Those who instruct others in faith formation programs include volunteers in a variety of parish programs and professional educators. All of them are devoted Catholics who are zealous to share their faith and to help impart that faith to others.

In order to be a catechist (the official name for a teacher of religion), one must:

Catechesis is both a vocation and a craft.  As such, it needs to be constantly nurtured and honed.  The best way to begin to ensure the effectiveness of one’s catechetical ministry is to seek certification as a catechist.  Our Catechist Certification Guidelines, approved by Bishop Guglielmone, have been in effect for several years. These requirements assure that all catechists have the opportunity for appropriate background in Sacred Scripture, basic doctrine, liturgy and sacraments, Catholic moral teaching, Catholic social teaching, catechetical methods, and learning theory.  There are abundant opportunities to achieve the training required for certification, offered both by the diocese and by local parishes.   Check out our webinar page for online resources offered by the diocese and our events page for upcoming workshops/opportunities.  To be kept up to date on upcoming opportunities, contact us at catechesis@charlestondiocese.org to join our email list.

Franciscan University At Home

The Diocese of Charleston has partnered with The Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University to parish memberships offering the opportunity to train and support the key catechists in any situation—priests, deacons, parents, or laity, whether professional or volunteer. Through conferences, online workshops, videos, audio, personal mentorship, and a wealth of resources produced by Franciscan University, all involved in the work of catechesis will find new ideas, new approaches, new techniques, and new confidence to do the work of catechesis. For more information contact Dr. Michael Martocchio at 843-261-0503 or mmartocchio@charlestondiocese.org.