According to the National Directory for Catechesis the Bishops are primarily responsible for catechesis.They share this responsibility with the pastor, priests, permanent deacons, women and men religious, and other lay parish ministers.
In the Archdiocese of Chicago catechetical leaders include the following depending on their level of responsibilities and their education.
DIRECTORS
- Parish Directors of Religious Education/Catechesis/Faith Formation. (Pastoral Associates with overall catechetical responsibilities may serve as a DRE.)
COORDINATORS
- Parish Coordinators of Religious Education/Catechesis/Faith Formation
- Parish Coordinators of Adult Faith Formation
- Parish Coordinators of Youth Ministry
- Pastoral Associates with partial catechetical responsibilities may serve as a CRE
- Catholic School Principals
- Catholic School Religion Coordinators
- High School Coordinators of Youth Ministry (Campus Ministers)
Master Catechist
Master Catechists are identified and recognized by the diocesan catechetical office and assist in training and mentoring other catechists.
Parish Director of Religious Education or Catechesis
The Director of Religious Education (DRE) has the pastor’s delegated responsibility and authority to develop and implement a plan for lifelong comprehensive and systematic catechesis. This responsibility may be exercised in collaboration with parish staff members who share the responsibility for catechesis.
The parish Director of Religious Education is “the person who organizes and directs the program of lifelong faith formation for all parishioners under the direction of the pastor and in collaboration with the pastoral staff.” (National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers serving as Parish Catechetical Leaders,USCCB, p. 16) In large parishes the DRE responsibilities may be shared by more than one DRE.
Parish Coordinator of Religious Education or Catechesis
The pastor has the responsibility for the pastoral care of his parish and for developing a comprehensive plan for lifelong systematic catechesis in his parish. In parishes where the pastor has hired a DRE, he may also hire one or more Coordinators of Religious Education or Parish Catechetical Ministers to assist in the ministry of catechesis. However, in the absence of a certified DRE, the pastor actively assumes the responsibility to direct the religious education of the parish. To assist him he may employ a Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE). The Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE), under the direction and supervision of the pastor, coordinates and implements specific catechetical programs from early childhood to adult as designated by the pastor. This responsibility must be exercised in collaboration with parish staff members who share the responsibility for catechesis.