What and Who is a Catechist?
The whole Christian community is responsible for the ministry of catechesis…
A Catechists is a Christian who receives a particular calling from God that, when accepted in faith, empowers them for the service of the transmission of faith and for the task of initiating others in the Christian life.
By the virtue of faith and baptismal anointing, in collaboration with the Magisterium of Christ and as a servant of the action of the Holy Spirit, the catechists is:
- A witness of faith and keeper of the memory of God
- A teacher and a mystagogue
- An accompanier and educator of those who are entrusted to them by the Church.
Directory for Catechesis 2020 # 111-113
The Department for Evangelization and Catechesis provides formation for the certification of catechists in accordance with the guidelines established by the California Catholic Conference of Bishops.
Ways you can teach our Catholic faith:
Basic Catechist Certification is a learning process designed to help you gain basic knowledge and skills to communicate effectively the basic Catholic Christian message. The Bishops of California have established criteria to promote and standardize the competence of catechetical programs.
In the Diocese of Oakland, certification is granted after:
- Successful completion of the Serra Catechetical Institute or other certification course taught by a Master Catechist and approved by the diocese (60 hours);
- One year of catechetical experience;
- Observation and evaluation of the catechist in a catechetical session.
Renewal Form
Candidates for renewal certification must have completed ten hours of ongoing formation in the Basic Catechist Content Areas for each year of certification, for a total of 30 hours. Application for renewal must be made within one year of the certificate's expiration date.
Completed forms may be emailed to Jean Evans or mailed to the Chancery office.
What is a Master Catechist?
- A “person selected and commissioned by the Bishop” to teach in his name
- A person who serves both the diocese and the parish
- A model for volunteer catechists
What do Master Catechists Do?
According to the California Catholic Conference Guidelines for Certification the function of a Master Catechist is to:
- Provide the specific formation required by the diocese for catechists to obtain or renew a California Catechist Certificate;
- Provide workshops and in-services for the continued growth and formation of Catechists;
- Exercise catechetical leadership
Prerequisites for Application to the Master Catechist Program
- Basic Catechist Certificate or its equivalent
- Degree
- Masters Degree or Masters Certificate Program in Religious Studies, Catechesis or Theology, from a Catholic college or university; OR
- Master’s Degree in Education, with a minimum requirement of 12 additional graduate hours in Theology, Religious Studies or Religious Education; OR
- Completion of the St. Francis de Sales School for Pastoral Ministry with graduation date after 2010
Master Catechist Certification Renewal
Candidates for renewal certification must have completed ten hours of ongoing formation in the Basic Catechist Content Areas for each year of certification, for a total of 30 hours. Application for renewal must be made within one year of the certificate's expiration date.
Completed forms may be emailed to Jean Evans or mailed to the Chancery office.
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is a journey through different spiritual phases of increasing maturity by which one prepares to commit oneself to Jesus Christ and His Church through the search for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist)
The OCIA is for:
- Any unbaptized person who seeks to follow Christ in his Church as preparation for Christian discipleship through baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. Such a person, after a period of research on faith and initial conversion to Christ is called: Catechumen.
- Anyone baptized from another Christian community seeking to be Catholic through preparation for Confirmation and Communion. Such a person, after a period of research on faith, is called a Candidate.
- Any baptized Catholic who seeks to increase his devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ through the realization of the other sacraments of initiation such as Confirmation and Communion.
Interested in working in a great environment full of dedicated educators?
There are opportunities to join the faculty or staff at a Catholic school near you! We need enthusiastic and driven individuals that want to make a difference in the lives of determined students throughout their education.
Visit the Department of Catholic Schools website for more information and to apply.