A Long History of Catechesis
“Respected as excellent catechists, for decades Holy Family Sisters have been selected as diocesan leaders of religious education programs. Sr. Celestine Delehanty wrote a series of popular catechisms in the 1930s which were given to young children for many years. During the 1950s two members of Sisters of the Holy Family, Sister Leonard Donovan and Sister Esther Bazzano, helped sister Maria de la Cruz Aymes, HHS, develop a new series of graded catechism books, incorporating some of the teaching methods the Holy Family had been using. The resulting ‘On Our Way Series’ formed the spirituality of a generation of young Catholics, and was a valuable model for the continuing renewal of religious material for children” [A Legacy of Caring by Charlotte and James Hall. 1997]
In the 1970s Sisters Karen Stern and Diane Maguire developed an early childhood sessions for parents, catechists and a Beginnings of Faith Video Series, and Sr. Gladys Guenther with the pastoral staff at Mission Dolores developed twenty Spanish Language video programs for parents preparing their children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Serving the mission of catechesis in the missions Sr. Mary Lange piloted the Restored Order for Initiation in Hawaii and Sr. Carol Crater designed and implemented The People of God…from Yakutat to Metlakata; a small group process to help the parishes and communities of Southeast Alaska reflect on their identity and mission. Currently we have about 30 sisters engaged in some form of catechetical ministry from Grief Counseling, to Justice Education and everything in between!
To continue that long history of catechesis on our web pages, we are grateful to another leader in catechesis, the Peter Li Company. One of their publications, The Catechist Magazine features a monthly column entitled What’s Your Catholic IQ? by Page McKean ZyromskiWe are grateful for their permission to link to their site and provide you with an online way to quiz you on your faith. So for your fun and enlightenment click here to test your Catholic IQ!
April/May 2005 http://www.peterli.com/archive/cat/895.shtm
January 2005 http://www.peterli.com/archive/cat/794.shtm
March 2004 http://www.peterli.com/archive/cat/829.shtm
February 2004 http://www.peterli.com/archive/cat/805.shtm
For more additional articles and information about the Catechist Magazine click here. http://www.peterli.com/cat/about/aboutcat.shtm