DREs or leaders

One of the difficult things for volunteer catechists to do is find time to read catechetical or theological material. After all, catechists are busy people. They often have families, jobs, and household responsibilities, and, of course, they generously volunteer their time to be catechists. A book and media club might be one way to help catechists reflect on their experiences of faith. It might also be a way to help them develop a sense of community among themselves.

DREs are often viewed as “master catechists.” Their role is to oversee the curriculum that is being taught in a parish. Many times they are called upon to “fill in the blanks” when educational needs are presented in the parish. Often they are asked to research projects, give presentations, or teach topics that are varied and often complex. People in the community come to depend on them as excellent resource people for the plethora of interests that evolve in a learning environment. Most DREs love that facet of their jobs!

An informative and sobering talk given at the Napa Institute from scholar and researcher Mary Eberstadt about the state of religious freedoms, a new paganism...

BY IRENE MARIA DISANTO When we think of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), we think of it as the road taken by...

Directors of Religious Education (DREs) are a great blessing to the Church today. New DREs often enter their positions because they are fresh out...

PAT GOHN When we, or the people in our parishes and schools, experience deep concern about the news headlines about the world-wide refugee crisis, as...

Vacation Bible School has become a fruitful blessing to the Catholic Church in recent years. Once seen as a Protestant tradition, numerous Catholic publishers now provide informative and exciting thematic materials that celebrate great stories of the Bible and tenets of our Catholic faith. Today, most diocesan offices make recommendations for resources, and parishes can find online catalogs from their favorite publishers.

The past month has been a difficult and sad one for the Church in America and for all Catholics. With the resignation from the...

Here are the slides that accompany the article: “Being versus Doing: A Retreat for Catechists," by Sr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM. Here are the slides: Being...

by Kate Ristow for a Catechist Formation Interest Survey. Whew! What a relief! After months of following up on leads, networking, interviewing, praying, and...