More parishes seeking faith formation leaders
A larger than usual class of Parish Catechetical Leaders (PCLs) was trained last week at the Pastoral Center in Newark as over 22% of parishes throughout the Archdiocese seek new leaders to run their faith formation programs in the fall.
Forty-seven parishes out of the 212 within the Archdiocese of Newark are in transition with their Catechetical Leadership, said Patty Rodriguez, Director of the Catechetical Office at the Newark Archdiocese.
“It’s a high number of parishes seeking new leaders,” she said.
Pre-COVID-19, the Archdiocese training at the Pastoral Center typically saw no more than approximately 25 new PCLs preparing to serve parishes in catechetical ministry, Rodriguez said.
Parishes across the four counties of the Archdiocese are reporting more retirements and turnover, Rodriguez said, mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath.
“We are seeing COVID fatigue. While it propelled us into a digital age and, in many ways helped us to better engage families, it was also overwhelming and demanded a lot from those in ministry. The rate of burnout has been higher,” she said.
The Archdiocese’s Catechetical Office typically holds the annual training for full-time paid PCLs, but this year is making accommodations for part-time PCLs for the first time. As churches accept the resignations of full-time leaders, some are realigning their faith formation programs with part-time leaders. Rodriguez said that of the 47 parishes welcoming new PCLs, about half will serve part time.
The 27 men and women who participated in the workshop, “Essentials for PCLs,” from Aug. 16-18, will also take what they learned over the three-day training back to their parishes to train volunteer Catechists.
Leaders for a hope-filled future
Eight who attended the training were men, and many participants were in their 20s. Rodriguez said this year’s group was diverse. “It is hopeful to see lay leaders excited to serve their parishes,” she said.
Marianela Guerrero, 23, was one of the younger participants excited to be leading the Faith Formation Program at St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral in Newark after just two years of teaching there. Soon after moving to the U.S. from Peru in 2019, Guerrero began teaching religious education classes. Come September, she will be leading seven teachers at the church that offers Faith Formation on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.
She said that she teaches religious education because she gets to “plant a seed in them, that will hopefully take root in the future” in their Catholic faith.
Ricardo Casimiro, who also attended the training, said although he has been studying theology for 20 years, he only began teaching faith formation five years ago. Recently he was asked to take over as director of Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Verona.
He has big visions for parish faith formation beyond the current program, which is typically offered in preparation of sacraments. He wants to expand to “family formation” and Bible study for all ages.
He said there are still too many empty seats at Mass brought on by the pandemic.
“My hope is to bring families back to the church,” Casimiro said.
Ed and Dominica will be the team heading up the Catechism Program at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Cresskill.
Ed has been a volunteer with the parish for several years and will be coordinating 6th -7th grade, while Dominica is joining new this year and will be coordinating 1st- 5th grades. Both are serving the parish part-time and work in the healthcare field full-time.
Dominica said she looks forward to meeting the families and learning from them while “spreading the word of Christ to the community.”
Sr. Genevieve Okoro, a missionary from Nigeria, started as a PCL at St. Antonius Church in Newark in February but has been teaching Catechism for many years.
“I started teaching Catechism in high school as a teenager. Ever since, I have had a longing to teach everywhere I can,” Sr. Genevieve said.
While Catechism is arranged around four main principals or pillars: The Profession of Faith (the Apostles’ Creed); The Celebration of the Christian Mystery (the Sacred Liturgy and the sacraments); Life in Christ (morality); and Christian Prayer, Rodriguez said the Church is calling for a shift from a heavy emphasis on doctrine only, to an authentic and convincing presentation of the person of Jesus Christ.
Catechism and Evangelization
“Evangelizing is about helping people to encounter Jesus and creating more space for Him in our daily life. It’s about our relationship with the Lord first, then doctrine follows,” Rodriguez said. “It’s about how and why we live our life through service and acts of mercy.”
The Catechetical Office at the Archdiocese also offers other services to support PCLs and parish leaders year-round through advisement, organized professional development days, retreats, and quarterly county meetings. They will also help train the 20 part-time PCLs with full-time jobs before the start of the year.
Rodriguez said that adequate support is needed because the success of each parish’s program depends primarily on the pastor, the leadership of the catechetical staff, and their formation of the catechetical team.
“For many families, the catechist is the first interaction with the Parish community,” Rodriguez said.
Although the training had a good showing of future PCLs, Rodriguez said parishes are struggling to find catechists.
“On Sundays, on what is most likely their one day off, they get up early to teach a session in which they have already invested time in planning over the week,” she said.
It is also the job of PCLs who oversee the volunteer catechists to provide affirmation, appreciation, and formation, Rodriguez said.
To learn more about Catholic Faith Formation or to become a PCL visit the Archdiocese of Newark’s Catechetical Office webpage at canfaithformation.org.
Featured Image: The group of this year’s Parish Catechetical Leaders who were trained last week at the Pastoral Center in Newark.
