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The Catechetical Process

and Lesson Planning

The Catechist Track

October 17, 2012

The definitive aim of catechesis is to

put people not only in touch, but also

in communion and intimacy, with

Jesus Christ.

-- The National Directory for Catechesis

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Quick Review

• The six tasks of catechesis are tasks of the catechist

• Each of the tasks includes content to be taught

• A catechist is a teacher

PLUS a lot more!

• The catechumenate --

a model for all catechesis

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Reflection:

• How do you go about planning a presentation?

• What have you found that works?

• What have you found most challenging?

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Emmaus Story

EXPERIENCE SCRIPTURE

disappointment new hope

change of direction

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Catechesis and Human

Experience

Human experience:

• the place where important

questions arise

• the background for

connecting with the message of Jesus

• the place where the Holy Spirit acts

“The catechist must teach the person to read his own lived experience…” GDC #152

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Catechesis

• NDC: more than one way to do catechesis

Inductive (begins with life experience)

Deductive (begins with doctrine, Scripture, ritual, etc.)

Experience is always an essential componentin catechesis (NDC p. 97)

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The “Catechetical Process”

An inductive approach which helps learners

reflect on their life experience, learn about some aspect of the faith, consider how this new understanding impacts their life and challenges them to a change of heart and behavior.

Life Faith“praxis”

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The “Catechetical Process”

• Learners are actively engaged

• The whole person is involved:

head, heart, hands

• Offers flexibility: different ages, cultures, education, ethnicity, race, gender

• Can be used in any ministry formation

• Goal: Conversion to Jesus Christ

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The Catechetical Process

Overview

Four Movements1. Human Experience

(Attending)

2. Message(Attending)

3. Reflection, discovery, integration(Asserting)

4. Response(Decision-making)

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Step 1: Human Experience

• Invites learners to tell their story:

to recall,

describe,

and reflect on

the meaning of a

common experience

related to the topic for the session

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Step 2: The Message

• The heart of the lesson

• Drawn from Scripture, Tradition, the life of the Church (NDC p. 45)

• Key points with explanations and examples

• Must be

• true to the faith

• meaningful to the person

• Christocentric and Trinitarian (NDC p 75,77)

• Aim: New or deeper knowledge of the faith

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Step 3: Reflection / Discovery

/ Integration

• Opens dialogue between faith and life –between the message and my experience

• Opportunity to re-examine and re-interpret experience in the light of the Gospel

• Aim: New insight, integration of the message with life

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Step 4: Response

• So what?

• An invitation to act on new understanding

• An invitation to conversion

Faith is not faith, if it does

not lead to action.

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The Catechetical Process

1. Human experience (my story)

Reflecting, Meaning

2. Message (The Faith Story)

Learning

3. Reflection/Discovery/Integration

New understanding, insight, applying

4. Response

Action, change, conversion

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Prayer

• Catechesis teaches the Christian how to pray with Christ.

• Catechesis should take place within the context of prayer. (NDC p. 61)

• Opening Prayer

• Closing Prayer

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The Catechetical Process:

Planning a Session

Catechesis (or the doing of the process) begins with the experience.

Planning begins with the message -- the heart of the process.

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Planning Process

1. State the aim in terms of the expected outcome: knowledge, attitude, behavior

“The learners will …”2. Identify the key points to be taught

3. Identify a common experience related to the messageDevelop questions to help the learners explore that experience. (Recall, describe and reflect)

4. Develop questions or an activity that invites learners to reflect on their experience in light of the message.

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Planning Process continued

5. Develop questions that invite a response to a new understanding

6. Prepare an opening and a closing prayer

Life Faith

Conversion!

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Exercise

• Begin planning an adult catechesis session onAdvent, the Liturgy of the Eucharist or the Saints

• State the aim (the expected outcome)• Identify 3-5 key points of the message• Identify a human experience related to the

message • Develop a question or questions to help

participants recall, describe and reflect on their experience.

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Reflection, Discovery,

Integration

• How will this method lead your learners to follow Christ? To become his disciples?

• What did you hear that will affect the way you plan your presentations?

Response

• Assignment – See separate paper

Due October 24