In the Ministry of the Word

In the Ministry of the Word is a catechist formation program sponsored through Catholic Education Ministries. Each two-hour session focuses upon a different aspect of basic formation that helps the catechist become more effective and confident in their ministry of catechesis. This formal, structured, sequential training process is available free of charge to any parish in the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Upon completion of all 16 sessions, the catechist will receive a certificate.

Since the inception of the program in 1994, many catechists have received the certification of completion. Over 400 catechists have participated in catechist formation through In the Ministry of the Word. If you are interested in arranging for this Catechist Formation and Training Process in your parish or area of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, please contact Kristi Bivens at (320) 251-0111 or email kbivens@gw.stcdio.org.

In the Ministry of the Word brochure (PDF)

The session topics include:

  • Catechist’s call, role, and spirituality
  • Developing a relationship with Christ
  • The Catechetical process and its tasks
  • Catechetical Documents of the Church

  • Creating a Supportive Learning Environment
  • Creating a Prayerful Environment
  • Engaging Learners at their Level

  • Educational and Psychological Development
  • Stages of Faith Development
  • Relationship between Faith Development and Curriculum

  • Individual Differences
  • Learning Styles
  • Multiple Intelligences
  • Effective Teaching and the National Directory for Catechesis
  • Instructional Strategies

  • Definitions
  • Instruction/Formation
  • Partnership with Parents
  • Faith Formation Standards, Goals, and Objectives
  • Mapping and Lesson Planning
  • Types of Curriculum
  • Connecting Head with Heart
  • Evaluations and Review

  • History of Media and Catechesis
  • Discipling a Media’d People
  • Tools for Catechesis
  • Principles and Challenges

  • Defining Prayer and Spirituality
  • Developing a Relationship with Christ
  • Types of Prayer
  • Blessings
  • Spirituality for Different Ages
  • Faith Sharing

  • Purpose of Liturgy
  • Liturgical Documents and Introduction to General Instruction of the Roman Missal
  • Liturgical Year
  • Planning a Liturgy
  • Liturgical Music
  • The Mass and Real Presence
  • Introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Lay Presiding

  • Grace and the Sacramental Principle
  • Seven Sacraments of Initiation, Healing and Ministry

 
  • Revelation: God’s Presence in our World
  • How Christians see God
  • Scriptural Images of God
  • Catechetical Implications of the Revelation of God

  • Development of the Bible
  • Canon
  • Literary Forms
  • Wisdom, Prophetic, Historical, Torah

  • Gospel and Acts
  • Synoptic Comparison and Sources
  • Epistles
  • Revelation

  • Christian Morality as a Journey of Conversion
  • Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, and the Greatest Commandment
  • Chastity Education
  • Papal Encyclicals

  • Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST)
  • Resources for CST

  • Mission of the Church
  • History: Pre and Post Vatican II
  • Models of the Church
  • Role of the Holy Spirit
  • Four Marks of the Church
  • Church in the Modern World

 
  • Defining Ecumenism
  • Defining Interfaith
  • Vatican II Documents
  • Examining Catholic Attitudes