic community to develop a similar program of intense Scripture study in the Spanish language.

Early next April, there will be two days of training sessions offered in the Little Rock Scripture Study program which features the use of videos, group discussion and faith sharing. The training will be given in English and Spanish.

Two important dates are also marked in September. Catechetical Sunday will be observed in parishes of the archdiocese on Sept. 21 as the more than 10,000 catechists serving in parishes are commissioned for their special ministry. On Sunday, Sept. 28, catechists who have served for 25 or more years and others who have earned or advanced their certification will be honored at a prayer service and ceremony at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie.