WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CATHOLIC?

1
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CATHOLIC?
2
We need to be reminded more often than
instructed.S.Johnson

• Catholics are Christians who affirm Jesus
• we are saved
• Tradition is important to us
• Catholics use minds and hearts
• ratio et fides
• We believe in sacramentality
• ordinary reveals extraordinary
• Catholics emphasize community
• we are the Body of Christ

3
Core characteristics of Christianity

• positive anthropology
• conviction of the sacramentality of life
• emphasis on relationship
• commitment to history, tradition
• appreciation of wisdom
• emphasis on
• spirituality
• social justice
• hospitality

4
In other words...
Why did God make us? know love serve message
community service
5
Problems of our Culture

• Privatization of religion
• separation of private from public life
• Tendency to psychologize
• how do you feel?
• Reductive inclusivity
• Seinfeld not that theres anything wrong
• Relativism
• its OK if its me

6
According to the Bishops 1972 letter To Teach
as Jesus Did, the Catholic religious education
program is characterized by

• Teaching of the message of Jesus
• Creation of a faith community
• The expectation of Christian service

7
Message

• We teach the Scriptures and Tradition
• We study the life and teachings of Jesus
• We study the teachings and doctrine of the Church
• We infuse the religious dimension into all parts
  of the activities of the program
• We train our teachers in the knowledge of the
  Catholic religion and methods for teaching
  religion

8
Message

• There is an annual catechists retreat
• There is a clear articulation of the religious
  mission of the parish
• There is a concise plan for updating of religion
  curricula
• There is a requirement that catechists be updated
  regularly on Church teaching

9
Community

• We welcome all into the parish community
• We regularly share our faith and take
  opportunities for communal prayer and worship.
• We treat all persons with dignity and respect.
• We relate the religious education community to
  the larger parish and Church community

10
Community

• Students participate in meaningful liturgies and
  prayer opportunities
• Catechists are inserviced on various forms of
  prayer
• Parents are involved in sacramental preparation
• Parents are involved in the religious formation
  of their children

11
Service

• Service learning opportunities are an integral
  part of the program
• Students are instructed on the integration of
  Gospel teaching into service
• Service projects are regularly assessed with
  regard to the appropriateness and value
• Students are instructed in the social justice
  teachings of the Church

12
Service

• Issues such as racism, ageism, sexism are
  addressed by the catechists and others
• Students are challenged to live in a socially
  responsible way by taking example from
  administrators and catechists
• There is a conscious effort to meet the needs of
  a diverse student population
• There is a sense of global responsibility

13
Elements of Catholic Identity
Catholic Leadership Religious Education Worship Fa
ith Development Witness/Service Faith
Community Total Person/Student Philosophy Traditio
n Parental Involvement
14
Leadership a rubric

• Parish administration and staff give witness to
  the lived Gospel.
• The director develops and promotes integration of
  faith and values.
• Financial accountability and sharing of resources
  reflect Catholic social teaching.
• The administrator emphasizes the Catholic nature
  of the program in the public forum.

15
Religious Education a rubric

• There is an articulated religion program.
• The religion program articulates the teachings of
  the Catholic Church.
• Catechists are trained in good pedagogy.
• The religion curriculum is supervised and
  evaluated.
• Teachers of religion are professionally competent.

16
Worship a rubric

• Meaningful liturgies are provided.
• Students participate in preparation of liturgical
  celebrations.
• Liturgies and paraliturgical celebrations mark
  important observances in the parish
• Students are instructed in meaning and
  participation in worship services.

17
Faith Development a rubric

• Signs, symbols, rituals and traditions of the
  Catholic Church are evident within the
  environment.
• The religious education program fosters and
  promotes the faith experience of students and
  staff.
• The program teaches prayers and praying as part
  of the development of students and staff.

18
Witness/Service a rubric

• The students are given instruction on the
  Churchs social teaching.
• Ample opportunities are provided for service to
  others.
• The students and the catechists reflect the lived
  message of the Gospel

19
Faith Community

• The parish seeks to aid the parents through
  programs of family evangelization.
• The students and staff see themselves as integral
  parts of the parish, the diocese, the universal
  Church.
• Opportunities for communal prayer are made
  available.

20
Total Person a rubric

• The religious education program provides for all
  aspects of human development intellectual,
  social, spiritual.
• The parish is known as a welcoming place.
• The parish program values the gifts and talents
  of all its students and staff.
• The building and its furnishings reflect a
  Catholic presence.

21
Philosophy/Mission a rubric

• The mission and philosophy reflect the
  integration of the Catholic faith and Gospel
  values with learning and life.
• The mission and philosophy are consistent with
  the educational ministry of the Church.
• The parish expresses its belief through worship,
  teaching of Catholic doctrine and programs for
  spiritual formation.

22
Tradition a rubric

• Besides Scripture, the Churchs tradition is
  transmitted to students.
• The grace and richness of sacramental experience
  and history is reflected in the curriculum and
  the climate.
• Students and staff study the heroes of the
  faith and strive to emulate their witness.
• Parish traditions reflect the Catholic heritage.

23
Parental Involvement a rubric

• The rights of parents, as primary educators, are
  respected.
• There is accountability to parents and families.
• There are ample opportunities for parental
  involvement in the life of the religious
  education program and the sacramental program.
• There is a conscious effort to in-service parents.

24
For Us to Ask Ourselves

• How can we use the rubric to determine the extent
  of presence/absence of the elements of Catholic
  identity?
• What place does Catholic identity have in the
  programs strategic plan? In its budget?
• What can the parish program guarantee parents?
  Students?
• What role does Catholic identity play in the
  development of teachers/ staff?

25
(No Transcript)
26
Creating the Catholic Classroom

• the physical set-up
• creating opportunities to grow and learn
• creating the local community
• offers to serve
• the person in the front of the room

27
The Physical Set-Up

• bulletin boards
• prayer corner
• arrangement of desks, tables
• decorations
• themes
• sacramentals

28
Opportunities to Grow Learn

• WWJD??
• Seamless infusion of Catholic values
• Time to reflect, pray
• Catholic teachings

29
Creating the Local Community

• the Domestic Church
• all are welcome
• Importance of forgiveness
• Investigation of Learning Styles
• Affective climate
• Respect for individual differences
• Respect for families

30
Offers to Serve

• Classroom helpers
• Global awareness, concern
• Service Projects
• Influence on public, political scene

31
The most important element...the people who work
there

• held to higher standards
• living logos
• ... once in awhile, use words
• know when to hold em

32
To SummarizeOur Commitment

• to affirm students basic goodness, promote their
  dignity, develop their gifts
• to educate people to live responsibly as
  responsible partners
• to convince them that their lives are worthwhile
  and have historical significance.

33
In practical terms

• seamless integration of values
• sacramentality in academic excellence
• emphasis on the community of faith
• development of right relationship
• partnership with local and universal Church
• concern for the whole world.

34
(No Transcript)
35
Be it known to all who enter here that Christ is
the reason for this school He is the unseen, but
ever-present teacher in its classes, the model of
its faculty, the inspiration of its students.