Catechetical Plan

 
Parish Mission Statement

We the faith community of Sacred Heart Parish, Waterloo, Iowa recognize that we are called by our baptism to be formed throughout our livesby the Word of God and the Eucharist. Accepting our common responsibility as disciples, we commit our God-given gifts of time, talent, and treasure to further the mission of Christ.

Educational Mission Statement

The Sacred Heart Education Committee endeavors to provide a Christ-centered environment which supports, nurtures, and offers opportunities for growth in faith for all parishioners through the development of a program of total parish catechesis.
Our mission is carried out in the following ten areas of catechesis:
• Early Childhood
• Children of elementary age
• Adolescents
• Young adults
• Adults
• Older adults
• Persons with special needs
• Families
• Sacred Heart School & Columbus High School
• Marginalized

Philosophy Statements

• We believe that the essential purpose of the educational ministry at Sacred Heart Parish is h to help parishioners to know Go and follow the way of Christ.
• We believe that an environment which welcomes diversity and dialogue lays a foundation for acceptance and understanding and thus teaches as Jesus did.
• We believe that ongoing conversion is essential to growth in faith.
• We believe faith formation is an essential part of the Christian life for people of all ages.
• We believe parents are the primary models in the development of faith for their children.
• We believe adult formation is the central task of the catechetical endeavor.
• We believe the model for catechesis stems from our baptismal call.
• We believe faith formation is the responsibility of all parishioners.

Sacred Heart's Total Parish Catechetical Offerings

Early Childhood
• Sacred Heart Preschool
• Vacation Bible School

Children of Elementary Age
• Religious Education (gr. 1-8)
• Sacred Heart School (preschool-8)
• Sacramental Preparation (Reconciliation, Eucharist)
• Children's Initiation
• Vacation Bible School
• Jr. High Youth Ministry

Catholic School
• Sacred Heart School
• Columbus High School

Adolescents
• C.O.R.E. (Religious Education gr. 9-12)
• Columbus High School (gr. 9-12)
• Waterloo Catholic Youth Ministry
• Confirmation Preparation
• Children's Initiation

Persons with Special Needs
• Religious Education
• Youth Ministry
• First Tuesday Marriage Enrichment
• M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing)
• Scripture Sharing Groups
• R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Children's Initiation
• Confirmation (youth & adult)
• Sacramental Preparation (as listed above)

Young Adults, Adults, Older Adults, & Marginalized
• First Tuesday Marriage Enrichment
• M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing)
• Scripture Sharing Groups
• R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Lay Formation
• Catechist Formation
• Liturgical Ministry Formation
• Advent & Lent Offerings
• Spiritual Growth Committee
• Parish Library
• Sacramental Preparation:
• Baptism
• Reconciliation
• Eucharist
• Adult Confirmation
• Children's Initiation: Parent Component
• Marriage Preparation

Families
• Sacred Heart School
• Columbus High School
• Religious Education
• Vacation Bible School
• First Tuesday Marriage Enrichment
• M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing)
• Scripture Sharing Groups
• R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
• Lay Formation
• Liturgical Ministry Formation
• Advent & Lent Offerings
• Spiritual Growth Committee
• Parish Library
• Sacramental Preparation
• Baptism
• Reconciliation
• Eucharist
• Adult Confirmation
• Children's Initiation: Parent Component
• Marriage Preparation

Priority Values
• Faith & Spirituality Importance of Family
• Stewardship/Discipleship Innovation/Creativity
• Moral Decision-making

Six Tasks of Catechesis
• Promoting knowledge of faith
• Liturgical education
• Moral formation
• Teaching to pray
• Education for community life
• Missionary initiative

Sacred Heart Parish
Catechetical Plan * Fall 2004
The Education Committee of Sacred Heart Parish initiated this long-range catechetical plan in the fall of 2003. The roles and responsibilities of the committee were changing due to the consolidation of the Catholic schools in the Cedar Valley. A metro Cedar Valley Catholic Schools Board of Education now has the primary function of determining policy and overseeing the operations of the school system. This shift enables the local parish education committee to re-focus our energies into formulating policies relative to the other nine areas of catechesis. There will be a new emphasis on addressing the future of catechetical programs beyond the scope of the Catholic school. This plan calls for planning, organizing, directing, implementing, and evaluating parish catechetical efforts in light of the six major tasks outlined in the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC #85-86). These tasks are identified as:
• Promoting knowledge of the faith
• Liturgical education
• Moral formation
• Teaching to pray
• Education for community life
• Missionary initiation

The Education Committee is the working body of the Parish Council responsible for:
• total educational programs and offerings (total parish catechesis)
• determining the overall parish educational mission and goals
• identifying catechetical priorities in the context of those goals.
The parish Education Committee has undertaken the task of developing this catechetical plan which outlines a vision of catechetical efforts today and into the future. The committee is proud and excited to present this plan which includes the faith formation hopes and dreams for our parish community for the next five years.


Education Committee Goals
2006 - 07


Goal 1: Review and revise current processes and structures to reflect the changing direction and responsibilities of the parish Education Committee.

Strategies:
1. Annual review of the Education Committee Constitution
2. Annual review of the Education Committee election process
3. Review and revise, as necessary, the Standing Committees of the Education Committee
4. Review and evaluate the annual program assessments and goal setting process
5. Review and evaluate local policies: update as needed



Goal 2: Instill a connectedness among all parish and metro Religious Education programs/schools through effective use of communication tools.

Strategies:
1. Continue to communicate the scope, function, and responsibilities of the Education Committee within the parish through:
* homily
* newsletters
* flyers
2. Update the parish web site for promoting educational program offerings, Education Committee minutes, CVCS Board of Education minutes, and educational/theological updates


Goal 3: Cooperate with metro parishes in developing faith formation initiatives.

Strategies:
1. Continue to build/enhance current shared programming
2. Collaborate with the metro Director of Adult Faith Formation in developing a monthly newsletter that would highlight adult faith formation programs/offerings in the metro area



Goal 4: Demonstrate stewardship through responsible management of time,
talent, treasure in all ten areas of catechesis within the Religious Education
budget.

Strategies:
1. Review and restructure staffing levels for all religious education programs:
DRE job description, program coordinator ministry descriptions, and staff positions, as needed.
2. Review and recommend compensation levels for all religious education personnel, especially endorsement levels for catechists
3. Encourage sacrificial giving by religious education families through newsletters,
RE handbook, open house/registration, and a covenant agreement
4. Assist the Parish Council and Stewardship Committee in offering education and
information regarding all aspects of stewardship
5. Increase awareness of stewardship concepts in religious education program
and school curricula (time, talent, treasure) through:
* program activities/projects
* opportunities for service
* distribution of sacrificial giving envelopes to school and religious education students
* visibility and active witness of Education Committee members, and school/religious education staffs at Mass and at parish events
* calling forth the gifts of children and adults for specific tasks
6. Review and revise, when necessary, the religious education budget process timeline
7. Continue to support the parish SCRIP program



Goal 5: Seek to increase participation in all faith formation programs.

Strategies:
1. Provide creative program offerings for families which focus on the liturgical
year, social activities, and service opportunities; promote those offerings
2. Personally contact families who are not enrolled in any programs to invite their
participation
3. Contact non-Catholic SHS families to invite them to learn more about the Catholic Church/faith
4. Schedule two intergenerational/parish catechetical sessions; promote events in
newsletters, bulletin, parish website, and mailings
5. Personally contact new families in religious education ansd school programs to
offer them welcome, information, and to invite their participation in parish and
program activities



Goal 6: Catechize the vision of Catholic Social Teachings,
enabling parishioners to reach out to those with special needs
and the marginalized.

Strategies:
1. Offer information to parishioners regarding parish demographics as they relate to income levels, special needs, and inactive percentages to increase awareness of the need for outreach
2. Collaborate with the metro parishes and the metro Director of Adult Faith Formation on any/all social justice offerings
3. Encourage participation in the "Shoe Box" project in the fall and the "Heifer
Project" or the “Rice Bowl Project” during lent and other parish projects



Goal 7: Renew our commitment to Adult Faith Formation as a primary focus
for catechetical efforts.

Strategies:
1. Maintain a Standing Committee for Adult Faith Formation
2. Determine the role and responsibilities for the Adult Faith Formation Standing
Committee
Suggested goals:
a. Particpate in a metro Advisory Council to determine and schedule
adult faith formation opportunities
b. Create adult faith formation articles for distribution to SHS/Religious
Education families and the parish website
c. Plan Parish Missions for 2008 and 2010
d. Provide parish-based adult formation opportunties each Lent
e. Continue to seek out and recruit adults with special gifts to enroll in the
Archdiocesan Lay Formation program
f. Find ways to offer opportunties for adult parishioners to ask faith
questions, i.e. via the bulletin, website, etc.
g. Invite adult parishioners to write short book reviews to bring attention to
selections from the Parish Library
h. Research the program Theology on Tap for young adult formation
3. Collaborate with metro parishes and the Director of Adult Faith Formation to offer opportunities for adults, seniors, and young adults
4. Offer an evening or weekend scripture study