Some of you may recall this short video I did last year to encourage people to become a catechist. I offer it once again for those who are considering becoming a catechist or as a recruitment tool for someone you’d like to see consider becoming a catechist.
Catechist Recruitment
Recruiting and Retaining Catechists Who Evangelize with GIFTS
Many catechetical leaders are familiar with the struggle of trying to find catechists at the last minute and begging parishioners for help. We have all heard the horror stories of people who tentatively volunteered and two weeks later found themselves standing in front of a room full of students, unsure of themselves and wondering how they ended up in this position. If our catechists are the backbone of our faith formation programs, then recruiting and […]
Catechist Recruitment
How Do We Recruit New Catechists? INVITE Them!
What is it that all DREs know about the majority of Catholic families today? They are overwhelmed by an overbooked schedule of events and work, and growing our faith is often deferred to those once-in-a-while moments when things are quiet; that is not necessarily weekend Mass. So how do we find future catechists? I propose we INVITE people to consider the call to be a catechist. I = INITIATE a conversation. Regular parent gatherings or […]
Catechist Recruitment
Calling Forth Catechists: Your Pool of Candidates
If your efforts to call forth catechists boil down to an “all call” approach (a bulletin announcement inviting anyone to respond to a need), you will not have much success. The most effective way to call people to the vocation of serving as a catechist is through personal invitation! One catechetical leader recently told me that, last year, she made 43 individual contacts (either in person or by phone) and ended up with the best […]
I really enjoyed your presentation. I ‘ve always loved being a catechist . . . so everything you said in the video really touched my heart. I am praying about returning to this ministry. I appreciate your guidance and prayers. I can not thank you enough. I will share this with my church community. I will also pray for you.
Pat, thanks for your prayers and kind words. Glad our paths have crossed!
Thanks for offering this video. It is really a great encouragement! I am planning to show it at our first catechists’ meeting. Loved The toolbox, too! Gave one to every catechist!
Tina, I’m glad you found the video helpful. Good idea to show it to your catechists at their meeting. Ask them to add more “top reasons!” Thanks for the kind words about the Toolbox!