ECHO for Catechists
A Monthly Resource for Teaching the Faith 9.21
Thank you! You are so important to our churches!
The word CATECHIST comes from the Greek: "to echo" and so we have named our new Catechist newsletter ECHO to honor that definition. We hope you will find this monthly resource valuable in your planning and personal formation!
Catechetical Sunday is Sunday, September 19
Prayer for Catechists
strengthen these servants of yours
in their resolve to dedicate themselves as catechists.
Grant that they will strive to share with others
what they themselves derive from pondering your Word
and studying the Church’s teaching.
And let them gladly join those they teach
in honoring and serving your name.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From the rite of Commissioning of Catechists )
Tips for Catechists at the Beginning of a New Year
1. Your catechetical leader is the best person to seek advice from; ask as many questions as
you need to feel confident and look to him or her for resources
2. Pray for your students
3. Set up a prayer space in your classroom to bring ritual into every session
4. Familiarize yourself with the text and any other available resources; preparation is key
5. Teach to different learning styles and at appropriate developmental levels
6. Recognize the power of storytelling
7. BE a witness of the faith; talk about how you see God at work in your life and in the world
8. Remember that catechesis is not just about sharing knowledge. We are called to accompany young people and families on their own journey of faith and facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ; share his love by building positive relationships with the
families and young people you serve!
9. Sometimes the Holy Spirit takes over; don't panic if your lesson heads in another
meaningful direction
10. Always assess whether your students are learning using a simple strategy such as exit slips (tell me one thing you learned today)
Making the Most of the ONLINE Resources from the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
- Find PREVIEWED and Categorized YOUTUBE videos to bring life to a topic! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqPQRTv0w8LUcW-710Z2hQQ/playlists
- Find hundreds of lesson ideas by following us on PINTEREST https://www.pinterest.com/ROCDIOCESE/_saved/
- Check out our "Lesson Helpers for Catechists" Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1FdofDF6MAr9aT3vD7k7Cb0l0OnIp_u-P
- Visit https://oec.dor.org/ to link you to dozens of other resources!
Learn more about the Bible with 4 emails during the month of September! Click the link below to register; it's free!
Ave Explores The Bible can be found by following this link: https://www.avemariapress.com/aveexplores-bible
Confirmation Scavenger Hunt
How could you use this or adapt for in-person or online learning?
Three Easy Games to Apply to Any Lesson
Teaching through games is both fun and effective!