Coming in 2024
Certificate in the Practice of Catechesis
with All Ages & Generations
The Practice of Catechesis with All Ages and Generations Certificate Program is designed to provide a holistic educational experience for the Parish Catechetical Leader (Coordinator), integrating personal spiritual growth, leadership formation, and the latest thinking, approaches, and skills for catechesis with all ages and generations. The emphasis of the Certificate Program is on practice – equipping leaders for the requirements and challenges of their role as the leader of the parish’s catechetical ministry with all ages and generations.
The Practice of Catechesis Certificate is an applied education program, designed to help leaders develop and implement vibrant and engaging faith formation with age groups across the life span, with families, and with all of the generations together. The Practice of Catechesis Certificate is a hybrid program, blending in-person with online learning, in synchronous and asynchronous formats. The program will utilize an online learning management system to integrate all aspects of the course work. Participants will have access to an extensive online library to complement the content in each of the courses with research studies, articles on effective practices, videos, audio podcasts, and online content. The Practice of Catechesis Certificate curriculum includes four courses and a spirituality for ministry retreat experience, spanning 12-14 months.
The Practice of Catechesis Certificate is a cohort-based program, i.e., a group of leaders (in a diocese or a region) experience the program together (intensives and online meetings) over 16 months. Each cohort will be led by a Mentor, a veteran catechetical leader who will accompany leaders through the 16 month program, facilitate online meetings, be available for 1-1 assistance, and participate in the in-person intensive programs. Each cohort will include 8-10 leaders. Dioceses or regions may have more than one cohort. The Practice of Catechesis Certification uses a competency-based approach to learning that is developed around a Parish Catechetical Competency Assessment Tool with competencies for catechesis and leadership to guide Catechetical Leaders in discerning their level of proficiency in each course, identify the areas they most need to focus on, and assess their growth at the conclusion of the course. The Practice of Catechesis Certification Program is a specialized program, analogous to a concentration in a graduate degree in religious education or pastoral ministry, and therefore does not provide the theological formation for a Parish Catechetical Leader. Each leader will develop a Theological Learning Plan and Portfolio to demonstrate prior theological background (independent learning, courses, workshops, online learning) and develop a personal plan for developing theological and scriptural knowledge through diocesan and national programs (independent learning, courses, online learning). Participants in the Certificate Program will be referred to the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers and their diocesan requirements for theological formation as they create their personal learning plan. The Practice of Catechesis Certificate Program is envisioned as a co-sponsored program between NCCL and a participating diocese or multiple dioceses in a region. NCCL is responsible for curriculum design and course management, for assigning teachers for courses, for organizing the locations for the in-person intensives, for providing and managing the online learning management system, and for managing the registration process and finances for the program. Dioceses are asked to work with NCCL in recruiting Parish Catechetical Leaders, providing support for participating leaders, and assisting with on-site logistics for the in-person intensives. |
Download a copy of the 2024 Certificate Plan
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If your diocese is interested in becoming a sponsor of the Certificate in the Practice of Catechesis, please contact John Roberto at:
jroberto.nccl@gmail.com. |