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Message from Pope
Benedict »
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The Office for Catechesis serves each parish of the
Archdiocese of Chicago through a Vicariate Catechetical Coordinator (VCC). It is
primarily through the VCC that communication between the Office for Catechesis and the
pastor/catechetical leaders of the local parish is maintained and fostered.
The VCC provides assistance to parishes in meeting their
responsibility to provide catechesis for children, youth, adolescents, adults and families
in a way that responds to the ethnic/cultural needs of the community. Services include
material selection, catechist formation, conflict resolution, planning and evaluation,
clarification of Archdiocesan policies and procedures, exposure to alternative models of
catechesis, and general consultation.
At the same time, the VCC is responsible for challenging
catechetical leaders and pastors to develop a broader vision of catechesis directed to
adults, adolescents and children. |
Ways your VCC can help you
Providing Advocacy
Providing Leadership
Providing Vision
Providing Resources
How you can help your VCC |
| The Archdiocese of Chicago is geographically divided into six regions
known as Vicariates. To better serve the catechetical needs within each vicariate, the
Office for Catechesis provides a Vicariate Catechetical Consultant (VCC). The role of the
VCC is to enhance the catechetical ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago by connecting
parishes to one another and to the Archdiocesan Office for Catechesis and Jegen Center for
Catechetical Media & Research. |
| Your VCC is in dialogue with Catechetical Leaders, Pastors, Deans and
Vicars as well as other archdiocesan vicariate representatives. The role of the Vicariate
Catechetical Consultant is fulfilled in the following ways: |
Ways your VCC can serve you
* By offering assistance in planning for catechesis in the parish
* By aiding in the evaluation of parish catechetical programs
* By offering catechetical resources
* By helping you strengthen the bonds between catechesis in your communities and the
diocesan pastoral program
* By explaining policies and guidelines, as well as programs and services
* By assisting with conflict management
* By giving Office for Catechesis and Jegen Center program information |
ADVOCACY - Your VCC. . .
* Facilitates communication between Catechetical Leaders and others (i.e. pastors,
parents, and catechists)
* Responds to conflict/crisis that relates to religious education
* Fosters catechesis that responds to the ethnic/cultural needs of the community
* Assists parishes in finding catechetical resources for inclusion for those with special
needs |
LEADERSHIP - Your VCC. . .
* Provides assistance with services and programs, especially for professional
development of catechetical leaders and catechist certification
* Participates in area planning for catechesis* Shares pertinent information and resources
* Clarifies Archdiocesan policies and procedures
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VISION - Your VCC. . .
* Challenges the Catechetical Leaders in the deanery to a broader parish vision of
religious education through catechesis directed to adults, adolescents and children
* Encourages use of a variety of catechetical models (i.e. inter-generational,
catechumenal, lectionary-based, family centered, inter-parish, regional, etc.)
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PROGRAM RELATED SERVICES - your VCC. . .
Your VCC will be able to assist the parish in implementing the following processes
and services of the Archdiocesan Office for Catechesis:
* Fostering Faith: A Catechist Certification Process for the
Archdiocese of Chicago This process will assist the parish in
developing a plan for catechist formation that will lead to archdiocesan certification of
the catechist.
* The Parish Catechetical Check-up Tool This process will help the parish affirm catechetical strengths, surface
the needs, and set goals and objectives for the future.
* Archdiocese of Chicago Policies and Procedures: (Book II The People of God, Part I, Church Personnel - Book III The
Teaching Office of the Church - Book IV The Sanctifying Office of the Church, Part I
Sacramental Life) These policies and guidelines will assist the parish in dealing with
personnel issues, setting up and maintaining a quality religious education program, and
planning for the proper celebration of the Sacraments, the Sunday Eucharist and other
Liturgies.
* The Art of Leadership for Catechetical Ministry This is a comprehensive handbook that provides resources and procedures
for effective catechetical leadership in the Archdiocese of Chicago. |
Ways you can assist your VCC . . .
* By promoting vocations to the service of catechesis in the parish
* By letting the VCC know what is happening in the parish
* By attendance at the deanery/cluster meetings REALLY? WHEN ARE THEY?
* By promptly returning the data survey
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