Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership
Extension Model
A Professional Credential for Christian Ministry
“ Stronger church communities through continuing education . . .”
- Description of the Program
- 7 Great Reasons Why You Should Take This Program!
- Goals of the Program
- Who Should Participate?
- Why Should You Participate?
- Admission to the Program
- Certificate Curriculum
- Learning Plan for Extension Courses
- Credits Needed for the Specialized Certificate
- Instructors (Adjunct Faculty)
- Adjunct Instructor Profiles
- Extension Site Coordinators
- Extension Course Schedule
- For More Information
Description of the Program
This dynamic program offers specialty-level ministry education courses, interesting readings, and integrating project work, on the subject of Catechetical Leadership, for persons currently engaged or soon to be engaged in catechetical leadership and/or other ministry leadership roles in local communities – such as Catholic parishes, school systems, small faith communities, and other ecclesial organizations. This certificate program leads toward continuing education credit hours (c.e.u.) of specialized- or upper-level ministry studies. Successful completion of 12 continuing education credit hours in this program results in the student’s reception of the professional ministry credential called the Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership from the Loyola Pastoral Life Center (LPLC), of Loyola University New Orleans.
7 Great Reasons Why You Should Take This Program!
- Nationally-acclaimed instructors for every course
- Integrate key aspects of catechetical theory and practice into your ministry
- Improve practical ministry skills and leadership ability
- Great readings on theology, religion, and catechetics
- Integrate previous catechetical ministry studies and/or ministry experiences
- Fulfill professional continuing education requirements
- Acquire a valuable ministry credential from a respected Catholic university
Goals of the Program
The Need
During recent decades, church and society have been undergoing profound changes. The church has been rediscovering its mission of service in the wider world. A corresponding change among many persons -- the ordained, the laity, and many in religious communities -- has awakened the awareness that skilled and inspirational leaders in ministry, in local faith communities, and in the wider civic communities of the worlds, are much needed in these times of change. In particular, contemporary ministry leaders, of today and tomorrow, will need a grounding in Christian spirituality, practical theology, pastoral vision, professional competence, and a grasp of the emergent, pressing pastoral issues in contemporary local churches, in order to respond in very meaningful ways to the people of God.
Goals of the Specialized Certificate Program
(1) The Loyola Pastoral Life Center seeks through the Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership program to serve many people -- laity, religious, and the ordained -- who are engaged at professional, paraprofessional, and volunteer-leadership levels in the church's catechetical ministries. A person who expects to work at the highest possible levels of proficiency in contemporary catechetical- and other pastoral-leadership must achieve an integration of theological vision and knowledge; a deep sensitivity to the dynamics of the church's institutional life; a critical awareness of and appreciation for the times and cultures within which one works; some specialized leadership knowledge and skills about catechetical ministries; and an awareness of the emerging pastoral issues in Christian life today. This Certificate program seeks to directly address the ministry leader’s continuing education need for this type of dynamic integration.
(2) The Loyola Pastoral Life Center seeks also to serve the many people -- laity, religious, and the ordained -- who are engaged, currently, in ministries in the marketplace and the wider world (leadership service roles), but who are qualified for Specialized Certificate admission. Again, an integration of many skills and knowledge areas (described above), through a dynamic and challenging program of continuing ministry education, is required for active Christian service in civic communities today. Persons who want to undertake the challenge of continuing education on the subject of Catechetical Leadership are invited to seek admission to the Specialized Certificate program.
Who Should Participate?
This study program is ideal for a wide variety ministry leaders – such as pastors, pastoral associates, and deacons; experienced parish DREs and Coordinators; school administrators, campus ministers, and religion department heads; RCIA leaders; small faith community leaders; religious community members; and experienced volunteers who have serve in leadership roles in other ecclesial and marketplace contexts. Program participants include those looking to gain unique information and skills related to catechetical ministry and leadership; to integrate previous ministry studies and ministry experiences; to become updated on current ideas and materials on catechesis; and to integrate knowledge from the disciplines such as theology, education, catechetical theory, psychology, and human development theory.
Types of Participants –
Certificate students – these are participants who take all 5 required courses, plus one or more elective courses, for a total of at least 12 continuing education units (12 c.e.u.). Participants may begin this Specialized Certificate program with any course offered at an LPLC extension studies site. Courses are generally offered at each extension location on an ongoing basis.
Non-credit (workshop) participants – these are persons who cannot meet any of the basic admission requirements (below). Any adult may take part in any course as a non-credit, workshop participant.
Why Should You Participate?
This program provides adults in local catechetical leadership -- and other ministry leadership positions -- a unique and dynamic opportunity to learn about the ministry of catechesis and to develop essential and emerging catechetical skills, strategies, and methods. It will help them to envision, plan, lead, organize, implement, and evaluate catechetical endeavors.
Enduring Challenges: The Ministry of Catechesis
In 1997, with the publication in Rome of the General Directory for Catechesis(GDC), the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church (the Holy See) identified a number of enduring challenges and directions for those who wish to undertake today, with vitality and hope, the mission of catechizing others. These critical challenges include:
- l recognizing the evangelizing and missionary character of all catechetical ministries today
- l addressing persons at all points in the human lifecycle: children, adolescents, young adults, and older adults
- l recognizing and remaining faithful to true and appropriate forms of pedagogy
- l proclaiming the doctrines of Christianity to authentically lead others to a life of faith
- l adequately preparing and forming catechists and catechetical leaders as a primary task
- participant.
Continuing Education for Catechetical Leadership Today
The National Directory for Catechesis, published during 2005 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), builds upon the challenging insights of the GDC. In the National Directory, the U.S. bishops say, “It is vitally important that Catholic institutions of higher education initiate and maintain strong programs in both theology and catechetics . . . (and offer) programs in Catholic theology, catechesis, and related fields for those preparing for professional careers in catechetical ministry.”
The bishops, in the National Directory, also note:
Catholic universities should also provide opportunities for individual courses, certificate programs, institutes, workshops, seminars, and conferences in catechetics . . . (they) can decide on a core curriculum for those wishing to prepare for service as catechetical leaders, catechists, Catholic school principals, and religion teachers.
The Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership directly attempts to heed the call to develop effective, professional, and relevant ministry education programming that will assist those who are either preparing for or have already assumed careers in leading catechetical ministries at various grass-roots, deanery, regional, and diocesan levels.
Admission to the Program
Admission to the Certificate program requires at least one of the following:
- A Masters degree in pastoral studies, theology, religious studies, religious education, divinity, spirituality, or a closely related field;
- A bachelors degree, plus three years of documentable leadership-level experience in local faith communities;
- A certificate awarded by the LIM on-campus or the LIMEX programs (C.P.S. or C.R.E.) of
Loyola University New Orleans. or - No academic degree, but five years of documentable leadership-level experience in local faith communities.
Certificate Curriculum
Required Courses (There are five courses required of all Certificate candidates)
Foundations Of Catechetical Ministry (2 c.e.u.)
During this course, participants will focus on the nature, purpose, and tasks of contemporary catechesis. To do so, they will examine in detail the concepts of evangelization and the ministry of the Word; the missionary character of catechetical ministry; and a brief history of catechesis in the Church. Also, a contemporary vision of catechetical ministry, with reference to a variety of recent, key Church documents and traditions, will be proposed.
Catechesis For A Worshipping Community (2 c.e.u.)
This course will first examine the challenges involved in proclaiming the Gospel message in U.S. culture.Participants will then look at the relationship between prayer, liturgy, and catechesis;the concept of sacramental catechesis; and the notion of the catechumenate (i.e., the catechumenal model) as a basis or paradigm for catechetical ministry.Finally, attention will be given to whole community catechesis and intergenerational religious education models.
Developing And Managing Catechetical Programs (2 c.e.u.)
During this course, participants will learn how to assess catechetical needs and concerns in the local faith community. Focus will then be turned toward sound principles and practices associated with catechetical program-development; practical approaches for organizing, implementing, and managing catechetical efforts; and methods of evaluation that can be used in catechetical programs. Criteria for the selection of catechetical materials will also be considered.
Essential Skills For Catechetical Leaders (2 c.e.u.)
This course will focus on essential skills for leaders in the ministry of catechesis today. Discussion will center on steps involved in developing a catechetical team; the recruitment, training and formation, and retention of catechists; and the process of mentoring and supporting catechists and catechetical aides. In addition, various ethical and legal issues pertinent to catechetical leadership today will be surfaced.
Catechetical Methods And Approaches (2 c.e.u.)
During this course, participants will examine the essential elements involved in presenting the Christian message. In addition, the relationship between “readiness” and catechetical methods/materials will be considered, as will deductive and inductive methodologies, and the process of designing and implementing a variety of types of catechetical experiences.
| Elective Courses | (Certificate candidates take one or more elective courses – for a total of 2 c.e.u. or more -- to complete their Certificate study) |
Cultural Diversity And Catechesis (1 or 2 c.e.u.)
Participants investigate diversity in the U.S. church and U.S. culture. They reflect on evangelization and catechesis in light of the enculturation process and also on catechetical sensitivity to the dignity of the human person. Some attention is given to catechetical approaches in bi-cultural and multicultural communities.
Catechesis For Justice & Social Transformation (1 or 2 c.e.u.)
This course calls specific attention tothe dynamic relationship between catechesis and Christian moral formation and between catechesis and justice. Catechetical guidelines for personal and social morality are proposed and discussed, as are catechetical models for social change and transformation.
Canon Law And Civil Law For Catechetical Leaders (1 or 2 c.e.u.)
Building upon and extending the content of the course Essential Skills for Catechetical Leaders, participants reflect on and discuss implications in canon law for the ministry of catechesis; aspects of civil law that relate directly to catechetical ministries; and contemporary legal issues and concerns for grass-roots and diocesan-level catechetical leaders.
Learning Plan for Extension Courses
The Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership curriculum is composed of required courses and elective courses for continuing education credits (c.e.u.).
Ordinarily, each required distance education course is presented over two days in a seminar (or workshop) format by a member of the LPLC’s adjunct instructors team. These days of presentation are then followed by a 45-day period devoted to required readings pertinent to course content and completion of several short, written summaries of what one has read and learned.
To successfully complete each required course in the Specialized Certificate curriculum
(via distance education), a course participant must ordinarily do the following:
- Attend and actively participate in all class sessions (usually 15 contact/class hours, often taught over a two-day schedule)
- Complete a post-class, directed reading assignmentl
- Complete a brief written response to the readings she/he has completed
- Turn in written work in a timely manner.
Successful completion of a requiredSpecialized Certificate course, by a properly enrolled continuing education student, will result in the reception of two (2) c.e.u. -- i.e., 2 continuing education units.
(Note: elective course units may be offered, at some extension sites, on the two-day format, for 2 credits, or in one-day increments that lead to the award 1 c.e.u. credit.)
About Continuing Education Units – C.E.U.
For the purpose of definition, the Loyola University Graduate Bulletin 2003-2005 describes the continuing education credit in the following way:
Persons who register as CEU students will receive continuing education units as defined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. CEUs are recorded on a Loyola University CEU transcript and kept in the permanent records of the university registrar.
Continuing education credit is determined by class attendance, competent participation in the (extension site) learning group or on-campus course, completion of reading assignments, and other activities necessary for participation in those sessions.
According to the booklet The Continuing Education Unit: Guidelines 1994, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, “One Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is ten (10) contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.”
In the LPLC’s Specialized Certificate extension programs, twenty (20) contact hours per course -- the equivalent of 2 c.e.u. -- will normally be calculated by combining fifteen (15) contact/class hours, plus five (5) contact hours for supervised, self-directed study through reading assignments and written responses.
Credits Needed: Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership
A total of at least 12 continuing education units must be achieved by each Certificate candidate. Each of the five (5) required continuing education courses in this Specialized Certificate program leads toward reception of 2 continuing education credits (2 c.e.u.) for a total of 10 c.e.u. – Any elective course may be presented, at LPLC extension sites, for either 1 credit or 2 credits. Successful completion of all 5 required courses (for a total of 10 c.e.u.), plus the completion of one or more elective course offerings (totaling at least 2 c.e.u.), will be required for the award of the Specialized Certificate in Catechetical Leadership from the Loyola Pastoral Life Center.
Instructors (Adjunct Faculty)
The LPLC’s extension site instructors – experts in various aspects of catechetical ministry today -- are recruited by the Center and sent to teach courses at extension locations. These adjunct faculty persons always have a Masters degree, at a minimum, but often hold terminal (Doctoral) degrees, in an appropriate field or discipline, and usually have professional and pastoral experience/expertise in the field of catechesis.
For More Information
For more information, contact the Loyola Pastoral Life Center.
E-mail: lplc@loyno.edu
Loyola Pastoral Life Center
Attention: LPLC Coordinator
6363 St. Charles Avenue
LIM -- Campus Box 67
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: 800.777.5469
Ph: 504.865.3728
Fax: 504.865.2066