Catechist

A catechist is any person of faith who is hospitable, a good listener, patient, wise, mature, open-minded, and caring. They are called to serve through teaching, witness, prayer, service and building community.

Every catechist is called to grow in faith and witness to the gospel and church. The catechist not only teaches about religion and doctrine, the catechist also shares the ways in which God has been present in his or her own life.

As a catechist, you can make a difference. Each catechists' uniqueness is a special gift to the young people s/he serves.

Catechists minister to adults, youth and children in a variety of locations and programs: parish faith formation and religious education programs, youth ministry programs, sacramental preparation, RCIA, family programs, Scripture study, and more. Through word and example, catechists teach the Catholic faith and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 

The call and response to this call includes willingness to give one's time and talent, not only to catechizing others, but to one's own growth and understanding of the faith. The call to this ministry often comes through the pastor, catechetical leader, youth minister, pastoral associate, or another catechist.

Catechists must possess and exhibit qualities or characteristics necessary to give credible witness to the Gospel. A catechist must: be a model of Catholic Christian faith and lifestyle; participate in the spiritual, theological, and methodological training and formation provided by the Military Archdiocese; know and abide by the parish guidelines and policies promoting effective catechesis; and give sufficient preparation time for the catechetical task.
 

If you work with children or want to work with children, you must complete the Code of Ethics & Integrity - Safe Environment Training. For a schedule of upcoming diocesan-wide training sessions, see http://dioceseoftyler.org or contact Janie Sepulveda.

Are you interested in serving as a parish catechist? The Faith Formation program is based on the school year, starting in September and ending in April/May. We will have catechist openings. If you're interested in becoming a catechist, we encourage you to contact the Parish Office, Marty Flynn or Loiette Dixon.