Cultivating Your Catechists

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.

This Moving and Inspirational Book Invites Catechists to Put Aside their Lesson Plans and Teaching Supplies Every so often to Discover How God Continues to Call Them. "Our ministry as catechists influences who we are and what we do," says Janet Schaeffler. "It enables us to grow-in spirituality…in ways we might never experience if we weren't catechists." With insights on various types of spirituality, plus discussion questions and suggested activities for spiritual growth, this book makes a perfect guide for catechist retreats or individual study, as it gives catechists new strength to accompany others on their faith journeys. Book jacket.

This book focuses on what catechetical leaders need to be, as opposed to what they need to know or do, if they are to lead effectively.

Written by one who loves being a catechist, this booklet is written especially for catechists. It combines quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church with short reflections and stories, and offers thoughtful questions for journaling. The author focuses on Church teachings that are handpicked for catechists and their teaching ministry. Inspiring, motivating, and informative!

Catechesis is an ancient practice of Christian disciple making that uses a simple question-and-answer format to instruct new believers and church members in the core beliefs of Christianity. To Be a Christian, by J. I. Packer and a team of other Anglican leaders, was written to renew this oft-forgotten tradition for today’s Christians. With over 360 questions and answers, plus Scripture references to support each teaching, this catechism covers the full range of Christian doctrine and life, drawing from the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other important doctrinal summaries. Clear, concise, and conversational, this resource was written for all believers who seek to be grounded more deeply in the truth of God’s Word.

Written specifically for any catechist who is new to the job or has never had any formal training, The Catechist's Toolbox features an invaluable collection of catechetical tips, techniques, methodologies, and advice. Throughout the book, master teacher Joe Paprocki shares the wisdom he has gleaned in two decades as a catechist, high school teacher, and religious educator. Employing the metaphor of a homeowner's toolbox, Paprocki explains how a new catechist is like a do-it-yourself builder who needs the right collection of tools to do the job; he then explains what the tools are, what they can do, and how to use them skillfully and effectively. Also available in Spanish! La caja de herramientas del catequista

2017 Catholic Press Association Book Awards, Second Place: Pastoral Ministry “IF FORMER CATHOLICS WERE CONSIDERED A DENOMINATION, IT WOULD BE THE SECOND-LARGEST DENOMINATION IN THE U.S.”—from A Church on the Move Many statistics on the Catholic Church today are sobering, and the future of the Church can seem bleak indeed. The average parish often feels helpless to do anything that might help turn the tide and revitalize the Church. But best-selling author Joe Paprocki insists that there is good news: with the right plans in place, the Catholic Church—and the local parish specifically—will not only survive, but thrive. A Church on the Move offers 52 practical strategies for moving parishes forward, principally by focusing on the one thing the Church can offer that the world-at-large cannot: Jesus Christ. Each chapter begins with a quote from Pope Francis, and each helpful strategy falls within one of five key categories: how a Church on the move thinks, functions, worships, forms disciples, and engages the world. Every chapter takes an honest look at a particular problem in the Church before moving to a creative, redemptive, and achievable solution. A Church on the Move brings to the parish level the great themes of Pope Francis’ papacy— mission, mercy, and evangelization—and replaces despair with a profound hope for the future of the Catholic Church.