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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton ChurchValparaiso, IN. |
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Catholic Formation Commission REQUIREMENTS OF A PARISH CATECHISTBecause of the vital public ministry catechists perform, the Coordinator of the Faith Formation Program will personally meet with and interview each prospective parish catechist to assure that he/she is a person of integrity and that the following criteria are met:
ROLE OF THE PARISH CATECHISTThe role of the Faith Formation Program Catechetical Staff is crucial in providing for the needs of all students. The National Catechetical Director (NCD) defines the fundamental tasks of a catechist as follows:
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARISH CATECHISTConcomitant with the role of a parish catechist are the following given responsibilities. Professional Responsibilities:
St. Elizabeth Seton has a library which offers
reading and resource material for Catholic, Christian, and spiritual enrichment.
It is available during regular office hours and on Sunday mornings. Faith FormationFaith Formation at St. Elizabeth Seton provides Catholic, Christian education and formation for all members of the parish community. All Faith Formation opportunities for children are intended to complement the religious formation done by the parents by recognizing the knowledge of God's love for us, showing how that love can be expressed sacramentally, and by modeling service to the community and the church. Supported by a parish community that catechizes by its lifestyle, liturgy, service, and hospitality, children grow spiritually through the formal and informal sharing of God's Word. The goal is to provide the children who are catechized with a real sense of belonging to the community. Religious Education opportunities for children
include:
Parents have the right and the duty to be intimately
involved in preparing their children for the sacraments of Reconciliation,
Eucharist, and Confirmation; therefore, family preparation is the model used.
Catechesis is provided for parents at scheduled meetings throughout the
year. The celebration of Reconciliation is traditionally scheduled
on the first Saturday in Lent. First
Eucharist is scheduled in the
spring and Confirmation in the fall. Guided by the Holy
Spirit, all are invited to a life-long commitment to religious education, a
deepening faith and a strengthening of moral family values. For more information, please email Faith Formation by clicking on the hyperlink. The Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.)
is a series of ritual and educational experiences stretched over a year’s
time through which someone Inquires about
the Church, finds a spiritual home in the Church, and experiences a deepening of
faith. The R.C.I.A. is, in a sense, a deepening of faith.
The R.C.I.A. is, in a sense, a
“living catechism” because it involves many parishioners who work together
to catechize the candidates about the Church, to pray with and for them, to
befriend them, and to gently lead them deeper into the mystery of Christ.
The R.C.I.A. is rooted in scriptures and doctrines of the Roman Catholic
Church. The process, as its title indicates, is for adults
who have never been baptized, been baptized but never catechized (instructed),
are baptized Christians wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic
Church, or are Catholics eager to be fully initiated. There is always a need for parishioners to help out
in the R.C.I.A. by becoming a parish
sponsor or by giving us names of people who might be interested in becoming a
Catholic. If you are interested in
becoming a sponsor, please call the Religious Education Office.
Training is provided so that each participant understands his/her role in
the entire process. The Rite of
Christian Initiations for Adults adapted for Children The Christian Initiation of children is a beautiful
process of welcoming children into the Catholic faith.
Christian Initiation for children follows the same model of the adult
process. There are various steps
and rites within the process that the children follow on their faith journey,
coming to know and learn of God and Jesus through Holy Scripture and Church
teachings. Christian
Initiation is intended for those children who have not been baptized and have
reached the age of reason (7 years). This
is a gradual process that takes place within the community of the faithful. The Church always encourages pious reading of the
Scriptures by the laity. When the
bishops at Vatican II recommended that all the Christian faithful “should
gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be
through liturgy, rich in the divine Word, or through devotional reading, or
through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aides which, in our
time, are commendably available, thanks to the approval and active support of
the shepherds of the Church” (Dei verbun #24), they did not foresee how
eagerly the laity would not only want to read but also to study the sacred text.
As a result, many Scripture study groups were formed in parishes. For many Catholics, getting in touch with the text
itself is a new and exhilarating experience.
At St. Elizabeth Seton there are two scheduled time offerings:
one during the day and one in the evening.
Please consult the parish bulletin for scheduled times and days.
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