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People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved. (Matthew 9:17)
Building on the vision of the 1971 and 1997 Directories, the new Directory for Catechesis (June 2020) provides a fresh vision and blueprint for developing catechesis in the 2020s and beyond. This fresh vision describes catechesis as accompaniment, education, and formation.
Catechesis makes the proclamation of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ continually resound in the heart of every person, so that life may be transformed. A dynamic and complex reality at the service of the Word of God, catechesis is accompaniment, education and formation in the faith and for the faith, an introduction to the celebration of the Mystery, illumination and interpretation of human life and history. By harmoniously integrating these characteristics, catechesis expresses the richness of its essence and offers its specific contribution to the pastoral mission of the Church. (Directory for Catechesis) The big question for catechetical leaders is how can the vision and practices of the Directory for Catechesis guide catechetical ministry in parishes across the United States. This is the focus of NCCL’s “Journey toward the Future of Catechesis.” Together we are going to explore how the catechetical vision of the Directory and the practices that flow from that vision can transform catechesis with all ages and generations in a parish community. Over the next several months NCCL will explore how to apply the vision, major themes, and suggested practices of the Directory for Catechesis in parish catechetical ministry. Weekly articles will present the Directory’s vision with reflection-application activities. Each week you can read the short article and use the activities to apply the Directory to your parish community. Form a small group to “journey” with you, such as your parish staff or parish catechetical team or catechetical leaders from other parishes. Meet in person or on Zoom and share reflections on the article and application ideas. Over the next three months we will explore questions that translate the vision into practice. For example:
The weeks of reflection upon the Directory for Catechesis and its application to parish catechesis provide a foundation that leads to NCCL’s seven regional Fall 2023 Convocations. The Convocation draws upon the vision and practices in the Directory to imagine and design the future of catechesis in parishes. Download the this article in PDF. 
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Fall 2023 ConvocationsSeptember 18-19: San Francisco
Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA September 26-27: Baltimore Bon Secours Center, Marriottsville, MD October 3-4: Dallas Hilton Garden Inn DFW Airport South October 10-11: Connecticut Holy Family Retreat Center, Farmington, CT October 17-18: Chicago Hilton Garden Inn O’Hare Airport October 24-25: Tampa Franciscan Center November 29-30: San Diego Hilton Garden Inn Mission Valley We have a limited number of partial scholarships available, please contact John Roberto with an email describing your need for a scholarship: jroberto@lifelongfaith.com.
Convocation ScheduleDay One
12 noon - Arrival and registration 1:00 pm - Sharing Our Catechetical Journeys 2:00 pm - Topic 1. Identify and Defining the Challenges facing the Future of Catechesis 5:30 pm - Dinner 7:00 pm - Topic 2. Envisioning the Shape of Catechesis into the Future: Life Stages, Family, Intergenerational and Whole Community 9:00 pm - Close Day Two 8:30 am - Morning Prayer 9:00 am - Topic 3. Designing the Shape of Catechesis – Creating New Initiatives 12 noon - Lunch 1:00 pm - Topic 4. Implementing New Initiatives to Shape the Future of Catechesis 4:00 pm - Close | ||
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The National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) promotes the ministries of Evangelization and Catechesis by fostering a community of leaders who proclaim and teach the Word of Jesus Christ through the witness of accompaniment, education and formation in the Catholic faith.
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NCCL
133 Old Towne Road Cheshire, CT 06410 Contact: John Roberto, Executive Director jroberto@lifelongfaith.com |