Catechetical leaders are administrators and have a
responsibility to be professional. They are required to develop the
organizational and catechetical skills necessary for the positions of
director of religious education (DRE) and program coordinator for specific areas of religious education (CRE). The Office of Religious Education provides a DRE/CRE training course on an ongoing basis in each
pastoral region. To enroll in this course contact the Office of
Religious Education's regional coordinator in your pastoral region:
Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region
San Fernando Pastoral Region
San Gabriel Pastoral Region
San Pedro Pastoral Region
Santa Barbara Pastoral Region
1 Starting a Program
Setting Goals and Objectives
To
establish program goals, the DRE/CRE and collaborators must first do a complete needs assessment that
begins with information gathering from the catechists,
parents/guardians, aides, and helpers already within the program. This
could be done formally with a process or informally with small
gatherings or one-on-one interviews.
Only a few goals should be
chosen for the year. These should be of the highest priority for the
parish program. Once the goals are set, practical input should be
gleaned from the staff or board for objectives that would address these
specific goals.
At the end of the year (or at the end of the
stipulated period), there should be an evaluation of the goals and
objectives. Even if they were not successful, executing goals and
objectives are steps toward achieving good management. It is important
to understand why goals or objectives did not succeed. Perhaps they were
not really realistic with the resources available in the parish. After
the evaluation, new goals should be set. Even if goals were already
achieved, they might be appropriate as ongoing goals (e.g., building
community might be an ongoing goal in any parish program with new
objectives each year).
Collaboration
Knowing
the reality of the parish is necessary before any collaboration is
possible. A parish profile would offer an objective picture of the
parish. Portions of the profile are available from many places, such as
the rectory, school, parish religious education office, and perhaps
other sources.
Once the profile is completed, reflect on the following areas:
Who do I work with in the parish at large? (e.g., Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, and Women's Council)
How do I work with the Parish Council? (e.g., budgeting, reporting and dialogue, and sharing the vision of catechesis)
How
do I work with the ordained and non-ordained parish staff? (e.g., youth
ministers, school principal, pastor/associates, and parish secretary)
How
do I work with the religious education staff and volunteers, DRE/CRE, office secretary, catechists, and families?
To whom am I accountable and how often do I meet with this person? How am I evaluated?
How do I work with the archdiocesan offices and their representatives?
Use of Parish Facilities
The
parish community is made up of many groupings, and since it is one
parish family, all should have access to the parish plant, including
classrooms, the hall, etc. To facilitate the use of these areas, ongoing
communication, planning, and collaboration need to take place among the
principal, the DRE/CRE, and other leaders. In
this way, a spirit of mutual support is fostered within the entire
parish community.
The following suggestions might be helpful in parish planning:
Sharing a common vision of religious education for the school and parish
Collaboration, planning, and implementation of plans
Knowledge of and mutual respect for each other's needs and programs
Coordination of calendars and events
Recruiting and Sustaining Volunteers
Each
DRE/CRE should make himself or herself known and available. Encourage
volunteers to assist in the recruiting process. To match volunteers to
tasks, it is important for the DRE/CRE to know what talents and skills
are needed to perform the various positions within the program.
Sustaining volunteers should include the following:
In-Service Training
There
are two basic formal means of continued education for catechists: the
catechist enrichment programs offered at the parish level and the
catechist formation program, congresses, and workshops offered by the
archdiocese. Ongoing in-service training should consist of spiritual
formation and practical catechetical methodology.
Motivation
When
working with volunteers, motivation is essential to their continuing in
the program. The seasons of the year offer an excellent opportunity for
motivation. To show appreciation for the volunteers, something as
simple as giving a holiday card or having coffee and snacks available in
the office will make them feel at home and needed.
Evaluation
Volunteers
need to be aware of the description and guidelines for the program or
task to be performed. Volunteers need to know the long-term goals and
immediate objectives of the program and their specific role during the
year in achieving them. This should be covered by the DRE/CRE during
orientation. The above must be done in order to have a valid evaluation
at the end of the year.
Evaluation tools should be developed by
the DRE/CRE for program evaluation, personal evaluation of volunteers,
and administrative evaluation. Evaluations may take the form of
questionnaires, interviews, or group discussions. After the evaluations
are done there should be a recommitment to next year's program with
adjustments for improvement.
2 Maintaining a Program
Calendar
A
well-planned calendar prevents minor and major problems and
frustrations. A yearly calendar should be set at least four months
before the start of the program and the calendar should be revised and
updated as needed.
Budgeting
Because parish
income must take into account the needs of each sector of the parish,
from parish school to youth ministry to senior citizens, finances must
be fairly apportioned. The budget must be presented with foresight and
accurate projection. Past experience, present need, and future vision
should guide the DRE/CRE in drawing up the budget. All
income and expenses should be recorded throughout the year.
Registration
Preparation for registration should be done in a timely manner and include dates, places, and deadlines. Refer to the Registration Guidelines for Parish Faith Formation Programs. A Sample Registration Form for Faith Formation Programs is available to assist PCLs in preparing registration materials for their parish program(s).
Parish registration form should include the parish name and program information. To maintain the necessary privacy of medical information, keep the records in in a restricted-access file along with the
Emergency Information Form.
Fees
vary from parish to parish. The parish should take into consideration
economic and family circumstances. No student should ever be denied
enrollment because of inability to pay the fee.