Catechetical Methods

I have started teaching a course on Catechetics.  It is offered once a month.  I will be posting a recap of each module once the module has been completed.  If you would like to sit in on the course, you are most certainly welcome, it is at St. Mary's Catholic School, Humboldt, Iowa at 7pm every 3rd Sunday.  There are 4 courses remaining for this session.  We will offer another session in the summer.  This recap does not count as attendance at an individual module.  If you are seeking certification, attendance at all modules is compulsory.

Module #1:  Catechetical Methods

Objectives:
1.  Explain and apply the goals and aims of Catechesis
2.  Explain and implement catechetical methodology from the Catechism of the the Catholic Church
3.  Explain and execute the Ecclesial Catechetical method
4.  Integrate St. John Bosco's Preventative Method with students in the classroom

Catechesis is
An education in the faith of children, young people and adults.
It is the Church's efforts to make  disciples.
It is the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted in an organic and systematic way.

The pastoral mission of the Church is to arouse faith (kerygma); to explain the reasons for our beliefs; to experience Christian living (marturia); to celebrate the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Penance (leitrugia); to integrate (koinonia); and to have an apostolic and missionary witness (diakonia).

At the heart of Catechesis, we find Jesus Christ.

The aim of catechesis is to teach people to love the LORD, by putting them in communion with Him.  It is Christ who teaches and it is Jesus who taught.

The Catechist must first seek to know Christ, we must have a desire to proclaim Him and to lead others to the faith in Him (evangelization).

God reveals Himself in stages.
Divine revelation is ordered toward Christ
Catechesis should be taught in stages and ordered toward Christ

Methods
Ecclesial Method of Mons. Francis Kelly

It presupposes kerygma has been proclaimed and it presupposes that those being catechized have been baptized.  The steps are these
1.  Preparation
2.  Proclamation
3.  Explanation
4.  Application
5.  Celebration

Each step should point to Christ and the Rites of the Church.  It should be a challenge to live the faith and it should hand that faith on.

Preventative Method of St. John Bosco

Educational Philosophy:  Frequent Confession; frequent Communion (daily Mass if possible); educators should be professional and be patient, charitable and joy-filled.
Preventative System of Education is based on
Religion (faith); pride in being Catholic, practice the virtues, practice penance and prayers, frequent the Sacraments (especially the Holy Eucharist and Confession)
Reason (hope); logical explanations, discipline (simple rules, followed by all, immediate and fair consequences), fear of the LORD, non-public punishment, learn the students names
Kindness (charity); all duties and discipline done in love

RESOURCES
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) # 18-22; 4-5, 983; 6; 426-429;
Matthew 28:18-20
The Mystery We Proclaim 137-149