Catechesis

ORGANIZATION OF CATECHESIS IN THE PAROCHIAL COMMUNITY

Members and functions

THE PRIEST

The first catechist of the community is known.

•It ensures the organization and functioning of the catechesis and stimulates it in everyone
its aspects.
Promotes the election of the members of the Board.
Meets (at least every month) with the board members to plan and
evaluate the various catechetical activities and address the important issues.
He places special emphasis on the ongoing training of catechists in their various
aspectos: Espiritual, doctrinal, psico-pedagógico, técnica y humana.

GENERAL COORDINATOR

He is the immediate collaborator of the priest and will act in his absence.
Monitor the compliance of the duties of the catechists and encourage those who do not.
they comply duly.
He is responsible for supervising the work of each of the centers that make up the
parish community, see their needs and resolve them in coordination with the
executives of these.
You must meet at least once a month with all the executives of the
parish community centers, for planning activities and evaluating the
already made.
At the end of the catechetical period, a written report must be prepared on it.
carried out throughout the year and will present it to the DIRECTOR (Priest) and before the
centers' directives.

REQUIREMENTS

The catechist who has excelled in the good will be able to aspire to this position.
performance of your catechetical ministry and express having responsibility,
dynamism, leadership ability, service vocation, own judgment and life
spiritual; Let it be a unifying element, that it has the ability to have good
relationships with the priest, giving him his due place and also with the catechists.
•Have at least two years within the group of catechists and have
experience as a catechist.

ELECTION

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Your choice can be made in either of these two ways:

a) By designation of the priest in charge of parish catechesis.

b) At the suggestion of the catechists of the parish with the approval of the priest.

DURATION OF SERVICE

The recommended time of service as general coordinator should be

of three years, considering it a time for the performance of their work. They will only stop being so
if resignation is for just or personal causes, or for other causes that warrant it, such as
example, having impediments that make it difficult for you to serve.

PAROCHIAL DIRECTIVE BOARD

It is composed of the center chapel coordinator, secretary, treasurer, and those responsible for
centers and leaders of the community service teams of catechists.

These members are elected by the catechists through voting and approved.
by the Director Priest of the Catechesis.
The board will remain in office for at least two years, up to a maximum of three years.
To be a member of the board, the same requirements must be met as
are indicated for the General Coordinator.
The directive will have periodic meetings (every fifteen days or every month, according to
the needs) to organize catechesis activities.
They will inform the General Coordinator when there are changes in the Board or in
some member of it.
They attend the meetings summoned by the Director Priest or the Coordinator.
General, the DIDIPAC, the Dean's Office to which it belongs.
They plan and organize training courses for the catechists of the Parish.

CHAPEL OR CENTER COORDINATOR

He is in charge of catechesis in his chapel or center.

Coordinates the activities proposed by the same board and approved by the
catechists and by the Director Priest.
Monitor the performance of the catechists in their groups.
Leads meetings for catechists and parents.
•Inspire and encourage everyone: Parents, children, catechists, community in
general.
He/she pays special attention to the execution of family catechesis in a manner
permanent.

SECRETARY

They are the person responsible for recording and keeping in order the agreements made in the
meetings of catechists, parents, and the board.

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Register the attendance of catechists in all activities concerning them.

(Sunday Masses, meetings, gatherings, retreats, courses, etc.)
•To publicly read the agreements made in the previous meeting.
Keep the registration forms of the children and catechists organized and up to date.
Keep the file organized and save all the material that facilitates the
DIDIPAC, such as board meetings, catechesis week,
strong liturgical times, etc.
Organize the catechesis library and keep track of all the books.

TREASURER

Coordinates the economy service.

Take care of the funds and try to increase them by organizing and coordinating different
activities for fundraising education.
Coordinates the contributions of benevolent partners.
Keep a record of Income and Expenses and account for the Economic Status in the
moment it was necessary.
Make the payment for the relevant expenses.

CENTER OR SECTOR MANAGER

It works in the parishes where there are centers that depend on the chapels. They are
those catechists who are in charge of a center or sector that depends on some chapel.
They must have the same requirements as the General Coordinator and the Coordinator of
Chapel or Center.

FUNCTIONS

He is responsible for ensuring the good performance of the catechists at the center.
sector under your charge.
Resolve the difficulties that arise in it.
It is the link between the catechetical center and the chapel's management to which
belongs.
Informs the board of directors about everything that happens in their center or sector.
Promotes activities, together with their catechists, to raise funds, and
I fulfilled various requirements that arose with the purchase of materials.
catechetical, celebrations of the catechumens, etc.
He takes special care in organizing the catechesis of his center.
It promotes the establishment of the PARENTS' COMMITTEE.
Request support from the Board of Directors for the resolution of the needs of your center or
sector.
It should not encourage the isolated work of your group, but promote participation.
this in the activities at the chapel or parish level.

SERVICE TEAMS (CATECHISTS)

They are teams to promote the group of catechists in its various aspects.

These teams are:

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Spirituality Service.
Training Service.
Integration Team.
Economics and Finance Team.

INTEGRATION OF THESE GROUPS

Each team will be made up of a certain number of catechists and a leader.

The responsible parties will be appointed by the board, as deemed appropriate.
each catechist will choose the team they wish to collaborate with.
The responsible parties will remain in charge for the same time as the board.
They will also be responsible for moderating their team's meetings and will present
their concerns, plans and agreements to the board of directors.
The teams must meet at least once a month or as necessary,
in order to plan the activities, divide responsibilities and evaluate the
already completed.

FUNCTIONS

SPIRITUALITY SERVICE

Promotes spiritual retreats for catechists during significant times of Liturgy.

(Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost).
Coordinates the planning, execution, and evaluation of these retreats.
Organizes and motivates the prayers in all catechist meetings.
Promotes and organizes extraordinary activities that contribute to the promotion of the
spiritual life of catechists (Rosaries, pilgrimages, etc.)
Promotes sacramental life (Confession, Communion) and liturgical (Holy Mass) of
the catechists.

TRAINING SERVICE (STUDY)

Organizes weekly study circles for catechists, according to the

specific needs of the group, but without neglecting the comprehensive training of the
catechists: human, apostolic, doctrinal, and pedagogical training.
Encourage catechists to consciously prepare the topics they will cover.
they provide the interlocutors and if necessary prepare the session with the catechists
weekly catechesis.
Organizes courses and study sessions according to the needs and interests of
group.
Prepare the necessary teaching materials (bulletin board, posters, etc.).
It promotes the inculturation of catechists by proposing topics that address:
religious and social values, traditions and customs of the community.
Helps to understand the reality and the needs of the community and of the
catechized so that the message responds to their concrete needs.
Find a way to build the Catechesis Library.

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INTEGRATION SERVICE

Promotes the gatherings of catechists and coordinates their planning and execution.
and evaluation.
Set the atmosphere of catechist meetings with suitable games and songs.
(psychomotor, doctrinal, environmental, liturgical, etc.).
Promotes and organizes extraordinary activities that contribute to integration.
of the group (Excursions, outings, birthday celebrations and more).

ECONOMY AND FINANCE SERVICE

This team will be coordinated by the Treasurer of the board.

He is responsible for providing the necessary materials (boards, erasers,

markers, texts for the catechist, etc.)
Ensure the maintenance and use of all catechetical materials, and keep track of it.
same.
Promotes the organization of activities and events that help to increase the
funds of the catechesis.
Seek 'Benefactor' partners who will help sustain the catechesis and
is responsible for collecting the economic or material contribution they provide (Good
it can be weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

These benefactor partners can be anyone from the community.

THE CATECHISTS

WHO ARE THE CATECHISTS

They are young people and adults of both sexes who, aware of their BAPTISM, respond to their
vocation of prophets and commit to building their Christian community with their

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testimony of life and announcing the message of salvation to the catechumens who are being
commend.

FUNCTIONS

He is responsible for the education of the Faith of a group of interlocutors: children,

teenagers, young people, adults or parents within their community
parochial.
You must prepare each catechesis session with full responsibility by meeting with
his/her classmates every week, on the day and time agreed upon by all.
He/She will seek and prepare the supporting material to teach the corresponding topic.
He must know, love, and respect the catechumens entrusted to him, in order to thus
I can convey the message to them better.
You must attend the meetings and activities scheduled by your community.
catechists.
He/She will keep track (register the attendance) of his/her catechumens, and when they do not
the assistant will visit them encouraging them to continue in catechesis
He will continually turn to the Holy Scriptures to know more and more about
Jesus Christ and adapt your life to His teachings.
He will be respectful of the laws of the Church and will comply with them diligently.
He will deeply love the Church and for that reason will always show reverence to the
Holy Father, to the Archbishop and the Priests.
He/She will attend mass on Sundays. In the parishes that hold celebrations.
Eucharistic for children and adolescents, he must attend to care for the pious
their participation.
He/She must contribute with his/her friendship and good treatment towards his/her peers to create a

TRULY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF CATECHISTS: where the

love, joy, understanding, forgiveness, generosity, mutual assistance and the
unit.
He/She will be a person of prayer and will frequently partake in the sacraments of Penance and the

Eucharist.
When he/she needs to miss their catechesis session, he/she will inform the coordinator
responsible for catechesis, so that the interlocutors do not go unanswered.
to be attended to. He will also notify his assistant to replace him.
When you find yourself in the situation of leaving the ministry of catechesis, it will be made known.
to the Priest Director or to the catechesis coordinator, clearly explaining the
reason for your decision.
He/She will participate in parent meetings. He/She will meet the parents of the
quiz participants, will relate to them and will take special interest in organizing
periodic meetings (for example, every month) in which topics will be taught that
they concretize them as educators of their children's Faith and other topics that concern them
help to improve their Christian life.
In case there is an 'Assistant Catechist', they must work in coordination with
He will assign small tasks at the beginning, such as: arranging the living room or the place.
where faith education (catechesis) takes place, can also take attendance,
maintain order and discipline, assist the catechumens in their work and to
finish the course allow your assistant to teach several topics so that he/she can progress
learning better and better how to be a good catechist.
You will remember that the assistant is in preparation, for that reason, they will talk to the
about the catechetical process, that is: how to prepare a session, what is the

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progress of the catechumens, what difficulties are there in the group, how to solve them,
etc.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY OF CATECHISTS

To be a catechist it is necessary:

Great love for catechesis and desire to proclaim the word of GOD.
Ability to relate to people of different ages and situations.
Sufficient maturity according to their age.
•To be at least sixteen years old, or as judged by the directing priest or the
directive.
Having completed the introductory and basic courses, as well as the guide.
pastoral for catechesis in Mexico.
•Having received the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Penance and
Eucharist.
Certain degree of spiritual life: Effort in prayer, frequency in the
sacraments, testimony of Christian life.
Have one year of service as an auxiliary catechist.
Ability to work in a team, availability to live in UNIT AND
FRATERNITY, responsibility, and commitment.
Spirit of service, creativity, and joy among others.
Concern for renewal and improvement in all aspects: Human, Christian,
psychopedagogical, doctrinal, etc.

HIS FORMATION

Every catechist requires comprehensive training that must cover several aspects:

Spiritual Training.
Doctrinal Training.
Human and Anthropological Training.
Pedagogical Training and Methodology.

The training must also be PERMANENT.

For new catechists, training is provided each week for a certain period of time.
course that contains the basic elements of catechesis (The course can be used from
basic training for evangelization and catechesis agents.

For catechists with several years of experience, courses and workshops can be organized.
study on the different areas of training.

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It is advisable for them to obtain some diplomas from the courses offered by DIDIPAC each
year, (Summer course) or the courses offered at the Dean's level each year.

Auxiliary Catechists

We call auxiliary catechists the young people or adults who do not yet have under them
responsibility to a group of catechumens and they are in a preparation period to be
catechists.

FUNCTIONS

He/She will work in coordination with the catechist of the group that has been assigned to him/her.
he himself has chosen.
You must be punctual and not miss sessions, meetings, or activities.
programmed by the community of catechists.
Will notify the catechist, the coordinator, or the person responsible for the catechesis when
has to be absent due to force majeure: illness, personal difficulties,
etc.
He will attend his weekly preparation.
He/She will participate in the Mass on Sundays and will ensure the pious participation of the
catechumens, in case this type exists in your Parish or Chapel
celebrations.
•Must be a person of Prayer and frequently partake in the Sacraments of Penance and
Eucharist
Help the catechist of the group where you are an Assistant:
Arranging with the catechist the place where the sessions will be held.
Education of Faith.
•Will take attendance.
Will monitor the order and good behavior of the catechumens.
Will distribute material when needed.
He/She will observe and carry out the work in communion and brotherhood with the catechist or
educator in the Faith.
He/She will fulfill the commission assigned to him/her during the session development.
for example: Teach singing, set up the game, etc.

PREPARATION

To be received as assistants, they must undergo an initiation course.

Throughout the entire catechetical period, they will receive initial preparation weekly.
that enables them to become "catechists or educators of the Faith". As a text it

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You can take the basic course for Evangelization and Catechesis agents and the Guide.
Pastoral for Catechesis in Mexico.
Each month they will be given an evaluation to see if they are assimilating what was received.
Before completing the catechetical course, the auxiliary catechist will prepare some
catechesis sessions and will teach them in the group where he is collaborating. It
the responsible catechist of the group and the coordinator or person in charge of the
catechesis with the aim of giving the necessary instructions to improve.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The conditions (more or less) that are asked of the catechist educators will be requested.
the Faith.

SUPPORT SPIRITUAL CATECHISTS

To those who freely choose to offer their PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES for
support the catechetical work of the parish community we call: SUPPORT
SPIRITUAL.

They can be simple community members, or members of other organizations.

parishioners, or parents of the catechumens.

FUNCTIONS

Pray daily, it could be a Our Father, a Hail Mary and Glory, or the Holy
Rosary, or a dozen Rosaries for the spiritual success of the catechesis.
Offer daily your sacrifices and work of the day for the already noted intention.
Receive intentions proposed by the catechists who educate in Faith and pray for
they.
They can organize 'HOLY HOURS' in coordination with the team.
spirituality in which the entire parish catechetical community can participate.
The mothers or relatives of the catechumens who ordinarily took them to their
Children go to catechesis and are awaited, they can be mom catechists or catechists.
spiritual support assistants or catechists, committing to
to pray while the catechumens are in 'Faith Education', this prayer can
to consist of praying the Holy Rosary, doing a Holy Hour, etc.
All members of this group will meet on a day they set to do
COMMUNITY PRAYER for the catechesis, for the community of catechists,
for the parish community and for the Universal Church. This meeting can be held every
every month or every two weeks.

REQUIREMENTS

Be willing to serve the Church by offering your life, your sacrifices, and your prayers for it.
spiritual success of catechesis.

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Good deeds

They are people from the parish community who voluntarily decide to collaborate with
the catechesis in the material aspect, either by contributing an amount that they establish or
cooperating with other types of assistance, whether for catechesis or for the interlocutors, such as
for example: blackboards, papers, notebooks, candies, toys, construction materials, etc.

Those who generously lend their home or some other place are also considered benefactors.
property for catechesis as well as those who regularly contribute with products
food for fairs, festivals, etc.

FUNCTIONS

Each benefactor member will deliver to the catechesis treasurer on the agreed date the
amount that has been committed to give, or the things or food products in the
agreed times, for example: Catechesis Week, Children's Day, Christmas, Easter,
end of course, first communions, etc.

All benefactors will be included in a list with their name, address, type of contribution.
Oh help. This list will be kept in the catechesis file.

The treasurer of the board will coordinate and organize some activities with the benefactors.
such as gatherings, meetings, etc.

REQUIREMENTS

All those who love the Church and Catechesis can belong to it generously.
they want to share their material goods so that the Kingdom of God can grow
in the Church through Faith Education or Catechesis.
Let them be generous people, without a desire for publicity so that the Lord who sees...
the secret of the heart may be your reward.

HOME VISITORS

They are Christians who voluntarily offer their time visiting families, being
means of rapprochement between these and catechesis.

These people can be any member of the community or belong to some

parish movement like the Legion of Mary and others.

FUNCTIONS

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Visit the homes of the interlocutors who are consecutively absent to inquire.
the reasons and motivate them to return. They will communicate everything to the catechist
corresponding.
They will invite families from house to house for their children to attend catechism.
Invite those who are not registered to register, and if they wish to receive any
sacramento take all your data and communicate it to the coordinator to see what
In what way can we help this person.
At the agreed time, they will carry out the parish census for the catechesis.
They will attend the meetings called by the coordinator or responsible person.
catechesis, to learn about and carry out the activities requested of him, such as the
mentioned above, or others that involve the entire community such as the
Catechesis Week.
The group of visitors will be organized by the coordinator or responsible person of the
catechesis. He will be the commissioner to divide the visitors into the various
city points.

NOTE: Where the parish is organized by sectors, the messengers will be able to provide
this good service to the catechists.

REQUIREMENTS

Adults or young people with the ability to create community, to be bonds of union between the
catechists and the community.

That they enjoy it and are able to walk.

They should be extremely respectful of people in order NOT TO DISCLOSE OR COMMENT

as much as it refers to his apostolate. Example: family situations, confidences, etc.

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