Empowering Catechetical Leaders

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.

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.

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.

St. Pope John Paul II reminds us in Catechesi Tradendae that catechesis is a moment—“a very remarkable one—in the whole process of evangelization.” In other words, catechesis is an essential part of evangelization, not something separate from it. Therefore, it is critically important that catechetical leaders recognize how to effectively catechize in a way that advances the Church’s primary mission to evangelize. To that end, this third volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader will explore a Catholic understanding of evangelization grounded in Scripture and Tradition, how the New Evangelization supports and enhances today’s catechesis, the inseparable nature of content and methodology in catechesis, the absolute importance of adult catechesis, 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.

Disciples of Christ come in all ages and colors, but they also come from different backgrounds and bring with them diverse gifts, needs, opportunities, and challenges. As a result, catechesis must never take the form of one-size-fits-all. While the Gospel message is eternal, our messaging (how we share that timeless message) needs to adapt to an ever-changing reality, or we risk being perceived as irrelevant. This sixth volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader takes a close look at the many groups of people to be catechized—from school-age children to young adults, from parents to the catechists themselves—and offers strategies and tips to effectively engage all of them in life-giving, Gospel-centered faith formation. 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 leaders at all levels perform a crucial and multi-task ministry. Here Chris Anderson reflects on the history and role of catechetical leadership in the Church, and he highlights the qualities needed to successfully fulfill this demanding vocation. Book jacket.