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How has Catechist Formation changed?
In the Archdiocese of New Orleans, we have moved away from a certification model for catechist formation in order to more clearly emphasize the necessity of ongoing, lifelong formation for all of us as disciples, with the consequent aim of connecting each person engaged in the process more deeply to the heart of catechesis – Jesus. Click here for more info
Who is our New Partner in Catechist Formation?
We have formed a partnership with Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute to offer all parishes and schools their resource/program, Franciscan at Home (FAH), for FREE.
What Makes this New Program, Franciscan at Home (FAH), so great?:
This resource provides precisely the type of formation our leaders and catechists/teachers have been requesting: something that is free, online, faithfully Catholic, at one’s own pace/schedule, accessible, and not burdensome or overly detailed/complicated.
How can I get started using FAH?
Go to https://franciscanathome.com/archdiocese-new-orleans and click on the blue box that states: “My parish or school is already registered, and I would like to set up my individual free account under that institution.” On the next page where it states: “Please login below or create a new account,” you will click “create a new account” and then do so.
What is the User Dashboard?
You will have your own dashboard which will include first, “Institution Tracks" for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, under which you will find "Inital Formation Track.” This is where leaders and catechists/teachers will go to begin or continue their formation. You will also find tracks for Ongoing Formation, Parisch Catechetical Leader Formation, School Catechetical Leader Formation (still in development), and RCIA Team Formation (still in development). On the main dashboard below all of this, one will see the whole collection of “Franciscan Tracks” which you will want to explore, or you can search by title keywords for other formation workshops of interest (these other workshops are primarily for those who have completed Initial Formation).
What is the Format of an FAH Workshop?
Each Franciscan workshop consists of introductory information online, a handout, and typically 6-8 video segments that are anywhere between 5-10 minutes in length with the total video content in any workshop not exceeding 60 minutes. Each video segment is followed by a “task” for the participant to complete. This asks the participant to stop, reflect, and apply the video segment directly to their own spiritual life and the ministry in which they serve. Their submission will then go to their assigned mentor (see info on mentors below). We believe that folks will find these workshops to be a personal gift to them even beyond the importance of better equipping them for ministry.
How Long Do the Workshops Take to Complete?
The length it will take one to complete a workshop varies based on how long one wishes to spend on the “tasks,” though obviously one does not want to rush them. So, between the total of 60 minutes for the video segments and the completion of tasks, it could take perhaps as short as 2 hours or as long as 4.
How do I engage in the Archdiocesan Catechist Formation Program through FAH?
As indicated in the “User Dashboard” bullet, one can navigate to the Archdiocese of New Orleans (ANO) “Initial Formation” Track on the dashboard of FAH which then brings one to the page where one can click on “Initial Formation.” You will find on this page the five ANO Core Workshop headings for Initial Formation:- Profession of Faith – Jesus Christ
- Catholic Understanding of Scripture
- Prayer, Sacraments, and Worship
- Ecclesiology and the Mission of the Church
- Morality and Catholic Social Teaching
What are the Ongoing Formation Expectations and how does FAH fit into this?
Upon completion of Initial Formation, one is expected to remain engaged and committed to Ongoing Formation, with the annual expectation for all (regardless of theological degree status) being as follows:- 1 Ongoing Formation workshop offered by the Archdiocese of New of Orleans or our partners (Franciscan at Home, University of Dayton Virtual Learning, Diocese of Baton Rouge) AND
- 1 other formation experience of one's choosing (e.g., retreat, catechetical conference, webinar, spiritual reading, Christian service)
- Upon completion of the formation experience of one’s choosing, a brief reflection form should be completed and submitted to us.
Can we adapt how we use FAH at our Parish/School?
We hope that you will be imaginative in the way(s) you use this program. It does need to be completed solely on an individual basis. Feel free to use it in a variety of ways, including meeting as a group of catechists or faculty to engage in one or more video segments of a workshop and then discussing the task in small groups. The workshop might then be completed over a month or so. Be creative and share!
What is Mentoring?
Just as Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two, discipleship today requires support and accompaniment – something Pope Francis speaks of often. A mentor is there to encourage, guide, and support the participant, rather than to evaluate or critique their submission.
Who Can Serve as a Mentor?
We would like Parish Catechetical Leaders and School Catechetical Leaders to serve as mentors at their institution for their catechists/teachers (more on this below – see “Mentoring” bullet). If a pastor or school leader would like to designate someone else or additional individuals as mentors, that is great.
Other Questions: No doubt, there are other questions that you may have. Please reach out to us via phone or email anytime (504-861-6285 or [email protected]).