4. A Lifelong Approach to Catechesis

Focus

• Developing a lifelong plan that embraces the five tasks of catechesis at each stage of life: 1) leading to knowledge of the faith, 2) initiating into the celebration of the mystery, 3) forming for life in Christ, 4) teaching to prayer, and 5) introducing to community life (Directory for Catechesis 79-89).
• Envisioning a lifelong approach to catechesis for the parish community incorporating catechesis with the whole community (intergenerational), with families, and with every stage of life from childhood through older adulthood.

Reading

• Read Chapters 1 and 2 in the Directory for Catechesis
• Read Chapter 1 in Guided by the Directory

Activity 4. Envisioning a Lifelong Approach to Catechesis 

Use Activity 4  to develop a current profile of lifelong faith formation using the goals your parish has created. List the parish goals in column one and then identify what your parish is currently doing to implement each goal with families and age groups. Record your responses by recreating the template of the worksheet on a large sheet of newsprint or by creating a spreadsheet and printing your profile. After you have completed the profile, analyze the results by reflecting on these questions:

1. What are the strengths in catechesis with families and age groups?
2. Which goals are being addressed most effectively through catechetical programs, activities, and experiences with families and age groups?
3. Which goals need to be addressed more effectively by strengthening or improving catechetical programs, activities, and experiences with families and age groups?
4. Which areas of lifelong catechesis need to be expanded or extended to reach and engage more people?
5. Where are the gaps in the lifelong profile?
6. What are potential new initiatives that could address the gaps in the lifelong profile?

 Additional Resources

The Handout: Maturing in Faith Goals & Lifelong Catechesis illustrates how to use the goals for maturing in faith that you created to identify how your current catechetical programming addresses your goals. 

The Handout: Building Blocks of Lifelong Catechesis illustrates how at each stage life catechesis incorporates life stage catechesis, family catechesis, and intergenerational catechesis. In Course #2 we will explore how to design life stage, family, and intergenerational catechesis and incorporate them in lifelong catechesis.