What Makes a Great Catechist (or a Terrible One)? - a podcast by Ascension - The Leader in Catholic Faith Formation

CALLING ALL DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHISTS! This one’s for you. Dave “Cucumber Melon” VanVickle and I talk about the qualities that make for bad catechists vs. great catechists and how to find the right people for your program. This is a huge issue for religious education that is so important because the immortal souls of kids depends on it.
We also have storytime with Dave on why Kenny Baldwin is A MONSTER (just kidding) and extend an extra-special welcome to long-time listener Ralph “The Party” VanVickle!We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
SHOWNOTESWhat makes a good catechist?
* You have a mature spiritual life with daily prayer and a mentality of fides quaerens intellectum or "faith seeking understanding".* You have an answer to this question: “Can you tell me about your daily lived relationship with the Lord?”
* You prioritize the truths of the Faith and always tie them to the Person of Christ.* In the classroom, you make sure any craft or art project is truly effective and relevant to the lesson.
* You understand that you are making a difference to the immortal souls of your students.* You have a DRE who is responsible for ongoing formation of catechists.
What makes a bad catechist?* Unprepared, you haven’t read it or prayed about it.
* You don’t know your kids’ names.* You never pray for them.
* You don’t quote the Bible.* You never share your story of God’s movement in your life.
* You don’t think about conversion, only communicating the doctrine.* You don’t see the whole and how it is all interrelated to Christ and the Trinity.
* Prayer is nothing but a bookend to your class.How to find good catechists
* Start a Bible study or adult faith formation event (or go to one that already exists) and see who shows up consistently and is serious about growing in their faith.* Invite specific people to be catechists. Don’t advertise to the whole church. You’re looking for people who are called, not guilted into it.
* Do a ministry fair where people can come and see what ministries your parish has.* Pray and ask God for good catechists.
* Be comfortable letting people go.5 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS
1. Personal Prayer Time: Ephesians 4:1-162. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae center of paragraph five.
3. Handwrite each kids’ name and pray for one minute for each kid in your class this week.4. Prepare a lesson plan for one lesson on one topic and, keeping in mind good/bad catechist, write one sentence that ties it to Christ.
5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson plan.RESOURCES AND EVENTS
* Dave’s School of Spiritual Warfare (https://www.petersshadow.org/events) event in Akron, OH* Catechesi Tradendae (http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_16101979_catechesi-tradendae.html)
* Chosen Confirmation Prep Program (https://ascensionpress.com/pages/chosen-your-journey-toward-confirmation?utm_source=website&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=chosen&utm_content=eksb)

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