Biblical, Catechetical & Pastoral Formation
Archdiocese of Singapore
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Catechetical |
A Catholic Press Association (U.S.) award winner in 2006 Workshops on Managing children and how to use the Call to Faith series The Call to Faith (CTF) series, published by Harcourt Religion Press was introduced to the Archdiocese in 2006. To assist catechists in making the transition from the Walking by Faith series, the Catechetical Office has organized six workshops on Class Management and How to use the CtF series since 2005. More than six hundred catechists have attended these workshops since 2005. Lecturers from the National Institute of Education facilitated these sessions. Dr Angela Wong spent an hour with catechists highlighting:
Catechists were then separated into Upper and Lower Primary groups where facilitators Thana Thaver, Linda Gan, Dr Sylvia Chong, Diane Rozell, Claire Yio, Assoc Prof Philip Wong and Edmund Lim deconstructed the chapters and Units. Drawing from the series they suggested creative ways of faith formation using games, puzzles and crafts. Catechists had to plan a lesson incorporating the different types of learning intelligences or styles. Alfred Goh, a catechist trainer and a catechist from Church of St Francis Xavier since 2000 said that he would like to have longer sessions with the NIE lecturers to tap on their experience. He also found the interaction with catechists from other parishes. If you unfamiliar with the series please have your catechist coordinator contact Susanna Huang at suhuang@catholic.org.sg. She will show you how to use it.
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Celebrating Liturgy of the Word with children
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Confirmation and Catechesis The Confirmation program is part of the larger process of catechesis. And like catechesis, it is about ¡°faith formation¡± ¡ª developing a relationship with the person of Jesus. To go about this process of faith formation for the teens, we have to take them where they are in their faith, and acknowledge their experience of life and God. Catechesis has to be made relevant to them. This is the starting point. The ¡°Zanzig program¡± ¡ª consisting of both Confirmed in a faithful community and the Discovering series ¡ª recommended by SPI takes this approach. It is important to mention that catechesis takes place in the context of community. Jesus gave us this example by gathering around him a community of twelve friends who ate and lived together. So Christian faith formation too must have an aspect of community and community building. Faith formation is a process ¡ª it takes time. So too is community building. The approach to catechesis then starts with community building, where the teens come together and engage in activities where they can have fun as well to get to know each other. The role of the catechist is to monitor that this is done is an accepting and non-judgmental environment. As the teens get to know each other better, they would be more comfortable to share their stories. Their stories are important because Scripture is about the stories of people and their experience of God. The educational approach suggested here is not the conventional one where the catechist talks or teaches for the whole lesson. But the catechist facilitates the learning process and helps the teens to see or understand how God works and is involved in our lives. This is done through activities and relevant discussions. The catechist is learning just as much as the teens are. So the catechist is there to lead and guide and not be a ¡°know-it-all.¡± The only presumption here is that the catechist is a faith-filled person who is able to share stories of a faith-filled life. Like any skill, to be able to teach well and effectively we need to practice. But what is more important is to let God lead and guide us. This is done through prayer, hence the importance of having a deep and personal relationship with God. We need not be overly concern with the result of our efforts, but to be faithful to the will of God. Let God worry about the results. To quote the late Archbishop Oscar Romero,
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RCIA Archdiocesan Rite of Election of Catechumens & the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates "At this second step, on the basis of the testimony of godparents and catechists and of the catechumens' reaffirmation of their intention, the Church judges their state of readiness and decides on their advancement towards the sacraments of initiation." RCIA #119 (USCC/NCCB) This year the Rite of Election will be held at two venues: Blessed Sacrament on 4 March at 2pm, for the West and North districts, and Holy Family on 5 March at 2.30pm, for the East, City and Serangoon Districts. At both celebrations His Grace the Archbishop will be presiding. Please pray for these catechumens as they enter the last stage of preparation for baptism into the family of God.
The first step of the RCIA process is an informal time, usually lasting 8 weeks or more, for inquirers to explore Catholicism and to ask questions. Members of the parish community offer a warm welcome and gradually introduce to them the story of Jesus. This stage ends when the inquirer begins a personal relationship with God and feels ready to respond by taking to heart the way of Christ. RITE of ACCEPTANCE into the ORDER of CATECHUMENS To celebrate the inquirers' acceptance of Christ as their Saviour, the parish community officially welcomes them at the Rite of Acceptance. At this ceremony, inquirers express their desire to accept the Gospel. The parish community reflects Christ's love and acceptance and adopts the inquirers, now catechumens, into their care and prayers. At this time, each catechumen chooses a sponsor to accompany them in their faith journey. A sponsor is someone who is ready to share with the catechumen personal joys and struggles in being a faithful Catholic Christian PERIOD of CATECHUMENATE From Greek meaning 'to echo', this stage lasts about a year. During this time catechumens hear the word of God and allow it to resound in their lives, transforming their very attitudes and lifestyle. Under the guidance of priests and catechists the catechumens develop their faith by participating in the life of the Church: learning the teachings of Christ, taking part in the community's prayer, and getting involved in service to others; especially to the poor and the needy. Throughout this time, the parish community keeps catechumens in their prayers and shows by their own example how to be messengers of God's love to each other and to the world. RITE of ELECTION or ENROLMENT of NAMES At the Rite of Election, catechumens who are ready to be members of the elect express their desire to make a lifelong commitment as a Roman Catholic disciples of Christ. God, working through his Church, 'elects' or chooses them to enter Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. Prior to this, catechumens choose Godparents who take over the duty of sponsors to become permanent spiritual guides after initiation. This rite is usually celebrated as a diocese with the Archbishop presiding. PERIOD of PURIFICATION and ENLIGHTENMENT Lasting forty days, this stage prepares the elect for the sacraments of initiation. Akin to a spiritual retreat, this time centres around intense reflection on God's love. Supported and encouraged by the parish community, the elect practice fasting and penance to become open to God's power to healing, allowing the light of Christ to enlighten their minds and hearts. SACRAMENTS of INITIATION The Roman Catholic Church's official time for celebrating initiation is at the Easter Vigil. When the parish community gathers to commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ, the elect also experience 'death' and 'rising to new life' through the waters of Baptism. With the oil of Confirmation, they are anointed into the full sharing of Christ's mission and by receiving Holy Communion, they join the Church as members of Christ's mystical body. The newly initiated are called neophytes. PERIOD of MYSTAGOGY or POST-BAPTISMAL CATECHESIS Mystagogy or 'entering into the mystery' is the time for neophytes to join the Roman Catholic community to grow in appreciation of the mystery of God's love. After experiencing the profound power of the sacraments, neophytes gather regularly to reflect more deeply on what they celebrate and what God calls them to do as disciples of Jesus Christ. The neophytes begin their lifelong journey of continuous conversion as full members of the Roman Catholic family. |