Article 2 Whole Community Catechesis August 8, 2004

   Whole Community Catechesis at St. Patrick Catholic Community.  (The second in a series of articles about a new approach to religious education or lifelong faith formation).

  1. Where did the idea for Whole Community Catechesis come from?
  2. The whole movement toward an approach to catechesis, which involves the entire parish community, comes from:
    • The General Directory for Catechesis has been given careful consideration to the way Jesus taught.
    • There is an emerging consensus in the catechetical community that the present way we do our ministry, in what’s known as the “schoolhouse” framework, just isn’t working as well as we’d like.
  1. Where did the name “Whole Community Catechesis” comes from?
  2. The name, whole community catechesis, comes directly from article #254 of the General Catechetical Directory, which says:
    “The Christian community is the origin, locus, and goal of catechesis.  Proclamation of the gospel always begins with the Christian community and invites (people) to conversion and the following of Christ.  It is the same whole community that welcomes those who wish to know the Lord better and permeate themselves with a new life.  The whole Christian community accompanies catechumens and those being catechized, and with the maternal solicitude makes them participate in her own experience of faith and incorporates them into herself.”
  1. Do we still have religious instructions?
  2. Yes, indeed, there is a need for outright religious instruction in order for Christian children to grow up and mature in their faith.  But this is true for Catholics of all age groups.  Our approach at St. Patrick will be the Generations of Faith opportunities.

   Please Mark Your Calendars:

  • Registration for all religious education programs, youth through adult, begins on August 22 after all Masses, and continues through September 3.
  • Orientations for Sacrament Preparation programs and School of Faith programs September 11 and 12.
  • Four Parish Events to prepare for: Feast of St. Francis on October 1-4, Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 3, 4, & 12, Lenten Seder Meal February 26 & March 5, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi preparation May 6 and 7.
  • Scripture Study begins the week of September 12.
  • Family Festivals on Sundays after the 9:00 AM Mass September 26, October 24, November 21, January 30, February 27 & April 24.
  • RCIA, Re-Membering Church and Children’s Catechumenate Tuesday evenings beginning September 14.

   For further information about the many faith formation preparation programs under the umbrella of Whole Community Catechesis contact Jackie Mallory at (813) 839-5337 Ext. 131, email jmallory@stpatricktampa.org, or Kerry Mayo at Ext. 143, kmayo@stpatricktampa.org.

   Check the Calendar on the Religious Education page for dates and times of the Religious Education Programs.