VIRTUAL CATECHESIS

Online Material and Resources

The Challenge Articles:

· The Challenge The COVID­19 Pandemic has brought many challenges in our world. Prior to the Pandemic, Digital Technology in · The Planning Catechetical Ministry was seen as something that was needed as we entered a Digital Era where we use the internet in so · Publishers many areas of our life. The Pandemic not only accelerated the Loyola Press need to use technology in ministry but has made the use of these tools essential in the next catechetical year to continue Sadlier the catechetical processes in the parishes. RCL Benziger Therefore, this newsletter will present how publishers are Pflaum moving toward “Digital Catechesis” and what resources and St. Mary's Press tools will help us continue providing faith formation to children, youth, and families in our time. · Online Applications First, we will explore the main publishers that are in demand · Upcoming Events in our parishes. These publishers support a high percentage of parishes in the Diocese of San Jose and other Dioceses. Then, we will present the most prominent digital tools to establish communication at a time when social distancing and sheltering in place is so vital.

Contact Information: This newsletter is the first step of a work in process as new ways and improvements to catechize in a digital world are Irma Alarcon de Rangel being developed. Also, sharing the best practices that we find throughout the parishes will contribute to this work in the [email protected] future.

408­983­0111 We pray to the Lord, that these resources and tools will move us in the right direction, enhancing the way that we make Him present in our society.

The Planning

Plans for the resumption of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry should consider various scenarios according to distinct phases of opening/loosening of protocols by the county health department, parish locations/physical environment, school collaboration, and resources. Consideration of various formation options should include digital and hybrid, combining traditional with digital. Now more than ever, special emphasis should be placed on fostering and supporting family catechesis and empowering individuals as missionary disciples. We are at a time when parents are taking on the role of being their child's first catechists, but it is important that we help them and give them the necessary tools to take this role. Without overwhelming them more than this time of pandemic has brought for everyone. So in searching and finding the necessary and right tools and planning our catechetical processes there are several points to keep in mind. First, we must focus on facilitating a process and not a program. A process where the catechized and the family find God in every activity, reading, and video we provide. Second, promote reflection and prayer in their lives. Providing ways to reflect on Sunday’s Gospel is a good way to help families make a life connection when joining Sunday Mass. Third, even when we use the format of a class session or materials that are informative, we should seek to present the material so that it is enjoyable and easy for families to carry out. Finally, we remember that the most effective catechesis is integrated with liturgy, sacraments, and works of justice and charity.

Publishers

LOYOLA PRESS

Loyola Press is a Catholic publishing house based in Chicago, Illinois was founded in 1912. It is a nonprofit apostolate of the Chicago­Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus. It primarily publishes school books for the parochial school and faith formation programs market.

The main products for faith formation programs for Kindergarten through Grade 8 are Finding God, Encontrando a Dios (bilingual), and Christ Our Life . They all offer a Digital Student Edition, an Online Assessment System, Online Resources for Catechists and Families.

Other programs include Early Learning (Preschool to Kindergarten), Sacramental Preparation (Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation), Growing with God (Child Safety and Catholic Family Living), Special Needs (Adaptive Sacramental Preparation) and Religious Learning Programs.

New Online Resource: Wanderlight: A Pilgrim's Adventure , (available in July 2020) is an immersive digital game for children to deepen the Catholic faith. This interactive game invites players to explore the four pillars of the Catholic Faith in an engaging and beautiful virtual world in their role as “The Pilgrim.”

For Online Support, Resources and Promotions from a Loyola representative Click Here.

SADLIER

William H. Sadlier, Inc. is the oldest family­owned publishing company in the United States (1832). Sadlier comprises Sadlier School, which publishes academic basal and supplemental programs for K–12, and Sadlier Religion, which publishes catechetical programs for K–adult.

Sadlier offers catechetical programs for K to 6th grade, We Believe and Creemos (bilingual). The Portal called Sadlier Connect that gives access to all e­books and online resources available to students, Catechetical Directors, catechists, and families the Directors.

The new Christ in Us program is K–6, fully online or for a blended learning catechetical program. Christ in Us is personalized for parish settings and is based on each user’s profile. It contains an embedded catechist formation program.

Other Sadlier programs include Discovering God (Preschool), Our Catholic Faith (4th­6th Grade), One Faith, One Lord (7th­Adult), Sacramental Preparation (Believe­Celebrate­Live: Eucharist, reconciliation, Confirmation), and others.

They have a Virtual Events site with free Life Long Learning Webinars For personal and catechist formation. For Catechetical Online Resources from a Sadlier Representative Click Here.

RCL BENZIGER

RCL Benziger is a Roman Catholic book­publishing house founded in 1792 in Switzerland. It is currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and operates as a subsidiary of Kendall Hunt Publishing. RCL Benziger products support parishes and school faith formation programs.

They offer the following English and Bilingual Faith Formation programs for K to 8th grade: Be My Disciples, Sean Mis Discípulos, Blest Are We, Bendecidos, Family Life, and for High School: Credo.

All these programs are offered online through the RCL Benziger Portal, Flourish. The Flourish portal provides e­Books, e­Assessments, online chapter reviews, faith resources for families, liturgical music, downloadable readings, prayers, classroom activities, saint bios, lectionary resources, etc.

Other programs with online resources through Flourish are Apprentices in Faith (RCIA), El Camino de Jesús (RCIA_Bilingual), Echoes of Faith (Catechist Formation) other Sunday Lectionary and Family Catechesis resources.

RCL Benziger offers the catechist online formation program called Echoes of Faith Plus.

For Online Resources from a RCL Benziger representative Click Here.

PFLAUM

Pflaum Publishing Group is a division of Bayard, Inc., a Catholic media company owned by the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists), serving DREs and catechists for over 130 years.

They offer Liturgically­based Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, as an alternative to textbooks. The Gospel Weeklies have given Pflaum the opportunity to easily move to online family catechesis. The Pflaum Gospel Weeklies Faith Formation Program includes: Seeds (Preschool), Promise (K – Grade 1), Good News (Grades 2 and 3), Venture (Grades 4 to 6), and Visions (Grades 7 to 9). Seeds, Promise, and Good News come as bilingual student lessons.

Other programs offered are the Together in Jesus, sacramental preparation program (First reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation) and bilingual editions (Primera Reconciliación, and Primera Eucaristía). Also, they offer a Confirmation preparation program, Gifted with the Spirit, for two age levels—junior high and high school; and Children’s Leaflets (Age­appropriate Scripture and Sunday Gospel message and activities).

Pflaum is providing online training and digital versions of its main Faith Formation, Liturgical, and Sacramental Preparation materials for families to use at home. See Pflaum Online Training and Pflaum Resources for Families.

Also, Pflaum has put together “The Gospel for All Ages – Family Catechesis” “El Evangelio para todas las Edades – Catequesis Familiar” as a response to distance learning to give ideas on how to continue during the new catechetical year.

For Digital Offerings from a Pflaum representative Click Here.

ST. MARY'S PRESS

Saint Mary's Press is a nonprofit, Catholic publisher administered by the Christian Brothers of the Midwest Province. Its headquarters are located in Winona, Minnesota. Saint Mary's Press dates from 1943, when Brother Alphonsus Pluth, FSC, began publishing high school religion resources.

Saint Mary’s Press offers a distance learning faith formation program called Discover! Finding Faith in Life for Grades 1­5. This program incorporates the Catholic Children’s Bible at the center of every lesson.

Other series that they offer are the sacramental preparation programs Go Seek Find for Elementary, Catholic Connections for Junior High students, Called to Mercy for Confirmation and Live Jesus in Our Hearts for High School students.

Explore the Discover Distance Learning online sample lessons, and watch the parish webinar and training.

For Online Resources from St. Mary’s Press representatives Click Here.

Online Applications

ONLINE REGISTRATION FORMS

Even with the uncertainty of what gatherings and social distancing protocols will be in the Fall, encourage families to register for formation sessions to continue growing in their faith and connect with the parish community. Online Registration must be encouraged where possible. Google Forms and Microsoft Forms are applications that can be used. Parish Soft is also a viable alternative for offices that are already using the program for their faith formation database . Please remember to include the Virtual Parental Consent for possible online sessions. See Online Registration Forms to find more about this tools.

VIRTUAL SESSIONS

Parishes should consider having multiple formats for faith formation/youth ministry sessions to be implemented based on social distancing protocols. Virtual gatherings such as Zoom, recorded classes or livestreams, remain the primary and preferred formats for the Fall. Also, consider hybrid models: online sessions combined with small physical gatherings (once a month). Meetings with families and catechist can be done through Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and other apps. Please see Virtual Session Applications to start exploring these apps.

COMMUNICATION AND ONLINE LEARNING TOOLS

This is a great opportunity to reimagine how we support and connect with our families and parish communities and how we connect with each other.

Several digital tools are being used not just for schools but also for the parish faith formation process. Now is good time to start exploring Online Learning Tools such as Google Classroom and Canvas. Collaboration with neighboring parishes (best practices) already using theses tools, facilitates the process.

Effective communication within ministries and the parish community is crucial.

Upcoming Events ­ Save the Dates

PUBLISHERS SHOWCASE WEBINARS Three days of presentations on online resources from Loyola Press, Pflaum, Sadlier, St. Mary's Press and RCL Benziger. Presentations will be available in English and Spanish, each an hour long. Details coming soon.

Thursday, July 16 9­10 AM Loyola Press (English) 10:30­11:30 AM RCL Benziger (English) 2:30­3:30 PM RCL Benziger (Spanish)

Friday, July 17 9­10 AM Pflaum (English) 1­2 PM Pflaum (Spanish) 2:30­3:30 Loyola Press (Spanish)

Monday, July 20 9­10 AM Sadlier (English) 10:30­11:30 AM Sadlier (Spanish) 1­2 PM St. Mary's Press (English)

ZOOM TRAINING WEBINARS English training on Thursday, August 6th from 6:30 ­ 8:00 pm. Spanish training on Saturday, August 8th from 9:30 ­ 11:00 am. Details coming soon.