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Content of Catechesis

Content of Catechesis. How can we think about our message? We will explore possible frameworks which might help JP11: our teaching/sharing should be ‘a systematic teaching of doctrine’ and have ‘ integrity of content ’ Catechesae Tradendae 1979. But first.

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Content of Catechesis

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  1. Content of Catechesis • How can we think about our message? • We will explore possible frameworks which might help • JP11: our teaching/sharing should be ‘a systematic teaching of doctrine’ and have ‘integrity of content’ Catechesae Tradendae 1979

  2. But first • What do you want to share with other people about your own life of faith? • 5 mins

  3. MY message • What is MY vision? What do I most want to pass on? • My ‘ecclesial’ role – who / what am I speaking for? • What difference (if any) will that make to what I say?

  4. 3 frameworks to think about • Eichstatt 1963/4 ish (Warren, 1983, pp23-39) • Groome: 1990s • Dunning: 1990s • A useful tag: the 4 Cs: • Creed, Code, Celebration, Community

  5. Eichstatt • 4 major elements: • Bible • Church Teaching / Tradition • Witness / Experience • Celebration / Liturgy

  6. The Bible • Both OT and NT • Commentaries – informing yourself • Breaking the Word – how?

  7. Some Bible issues.... • Translations - which one ? • What form? Tatty bits of paper? • Written word or visual? • Helpful alternatives e.g. imaginative prayer • Older people not used to scripture reading

  8. Bible continued... • Bible stories • Keeping it fresh • Using the visual - Church windows

  9. Eichstatt: Church teaching • Teaching(s) / Tradition • Doctrine: a treasure house of riches • An ‘and / and’ church (not either /or) • How to access this?

  10. Church teaching(s) • Can be found in: • The Catechism of the Catholic Church • Encyclicals • Councils of the Church • Writings of the Church Fathers • Work of theologians • And the CCRS!

  11. Vatican 11 • The original documents are easily accessed online • Simplified versions exist e.g. the Grail publications • Books such as Bill Huebsch (1997)

  12. In your catechism: • Look at the index. • Find an interesting topic • Look it up • Read what is said • Pay attention to the references underneath • To translate the sources look at the table in the beginning • When were these sources written?

  13. Eichstatt: Witness / Experience • My Stories • Our stories – the Christian community • What we do (more important than what we say -Warren) • How we are Church • What we did: our communities • What they did: our saints

  14. Things to consider... • Stories are the basic building blocks of religious belief • God reveals Himself through human experience but this is limited for all of us • Revelation in personal experience may be helpful but it’s dangerous to allow it to be the only source of faith

  15. Celebration / Liturgy • Celebrating the work of God in our lives • Social - coffee after Mass etc • Religious • Eucharistic • Non-eucharistic

  16. Another framework: James Dunning • storytelling • questioning • a living community of faith • tradition • conversion • celebration • mission

  17. Thomas Groome’s framework • ‘Praxis’ • What is your present story-experience- praxis? • What are your present vision-assumptions behind your praxis? • What is the Christian story-tradition vision? • Dialogue (reflect/share/discuss) between your own experience and the Christian tradition • What will your future story-experience-praxis be?

  18. So which approach would you prefer? • Why? • How would you feel about putting it into practice? • Any additions you would make?

  19. So how would you use these? • Balance and emphasis • Choose elements thinking about the aims of the activity • Your aims will depend on your perception of the formational needs

  20. Formational needs • Where are your ‘client group’ in terms of faith formation? • How would you know? • Have a look at the chart ‘Educating disciples’ on the website Is it wrong to judge people in terms of their level of formation?

  21. Educational approaches • Instruction – by an expert • Facilitated discussion • Reflection / sharing • Buzz pairs • Story telling • One to one • Group work • Silence

  22. Some significant comments • JP11: our teaching/sharing should be ‘a systematic teaching of doctrine’ • Not selective but addresses ‘integrity of content’ • ‘Hierarchy of Truths’ – some things are more important than others! • Catechechesae Tradendae 1979

  23. Integrity of Content -reflection • Is selecting certain areas of Christian truth permissible? • How can we be ‘systematic’ in our catechesis? • Isn’t that something which belongs to a classroom rather than a parish?

  24. Hierarchy of Truths - reflection • What are the really fundamental truths? • Which truths are most important to YOU?

  25. Ecclesial role - reflection • Do you feel that you speak for the Church? • Do other people see you like that? • Is it intimidating to feel that you are a representative of the Church? • Does the Church acknowledge lay people as credible witnesses to the Christian life?

  26. How should catechists be formed? • Who should provide this? • To whom? • When and how? • What challenges might there be?

  27. Some examples • Take one of the topics you thought about at the beginning and consider how you would devise a session for this. • Which framework would you use? • Make plan!

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