Catechist Training

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Catechist Training Program Logo

Welcome to Accompaniment in Faith – a new video-based series designed for parish catechists and school educators with essential practices and skills for teaching and forming the faith of children and adolescents.

The video series is designed around the three roles of the catechist/educator outlined in the Directory for Catechesis (Vatican, 2020): 

  1. Witness of faith and keeper of the memory of God
  2. Teacher and mystagogue
  3. Accompanier and educator

The goal of each video is to develop one particular practice or skill that is essential for engaging children or adolescents in learning and growing in faith. Each video is no longer that 15 minutes in length and comes with an accompanying Guide of ideas and methods for applying the practices and skills presented in the video. 

These easy-to-use video programs are able for FREE and available 24x7 whenever you need to understand and develop a particular skill or practice for effective teaching and faith formation. Be sure to bookmark this page for easy reference.

 

Series #1 is now available below! [JUMP TO LIST]

Series #2 will be available in Winter 2027 and Series #3 in Spring 2027. 

For School Principals and Parish Catechetical Leaders

The Accompaniment in Faith Organizer Guide introduces the principles of adult learning and the Church’s vision of formation guiding the project. It provides a variety of learning formats for conducting formation and continuing education programs using the Accompaniment Videos and Guides. Central to our learning approach is a process for guiding catechists and educators in discerning their learning needs using the “Competencies for Teaching and Forming Faith,” and creating learning plans for developing the knowledge, skills, and practices for effectively teaching and forming faith. The Videos and Guides provide an essential resource for individual learning plans. (Be sure to download the Catechist & Educator Guide as well.)

Download Organizer Guide PDF

For Catechists and Educators

Our goal is to help you become more competent and capable teaching the Catholic faith and forming the faith of young people. We have made it easy for you by creating short (under 15 minutes) videos that teach one practice or skill that is essential for engaging children or adolescents in learning and growing in faith. The focus is on the “how to” of being a catechist and educator. The Catechist and Educator Guide introduces you to philosophy of the Accompaniment in Faith project and how you will benefit from engaging with the Videos and their accompanying Guides. We encourage to take time to discern your learning needs using the “Competencies for Teaching and Forming Faith,” and creating learning plans for developing the knowledge, skills, and practices that you need to learn. The Accompaniment Videos and Guides provide an essential resource for your learning.

Download Catechist & Educator Guide PDF

Developing Competencies for Teaching and Forming Faith

This Assessment Guide is intended to help you identify your strengths as a parish catechist or school educator and focus on areas for learning and growth.

Download Assessment PDF
Download Assessment MSWord Doc

Accompaniment in Faith

Practices + Skills for Catechists & Educators

SERIES #1

Called to be a Catechist

Mini-Retreat Featuring:

  • A Panel Discussion & Personal Reflections on the Directory for Catechesis
View Video

Teaching Practices and Skills

Topics featured:

  • Planning and Preparation for Teaching
  • Creating the Right Climate for Learning
  • Designing for Different Styles of Learning
  • Engaging Children in the Learning Experience
  • Building Relationships and Community
View Videos & Guides

Creative Learning Methods

Topics featured:

  • Launching the Learning
  • The Art of Questioning
  • Collaborative Learning
  • Inquiry-Based Learning
  • Nurturing Wonder
  • Engaging the Symbols of Faith
  • Teaching with Images
  • Closing Learning Well
View Videos & Guides

Forming Faith

Topics featured:

  • Sharing Bible Stories with Children
  • Sharing Bible Stories with Teens
  • Praying with Children
  • Preparing for Worship: 4 Movements of the Mass
  • Preparing for Worship: Signs, Symbols, Gestures
  • Preparing for Worship: The Liturgical Year 
View Videos & Guides

Called to be a Catechist

Featuring:

  • A Panel Discussion & Personal Reflections on the Directory for Catechesis
View Video & Guide

Teaching Practices and Skills

Topics featured:

  • Planning and Preparation for Teaching
  • Creating the Right Climate for Learning
  • Designing for Different Styles of Learning
  • Engaging Children in the Learning Experience
  • Building Relationships and Community
View Videos & Guides

Creative Learning Methods

Topics featured:

  • Launching the Learning
  • The Art of Questioning
  • Collaborative Learning
  • Inquiry-Based Learning
  • Nurturing Wonder
  • Engaging the Symbols of Faith
  • Teaching with Images
  • Closing Learning Well
View Videos & Guides

Forming Faith

Topics featured:

  • Sharing Bible Stories with Children
  • Sharing Bible Stories with Teens
  • Praying with Children
  • Preparing for Worship: 4 Movements of the Mass
  • Preparing for Worship: Signs, Symbols, Gestures
  • Preparing for Worship: The Liturgical Year 
View Videos & Guides