Parish Catechetical Leaders
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The Office of Children and Family Catechesis is committed to nourishing catechesis and evangelization in compliance with the mission and vision of the Catholic Church. Our primary objective is to work with Pastors and Pastoral Teams as we support and guide catechetical leaders in providing faith formation programs that form believers for an integral Christian life, and pursues the following tasks:
- Leading to knowledge of the faith
- Initiating into the celebration of the mystery
- Forming for life in Christ
- Teaching to pray
- Introducing to community life (DC 79)
Additionally, we work to resource parish catechetical leaders in planning faith formation programs in accordance with the mission of the Diocese of Syracuse.
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Download Scholarship Application Form
The following Scholarship are available in the above download. Learn more about each.in the Application Form Link.
Catechetical Leadership Tuition Assistance Scholarship - Bachelor*, Master, or Master Degree Equivalent Certificate Program as well as
Post-Degree Continuing Education Credits. ($700/course)
Catechetical Leaders Formation for Ministry Scholarship - Parish Support Program ($500 towards total. tuition + $500 for Leadership Certificate)
Master Catechist Certificate through Formation for Ministry Scholarship ($500 towards total tuition)
Catechetical Ongoing Formation Supplement Scholarship (non-credit courses) ($50/ course up to 3/year)Conference Funds for Catechetical Leaders ($700)
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Training Scholarship ($500/course + up to $1000 travel/hotel expenses)
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Technology Grant Applications - 2025-26 Grants information coming soon. These grants are for catechetical leaders for their administrative roles., up to $500.
BuildingFaith@Home: Family Catechesis Event Grants - This type of grant is now concluded.
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Statistical Report Form - These will be sent in a digital format.
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Program Guidelines (coming soon)
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List and contacts
Choosing a Curriculum
Textbook EvaluationParish Assessment Tool for First Reconciliation Program (ArchDiocese of Milwaukee)
Parish Assessment Tool for First Eucharist Program (ArchDiocese of Milwaukee)Whole Community/Family Catechesis Program Resources:
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Diocesan Description of Various Models of Faith Formation (coming soon)
Catechesis of the Good ShepherdOTHER RESOURCES
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BOOKS
ARTICLES
- Total Community Catechesis for Lifelong Faith Formation
- Why Family Catechesis is So Important Today (Roberto, John)
WEBSITES
CATECHETICAL DOCUMENTS
- General Directory for Catechesis
- Apostolic Exhortation Catechesis Tradendae (Catechesis in our time)
- Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the modern world)
- Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium ( Gospel in today’s world)
- New Directory for Catechesis (2020) (book)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (digital)
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Why do we celebrate Catechetical Sunday?
Who are Catechists?
In 1935, the Vatican published On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education, a document that asks every country to acknowledge the importance of the Church’s teaching ministry and to honor those who serve the Christian community as catechists. For the first few years after Catechetical Sunday was established, national catechetical congresses were held in conjunction with the celebration. Beginning in 1971, the USCCB’s Department of Education began producing materials to help parishes celebrate the event at the local level. When the Committee on Catechesis, now named the Committee of Evangelization and Catechesis, was named by the Conference as a standing Committee, it continued to publish Catechetical Sunday materials each year. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the third Sunday in September as Catechetical Sunday.
The word catechesis is from a Greek word meaning “to echo.” All those who teach the Catholic faith and share the Church’s teachings, by word and by the way they live their lives, are catechists. The catechist's goal is always to set hearts aflame for Christ.
We celebrate and pray for all who come forward for this ministry. They are people who are willing to share their own faith and have the courage to listen to the faith stories of others, without judgment but with a sense of wonder and awe.
In May 2021, Pope Francis established the lay ministry of catechist in the Catholic Church, officially declaring that catechists are to be recognized as lay ministers in the Catholic Church and are due the training and support they need to be successful in their ministry.
Why do we have a special day set aside to commission catechists?
Catechesis is a distinct and special ministry in the Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes clear, “Catechesis is intimately bound up with the whole of the Church’s life . . . her inner growth and correspondence with God’s plan depend essentially on catechesis” (no. 7). This ministry of teaching in the name of the Church has a profound dignity, which is why catechists are formally commissioned by the Church. It is only fitting that we set aside a day to highlight this ministry and invite the entire church community to think about our responsibility to share our faith with others.
How are parents, the primary catechists of their children, recognized on Catechetical Sunday?
Parents are truly the primary catechists of their children. They prepare the soil and plant the first seeds of faith. On Catechetical Sunday, we not only highlight the work of catechists in parishes and schools, but we also commend parents and guardians and encourage them to take seriously their role of making their Catholic households a place where faith is passed on to the next generation. This is why the rite of blessing of catechists used on Catechetical Sunday includes an optional blessing of parents and guardians.
(USCCB.org)2025 CATECHETICAL THEME - September 21, 2025
The full scripture verse from 1 Peter3:15 used for the 2025 Catechetical Sunday theme tells us, ““Always be ready to give an explanation…for a reason for your hope.” This theme encourages us to be prepared to share the basis of our faith, the Lord, and the hope He provides. In the same manner Saint Peter encouraged the believers of his time, the scripture reminds us, the sharing should be done with gentleness and respect. (USCCB)
RESOURCES
This will be updated as materials are produced.
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