Product Description

At the heart of the family-both human and Catholic-faith is nurtured and practiced, pastors with communities, parents with children, and catechists with students. This catechesis happens in many places, is led by many different people, and requires a multiplicity of materials. The newNational Directory for Catechesis (NDC) is the resource that provides the inspiration for all catechesis in the United States and the reference point for formation of catechists and preparation of catechetical materials. A companion to the General Directory for Catechesis, the NDC builds on its themes and contextualizes catechesis within the life of the Church in the United States, paying close attention to ongoing social and cultural challenges. At its core is a desire to renew catechesis in dioceses, parishes, and schools, to fire a new energy and commitment to proclaim the Gospel. Comprehensive in scope, the NDC provides the fundamental theological and pastoral principles and offers guidelines for applying those principles within the catechetical mission of the Church in the United States. The NDC is divided into ten chapters that delve into the catechesis and diversity, evangelization, the faith of the Church, methodology, worship and sacraments, moral formation, the settings for catechesis, those who catechize, catechetical ministry, and resources. Throughout the NDC, it is reinforced that Jesus is the heart of catechesis regardless of where catechesis takes place. The NDC is a "must-have" for anyone in catechesis or Catholic education-teachers, principals, directors and coordinators of religious education and youth ministry, catechists, and students in the field.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #227814 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-01
• Released on: 2005-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 250 pages

Review
"For fostering faith itself, the 'National Directory of Catechesis' can help; authoritative, clear, and practical, it will assist catechesis at every level." (Rev. Philip C. Fischer, S.J. Review for Religious 20051101)

"This is the long awaited companion volume to the General Directory for Catechesis. It builds on the original work and also serves as a reference point for the formation of catechists and the development of programs and resource. The Introduction underlines the importance of this essential ministry of teaching the Gospel message and also outlines the renewal of catechetics called for by the Second Vatican Council. The book optimistically describes the current catechetical situation and the challenges to catechesis in our world today. The introduction closes with a statement of the Bishops' purposes for the Directory. The book goes on to provide information on the general character and diversity of U.S. culture and catechesis and evangelizaion. The National Directory for Catechesis needs to be in every parish library and available to religious education directors and teachers in the United States. (Arnold Rzepecki Catholic Library World )

"This national directory is a companion to the General Directory for Catechesis. The bishops have intended this directory to be a reference resource for those responsible for catechesis from the bishops on down to those on the local level. Those preparing for ordination would also be interested in this directory. The purposes of the directory as stated by the authors are; first, to provide fundamental theological and pastoral principles and how to apply these to the pastoral activity of catechesis; second, to provide guidelines for application of those principles; and third, to help with the content and methodologies of catechesis (p. 17). This well-organized directory contains ten chapters, each subdivided, and a conclusion or summary is at the end of each chapter which is very helpful. There are several bibliographical footnotes and an index. Chapter one is an overview of the Church in the United States and its diversity. Chapter two discusses the tasks and proper role of catechesis. Chapters three and four discuss the sources of the Christian message and the methodology of presenting it. Chapter five discusses the role of liturgy, the Sacraments, and worship has in catechesis. Chapter six discusses the catechtical principles and guidelines needed for both personal and social moral formation. Chapter seven is about how to catechize the People of God with its diversity of ages, nationalities, races, and other aspects. Chapter eight's focus is for catechists. Chapter nine defines how to organize catechetical ministry. Chapter ten discusses the various resources for catechesis and how to evaluate them. The national Directory for Catechesis is a Church document (which might be intimidating for some readers) full of information and material for meditation and prayer. All Catholics are called to evangelize or spread the Faith. This directory can be a helpful aid in this. It can also help us know more about our Faith and how to present it. This book of course is mainly for catechists who have the official ministry to catechize the People of God in whatever stage of life they are in. This directory has the approval of the U.S. bishops and of Rome." (Bro. Benet Exton, O.S.B. Catholic Exchange 20060111)

The expansion of the term catechetical leader is worth noting in the NDC. . . . A Catholic school superintendent by virtue of the catechetical responsibilities "is a diocesan catechetical leader." Since the Catholic school is a center for evangelization, the Catholic school principal is also a catechetical leader who "plays a crucial role in achieving the catechetical objectives of the parish." . . . With the emergence of the NDC, all catechetical leaders are asked to engage in some reflection. In music, harmony requires the combination of simultaneous musical notes that are created according to the structure, relation, and progress of chords. . . . The NDC calls our attention to elements in our work that can help effect a melodic symphony. (Diana Raiche National Catholic Educational Association )