The NCCL Blog

Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) — lawyer, teacher, pastor, cardinal, and reformer — was a driving force in the renewal of the Church during the final years of the Council of Tren...

Sofia Cavalletti (1917–2011) was an Italian biblical scholar and religious educator whose work transformed the way the Church approaches children’s faith formation. Deeply roo...

Saint Catherine was born in Siena, Italy, in 1347, as the Black Death was devastating Afro-Eurasia. She was the twenty-fifth child in her family, though only about half of her...

Joanne Chafe devoted her life to the growth of faith and the formation of the Church across Canada and beyond. From an early age, she sensed a call to serve through religious ...

Dorothy’s cause for sainthood was officially endorsed, with overwhelming support, by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2012. The process is now in the phase naming Do...

In 2002, St. John Paul II beatified two young Ugandan catechists: Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa. Daudi was sixteen; Jildo just twelve when they were martyred in 1916 for teaching...

Mary Perkins Ryan (1912–1993) is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century catechetics in the United States, especially in adult faith formation. ...

Born in Spain in 1170, Dominic was educated in the arts and theology, ordained a priest, and served as a canon at the cathedral in Osma. While traveling through southern Franc...

A Dominican Sister of Adrian, MI, Sr. Susanne Hofweber’s life and ministry was embedded in catechesis. She was director of catechetics in the Archdiocesan office of Education ...

Wife, mother, widow, educator, and friend, Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born American to be canonized a saint. Born in 1774 into a prominent Episcopalian family in...

In November 2020, U.S. bishops supported the canonization process for Nicholas W. Black Elk, a Lakota catechist from the 1800s who brought Catholic Christianity to hundreds wi...

Sr. Thea Bowman (1937–1990) was a gifted teacher, scholar, religious sister, and prophetic voice whose life offers enduring wisdom for catechists today. Thea Bowman modeled an...

Bishop Raymond A. Lucker was known especially for his dedication to catechesis, justice, and the dignity of every person. His ministry in catechesis began immediately after hi...

Saint Katharine Drexel, often credited with helping lead the Catholic Church in America toward racial integration, was born in 1858 into a wealthy Philadelphia banking family....

St. Robert Bellarmine was named the patron saint of catechists for several reasons. He catechized countless people, much as we do today. He also authored a catechism—something...

NCCL's Week of Prayer for Catechists - Reflection 4

In a 2017 address to catechists, Pope Francis said: “…catechists are creative; they seek to use different means and for...

NCCL's Week of Prayer for Catechists - Reflection 3

When we think of the catechetical responsibility: to share the Catholic Story; to be a witness of God’s love, compassio...

NCCL's Week of Prayer for Catechists - Reflection 2

After the first day of catechetical sessions, a dad asked his son the name of his catechist. The young boy responded, “...

NCCL's Week of Prayer for Catechists - Reflection 1

Why do we designate the third Sunday in September (in the U.S.) to highlight and support catechists?

Catechesis is a d...

A Personal Reflection from NCCL's Executive Director, John Roberto

In May I was asked to offer a short reflection at a graduate school of ministry commencement. I shared eigh...

In the recent “Planning for Parish Catechesis” blog series you will find six systemic approaches that can stimulate your thinking about planning new initiatives in 2024-25 and...

Planning for Parish Catechesis in 2024-2025
Part Three, Article 2/2

Part Three in the “Planning for Parish Catechesis” series proposes six systemic approaches that can stimula...

Planning for Parish Catechesis in 2024-2025
Part Three, Article 1/2

Part Three in the “Planning for Parish Catechesis” series proposes six systemic approaches that can stimula...

Planning for Parish Catechesis in 2024-2025
Part Two

Thinking systemically involves looking at things as interconnected systems rather than isolated parts. It's about understa...