
Get a Certificate in the Practice of Catechesis! The next online certificate program begins in January. Learn more – and save your spot! https://www.ncclcatholic.org/certificate
The Practice of Catechesis with All Ages Certificate Program is designed to provide a holistic educational experience for all leaders in catechetical ministry, integrating personal spiritual growth, leadership formation, and the latest thinking, approaches, and skills for catechesis with all ages and generations. The emphasis of the Certificate Program is on practice – equipping leaders for the requirements and challenges of their role as the leader of the parish’s catechetical ministry with families and all ages.

Catholic teaching has long affirmed the inalienable dignity of all people, regardless of ability, but the church’s ministry to people with disabilities is still developing. Lori Weider, the chair of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability’s Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the mother of two adults with disabilities, said, “Nationally, I feel like there’s been a lot of improvement in accepting and welcoming and including people with disabilities, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.”

Jesus as the model accompanist
One way to understand the “art of accompaniment” is to recall the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus is our model as the one who accompanies. The disciples are those seeking something deeper—perhaps freedom from fear or confusion.
You may think you’re not Jesus and won’t be able to accompany seekers in ways that lead them to an encounter with Jesus offering freedom or healing. You’re not alone. No one is born a spiritual accompanist. You become one through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and by practicing holy listening.
Click here to read the complete article from Nick Wagner on TeamInitiatiion.com.
The beginning of a new teaching year with your religion class is a promising time. There are new students to meet and an opportunity to share with them your faith in Jesus Christ. You will be preparing material you hope will interest the children, and will motivate them to apply what they are learning into a daily spiritual practice. As a catechist, you hope to see your students share in the same wonder you experience with your Catholic faith.
Click here to read the entire article by HELEN SECRETI

It is with much regret that we are cancelling the upcoming classes Christus Vivit: Exploring Pope Francis Apostolic Exhortation for Young People and Thomas Merton and Pope Francis: Voices for Change in the Cultures of Unrest. Both classes were scheduled for 7/22 with Tom Malewitz as the presenter. We hope to be able to reschedule these classes at a later date.


11 July 2024 / Inquiry, Training Articles / Jay Landry

Jay Landry is married to Deb with two adult daughters. He is the Director of Evangelization &
Faith Formation at the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, North Carolina.
He has served in evangelization, initiation, retreats, adult formation, and justice ministries for 27
years in parishes.
The catechumenate concisely describes the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate: “This is a time, of no fixed duration or structure, for inquiry and introduction to Gospel values, an opportunity for the beginnings of faith.”
Over the years of initiation ministry, I have led catechumenate teams that created a syllabus of topics and set a date for The Rites of Acceptance and Welcome without having met the inquirers. We then gave presentations (more like lectures), inviting the inquirers to ask questions and discussion. Then, we celebrated these rites on the same date for all the inquirers, as if they were all in lockstep on the same spiritual journey. Sadly, this initiation path bore little fruit in terms of making disciples. Rather, it was closer to making “RCIA graduates,” many of whom fell away from the life and mission of the church in the next few years.
Click here to continue readying this article on TeamInitation.com.