Mother Church insists that catechesis that truly evangelizes hearts, and that meets souls in the place of greatest need, must be unshakably centered upon Him who is our beginning and our end —Jesus Christ. We teach Jesus, and everything we teach, we teach in reference to Him, thus teaching Christo-centrically. Come explore how to unfold the life-giving truths of our faith with Jesus placed clearly at the center of all things: our teaching content, our teaching methods, and our own personal witness to others whom God has called us to love.

In order to pass on the truths of Faith in season and out, the catechist must be securely grounded in Christ. This workshop will consider the richness of the Catholic spiritual life as it pertains specifically to the life of the catechist. Prayer is not the “last ditch effort” of defense for us as catechists, but our first line of defense - the wings on which every effort should soar. Our society often has trouble recognizing that the invisible spiritual realities are in fact “more real,” and certainly more lasting, than the physical realities we touch, see, hear, and experience daily. A review of the spiritual tools of the trade is thus appropriate to help us as catechists joyfully incorporate prayer as our first, middle, and last act of the day, and of the teaching session, creating an environment for catechesis that is permeated by prayer.

“The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share in his own divine life” (CCC 759).  A plan born in the Father’s heart: from the genesis of life itself, to the last prophet of the Jewish people, the grand sweep of salvation history is unfolded in the 46 books of the Old Testament.  The Covenants, the Commandments, and the promise of a Chosen One form the subject of this workshop, to give catechists a sense of the provident hand of God over our past, our present, and our eternal destiny.

“That which was from the beginning...that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you...” (1 John 1:1, 4).  The New Testament is the completion of the story of how the Father prepared the world for His Son, and the beginning of the story of the Church, His Body, His Kingdom, His Bride, His Ark to save a People He calls His own.  This sweeping drama of truth, centered upon He is who is Truth, forms the message of the good news that catechists are privileged to offer to each generation of souls.

In the Directory for Catechesis we read, “Over the course of the centuries, the Church has never neglected to give priority to the formation of catechists. . . . Formation is an ongoing process that, under the guidance of the Spirit and in the living womb of the Christian community, helps the baptized person to take shape . . .” (130–131). This beautiful document highlights for us the incredible vocation that is catechesis and the importance of our formation as catechists. God calls catechists and religion teachers to the work of bringing Jesus Christ to the world, and to do this, those who are catechists and teachers are in constant need of growing closer to the Holy One. In this workshop, we will explore some of the principles laid out in the gift that is this Directory for Catechesis, learning about the identity of the catechist and how to be formed in the work of catechesis well. Whether you are a priest, parish catechetical leader, catechist, or someone else tasked with the work of forming other catechists and teachers, you will surely benefit from the many riches the Directory for Catechesis has to offer, presented in this workshop. 

“Christ chose to be born and grow up in the bosom of the holy family of Joseph and Mary. . . . In our own time, in a world often alien and even hostile to faith, believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1655, 1656). Jesus’ entrance into a family places a particular emphasis on family life. Parents are the primary educators of their children, and Christian families are primary centers of "radiant faith." The Christian family is the domestic church, because it is in the family that parents and children pray, sacrifice, worship, live charity, and offer the witness of holy lives. This workshop teaches what the domestic church is and how God saves us in and through the family and the community that God has given to us.  This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

Empathic listening makes a profound impact on mentoring relationships and in the mentor’s ability to influence effectively someone seeking guidance. When mentors ask good questions, they demonstrate a sincere interest in getting to know those in their care. Such questions orient the relationship towards more authentic sharing, and thereby allows the Holy Spirit to foster spiritual progress and genuine openness to God’s will. This workshop is intended to complement the workshop on asking good questions. Empathic listening is the counterpart skill that enables mentors to truly understand another person intellectually as well as emotionally. As well as addressing the meaning of empathy, we discuss how Jesus provides the superlative pattern for this service to souls. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

An important part of being a mentor is getting to really know the person under your care. In this workshop, we explore various kinds of questions related to this work of discovery, and demonstrate which ones best accomplish the objective of authentically revealing that person’s thoughts and needs to productively and wisely build the mentoring relationship. Poor questions result in missed opportunities or weak rapport. Great questions truly serve to open up a soul and build strong mentorship. We especially emphasize the value of open-ended questions oriented toward drawing out a person’s life story.  This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

The Directory for Catechesis tells us that “St. Augustine indicated early and middle childhood as times for learning the dialogue with the Teacher who speaks deep within. It is from the tenderest age that the child must be helped to perceive and to develop the sense of God and the natural intuition of his existence” (236). Our ability to catechize, to hand on to children a relationship with Jesus Christ — whether as catechists, parents, Catholic school teachers, and so on — is not simply a matter of our teaching abilities. Rather, the age and development of a child, as well as environmental factors, affect a child’s receptivity to the faith. In this workshop, we will explore ways to craft our catechesis in relation to a child’s developmental stage, so that we may better lead them into intimacy with Jesus Christ. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

The General Directory for Catechesis teaches that, “. . . the baptismal catechumenate . . . is the model of [the Church’s] catechizing activity” (90). We might wonder why Mother Church urges those who teach the faith to see the catechumenate (the RCIA process) as a model for all forms of catechesis. Mother Church urges this, because at the heart of the catechumenal process is a process of conversion. This workshop makes clear that the catechumenal process is slow and in stages. It also helps us understand that the catechumenal process is a progressive process, meaning it deepens with each step, so that individuals are brought into deeper communion with the Blessed Trinity and the Church. This workshop also offers guidance on how all forms of catechesis can follow the model of the baptismal catechumenate.

La Santa Madre Iglesia insiste en que la catequesis que verdaderamente evangeliza los corazones, y que encuentra a las almas en el lugar de mayor necesidad, debe centrarse en Aquel quien es nuestro principio y fin: Jesucristo. Enseñamos a Jesús, y todo lo que enseñamos, debe ser en referencia a Él. Ven a explorar cómo desarrollar las verdades inspiradoras de nuestra fe poniendo a Jesús claramente en el centro de todas las cosas: nuestro contenido de enseñanza, nuestros métodos de enseñanza y nuestro propio testimonio personal a quienes Dios nos ha llamado a amar. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

Para transmitir las verdades de la fe, el catequista debe estar firmemente cimentado en Cristo. Este taller considerará la riqueza de la vida espiritual católica en lo que se refiere específicamente a la vida del catequista. La oración no es un “último esfuerzo desesperado” de defensa para nosotros como catequistas, sino nuestra primera línea de defensa: las alas en las que debe volar todo esfuerzo. A menudo, nuestra sociedad tiene problemas para reconocer que las realidades espirituales invisibles son de hecho “más reales” y ciertamente más duraderas que las realidades físicas que tocamos, vemos, oímos y experimentamos a diario. Por lo tanto, una revisión de las herramientas espirituales del oficio es apropiada para ayudarnos como catequistas a incorporar con alegría la oración al principio, mitad y final de nuestro día y de la sesión de enseñanza, creando un ambiente permeado por un clima de oración para la catequesis.

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

“El Padre eterno creó el mundo por una decisión totalmente libre y misteriosa de su sabiduría y bondad. Decidió elevar a los hombres a la participación de la vida divina” (CEC 759). Un plan que nace del corazón del Padre: desde el génesis de la vida, hasta el último profeta del Pueblo Judío, el gran panorama de la historia de la salvación es desplegado en los 46 libros del Antiguo Testamento. Las alianzas, los mandamientos y la promesa del Elegido, forman el tema principal de este taller, para permitir al catequista apreciar la mano providencial de Dios en nuestro pasado, nuestro presente y nuestro destino eterno. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

“Lo que existía desde el principio . . . Lo que hemos visto y oído, se lo anunciamos también a ustedes . . .” (1 Juan 1:1,3).  El Nuevo Testamento es la culminación de la historia de cómo el Padre preparó al mundo para Su Hijo, y el inicio de la historia de la Iglesia, la cual es Su Cuerpo, Su Reino, Su Esposa, Su Arca, para salvar a un Pueblo que considera Suyo. El drama general de la verdad, centrado en Aquel que es la Verdad, conforma el mensaje de la buena nueva que los catequistas tienen el privilegio de ofrecer a cada generación de almas. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

En el Directorio para la catequesis leemos: “A lo largo de los siglos, la Iglesia nunca ha descuidado dar prioridad a la formación de los catequistas . . . La formación es un proceso permanente que, bajo la guía del Espíritu y en el seno vivo de la comunidad cristiana, ayuda al bautizado a tomar forma. . ." (130-131). Este hermoso documento destaca para nosotros la increíble vocación que es la catequesis y la importancia de nuestra formación como catequistas. Dios llama a los catequistas y maestros de religión a llevar a Jesucristo al mundo, y para ello, los catequistas y maestros tienen una necesidad constante de acercarse más a Dios. En este taller exploraremos algunos de los principios planteados en el regalo que es este Directorio para la catequesis, conociendo la identidad del catequista y cómo formarse bien en el trabajo de la catequesis. Si tu eres un líder catequético parroquial, sacerdote, catequista o alguien más encargado del trabajo de formar a otros catequistas y maestros, seguramente te beneficiarás de lo mucho que el Directorio para la catequesis tiene para ofrecer, lo cual es el enfoque de este taller.

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

“Cristo quiso nacer y crecer en el seno de la Sagrada Familia de José y de María. . .  En nuestros días, en un mundo frecuentemente extraño e incluso hostil a la fe, las familias creyentes tienen una importancia primordial en cuanto faros de una fe viva e irradiadora” (Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica 1655, 1656). La participación de Jesús en una familia hace especial hincapié en la vida familiar. Los padres son los principales educadores de sus hijos y las familias cristianas son lugares donde la luz de la fe es “irradiada” al mundo. La familia cristiana es la iglesia doméstica, porque es en la familia donde padres e hijos oran, sacrifican, adoran, viven la caridad y ofrecen testimonio de una vida santa. Este taller enseña qué es la iglesia doméstica y cómo Dios nos salva en y a través de la familia y la comunidad que Dios nos ha dado. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

Una parte importante de ser un mentor es llegar a conocer realmente a las personas que tenemos bajo nuestro cuidado. En este taller, exploramos varios tipos de preguntas relacionadas con este trabajo de descubrimiento y examinaremos cuáles logran mejor el objetivo de revelar auténticamente los pensamientos y necesidades de esa persona para construir de manera productiva y sabia la relación de mentoría. Las preguntas deficientes resultan en oportunidades perdidas o en una comunicación débil. Las grandes preguntas realmente sirven para abrir el alma y construir una mentoría sólida. Enfatizaremos especialmente el valor de las preguntas abiertas orientadas a extraer la historia de vida de una persona.

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

“Por haber sido hecho a imagen de Dios, el ser humano tiene la dignidad de persona; no es solamente algo, sino alguien. Es capaz de conocerse, de poseerse y de darse libremente y entrar en comunión con otras personas; y es llamado, por la gracia, a una alianza con su Creador, a ofrecerle una respuesta de fe y de amor . . .” (Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica 357). La dignidad de la persona humana reside en la relación. Reside ante todo en nuestra relación con Dios, Quien nos creó a Su imagen y nos llama siempre hacia Él. También reside en nuestras relaciones con los demás, que comparten nuestra humanidad. Cada uno de nuestros apostolados dentro de la Iglesia incluye un llamado a la relación y a fomentar relaciones sanas y sanadoras. Como aprenderemos en este taller, ciertas técnicas de comunicación son la base de todas las relaciones sanas y sanadoras. Los ministros parroquiales no son terapeutas, pero la práctica de estos principios básicos de comunicación fomentarán relaciones saludables e incluso ocacionarán la sanación en los que se sirven. Entonces iniciemos este taller, siempre conscientes de la preciosa dignidad de aquellos que nuestro Padre celestial pone en nuestro camino, y de la hermosa manera en que cada persona que encontramos tiene en sí misma la asombrosa identidad de ser un hijo de Dios.  

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

El Directorio para la catequesis nos dice que “San Agustín señaló la niñez y la infancia como una época en la que se aprende el diálogo con el Maestro que habla en la intimidad. Es desde una edad temprana que el niño debe ser ayudado a percibir y desarrollar el sentido de Dios y la intuición natural de su existencia” (236). Nuestra capacidad de catequizar, de ayudarles a los niños a tener una relación con Jesucristo, ya sea como catequistas, padres, maestros de escuelas católicas, etc., no es simplemente una cuestión de nuestras habilidades de enseñanza. Más bien, la edad y el desarrollo de un niño, así como los factores ambientales, afectan la receptividad del niño hacia la fe. En este taller, exploraremos formas de elaborar nuestra catequesis en relación a las etapas de desarrollo de los niños, para poder guiarlos mejor a la intimidad con Jesucristo. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

El Directorio para la Catequesis nos dice que es urgente recuperar la "inspiración catecumenal de la catequesis" porque es una forma de enseñar que es "progresiva y dinámica, rica de signos y lenguajes, favorables para la integración de todas las dimensiones de la persona" (DC 2). En este taller, conoceremos los inicios de este modelo en la historia de la Iglesia, y veremos cómo cada una de las etapas del proceso catecumenal tiene un lugar especial en el proceso de la conversión. Revisaremos algunos de los términos y conceptos más básicos, y buscaremos aplicar sus principios a nuestras propias situaciones. Finalmente, reflexionaremos sobre la razón que es el modelo de formación en la fe que necesitamos para nuestros tiempos.

Tal vez eres un catequista para niños o para adultos y estás buscando maneras de mejorar tus métodos de enseñanza o trabajas en el ministerio del Rito de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos (RICA) y quieres profundizar tu entendimiento del proceso. ¡Este taller es para ti!  

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

What is our purpose and goal as ministers in the Church in an OCIA process? To make new Catholics? To spread the Gospel? To run a good process? Our purpose and goal must transcend the “how” of OCIA and begin with the “why.” The restoration of the catechumenal process is a reflection of the Church’s wisdom in going back to a tried and true practice in order to lovingly bring people into Her fold. It is a restoration of grace for those who are seeking Christ and His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. This workshop inaugurates the necessary vision to develop excellent parish-based OCIA ministry, beginning with a call to trust the wisdom of Holy Mother Church in Her discernment to gift the modern world with a way of Christian initiation unparalleled in its beauty and power. Only in the light of this trust and deep understanding of the OCIA process, as the Church intends it to be implemented, does the full purpose and potential of the initiation journey become clear and attainable.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

The pastoral aspect of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) signifies the means by which we form and accompany individuals, person-to-person, to a deeper relationship with the Trinity through the Body of Christ. Many who do not stay with the Church after going through the OCIA process leave not for lack of knowledge, but for lack of care. The pastoral components are the people who participate, some intimately and others from a distance, in Jesus’ graced work of conversion and discipleship of individuals. It is the surpassing calling of becoming a gift to others, and receiving others freely as a gift from the Lord. This workshop addresses how the pastoral aspect of the OCIA process leads us to be sacrificial witnesses — the Lord’s chosen means to authenticate faith and relationship with the Trinity, to support conversion in lives, and through God’s saving message draw all people into the loving embrace of the Father and His People.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before OCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

“. . . [T]he liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed;  it is also the fount from which all her power flows” (Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum concilium 10).  The liturgy proclaims, celebrates, and actualizes the Father’s loving plan for His people.  The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), or catechumenal process, has three aspects: liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral, of which liturgical is prime. The Church has designed these aspects to promote deep, long-lasting conversion to Christ and a love for the Church.  This workshop will focus on the stages of the modern catechumenal process, which derive directly from the ancient order of catechumens, and the way liturgical graces build and crescendo through the four periods of the OCIA process to make possible the plan of goodness born in the Father’s heart for each believer.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before OCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

This workshop will explore the necessary connection of catechesis to the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church in our work as catechists.  The liturgy comes from the “living memory” of the Church, that is, the Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC, 1099).  Through the Holy Spirit working in the liturgy, the truths of the faith are passed on like a special family memory, from generation to generation, down to the present day.  Each time we participate in the liturgy, we receive the treasure of the Deposit of Faith.  But the liturgy is more than a family heirloom – it is reality. It is the place in which “Christ Jesus works in fullness for the transformation of human beings” (Catechesi Tradendae, CT, 23).  As catechists, we have a call: the privilege of ensuring that those we catechize understand and grow in appreciation for this encounter with God.  We bring others into God’s saving work in the liturgy so they too can be transformed by the One Who loves us fully.  We teach about the liturgy to pass on the magnificent inheritance of faith to the next generation, echoing the action of catechists from the centuries before us.  This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

“That which was from the beginning . . . that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you…” (1 John 1:1, 3). St. John Paul II proclaimed that, “The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ . . .” (Apostolic Exhortation "On Catechesis in Our Time," Catechesi tradendae 5). The work of catechesis is not just “education,” but “intimacy with Jesus Christ.” God wants to make Himself known, to communicate His own divine life to us and make us capable of responding to Him. God gradually “pulls back the veil” (See 2 Corinthians 3:14–16) by words and deeds, but especially in Jesus Christ, the Mediator and fullness of all Revelation. By His Revelation, God has answered all the questions of the human condition. God wants all to be saved, so He arranged that His Revelation remain in its entirety and be transmitted to all generations. This workshop focuses on the apostolic work of passing on the truths of the faith in an organic and systematic way. This is done to make disciples of Christ and to initiate them into the fullness of Christian life through an encounter with the communion of believers and with Christ the Teacher. “‘The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends.’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 25)

This workshop explores adult catechesis within the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) baptismal catechumenate. Each period of the OCIA process has a distinctive catechetical objective in serving the Holy Spirit’s work of conversion, and so each period of the OCIA will have a different “feel” catechetically. The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults itself gives us the guidelines for what participants need to know, and what we need to teach, thereby allowing the catechetical aspect of Christian initiation to become teaching in the service of leading others into the Father’s eternal embrace, a love beyond all telling. 

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

It is into the great mystery of the Father’s saving love through Christ Jesus that all believers are called.  And it is this great mystery that all the institutions of the Church, each and every one of them, exist to serve. The OCIA has no other purpose than the service of the holy mystery, the saving sacrament, of Christ present and active in His living Body.  The renewal of the process of Christian initiation stands as one of the most important and successful features of modern liturgical renewal. Since its promulgation in 1972 and its further elaboration under the auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1988, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults has been among the most pastorally effective features of Catholic life in the United States.  And yet all is not well. The very fact that the challenge is conversion, the conforming of imperfect men and women to Christ, means that the process will never be perfect. Initiation is, after all, the beginning of a process which has its ending in eternity. However, there are problems that are more concrete and, for that reason, can more readily be corrected. In general, three models of OCIA are operative today in most Catholic parishes using the Rite. Each of the models conceives of, and practices, Christian initiation differently. This workshop describes these models, discussing their strengths and weaknesses in terms of catechetical, liturgical, and pastoral dimensions.  The result is clarity on how best the OCIA can serve the great work of immersing participants into Catholicism through a process of learning and interiorizing the sacred Scriptures, doctrines, sacraments, prayers, moral traditions, spiritual readings and rich communal culture of the Catholic Church, in order to serve the Father’s provident love in calling each person to the living Body of Christ on earth.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before OCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

From the ancient Nicene Creed we proclaim that “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.” The mystery of the Second Person of the Trinity is the God Who comes to us to save, redeem, instruct, give us hope and lead us to our promised glory. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We do not have a God Who is distant, but a God Who comes to us in the most intimate way. We enter into the mystery of Christ through a living Word, transforming sacramental grace, evangelizing catechesis, and evangelical communities. This workshop will explore how a rich understanding of the means by which people enter into Christ’s life can be fostered in our approaches to ministry. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) to call each individual to God’s loving plan and sure hope in Christ. This talk describes the means to participate in that life.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

Knowing and understanding Scripture is essential in the life of a catechist. This workshop will explore how God’s Word, transmitted in Sacred Scripture, grounds and deepens our relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. In Scripture, we see the sweeping Plan of God, the history of salvation unfolded. We hear His stunning and steadfast invitation to communion with Him. Sacred Scripture ought to permeate all forms of catechesis, as well as our personal lives as catechists. Through creating lesson plans saturated with the Scriptures, we foster a profound encounter with the Divine – love and challenge, wisdom and hope, forgiveness and mercy, and the means to know God and to know ourselves. By breaking open the Scriptures in each catechetical session, we unlock the mystery of Christ, revealing to those we teach the One they desire to know, fostering life-changing intimacy with God.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux joyfully exulted that, “‘If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn't lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT'S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE — IT'S ETERNAL!’” (quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 826, emphasis in the original). We know that this love is the golden thread that binds all we believe, this love which has God as its source and which we know as the theological virtue of charity. It is the love of God that gives us truth to speak in gentleness and clarity, and life-giving concern to reach out sacrificially to all those souls around us. It is the love that makes us adopted sons and daughters. It is our beginning and our gifted destiny. This workshop delves into the vital nature of the love of brethren — the virtue of charity that helps us to love God first and love our neighbors as ourselves — that is to be the mark of any community calling others to join Christ’s Body.

“Through the liturgy Christ, our redeemer and high priest, continues the work of our redemption in, with, and through his Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC, 1069). Through the liturgy, the grace that flows from Jesus’ saving work is made available to us so that we may grow in intimacy and communion with the Blessed Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the sacred liturgy, we are reminded of all God’s blessings: from creation, to the cross, to our re-creation in sacramental grace. God initiates, we respond, and we will continue responding until Jesus comes again. This workshop offers us an opportunity to learn how the liturgy is an encounter with the Holy Trinity and the primary means for us to live in right relationship with our Lord. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

“The rite of Christian initiation . . . is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 1). The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is the process by which men and women respond to the Lord’s movements in their lives and enter the Church. The OCIA Rite Book, also referred to as the OCIA Ritual Text, is the guiding light from the Magisterium for the entire OCIA process. In this workshop, we will learn about the origin and importance of this resource that is so integral to the process of the OCIA, as well as gain an overview of the major components of the OCIA Rite Book. It is vital that this liturgical document be understood by pastors, OCIA leaders, OCIA team members, and others involved in forming those who seek to enter Holy Mother Church. This text provides the liturgical prayers, major and minor rites, and the rubrics that are to be used during the OCIA process. It also provides essential pastoral and catechetical guidelines, which aid a parish OCIA process to develop and operate as the Church intends, thereby properly serving the men and women in the OCIA process.

In regard to the catechumenate, Mother Church teaches us that an individual’s motives for joining the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) “. . . should be examined, and if necessary, purified” (Ad gentes, “Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity” 13). This examination and purification requires mutual discernment between the individual and the Church to ensure that a person is freely choosing to become Catholic, ready to pass through the liturgical rites that occur in the OCIA process, and that he or she is authentically becoming Christ’s disciple. This workshop gives an overview of why discerning readiness for the rites is a critical aspect in the OCIA process, why it is important to conform our minds and hearts to the intentions of the Church in this regard, and it demonstrates ways for the OCIA participants and team members to mutually discern an individual’s readiness.

Mother Church teaches us about the importance of the precatechumenate by saying it “is of great importance and as a rule should not be omitted. It is a time of evangelization: faithfully and constantly the living God is proclaimed and Jesus Christ whom he has sent for the salvation of all” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, RCIA, 36). We, as pastors, catechists, directors of RCIA, and members of the team, are meant to deliver the Gospel message during this time, in order to lead men and women to initial conversion. This workshop will help us understand the purpose of the precatechumenate, remind us of the importance of giving individuals the time and space to respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him, and offer practical advice on catechizing effectively.

Mother Church, in Her wisdom, tells us that “. . . the entire community must help the candidates and the catechumens throughout the process of initiation” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 9). The RCIA team is an essential element in an effective RCIA process, because the RCIA team represents the Christian community and is often the first real “Catholic community” many RCIA participants encounter. The members of a well-formed RCIA team play a fundamental role in fostering the Holy Spirit’s work of conversion, through their personal witness to the faith and their commitment to fostering authentic relationships with those considering entering holy Mother Church. They support those in the RCIA process and accompany them on their journey of faith, modeling for them what the life of a Christian looks like. Most importantly, the RCIA team loves those who are in the RCIA process. This workshop delves into how to find, form, and faithfully lead a team that can help create a strong environment for conversion.

“. . . being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). The role of sponsor or godparent is an essential aspect of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process. It is a work of grace that is certainly challenging and demanding, yet also extremely rewarding. The RCIA process calls for godparents and sponsors to be part of each participant’s journey into the Catholic Church. Who is appropriate for this role? How can we find and train them well? What does canon law require? Guiding individuals in the process of choosing sponsors and godparents, along with helping the sponsors and godparents understand the great dignity of these roles in the heart of Mother Church, can help effectively attune the entire RCIA process to each individual being served. In this workshop, we will explore the value of the roles of sponsors and godparents and some keys to making this pastoral element decisive in the overall work of conversion. 

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2). Revelation means to pull back the veil. It is God’s method of manifesting a bit of Himself, allowing us time to absorb it and respond, before He shows a bit more; and the process repeats. Because the work of catechesis is oriented towards conversion, the catechist needs to understand clearly how a person gets faith and grows in faith. This workshop delves in the sacred pattern of God’s methodology — how He reaches out to us, and how He calls us and enables us to freely respond.

“The content of catechesis cannot be indifferently subjected to any method” (General Directory for Catechesis 149). Every good catechist seeks in some organized fashion to give growth to the seed of faith, to nourish hope, and to develop a deeper desire to love God and neighbor. In this workshop, we will explore a method that is highly suited to the goals of catechesis, and flows from a study of how the Church’s many catechetical saints sought to pass on the beauty, truth, and goodness of Christ’s saving revelation.

How do I know what to teach?  How do I know what is essential?  What can I not leave to chance that my students will get on their own?  Many catechists are never helped and trained to go beyond pre-written outlines.  They never discover how to take a piece of God’s revelation, a doctrine, and break it down in a way that answers these critical questions.  This workshop explores how to identify the premise, essentials, common misunderstandings, related doctrines, and foundational Scriptures for the truths all catechists are called to pass on, so that each catechist can develop teachings that flow from his or her own deep grasp of the saving truths.

This workshop will introduce participants to biblical catechesis through an ancient catechetical technique: the use of the Story of the Bible. The most important historical events of the Bible can be briefly described in one Story, connected by one common theme: union with God. The Story of the Bible portrays the drama of God’s love for every soul and the whole human race: how God created us to be united with Him in a relationship of love; how we lost union with God through the original sin; how Jesus re-united us with God in a relationship of love through His passion, death and Resurrection; and how the Holy Spirit fosters a continuing unfolding of those saving events in the life of Church, as the Lord’s Bride. Often in a catechetical setting we fall into the habit of teaching individual topics without reference to the greater context of salvation history. In order to draw others into the life of God and the Church we have to help them make this Story of the Bible their own. Everything that the Church teaches, her doctrines, disciplines, worship, and morality makes sense when delivered within the context of the Story of the Bible. The Story of the Bible tells us of our spiritual roots, our dignity, our destiny, and daily vocation to follow Jesus Christ, providing peace and authentic hope to those we seek to teach and evangelize.

“No methodology, no matter how well tested, can dispense with the person of the catechist in every phase of the catechetical process. The charism given to him by the Spirit, a solid spirituality and transparent witness of life, constitutes the soul of every method” (General Directory for Catechesis 156). This workshop discusses the surpassing importance of the catechist as a witness and how to wisely and effectively incorporate witnessing into the work of formation. To the degree that this is poorly understood by catechists, their efforts will fall on deaf ears in our secular culture, as Pope St. Paul VI reminds us: “. . . ‘Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses’” (Apostolic Exhortation “On Evangelization in the Modern World,” Evangelii nuntiandi 41, quoting St. Paul VI's Address to the Members of the Concilium de Laicis on October 2, 1974).

Este taller explora el elemento esencial en la misión de transmitir la fe: tú. Debido a que el contenido de la fe es una Persona, Cristo, la persona del catequista es fundamental. La vocación del catequista es la de ser testigo de la bondad de Cristo, de Su santo celo, de Su ejemplo — de ser como el Maestro. “. . . [C]ualquiera que sea su responsabilidad en la Iglesia, debe ser la de comunicar, a través de su enseñanza y su comportamiento, la doctrina y la vida de Jesús” (Juan Pablo II, Exhortación apostólica, La Catequesis en Nuestro Tiempo, Catechesi tradendae (CT) 6). Este llamado es a la vez tan gozoso y emocionante como al mismo tiempo dificil porque conlleva una gran responsabilidad. Se trata de una obra sobrenatural, más allá de nuestras capacidades naturales. “La catequesis . . . es por consiguiente una obra del Espíritu Santo, obra que sólo Él puede suscitar y alimentar en la Iglesia” (CT 72). Y se sostiene en ti. Este taller es un punto de partida que ofrece inspiración, visión y guía para animar a los catequistas en su esfuerzo por vivir su vocación privilegiada. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

La Santa Madre Iglesia insiste en que la catequesis que verdaderamente evangeliza los corazones, y que encuentra a las almas en el lugar de mayor necesidad, debe centrarse en Aquel quien es nuestro principio y fin: Jesucristo. Enseñamos a Jesús, y todo lo que enseñamos, debe ser en referencia a Él. Ven a explorar cómo desarrollar las verdades inspiradoras de nuestra fe poniendo a Jesús claramente en el centro de todas las cosas: nuestro contenido de enseñanza, nuestros métodos de enseñanza y nuestro propio testimonio personal a quienes Dios nos ha llamado a amar. 

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

“Lo que existía desde el principio . . . Lo que hemos visto y oído, se lo anunciamos también a ustedes . . .” (1 Juan 1:1, 3). San Juan Pablo II proclamó que, “El fin definitivo de la catequesis es poner a uno no sólo en contacto sino en comunión, en intimidad con Jesucristo . . .” (Exhortación apostólica, Sobre la catequesis en nuestro tiempo” Catechesi tradendae (CT) 5). La labor de catequesis no es solamente “educación”, si no “intimidad con Jesucristo”. Dios quiere hacerse conocer, comunicar Su propia vida divina a cada uno de nosotros y hacernos capaces de responderle. Dios, gradualmente, “va quitándose el velo” (ver 2 Corintios 3:14–16) por medio de hechos y palabras, pero especialmente en Jesucristo, el mediador y plenitud de toda la Revelación. Por su Revelación, Dios ha respondido a todas las preguntas de la condición humana. Dios quiere que todos se salven, así que Él organizó que Su Revelación se preservara completa para ser transmitida a todas las generaciones. Este taller está enfocado en la labor apostólica de transmitir las verdades de la fe de una manera orgánica y sistemática. Esta labor es realizada para hacer discípulos de Cristo e iniciarlos en la plenitud de la vida cristiana a través del encuentro y la comunión con Cristo el Pedagogo. “Toda la finalidad de la doctrina y de la enseñanza debe ser puesta en el amor que no acaba” (Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica (CEC) 25).

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

El Directorio para la Catequesis nos dice que es urgente recuperar la "inspiración catecumenal de la catequesis" porque es una forma de enseñar que es "progresiva y dinámica, rica de signos y lenguajes, favorables para la integración de todas las dimensiones de la persona" (DC 2). En este taller, conoceremos los inicios de este modelo en la historia de la Iglesia, y veremos cómo cada una de las etapas del proceso catecumenal tiene un lugar especial en el proceso de la conversión. Revisaremos algunos de los términos y conceptos más básicos, y buscaremos aplicar sus principios a nuestras propias situaciones. Finalmente, reflexionaremos sobre la razón que es el modelo de formación en la fe que necesitamos para nuestros tiempos.

Tal vez eres un catequista para niños o para adultos y estás buscando maneras de mejorar tus métodos de enseñanza o trabajas en el ministerio del Rito de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos (RICA) y quieres profundizar tu entendimiento del proceso. ¡Este taller es para ti!  

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

Todos los creyentes son llamados a participar en el gran misterio del amor salvador del Padre por medio de Cristo Jesús. Y es este gran misterio al que todas las instituciones de la Iglesia, todas y cada una de ellas, existen para servir. El RICA no tiene otro propósito más que el servicio del santo misterio de Cristo presente y activo en Su Cuerpo viviente. La renovación del proceso de iniciación cristiana se considera una de las características más importantes y exitosas de la renovación litúrgica moderna. Desde su promulgación en 1972 y su continua elaboración bajo los auspicios de la Conferencia Nacional de Obispos Católicos en 1988, el Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos ha sido uno de los elementos pastorales más eficaces de la vida católica en los Estados Unidos. Y, sin embargo, no todo está bien. El mismo hecho de que el desafío es la conversión, la conformación de hombres y mujeres imperfectos a Cristo, significa que el proceso nunca será perfecto. La iniciación es más bien el comienzo de un proceso que tiene su final en la eternidad. Sin embargo, hay problemas que son más concretos y, por ello, se pueden corregir más fácilmente. En general, hoy en día se usan tres modelos de RICA en la mayoría de las parroquias católicas que tienen este ministerio. Cada uno de los modelos concibe y practica la iniciación cristiana de manera diferente. Este taller describe estos modelos, discutiendo sus fortalezas y debilidades en términos de las dimensiones catequéticas, litúrgicas y pastorales. El resultado es claridad sobre cómo el RICA puede introducir a los participantes en el catolicismo a través de un proceso de aprendizaje e interiorización de las Sagradas Escrituras, doctrinas, sacramentos, oraciones, tradiciones morales, lecturas espirituales y la cultura comunitaria de la Iglesia Católica, para así ser instrumentos del amor providente del Padre.

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.

Conocer y comprender las Sagradas Escrituras es esencial en la vida de un catequista. Este taller explorará cómo la Palabra de Dios, transmitida en la Sagradas Escrituras, fundamenta y profundiza nuestra relación con Jesucristo y Su Iglesia. En las Sagradas Escrituras, vemos el amplio plan de Dios, la historia de la salvación revelada. Escuchamos Su asombrosa y constante invitación a vivir en comunión con Él. Las Sagradas Escrituras deben inspirar e impregnar todas las formas de catequesis, así como nuestra vida personal como catequistas. Al crear planes de lecciones cimentados en las Sagradas Escrituras, fomentamos un encuentro profundo con lo Divino: amor y desafío, sabiduría y esperanza, perdón y misericordia, y a su vez los medios para conocer a Dios y conocernos a nosotros mismos. Al contemplar las Sagradas Escrituras en cada sesión de catequesis, descubrimos el misterio de Cristo, revelando a aquellos a quienes enseñamos a Aquel que desean conocer, fomentando una intimidad con Dios que cambiará sus vidas.

La creación de este taller fue posible gracias a una generosa subvención de Our Sunday Visitor.