300 - Catechetical Staff
The Value Sought: Catechists inspiring the Church to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.
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301.00 Each parish will recruit and train a sufficient number of catechists to serve the Formation needs of the parish community (children and adults).
Application form for volunteers
302.00 Catechists are members of the Catholic faith and model this in both words and lifestyle. This policy is further explained by the document Standards of Catholic Practice. A Catechist List is required to be sent to the diocesan Faith Formation Director for Catechesis and Sacraments with the Standards of Catholic forms prior to the beginning of classes.
303.00 All catechists and volunteers who work with children must meet current requirements identified by the Diocesan Office for Protection of Children and Youth on their website, http://www.eriercd.org/protectyouth.htm. The cost of the clearances will be paid by the parish.
303.10 All catechists must be over the age of 18. Classroom aides and junior catechists under the age of 18 are permitted but must be paired with an adult catechist. All helpers under the age of 18 must also follow all Diocese of Erie catechetical staff policies and any Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Youth clearances policies.
310.00 All catechists will have a confidential personnel file at the parish.
310.10 All records pertaining to the service of a catechist, will be maintained in their personnel file by the Faith Formation leader.
320.00 All catechists will meet Diocesan certification standards. Catechists will be certified through an accredited program or be working toward this goal.
321.00 All catechists are encouraged to become certified and “are called first to be expert in the pastoral service of transmitting the faith as it develops through its different stages…. (ANTIQUUM MINISTERIUM #6)
Several examples of approved certification programs can be found here: https://www.eriercd.org/images/sections/religiouseducation/Certifying%20Your%20Catechists.pdf
Programs not listed in the examples above must include classroom management, Creed, Sacraments, Morality, Prayer, and Methods. This is the basic theological and catechetical foundation.
321.10 Faith Formation leaders will keep records of catechist progress toward certification on the Diocesan form Diocese of Erie - Catechist Certification Record, if they are enrolled in the Echoes of Faith program.
https://www.eriercd.org/images/sections/religiouseducation/pdf/re_eofcatrecord.pdf
322.00 All catechists who have achieved full diocesan certification will participate in at least four hours of continuing education (classes/workshops) per year.
Continuing Education Record Form
323.00 All catechists will be in-serviced on the current Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children found on the diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Youth website: https://www.eriercd.org/childprotection/
324.00 All catechists will be in-serviced on the diocesan Blood Pathogens Policy for Religious Educators.
330.00 All catechists are required to meet Diocesan instructional standards.
Catechist observation and assessment introduction
331.00 Catechists will submit a copy of their yearly Class Planning Schedule Form to the Faith Formation leader outlining which lessons will be taught on which date. The Faith Formation leader will notify the catechist if this plan needs to be altered for any reason.
Class Planning Schedule Form
332.00 Each catechist’s teaching will be formally observed by the Faith Formation leader or designate at least once per year.
332.10 Each time a catechist is observed the information will be recorded on a Diocese of Erie - see link to form above.
333.00 No catechist will invite any person to enter a classroom or meet with students without first gaining stated approval of the Faith Formation leader and any appropriate clearances for each occurrence.
334.00 Each catechist will complete a Diocese of Erie - Catechist Effectiveness Checklist at the end of each year.