TRAINING & CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Catechists are people who “echo the faith” through their example in their actions and through teaching. While the whole Christian community is responsible for the ministry of catechesis, particular men and women from among the laity are called to accompany others in their faith journey in a more formal way, including parish catechetical leaders, parish catechists in religious education programs, all teachers and administrators in Catholic schools, youth ministers, catechists in Christian initiation programs, Bible Study presenters, and other adult formation leaders.
Read Our Catechist Certification Policy
The first initiative of the Catechetical Master Plan called for the establishment of a Training and Catechetical Certification Process for those who hold catechetical roles in our parishes, Catholic schools and other settings where catechesis takes place. Those who would be a part of this certification process include;
- Parish Catechists for Youth
- Elementary School Teachers
- High School Teachers and Religions Specialists
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Adult Faith Formation or Adult Christian Initiation Catechists
- Directors and Coordinators of Religious Education (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Sacramental Preparation, Youth Ministry, or Christian Initiation)
The diocesan-wide certification process includes:
- Basic Certification Catechist Certification
- Standard Catechist Certification
- Continuing Catechist Certification
- Advanced Catechist Certification
- Master Catechist Certification
Summary of Catechist Certification in the Diocese of Greensburg
Read Our Documentation Requirements
| Requirements | Level Satisfied |
| 20 hours of certification (10 hours practical, 10 hours doctrinal) intended for all school teachers and parish catechists. The certification is completed with eight classes that are 2-3 hours each. | Basic Certification |
| 60 hours of certification (50 house doctrinal, 10 hours practical) intended for all school teachers who teach religion and parish catechists. The certification is completed with six classes that are 10 hours each. They can also be completed through PATHWAYS, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I Training or through online programs that are approved by the Diocese. | Standard Level Certification |
| 30 hours of certification every three years intended for all school teachers and parish catechists. The certification is completed through a variety of in-person and online workshops. Spiritual events or Mass attendance is not included as options for continuing certification. | Continuing Level Certification |
| Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certificate or B.A. from a Catholic college or university in Theology or related field. This certification can also be completed through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level II and Level III training. | Advanced Level Certification |
| Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certificate or B.A. from a Catholic college or university in Theology or related field. This certification can also be completed through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level II and Level III training. | Master Level Certification |
Course Tracking on Vine
Course Records & Tracking for Employees
- Address to access portal site: Select the myHALO icon above or within the Menu, or in the footer on the diocesan website. Once there, you may want to bookmark the site as a favorite for future use.
- Log in with user name and password: When the log in screen appears you have entered a secure/password protected site. Enter your user name and password. Upon log in success, you be directed to the myHALO home page.
- Accessing your personal certification records: Select Certification Records from the ‘What would you like to do?’ section on the myHALO home page.
- Adding a new course or logging ongoing formation hours: Once you have arrived at the Faith, Family, and Discipleship Certification Records page you now have access to your personal course records. To enter a new course, or log ongoing formation hours, simply click on the “Add new course” button.
- Viewing the course form: When the new screen appears, you will have the ability to enter the required course information. Please note that items entered in this list require content approval and submissions will appear as pending until approval or denial of the course entry has been given by the diocesan office. The office approves courses the last business day of each month, as long as the course does not fall within the last week of the month. Please monitor your course records to view updates.
- Filling out the course template correctly: Complete the template with the appropriate information. i.e., Course Code — Enter the code given to you by the instructor.
Course Records & Tracking for Non-Employees
- Address to access the portal site: Open your web browser and visit https://vine.dioceseofgreensburg.org. Once there, you may want to bookmark the site as a favorite for future use.
- Log in with user name and password: When the log in screen appears you have entered a secure/password protected site. Enter your user name (email address) and password.
- Access your personal certification records: Select “Track your Catechetical Certification” from the “What would you like to do?” selection box.
- Adding a new course or logging ongoing formation hours: Once you have arrived at the Faith, Family, and Discipleship Certification Records page you now have access to your personal course records. To enter a new course, or log ongoing formation hours, simply click on the “Add new course” button.
- Viewing the course form: When the new screen appears, you will have the ability to enter the required course information. Please note that items entered in this list require content approval and submissions will appear as pending until approval or denial of the course entry has been given by the diocesan office. The office approves courses the last business day of each month, as long as the course does not fall within the last week of the month. Please monitor your course records to view updates.
- Filling out the course template correctly: Complete the template with the appropriate information. i.e. Course Code – Enter the code given to you by the instructor.
Equivalency
Pathways
Pathways is the diocesan adult faith formation program. It is a series of 21 sessions and 2 retreats (12 sessions if you are only taking part in the the Standard Certification Classes). Each of the sessions addresses a specific topic that is presented in the form of a question.
Courses from Pathways or from an approved online program can be used to fulfill Standard Level Certification.
| Standard Certification Course | Pathways Sessions |
| God’s Revelation in Scripture | – Kerygma & Creed: What Do We Believe? – Revelation: What Has God Told Us? – Old Testament: How Did God Prepare the Way for Christ? – New Testament: What Good News Did Jesus Give? |
| The Mystery of God | – Trinity: How Can We Speak About God? – Christology: Who is Jesus? – Pneumatology: Who is the Holy Spirit? – Christian Anthropology: What is the Human Vocation? |
| The Church and Church History | – Ecclesiology: What is the Church? – Ecclesiology: What is the Local and Domestic Church? – Church History: What is the History of the Church? – Catholic Reformers: How Have the Saints Shaped the Church? |
| Liturgy and Spirituality | – Liturgy: How Do We Worship? – Spirituality: How Do We Pray? – Sacramentality: Why are the Sacraments so Important? – Eucharistic Spirituality: Who is the Eucharist? |
| Life in Christ | – Christian Morality: How Do We Live God’s Commands? – Modern Issues: How Do We Live Today? – Catholic Social Teaching: What is Human Dignity? – Discipleship: How Do We Live the Good News? |
| Proclaiming the Gospel Today | – Discipleship: What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple? – Evangelization: What Does It Mean to Be an Apostle? – American Church History: What Is Our Local Church History? |
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) applies Montessori principles of education to catechesis of children. This model builds on the child’s religious potential and nascent spirituality, serving the religious needs of the child. It respects the natural relationship that children experience with God.
Catechesis occurs in a religious environment called an atrium using objects and furniture that have been adapted to children’s levels and needs. The children discover liturgical symbols, engage in stories of sacred Scripture and work with religious symbols and objects. Catechists are specifically trained to facilitate an encounter between Christ and the children through the use of Scripture and liturgy.
Training in the specific levels of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will satisfy the varying levels of the Training and Catechetical Certification Process.
Get Answers Regarding Training and Certification
As always if you have any further questions, please consult with your principal, faith formation or catechetical leader, or Email Us at the
Office of Faith, Family, and Discipleship.
