IMPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS OF NDC

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IMPLICATIONS AND APPLICATIONS OF NDC

• Most Reverend Richard J. Malone, STL, ThDBishop
  of Portland, Maine

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Introduction--Stories

• Some challenges we facepeople who
• cant distinguish Catholic worship from other
  religious traditions
• dont understand the role of the Church in the
  public square
• lack catechetical training
• dont understand the Churchs social teaching
• think Church teaching is only a matter of opinion
• dont see the importance of attending Mass

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Meta-Implications of the NDC

• Everyone in ministry must
• appreciate the fact that evangelization and
  catechesis are part of their responsibilities
• affirm NDCs fundamental theological and pastoral
  principles
• embrace application of those principles agree on
  the nature, purpose, object, tasks, content, and
  some methodologies for catechesis
• engage in evangelization and catechesis in the
  context of an overall pastoral plan
• recognize the cultural context for evangelization
  and catechesis

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Culture

• The culture in which we catechize reflects
• confusion about what to believe
• lack of understanding and appreciation
• the disconnect between faith professed and faith
  lived
• a cavalier dismissal of Catholic doctrine and
  discipline

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Culture

• Culture is never neutral
• Recognizing this is a first step towards a
  Christian response to culture
• Some of the features of this non-neutrality are
  
• -- pervasive secularism
• -- religious indifference and ambiguity
• -- growth of cults and new age thinking
• -- defective anthropologies
• -- a frantic pace of life
• -- consumerism
• -- relativism
• (Clashing Symbols Introduction to Faith and
  Culture by Paul Michael Gallagher)

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NDC Highlights

• Catechesis intentionally evangelizes
• Aims to arouse, mature, and inform faith
• Calls people to conversion

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NDC Highlights

• Catechesis is Christocentric, Trinitarian and
  Ecclesial
• Truths of scripture and tradition are presented
  in an unadulterated way
• Church is authoritative teacher

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NDC Highlights

• 3. Catechesis is informed by divine methodology
• Rooted in Revelation, Gods gracious
  self-disclosure in Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• Catechists connect Scripture/doctrine and human
  experience

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NDC Highlights

• 4. Catechesis builds upon the witness of the
  community of faith
• Vitality of total parish life critical
• Participation in faith community formative

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NDC Highlights

• Catechesis involves learning by heart
• NDC names what should be learned by heart
• Some examples include
• -- prayers
• -- Commandments
• -- Beatitudes

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NDC Highlights

• Catechesis involves some use of media
• Need to understand both its good and bad aspects
• Catechists need training in using media.

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NDC Highlights

• 7. The RCIA is the model for all catechesis
• Focus on mystagogy
• Emphasis on lifelong learning

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NDC Highlights

• 8. Catechesis presents Eucharist as the heart of
  Christian life

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NDC Highlights

• Catechesis for Penance focuses on
• Gods love,
• the reality of sin,
• and the gift of Gods forgiveness

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NDC Highlights

• 10. Catechesis for Moral Life in Christ must
  connect faith as believed with faith as lived.

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NDC Highlights

• 11. NDC recognizes adult faith formation as a
  central focus.

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NDC Highlights

• Roles in Catechesis
• Many different individuals involved
• Importance of trained and effective parish
  catechetical leaders

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NDC Highlights

1. Catechetical formation of seminarians and clergy
   is essential

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NDC Highlights

• 14. Formation of catechists must be a priority

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Implications

• 1. Diocesan catechetical leaders need to
  examine every aspect
• What are the unique challenges and forces
  affecting evangelizing catechesis in our
  dioceses?
• How do we plan effective faith formation in light
  of these challenges?

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Implications

• 2. Bishops need to call all diocesan leaders
  embrace their role in evangelization and faith
  formation