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Program OverviewProgram Components 11Communicating with Parents%u00a0and FamiliesEvery catechist serves as a vital link between the school or parish and home. We not only catechize and evangelize the children in their classrooms; we also catechize and evangelize families. Efi ective catechesis engages families and invites them into the%u00a0religious education program.We play a vital role in transforming a religious education program into a faith community where entire families can encounter Jesus Christ. Such evangelization requires that we establish routine methods of communication with parents and family members, demonstrating the value of parents as the primary inffl uencers in their child%u2019s religious education program. In addition, efi ective communication also keeps parents informed of parish and diocesan guidelines for catechetical programs. Communication can take the%u00a0following forms:%u2022 Emails that summarize what was covered in class%u2022 Invitations to participate in parish or class activities%u2022 Gospel refl ections for the entire family%u2022 Notes and cards for special occasions (which children prepare during class)Witnessing the FaithWe live the faith we teach. Our catechesis is most efi ective when it is displayed by our behavior. ffi us, we must model ethical behavior at all times. ffi e following tips will help us ensure that our catechesis teaches the faith through our actions, not just our words:%u2022 Speak respectfully to and about others.%u2022 Prepare thoroughly for lessons.%u2022 Observe confi dentiality, using information about children or their families prudently.%u2022 Inform the program director or principal immediately about concerns for children%u2019s physical, social, mental, or emotional health.%u2022 Develop teaching strategies that include children with disabilities.%u2022 Respond to the needs of children of various cultures.%u2022 Display character built on patience, responsibility, creativity, generosity of spirit, respect for diversity, and a habit of hospitality.%u2022 Affi rm and protect each child with acceptance, humor, and gentle redirection.%u2022 Respect boundaries and follow all safe environment protocols.Catechesis, Evangelization, Mystagogy, and the KerygmaThe Directory for Catechesisbe thought of as a road map for how to (2020) can do catechesis. It reminds us that we are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus in relation to evangelization, mystagogy, and the kerygma (the %u201cfi rst%u201d or %u201cprimary%u201d proclamation).The kerygma is %u201cthe fi re of the Spirit%u201d that leads us to faith in Jesus Christ. It is both the act of proclaiming the faith and the proclamation itself, a proclamation that we must hear in new and diff erent ways. At each moment of catechesis, we must proclaim Jesus Christ who, by his Passion, Death, and Resurrection, reveals God the Father%u2019s infi nite mercy to us.Today, the Church must respond with %u201ca catechesis that in a consistent way can be called kerygmatic.%u201d (Catechesis,Directory for 57) Jesus is active in the kerygma %u201cin the testimony of the one who proclaims him; the life of the witness who has experienced salvation therefore becomes that which touches and moves the hearer.%u201d (Directory for Catechesis, 58) Our words and actions should ignite the hearts of the people we serve with the fi re of the Holy Spirit, moving them to become missionary disciples.A witness of faith and keeper of the memory of God; in experiencing the goodness and truth of the Gospel in his encounter with the person of Jesus, the catechist keeps, nourishes, and bears witness to the new life that stems from this, and becomes a sign for others.Directory for Catechesis, 113OV-32 www.christourlife.comThe Role of the CatechistCommunicating with Parents%u00a0and FamiliesEvery catechist serves as a vital link between the school or parish and home. We not only catechize and evangelize the children in their classrooms; we also catechize and evangelize families. Efi ective catechesis engages families and invites them into the%u00a0religious education program.We play a vital role in transforming a religious education program into a faith community where entire families can encounter Jesus Christ. Such evangelization requires that we establish routine methods of communication with parents and family members, demonstrating the value of parents as the primary inffl uencers in their child%u2019s religious education program. In addition, efi ective communication also keeps parents informed of parish and diocesan guidelines for catechetical programs. Communication can take the%u00a0following forms:Emails that summarize what was covered in classInvitations to participate in parish or class activitiesGospel refl ections for the entire familyNotes and cards for special occasions (which children prepare Witnessing the FaithWe live the faith we teach. Our catechesis is most efi ective when it is displayed by our behavior. ffi us, we must model ethical behavior at all times. ffi e following tips will help us ensure that our catechesis teaches the faith through our actions, not just Speak respectfully to and about others.Observe confi dentiality, using information about children or their Inform the program director or principal immediately about concerns for children%u2019s physical, social, mental, or emotional Develop teaching strategies that include children with disabilities.Respond to the needs of children of various cultures.Display character built on patience, responsibility, creativity, generosity of spirit, respect for diversity, and a habit of Affi rm and protect each child with acceptance, humor, and gentle Respect boundaries and follow all safe environment protocols.OV-32 www.christourlife.comThe Role of the CatechistThe Vocation of a%u00a0CatechistThrough Baptism, every Christian%u2014laity, ordained clergy, or those in religious life%u2014is called to participate in the mission of Jesus and his Church to %u201cmake disciples of all nations.%u201d (Matthew 28:19) Catechesis (from the Greek word meaning %u201cto echo the teaching%u201d) is the Church%u2019s ministry of teaching and forming people in faith. As catechists, we have a unique call%u2014a vocation%u2014to participate in this mission in a formal way as we mentor others to fi nd a deeper relationship with God and his Church.This handbook is our companion on this mission to catechize and evangelize. It will help us grow in our own faith and understand the hope that Jesus%u2019 message brings to the world. It will be a guide to help us, as catechists, eff ectively pass on the Catholic faith to others.ffi e Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks specifl cally to catechists in paragraphs 426%u2013429. Paragraph 426 states, %u201cAt the heart of catechesis we fl nd, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Son from the Father . . . who sufi ered and died for us and who now, a%u001a er rising, is living with us forever.%u201d To catechize is to facilitate encounters with Jesus%u00a0Christ. Catechists are not teachers of a subject but rather facilitators of an encounter.ffi e Directory for Catechesis (2020) ofi ers a road map for how to do catechesis. Catechists are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus in relation to evangelization, mystagogy, and the kerygma (the %u201cfl rst%u201d or %u201cprimary%u201d proclamation). ffi is proclamation must be announced in difi erent ways and at difi erent times. ffi e Catechist%u2019s Handbook will help catechists introduce children and families to Jesus Christ.Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press and an essential member of the development team for Christ Our Life. Joe is a best-selling author, catechetical leader, and religious educator with more than 40 years of experience in ministry. Joe blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.Evangelizing is not, in the fi rst place, the delivery of a doctrine; but rather, making present and announcing Jesus%u00a0Christ.Directory for Catechesis, 29OV-31The Catechist%u2019s Handbook EDITED%u00a0BY Joe Paprocki Media in This Unit When preparing to teach the unit, determine how you will use the media. Media that enhances each chapter can be accessed by scanning the QR codes found on the student pages. All media resources are available to you through the LP Digital Library (digitallibrary.loyolapress.com). Contact your administrator for your login credentials. UNIT1 We Worship God as Catholic ChristiansGoals%u2022 Children will be able to identify basic characteristics of Christian worship and articulate worship%u2019s importance for our life of faith.%u2022 Children will be able to identify the Sacraments of Initiation and explain their significance. 1 We Are a Worshiping PeopleWe praise God for his glory. We thank God for all he has given us. In fact, a life of joyful praise is our most fi tting response to God%u2019s love. Children learn how prayer and service honor God, and they are encouraged to evaluate how well their words and actions give God praise. 2 Jesus Calls Us to WorshipJesus Christ, the Son of God, worshiped the Father by prayer, loving service, and the sacrifi ce of his life. Children learn that Jesus calls them to off er themselves with him in prayer and loving service. ffl rough the Holy Spirit, he gives them the grace to make their lives joyful sacrifi ces of praise through the%u00a0sacraments. 3 Baptism Welcomes Us into the Christian CommunityIn the Sacrament of Baptism, we share God%u2019s life, become children of God, and are initiated into the Christian community as members of the Church. Life for God in Christ and death to sin and self are the essence of Baptism. ffl ey are the essence of daily Christian living. Children learn more about the meaning of Baptism and the signs of the rite. ffl ey also learn how adults are initiated. ffl ey are encouraged to respond to God%u2019s great love for them by following Jesus faithfully. 4 Confirmation Seals Us with the Gift of%u00a0the%u00a0Holy SpiritIn the Sacrament of Confi rmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens the faith we received in Baptism. Children study both the signifi cance of Confi rmation and the actual rite. ffl ey are led to realize that confi rmed Catholics are called to be witnesses of Christ, to serve others as he did, and to work for the growth of the Church. ffl ey are encouraged to begin preparing for the Sacrament of Confi rmation by living each day as Jesus would have them live it. 5 The Eucharist Is the Center of Christian%u00a0LifeOur life in Christ, begun at Baptism and strengthened in Confi rmation, is constantly nourished in the Eucharist. Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we share a sacred meal as God%u2019s holy people, and Christ%u2019s saving acts are made present. Jesus gives himself to us totally and unites us to him. Children see the Eucharist as our Bread%u00a0of Life and consider its importance in their daily lives. 6 Unit 1 ReviewChildren review the concepts presented in Unit 1, which focus on our call to Christian worship and on the Sacraments of Initiation. ffl ey participate in review activities and a prayer celebration. ffl ese activities motivate them to incorporate the unit concepts, prayer practices, and good works into their daily lives.See page T41 for STREAM activity.T1T001-T015_5290_TES_G5U1C01_UO.indd ~ pg 1 ~ LoyolaPress. 11/28/22 1:48 PMFinal Review 11/28/22 Editorial Approval _______Strengthening UnderstandingThe expanded Catechist Handbook, located in the front of the Teacher%u2019s and Catechist%u2019s Guides, provides essential information to %u2022 help strengthen your understanding of how to guide children to encounter Jesus Christ %u2022 expand understanding of children%u2019s developmental stages %u2022 explain how to most eff ectively use multimedia to enhance lessons %u2022 increase awareness of teaching techniques, tools, and methodsTeacher%u2019s and Catechist%u2019s GuidesThe Teacher%u2019s and Catechist%u2019s Guides drive meaningful and engaging instruction and support teachers and catechists every step of the way. Opening the UnitLearning goals for each unit are clearly stated, along with an overview of each chapter.In the School Edition: One chapter in each unit includes a STREAM activity that integrates science, technology, religion, engineering, art, or math.The Media in This Unit feature explains how to use the available media.