Developing a Parish Program

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Developing a Parish Program

• The Effective DRE
• A Skills Development Series

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Introduction

• The purpose of this study is to outline the task
  of developing a comprehensive catechetical
  program for a parish.

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Chapter 1 Developing a Catechetical Program An
Overview

• You need a clear picture of what you hope to
  achieve.
• Articulate a simple and clear statement of what
  you are seeking to accomplish.
• Understanding your mission statement will shape
  your programming questions.
• Ask the right program development questions.
• The statement must embody your vision and
  understanding of catechesis.
• Criteria Comprehensive, Rooted in Tradition,
  related to the Churchs overall mission.
• Remember that your program must partner with
  other parish ministries.
• Use Common Sense
• Alternative Models
• Educate parish leadership, parents, catechists
  (team) to think in a new way. Calls for
  conversion that may be resisted.

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Sample Mission Statement

• The catechetical program of St. Matthew Parish
  seeks to provide adults, youth, and children with
  the knowledge, experiences, and skills necessary
  to become faithful and fruitful disciples of
  Jesus. In Keeping with their age, they will
  assume responsibility as vital members of the
  parish and be able to participate in the Churchs
  mission to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the
  coming of Gods reign.

What do you like and not like about this Mission
Statement?
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Implementation Advice

• If you are entering a parish with an existing
  program, evaluate the mission statement and
  programming.
• You might need to update or adjust the program
  goals to bring it in line with the changing
  circumstances of the parish or developments in
  catechesis.
• If you need to introduce changes within an
  existing program move slowly, consult with those
  most affected by the changes, over communicate
  the reasons for the changes, ensure these reasons
  are accurately understood, and go through the
  proper channels to receive support from parish
  leadership.
• Always be patient, sensitive and reasonable when
  making changes.
• Arrange for visits to other parishes, of similar
  size to your own, who have developed and
  successful programs.

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If you are Designing a new program

• Assemble a consultative group, comprised of
  veteran catechists and parents.
• Be innovative, yet centralize your efforts around
  core values.
• Example Shift from imparting information about
  Jesus and the church to forming a relationship
  with Jesus and with the community of disciples.
  Catechists would be trained more as facilitators
  than teachers.

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Reflection Questions

• How well do you think your parishs present
  catechetical mission statement serves as a guide
  for program development? What might be added or
  better stated in it? What are programming
  questions it suggests? Are these adequate?
• If your parish presently does not have a
  catechetical mission statement, gather some
  interested people and attempt to develop one in
  keeping with the principles outlined above.
• How would you describe the difference between
  developing an authentic alternative model and
  altering an existing program.

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Chapter 2 Components of a Comprehensive Program

• Parishes are unique, so catechetical programs
  will be unique also. There is no one size fits
  all.
• This an overview of various elements found in
  comprehensive programs, which must be tailored to
  meet the needs of your parish.

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1. Well-Designed Curriculum

• You dont need to reinvent the wheel, check with
  the diocesan office for approved texts.
• Identify your goals with specific age groupsand
  be realistic.
• Create action steps to achieve your goals.
• Ensure your goals are developmentally appropriate.

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Well-designed curriculum

• More than scope and sequence
• Use resources at your disposal
• Diocesan guidelines
• CCC
• GDC
• National Directory for Catechesis
• Principles to guide you
• dont be overly ambitious
• know how to achieve your goals
• goals developmentally appropriate

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2. The Program is Developmentally Appropriate
and uses Appropriate Methods

• Your programs structure and curriculum need to
  match the capacities, learning styles and
  readiness of the target age group.
• Find the balance between challenging your
  students but not becoming overly ambitious.

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3. The Program is Based on Needs Assessment and
Implements ongoing Evaluation

• Needs assessment is periodic, evaluation should
  be ongoing.
• Needs assessment discerns the needs of the parish
  members looking at demographic and socioeconomic
  make-up.
• Stay within the parameters of catechesis your
  program cant solve all the needs of the parish.
• Evaluate how well you have achieved your defined
  goals. The results will determine if changes are
  necessary.
• The primary benefit of evaluation is early
  detection of problems.

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Needs assessment andongoing evaluation

• Needs Assessment
• Before program planning
• Observable aspects of parish (less tangible)
• Internal life of parish
• Shape your program (add or subtract components)
• Evaluation
• Determine if goals are achieved
• Detect problems
• Always at the end of an adult session or program
• End of the year

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4. Evaluation

• Be observant of how your program unfolds during
  the year.
• How is attendance?
• Are there discipline problems?
• What are the complaints centered around?
• The end of the year evaluation needs to be more
  formal.
• You may conduct interviews with students,
  parents, or teachers
• Ask for written testimonies or have an
  questionnaire/evaluation form.
• Look for trends or reoccurring issues.
• Dont overreact to complaints or highly vocal
  criticism if its only coming from two or three
  isolated people.
• Deal with isolated criticism on the individual
  level.

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5. Incorporate the diverse needs of the Parish
Community

• Analyze the different cultures and family
  structures within your Parish.
• Aim your program at the majoritys needs.
• Though you cant solve every problem, be
  sensitive and respectful towards diverse groups.

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Incorporate Good Public Relations

• Communicate well to your parish.
• Use written communication brochures, letters,
  handbookswhat else?
• Use verbal communication presentations at Mass or
  other parish functions.

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Utilize Current Technology

• How can you use
• Videos
• Internet
• Emails
• PowerPoint Presentations
• ????

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For Reflection

• Given the circumstances and makeup of your
  parish, which of the program components do you
  feel need the greatest attention? Which ones do
  you feel are already rather well developed.
• In developing or refining the program for your
  parish, do you think it is necessary to carry out
  a needs assessment first. Why or why not?
• Given the description of the various qualities
  and components of an effective program, are there
  any areas in which you think you personally need
  more training? How do you propose to get that
  training?

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Chapter 3 Putting the pieces together

• Goals
• broad
• Objectives
• specific ways to achieve the goal
• Outcomes
• determines content and activities

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ACTION STEPS

• Step 1 Formulate your overall goals, objectives
  and outcomes
• (rooted in Mission Statement)
• Step 2 Identify related activities
• (outside the schedule, i.e. special activities
  like retreats)
• Step 3 Determine processes and resources
• Step 4 Schedule your program (see page 32)
• Step 5 Determine the evaluation process
• Step 6 Inform all involved

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For Reflection

• List all the groups in your parish you are
  responsible for catechizing. Do you have an
  adequate goal stated for each?
• What evaluative procedures will be most
  functional in your parish setting?
• Review existing programs in other parishes. What
  aspects of these programs might you borrow and
  adapt to meet your own needs?

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Chapter 4 Developmental Stages and Catechetical
Structures

• Psychological stages
• Emotional and intellectual capacities
• Tied to chronological age
• Faith Development
• Fully mature faith depends on fully mature
  development of emotional and psychological
  capacities
• Capacity for spiritual insight
• It is possible for a person to become fully
  mature in the psychological sense and yet remain
  at a stage of faith development more appropriate
  for a child.

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Groupings

• How will you group children and youth?
• Examples
• Age groups (i.e. like school grade levels)
• Learning styles
• Separate boys and girls
• Total High School Model
• Alternate structures
• Different approaches have s and s.
• Examples Intergenerational, Family-Centered
  Model, Lectionary-Based Model

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Chapter 5 Programming for Adults

• Adults choose to learn
• Decide what, when, and how the learn
• Set own goals
• Want to share their experiences
• Evaluate success or failure of experience
• Expect to be treated as adults
• Expect some degree of comfort and convenience
• Resist change for the sake of change

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Tips for Catechizing Adults

• Encourage participation in the parishs
  sacramental life and ministries.
• Promote participation rather than running the
  program.
• Be aware of distinct psychological states in
  different age groups of adults.
• Chronological age doesnt matter. For example, a
  person in their fifties can be at the Faith State
  of a child.
• Adults must assume personal responsibility for
  their growth! ADULTS CHOOSE TO LEARN where
  children are expected to learn.
• Use Small Groups to allow adults to share.
• Mentoring develops a valued relationship.

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• Adult educational programs should embrace a wide
  scope of activities and experiences.

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• Personal invitation
• is a key to success!

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For Reflection

• Review the mission or goal statement for your
  parishs adult catechesis. Is it adequate, or
  does it need revision? List all the programs and
  activities in your parish that can be considered
  opportunities for adults to grow in discipleship.
  How can you best incorporate these into your
  programming for adults?
• How can you better incorporate the small group
  structure into your adult programming? How might
  you better use mentoring?

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AND ABOVE ALL.
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ENJOY SERVING JESUS!!!