Online adult catechesis program proves successful for Saint Patrick Parish

Friday, Feb. 05, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — St. Patrick Parish just finished the first online Ecos de Fe program offered in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

They started the program in January 2015 and completed the 11 courses in December.

“It was a lot more convenient because we were able to take the courses at our own speed in a classroom setting,” said  Anthony Martinez, the parish’s director of religious education and youth ministry.

Echoes of Faith is a basic level, video-assisted resource for the formation and enrichment of catechists in parishes and Catholic schools. Developed by the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership and produced by RCL/Benziger, the program requires an adult learning setting and group process. The  eight catechists had monthly deadlines, but one advantage of the online program is its flexibility.

“Some people were able to do the courses on the weekend or at night, when they had time, rather than having a monthly or weekly meeting to sit in a classroom. … It was great to have that flexibility,” said Martinez adding that many catechists in his parish had to meet the requirements of having their basis catechist certification so when, in a meeting, he heard about the online version as a pilot program, he took down the information.

“I was really excited about it and took it to my catechists and we discussed it,” Martinez said. “Also, Susan Northway [Diocese of Salt Lake City Director of Religious Education] told us that we could do the online version as an accepted version for the certification, so we were very excited about that.”

The diocese did require that, because they were doing the online modules, they  have a monthly gathering in which they had the opportunity to share and discuss face to face the modules of the program.

“So we met monthly to discuss. Robert and Teresa Catlin, lay ecclesial ministers, came each of the eleven months and hosted a discussion group about what we had learned in that period of the course online,” said Martinez.

“Catechist formation is best done in community, and this program combines individual learning with community reflection,” Northway said. “The technology requirements are easily accessed in parishes. I am very positive about this program and see it as another way to help form both Spanish and English-speaking catechists.”

Another benefit found in the online program was that it was less expensive than other methods.

“It was less costly for us, so we bought a group subscription and were able to bring the cost down even more. Father Gally was very excited and supportive of our catechists getting the certification so he authorized the parish to have that subscription,” said Martinez.

Fr. Lourduraj Gally Gregory is the parish pastor. 

The catechists who went through the program will receive a completion certification from the parish during a Mass on March 31.

“The diocese does not offer any certificates till the summertime, so the certificates will not be given until then; however, we are giving them a certificate of completion to recognize their efforts now,” said Martinez.

“I was very excited when we had this opportunity, and having St. Patrick the first parish of the diocese to do it online – it was nice to be the pilot for that,” said Martinez, adding that the parish plans to offer the online program again.

Other parishes around the diocese will be able to use the online program, as well.

“There will be a special DRE training offered during this year’s Pastoral Congress on Sept. 17. DREs will be able to learn how this program of catechist formation can be easily used in their parish or mission,” said Northway.