Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did Bishop Brandt write a pastoral letter on lifelong faith formation?
2. Why does the Diocese of Greensburg need a Catechetical Master Plan?
3. Who does the Catechetical Master Plan effect?
4. Why is the Diocese of Greensburg implementing a Catechetical Training and Certification Process?
5. Is there a cost for the catechetical training and certification courses? Will volunteer catechists have to pay for the courses?
6. How much time will the training and certification process take?
7. Why is the Diocese of Greensburg raising the age for the reception of the sacrament of confirmation?
8. Why is it taking nine years to raise the age for the reception of the sacrament of confirmation?
9. How were the confirmation blocks selected?
10. Can parents choose to delay for their children the reception of the sacrament of confirmation until the new normative age is fully implemented?
11. Who is the proper administrator/presider of the sacrament of confirmation?
12. Why is it necessary for the Diocese of Greensburg to develop a catechetical curriculum?
1. Why did Bishop Brandt write a pastoral letter on lifelong faith formation?
In his role as chief teacher in the Diocese of Greensburg, Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt is called to convey effectively and completely the teachings of Jesus Christ and other elements of the Catholic faith to those entrusted to his pastoral care.
Faith formation is the central mission of the church. Therefore, faith formation must be seen as a seamless garment, where education in the faith leads to a deeper knowledge of the person and message of Jesus Christ and his call to evangelization, discipleship and service is answered faithfully.
2. Why does the Diocese of Greensburg need a Catechetical Master Plan?
The translation of the word “catechesis,” is to echo. The goal of all catechetical work is to echo and pass on the Catholic faith and to “go and make disciples.” In September, 2006, after considering the extensive consultations and findings of the Lenten Listening Sessions, the members of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Committee formulated a recommendation that one of the first major projects of the newly established Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation should be the development of a Catechetical Master Plan.
The recommendation stated: “The director of evangelization and faith formation should lead in the development and implementation of a diocesan plan for evangelization and faith formation. This plan should take into account the investigation of evangelization programs best suited for the Diocese of Greensburg, included in this plan should be the endorsement of policies for higher competencies for catechetical leadership, initiation of an accreditation or certification process and the ongoing oversight of parish catechists and their programs.”
3. Who does the Catechetical Master Plan effect?
The general answer is all Catholics in the Diocese of Greensburg. The specific answers are:
· Training and Catechetical Certification Process will effect parish catechetical leaders, in particular those who have no formal training to date in catechesis or any formal accreditation, catechists, youth ministry leaders and volunteers, RCIA leaders and team members, and Catholic school teachers.
· Catechetical Guidelines and Curriculum will be developed for faith formation and elementary school religion classes for grades pre-K to 8, as well as for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
· The normative age for the reception of the sacrament of confirmation in the Diocese of Greensburg will be raised to be about the age of 13 (grade 8) by the 2017-18 catechetical year.
· A diocesan evangelization plan will be developed that will train diocesan staff and parish leadership teams to be evangelizers. Parish leadership teams will in turn lead their parish community members to be evangelizers as well.
· A Catechetical Development Process will be developed for parish youth ministry programs and has already been implemented in our Catholic high schools during the 2008-09 academic year. The diocesan emblems and retreatoree programs for Catholic Scouting will be adapted in terms of content and requirements to address the Catechetical Development Process for youth ministry.
· A set of guidelines and resources will be developed for young adult ministry.
· In addition to the Catechetical Training and Certification Process outlined in the Catechetical Master Plan, the superintendent of Catholic schools and the managing director of the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation will work with Catholic school leaders to determine the criteria for hiring and ongoing formation for all staff relative to the Catholic identity of Catholic Schools.
4. Why is the Diocese of Greensburg implementing a Catechetical Training and Certification Process?
Many dioceses across the country require training and certification of those individuals who participate in a catechetical ministry. Throughout its almost 60-year history, at different points and time, the Diocese of Greensburg has had training and certification processes. Preparing those in catechetical ministries to authentically transmit the faith in the present culture is of critical importance to the diocese.
In the pastoral letter, Bishop Brandt pointed out, “All catechetical leaders are called to develop and grow in their knowledge of the faith and be prepared to pass it on effectively with hope to a new generation. We must ... be vigilant in changing times and be sure to continue with perseverance the commission given to the apostles and to each of us by Christ.”
5. Is there a cost for the catechetical training and certification courses? Will volunteer catechists have to pay for the courses?
Details of the training and certification have not been finalized. Bishop Brandt, The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Greensburg and the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation are working on funding sources for training and certification.
6. How much time will the training and certification process take?
There are still details to be worked out about the training and certification process. Catechists will be able to achieve certification at their own pace. There are four levels to the process:
· The first year is an orientation year. All catechists will have to attend two sessions that are approximately three hours in length.
· There are five workshops in the basic certification level. Catechists will have three years to achieve basic certification.
· There are also five workshops in the permanent certification level. Catechists will have an additional three years to achieve permanent certification.
· The final level is ongoing formation. Catechists must attend six hours of Ongoing Formation every two years.
7. Why is the Diocese of Greensburg raising the age for the reception of the sacrament of confirmation?
Bishop Brandt stated in the pastoral letter, “As a result of the development of a new and comprehensive Catechetical Curriculum for Grades Pre-K through 8, it has become obvious that the current practice for the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Greensburg would be enhanced by a catechetical and pastoral model that will continue to advance and deepen the understanding of this life-giving sacrament for children, youth, young adults and adults.
The church must have a catechetical and pastoral model of faith formation that addresses the needs and challenges confronting our youth. Despite their age, psychological and emotional maturity levels, and physical development, our children and teenagers often face very difficult challenges. Our young people, their parents, and other support systems of friends, family and peers, must become aware that the church is a healthy and reliable source of strength, encouragement and information to help them face these struggles.”
8. Why is it taking nine years to raise the age for the reception of the sacrament of confirmation?
The simple answer is that all children since 1994 have been confirmed in Grade 2. Therefore if the age of reception was raised immediately to Grade 8, the reception of confirmation would be limited to adult recipients for the next six years. The primary reason for the nine-year transition is to educate the people of the diocese regarding the new expectations of our soon to be developed catechetical curriculum, while giving those in catechetical roles the time necessary to modify and adapt programming and develop new and revitalized formation processes.
9. How were the confirmation blocks selected?
Generally, blocks were selected based on geography and already existing partner parishes and regions.
10. Can parents choose to delay for their children the reception of the sacrament of confirmation until the new normative age is fully implemented?
No, the grace and the gifts of the sacrament of confirmation should never be delayed. “The faithful are obliged to receive this sacrament at the proper time. Parents and pastors of souls, especially pastors of parishes, are to take care that the faithful are properly instructed to receive the sacrament and come to it at the appropriate time” (Canon 890).
11. Who is the proper administrator/presider of the sacrament of confirmation?
“The diocesan bishop is to administer confirmation personally or is to take care that another
bishop administers it. If necessity requires it, he can grant the faculty to one or more specific presbyters, who are to administer this sacrament” (Canon 884 §1).
12. Why is it necessary for the Diocese of Greensburg to develop a catechetical curriculum?
One of the recommendations of the Diocesan Strategic Planning Committee in 2006 directly mentioned updating curriculum guidelines.
“The director of evangelization and faith formation should lead in the development and implementation of a diocesan plan for evangelization and faith formation. This plan should take into account the investigation of Evangelization programs best suited for the Diocese of Greensburg, as well as updating of the “Taste and See” curriculum guidelines with follow-up training sessions.”
Most dioceses across the country have developed and promulgated catechetical curriculums. The curriculum in the Diocese of Greensburg will address content, expected outcomes, prayers to be learned, annual classroom hours, and assessment methods of catechetical programs.