Why SCI?

Bl. Junípero Serra

Consider This…

"Is there a population of teachers ready and able to assist Christ in the Church’s work of evangelism, conversion, education, and call to holiness?"

To Be Sure…

The Diocese of Oakland has always had a host of men and women ready to serve Christ and His Church in the ministry of education. Today we see in them the strength of their commitment, the power of their witness and the diligence of their hard work in this ministry. The Church is very grateful. The Serra Catechetical Institute is built on the foundation they have provided in this diocese.

Centuries Ago…

Missionaries like Bl. Junipero Serra traveled about this region spreading Christ’s message of life and love. Their enthusiasm for serving the Lord as catechists brought many to Christ. Now, at the dawn of the 21st century, we have an opportunity to share our Faith with others in this Springtime of Christianity.

Today…

It is clear that many Catholics, catechists in particular, would like to know more about what they believe. Most adults have some questions about the Faith. Many would like to know more about the Bible. As well, young people, bombarded with so many mixed messages, frequently conclude that there are no readily available answers to life's questions. And surely youngsters have a right to receive the truth in the most interesting and beautiful way possible. As St. Paul tells us, "[God] wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4).

What is Truth? (Jn 18:38)

For many reasons the possibility of having a firm grasp on the truth, becoming holy and being happy has eluded many in the Catholic population. And so, the ministry of handing on the Faith in all its strength, depth and vitality has never been a more important service to the Church.

Witnesses of Faith

Consider the following quote from Pope John Paul II:

Catechesis aims, therefore, at developing understanding of the mystery of Christ in the light of God’s Word, so that the whole of a person’s humanity is impregnated by that Word. Changed by the working of grace into a new creature, the Christian thus sets himself to follow Christ and learns more and more within the Church to think like Him, to judge like Him, to act in conformity with His commandments, and to hope as He invites us to.

(On Catechesis in Our Time, 20)

No textbook can do these things – the Faith requires many people, in fact living witnesses, to present it in all of its rigor and vigor.

It is the great privilege of parents and teachers to participate in this work of making truth known to all, for with it comes goodness and beauty, the means for happiness and the keys to a life with God. Passing on these teachings is so important that Jesus said, "For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to truth" (Jn 18:37).

Christ the Teacher and the Message (CT 5-9)

In fact, Christ is Himself the message of the Church. Knowledge of Him, of what He has made known to us and the means He has made available for us to follow Him is what the teacher delivers. Christ is also the Teacher. Human teachers take part in His work by…

• removing obstacles for understanding,
• providing the simplest words so that the teachings can be grasped,
• arranging opportunities for response and conversion, and
• witnessing to the fact that these are truths and do lead to happiness

Serra Catechetical Institute

Therefore, the Diocese of Oakland is happy to provide her teachers with the means to grow in the Faith personally, to learn more about the teachings of the Catholic Church and to develop even better skills at delivering it for the sake of ongoing conversion in all who study it.

Skills

With the completion of the program, participants will develop certain skills to assist them in their catechetical endeavor. These include:

• how to build relationships, manage a classroom, and prepare a lesson thereby minimizing discipline problems;
• how to recognize various learning styles in order to teach to student’s needs;
• how to tell if students are growing in faith;
• how to identify the stages of moral development;
• how to make Scripture the driving force of all lessons… and much more!

Even more importantly, participants will learn how to model their teaching method after God’s own way of teaching, as demonstrated throughout salvation history. Every approach to teaching the faith is an aspect of the divine pedagogy of revelation and the response of faith [GDC 137], thereby allowing our students to encounter God and grow in personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Doctrine

In addition, with the completion of each section of the program, participants will have concrete help to present one of the foundational doctrines of the Faith:

• Who is God and What Does He Want? (Trinity)
• Who is Jesus and What Difference Does He Make? (Jesus)
• What is the Church and Why Do We Need Her? (Church)
• How Can We Live the Life to Which We Are Called? (Faith, Spirituality, Morality)

An Invitation

The Diocese of Oakland has a group of committed priests and Master Catechists trained to assist teachers in the Church’s work of passing on the Faith – of evangelizing, educating, calling all to holiness of life. They stand ready to serve the catechetical needs throughout the diocese.

We invite all men and women - school teachers, parish catechists, parents, all adults - to take part in this growing movement. Encourage those you know to join us as we inaugurate this beneficial training program.

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