Catechetical Leadership

The ministry of catechesis is critical to the mission of the Church, and the most critical factor in an effective parish catechetical program is the catechetical leader. But for these leaders to succeed in their role, they must develop specific leadership skills and competencies. This second volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader series closely examines what catechetical leadership should look like, how it should work, and whom it should serve. A few of the key topics covered in this book include how to be a servant leader while still exercising legitimate authority; how to properly and pastorally handle difficult situations and conflict to build community; how to avoid burnout by delegating responsibility and engaging in collaborative ministry; and so much more. The Effective Catechetical Leader series, developed in conjunction with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and written by some of the top catechetical leaders in the country, is the only series to encompass all the various aspects of catechetical leadership. This series provides the practical skills, strategies, and approaches that ensure successful parish faith formation in an evangelizing manner, which leads directly to a vibrant Church. From best practices to new approaches for proclaiming God’s word in a rapidly changing world, this groundbreaking series will empower catechetical leaders to excel at everything from administrative duties to effectively catechizing people of all ages within our diverse Church.

Catechetical leadership is at its best when it builds on the shoulders of those who have gone before while at the same time creating innovative approaches for an ever-changing ministry. This fifth volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader will share both time-tested and new skills and strategies that will allow catechetical leaders to not only be successful in the week-to-week particulars of running a parish catechetical program, but also to fulfill the ultimate goal of animating a faith community to grow in authentic discipleship to Jesus Christ. A few of the best practices covered in this book include planning the catechetical year, selecting catechetical resources, promoting the catechetical program to the parish community and beyond, how to honestly evaluate your program, and so much more. The Effective Catechetical Leader series, developed in conjunction with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and written by some of the top catechetical leaders in the country, is the only series to encompass all the various aspects of catechetical leadership. This series provides the practical skills, strategies, and approaches that ensure successful parish faith formation in an evangelizing manner, which leads directly to a vibrant Church. From best practices to new approaches for proclaiming God’s word in a rapidly changing world, this groundbreaking series will empower catechetical leaders to excel at everything from administrative duties to effectively catechizing people of all ages within our diverse Church.

AS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST called to the vocation of a catechetical leader, you are responsible for coordinating your community’s effort to form disciples of Christ. But before you can focus on what you need to KNOW and what you need to DO to be successful in this role, it is essential that you focus on who you need to BE as a leader. In this first volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader series, you’ll discover what it really means to be a disciple of Christ, what your role as a catechetical leader entails, how leadership in a ministerial context must differ from leadership in a business setting, how to avoid burnout by maintaining a healthy balance between your personal and professional lives, and so much more. The Effective Catechetical Leader series, developed in conjunction with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and written by some of the top catechetical leaders in the country, is the only series to encompass all the various aspects of catechetical leadership. This series provides the practical skills, strategies, and approaches that ensure successful parish faith formation in an evangelizing manner, which leads directly to a vibrant Church. From best practices to new approaches for proclaiming God’s word in a rapidly changing world, this groundbreaking series will empower catechetical leaders to excel at everything from administrative duties to effectively catechizing people of all ages within our diverse Church.

A new paradigm for both understanding and doing catechesis, as well as a blueprint for the renewal of catechetical ministry.

Winner of a 2018 Association of Catholic Publishers Award: Resources for Ministry (First Place) and a Catholic Press Association Award: Pastoral Ministry (Second Place). Drawing on more than forty years of experience as a catechist, parish DRE, textbook publisher, and founding director of the Echo Program at the University of Notre Dame, Gerard F. Baumbach explores contemporary catechesis in light of its history. This landmark book is an essential resource for every catechetical leader and will spur a new appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of catechesis in the Church today. The Way of Catechesis offers a new and timely perspective on the vital ministry of catechesis at a pivotal moment in the work of New Evangelization. Baumbach shows how today’s catechists can follow the pedagogy of Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life,” and he invites readers to an understanding that includes both the process and the content of handing on the faith and also a way of living in union with Christ the Teacher. Baumbach asks readers to consider how key issues and questions throughout the Church’s history shed light on today’s questions and concerns. Numerous reflection questions help the reader prayerfully reflect and personally integrate the lessons. For example: What is Jesus teaching you through the Beatitudes about the need for a new evangelization in your life as you seek to promote the Church’s mission to evangelize? What does our history teach us about inviting Catholics who are distant from the Church to find the way back to this community of faith? What is your earliest memory of hearing about the Second Vatican Council? What questions did you have? What questions about Vatican II do you have now? Drawing from his own experience, study, and implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, Baumbach highlights four characteristics—belonging, believing, discerning, and living—that help the reader connect the history of catechesis with their own faith and practice in the Church today. Each chapter also includes a broad look at highlights of some important dimensions of the catechetical climate, weaving together influences that affected the era. In addition, Baumbach explains the role of key thinkers in each period of the history of catechesis is explained, including Cyril of Jerusalem, Thomas Aquinas, Robert Bellarmine, and Joseph Jungmann. Those engaged in catechesis and evangelization at every level will find much to enrich their ministry and deepen their commitment to the Church in this extraordinary book.

EFFECTIVE CATECHISTS don’t simply walk into a classroom and instinctively know what to do. To be successful, they require careful training and development. For that reason, recruiting high-quality candidates to the vocation of catechist, providing them with proper formation and training, and nurturing their vocation every step of the way is perhaps the highest priority for the successful catechetical leader. This fourth volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader series delves into the specific qualities and skills to look for when recruiting catechists; how to supervise, evaluate, support, and affirm your catechists; how to facilitate spiritual growth and transformation for the catechists in your care; and so much more. The Effective Catechetical Leaderseries, developed in conjunction with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and written by some of the top catechetical leaders in the country, is the only series to encompass all the various aspects of catechetical leadership. This series provides the practical skills, strategies, and approaches that ensure successful parish faith formation in an evangelizing manner, which leads directly to a vibrant Church. From best practices to new approaches for proclaiming God’s word in a rapidly changing world, this groundbreaking series will empower catechetical leaders to excel at everything from administrative duties to effectively catechizing people of all ages within our diverse Church.