Serra Catechetical Institute

The first class of the Serra Catechetical Institute, October 14, 2006

What is the Serra Catechetical Institute?

Recommended resources for SCI students are available online through Amazon and other sources. More

The Serra Catechetical Institute is an ongoing program of formation for catechists, Catholic school teachers, parents, and all adults. Registration for our latest class in Antioch is now available. Classes have already been held in Concord, Oakland, Walnut Creek and Berkeley. New classes will be introduced at different times and locations to suit a variety of schedules.

If you are interested in attending a future SCI course, please join our emailing list. We will update you when new classes are available.

Calling All Catholics!

Eager to share your faith but afraid you lack the skills and knowledge to do it well?

Already teaching about your faith (whether at faith formation or religion classes, through a ministry, or at home) but wish you could do it better?

What is SCI?

The Serra Catechetical Institute (SCI) is a formation process for parish and Catholic school catechists, parents and all adults who want to know their Catholic faith better and be able to hand it on more effectively. Participants will receive 60 hours of catechetical formation, including:

• spiritual development (our own relationship with Jesus),
• doctrinal formation (sacraments, creed, and morality), and
• catechetical process and methodology (how to teach the faith).

Students who complete the program will be eligible to receive the California Catechist Certificate (contact us for additional information about certification).

When and Where

New classes will be held at different times and locations to meet a variety of schedules. Check this site or request to be put on our mailing list for upcoming classes when they are available.

Course Materials

Students in SCI receive extensive materials throughout the course, covered by the course fee and subsidized by the Diocese. Each student receives a copy of the new United States Catholic Catechism for Adults published by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2006, as well as other materials. The SCI Course Book includes informative readings on the variety of topics covered in the course as well as lesson plans for the catechist's use when teaching others.

SCI recommends the materials produced by the Association for Catechumenal Ministry as resources for catechetical programs of all kinds, not limited to preparation for the RCIA. More information, including free downloads and previews, is available on the ACM's website.

Questions?

If you have questions about the Serra Catechetical Institute, please contact Julia Ramos at (510) 267-8370 or jramos @oakdiocese.org.

Bl. Junípero Serra, Our Patron

"Always go forward, never turn back"
Junípero Serra, a Franciscan priest known as the “Apostle of California”, was born in Mallorca, Spain. He spent 20 years as a preacher and missionary in Mexico before traveling to what is now California and founding nine missions along the coast. Though suffering from an injured leg, he traveled by foot more than 24,000 miles to visit the missions and baptize, catechize, and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.

He was beatified by John Paul II in 1998. His feast day is July 1.