Parish Catechetical Leadership Institute:
Most organizations have programs that offer tremendous value but often go unnoticed. In the Diocese of Evansville, the Parish Catechetical Leadership Institute could be considered such – its contribution is vital for the life of the Church, yet few parishioners know of its existence.
The National Directory for Catechesis, the United States Bishops’ document guiding the formal handing down of faith in the country, states that “the single most critical factor in an effective catechetical program is the leadership of a professionally trained parish catechetical leaderwho works under the direction of the pastor” (NDC 54.B-5). Guided by this statement and the need present in the diocese, Kathy Gallo, director of the Office of Catechesis, in the Diocese of Evansville, approached the leadership of the Lay Degree Programs at Saint Meinrad School of Theology to help develop a suitable program for the diocese’s PCLI.
A planning team of seasoned catechetical leaders and a representative from Saint Meinrad took shape. In the course of a year, the team developed the structure of a three-year program that would model the four-pillar formation recommended for catechetical ministry by the National Directory for Catechesis. Those four pillars involve human, spiritual, pastoral and intellectual formation. The first year focuses on human formation, the second on spiritual formation and the third on pastoral formation. Intellectual formation is woven through each year, and is offered by monks and faculty from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and catechetical leaders from the diocese. The five-day intensive training takes place at Saint Meinrad Archabbey, in July.
Participants have the opportunity to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the Benedictine monks, enjoy the beauty of the grounds and experience the Holy Hill – whose mission is centered on forming ordained and lay people for ministry in the Church.
The first group of parish catechetical leaders started itsjourney in July of 2013. Each year has seen some form of program expansion. In 2014, the Diocese of Owensboro joined as a sponsoring diocese. In 2015, a representative from the Archdiocese of Louisville joined the planning team and catechetical leaders from the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana participated in the program.
The initiative and support of the Diocese of Evansville brought this program into existence. Additional support from the Diocese of Owensboro helped broaden the scope and keep the momentum since 2014. But the program could not have continued without the generous grant it received from Our Sunday Visitor. The Catholic weekly’s $25,000 grant made it possible to keep registration fees low, to offer scholarships, to engage the expertise of the faculty and monks of Saint Meinrad School of Theology, and to offer an excellent, multi-faceted program that enriches the lives of participants and those whom they serve in parishes.
