By Mary Beth Marino

An archdiocesan training program has been devised for all educators in the field of religious education.

Jim Sendelbach, director of the catechist formation/certification program, said the innovative program will provide faith enrichment, study and service opportunities to fulfill the needs of the person teaching in parish religious education classes.

In this conscientious effort to reorganize and update the teaching of religious education, this program has been presented to Archbishop Thomas Donnellan and approved by the Board of Education.

“This program has been discussed over a long period of time by the Board of Education and the value has been seen” Sendelbach said.

“While it is not mandatory at this time, hopefully in the very near future, all religious education teachers will be accredited in this program.”

“The overall need for training lay ministers and educators was promoted by Vatican II’s request to involve more parishioners in various forms of liturgical worship and religious education.” Sendelbach said.

Sendelbach said the present educators in the parishes included some working on salary, others as volunteers, and a combination of part-time and full-time educators.

Under the new program, catechists have a wide range of educational opportunities offered them as well as diversified options for obtaining certification.

An in-depth handbook is available as well as brochures, obtainable through the Religious Education Office at the Catholic Center.

The following outline will give a brief overview of how the program works:

ARCHDIOCESAN LEVEL

The archdiocese offers a certification program uniquely designed for teachers of religious education. Any instructor could qualify for this certification, including a parent who is presently teaching elementary school of religion classes.

Teachers can achieve certification as a Catechist, Advanced Catechist or Master Catechist. There are three categories that must be completed in each level of certification.

They are:

1. Content
2. Practice Methods and Development
3. Catechetical Experience and Activities

CATECHIST CERTIFICATION

1. completed 30 hours of course work in content.
2. Completed 30 hours of training method and development.
3. Completed 30 hours of activities and experience.

This certification would be good for two years and renewable upon completion of 10 additional hours choosing one from the above specified areas.

ADVANCED CATECHIST CERTIFICATION

Requirements to achieve Advanced Catechist certification are:

*Pre-requisite certified catechist.

1. 50 additional hours in content.
2. 30 additional hours in training.
3. 30 additional hours of activities.
4. Been personally interviewed by pastor and Office of Religious Education.

This certification is good for two years and renewable upon completion of 15 additional hours choosing one from the above specified areas.

Both additional hours of catechist and advanced catechist hours can apply to next level or for same level renewal.

MASTER CATECHIST CERTIFICATON

Requirements to achieve Master Catechist certification are:

*Pre-requisite advanced catechist certification.

1. additional 50 hours of method and development.
2. additional 50 hours of content.
3. additional 50 hours of activities.
4. been observed and interviewed by pastor and Office of Religious Education.

Certification is granted for three years and is renewable upon completion of 20 additional hours in any one area selected above.

These three programs are taught by local qualified teachers at the parish.

It is important to note that in almost every parish, the majority of religious education instructors already qualify for certified catechist with existing experience.

Here is an example of an eligibility:

Jane Brown has worked at her parish for five years. She started as a volunteer, teaching school of religion classes two days a week for three years.

The pastor, finding Jane to be valuable in leadership and dedication, has decided to hire her as the coordinator for the entire school of religious education program for the youth.

Jane’s personal experience consists of a faith enrichment course lasting 13 Sundays a year for two years. She also prepared liturgy for all the holy days on the liturgical calendar.

What level will Jane be certifiable for based upon her past personal and volunteer contributions? It will break down like this:

First, Jane’s hours as a volunteer teacher need to be calculated. Under the Catechetical Experience and Activities category, she would be credited with two hours a week for 30 weeks each year over three years, for a total of 180 hours.

Second, under content, Jane would receive credit for her personal experience in adult education every Sunday for two years, for a total of 52 hours.

Third, under liturgical activity, Jane would be credited for planning the liturgy for one year. If we gave her 10 hours per liturgy it would equal 60 hours under liturgical activity.

These additional 60 hours would be credited under Catechetical Experience and Activities.

In summary, Jane would only need 30 more hours in methodology to be certified as a catechist.

Jane’s suggested salary base from the Office of Religious Education would be rated as follows:

No degree, but with education and experience acceptable to the parish.

Calculated with five years’ experience, her salary should rate at $12,500 for full-time employment with benefits. For a new youth minister such as Jane, the Office of Religious Education would strongly recommend the “Professional Training Program in Religious Education/Youth Ministry.”

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING LEVEL

The next advanced program is proposed for those interested in becoming a Director of Religious Education (DRE), a Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE), or Youth Minister. This program is provided by the Northeast Center for Youth Ministry in conjunction with St. Thomas University in Miami and is taught at the Catholic Center in downtown Atlanta. A DRE would have a base of $12,000; CRE - $10,000 and a Youth Minister, $10,000.

MASTER’S DEGREE LEVEL

A Master’s Degree in Religious Education is offered through Loyola University (New Orleans) and courses will be held at Holy Cross parish starting in September. The Master’s Degree program would be geared towards those choosing Religious Education as a career and salary range would have a starting base of 413,800.

Salaries will vary according to qualifications.

Remember, the example of Jane and her suggested salary was based on her experience, not her certification in this case.

The encouraging fact here is that experience counts as much as education, for now. Approximately two to five years from now, as more candidates complete their certification requirements, this situation may reverse.

The studies will benefit the catechist in working towards a full-time salaried position in religious education.

Salary schedules will be implemented in the 1985/86 academic year. Upon meeting the criteria as a Director of Religious Education, (DRE), or Coordinator of Religious Education, (CRE), or as youth minister each will also be entitled to benefits in addition to salary. They will consist of workmen’s compensation, hospitalization and retirement. For job related driving, other than to and from work, 20 cents per mile for transportation will be offered. A one-month vacation will also be allotted.

All in all, the national trend is in favor of this program. It will aim to give quality religious education to those not afforded the opportunity of finding or learning it themselves.

It will also benefit children attending the public schools or having parents of differing religious backgrounds.

It will serve as a course for those Catholics not familiar with the changes in the church since Vatican II. It will shed light on these changes and help to re-solidify the faith.

For an in-depth handbook detailing all the particulars of the program, please call Jim Sendelbach at the Office of Religious Education at 881-6131.