The rabid possum in the outhouse
by Melanie Bettinelli on March 02, 2008
Last night Dom and I were just discussing the perennial topic of what is wrong with the state of catechesis in this country and what can be done about it and why most diocesan programs won’t work. Then this morning I stumbled across today’s internet gem: Fr. Philip Neri’s Three Year Plan for Faith Formation. It seems someone else is on our wavelength.
Father Philip writes:
That we need a top-to-bottom, radical overhaul of the entire catechetical enterprise in this country is as obvious as a rabid possum in the outhouse and as pressing as finding that possum another home…quickly.
One fairly common solution to the problem of vincible ignorance of the faith is the establishment of diocesan centers for continuing education or adult lay formation programs. Insofar as any of these actually teach the faith, they are wonderful as antidotes to forty years of catechetical neglect. However, these centers and institutes are often recruitment and distribution facilities for dissent and pastoral malpractice. The more notorious of these will actively teach against the faith in the name of “cultural or historical relevancy” and in the name of “adult conscience formation.”
Another, and I would argue more specifically “Vatican Two,” solution to the problem is the parish-based, lay-run adult study group. The Episcopal Church offers what I think is probably one of the best organized lay-run continuing education programs called “Education for Ministry.” This is a four-year program that covers all the major elements of a professional seminary education at the master’s level. No doubt there are orthodox Catholic equivalents out there; however, most of the ones I’ve seen or heard about just can’t seem to get the basics right and refuse to side with the church on controversial issues, opting instead for wienie apologies or outright lies.
Check out Fr. Philip’s list of books that one would need to start and maintain a three-year, once-a-week, lay-lead catechetical group in a parish as well as his cautions, axioms, exhortations, suggestions for how to read and discuss the texts and other words of practical advice. Read them, absorb them, pass them on. Even better, do something with them: start a group in your parish. Don’t wait for someone else to take charge.
Comments
Hi Melanie!
Not sure if you’re still bored or finally in labor. For your sake, I’m hoping the latter. In case of the former, I’ll throw my 2cents in here. If you don’t get to it, understandable. You have a newborn!
First, I think your link “list of books that one would need to start…“links back to your site.
But for seconds, and I plan to put this on his blog, but I think how to teach is just as important as the content. From my years in youth ministry I was never about just Sunday night youth group meeting or having games, I was always about full on formation which included catechesis, so I often would take a class to “teach”.
Then i came back to the University and took catechesis classes only to find out that I was right! Only right because of the grace of God, not my own brilliance. Clearly.
I would throw a few more books on there in regards to “how”:
1. The Mystery We Proclaim by Msgr Kelly.
2. Educational Philosophy of St John Bosco
3. St. Augustine: The First Catechetical Instruction
4. Anything by Joseph D. White, PhD
5. Anything from his publisher, OSV
6. Nothing, and I mean nothing from Moran, Bill Huebsch, Bob McCarty, or other movers and slayers of the Faith.
7. Get a subscription to either OSV’s Catechist Companion or The Sower (sorry Dom!) which is the joint journal put out by the University and Maryvale in England and Notre Dame di Vie in France.
So if you know of folks who need the info, get them this list! Now, over to Fr Philip…
Posted by Jen on 03/4/08 at 03:47 PM