Faith Formation Standards Pre-School – Grade Eight Archdiocese of Boston Catholic Schools Braintree, Massachusetts September 2016 Nihil Obstat: Reverend Matthew T. Janeczko, O.F.M. Cap., S.T.L. Brother James M. Peterson, O.F.M. Cap., J.D., J.C.L. Imprimatur: † Seán P. Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of Boston Date: May 3, 2016 Cardinal’s Office 66 Brooks Drive Braintree, Massachusetts 02184–3839 617–782–2544 September 2016 My Dear Friends in Christ, Allow me this opportunity to express my gratitude for all you do Because of these new standards, our students will know what it to share our faith with the young people entrusted to our care. They means to be Catholic and will have the resources to build an are the future of the Church. everlasting faith in God. In order to communicate the teachings of Catholicism, we must For parents, please know that the dedicated faculties and staffs adapt the ways in which we teach the faith to best speak to new at our Catholic schools seek to support your irreplaceable role as the generations. At the same time, it is essential that we carefully protect first and foremost teacher of the faith for your children. Your time the unchanging truth of the teachings. With this in mind, the praying with your children and accompanying them at the celebration Archdiocese of Boston made the decision to develop a new set of Faith of Mass every Sunday are the gifts that will sustain their faith Formation Standards. This effort provides greater clarity regarding throughout their lives. Be assured that we stand ready to assist you in what it is about our faith that we want our children to know and this sacred mission and know that our loving God blesses your efforts. understand. Asking God’s blessings upon you and all your loved ones, I am, These standards were created by a group of catechists, principals and teachers. We are blessed by the time and effort they gave to this Sincerely yours in Christ, project and their willingness to share their knowledge and experience. Their work creates a foundation on which our Catholic school teachers can build lessons that will engage our children as they increase their knowledge of God and develop a personal relationship Archbishop of Boston with Jesus. ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON 66 Brooks Drive Braintree, Massachusetts 02184–3839 September 2016 The Archdiocese of Boston’s new Faith Formation Standards were In order for our standards to be used in a meaningful manner, it takes developed to assist all catechists and teachers to pass on the tenets of a partnership between students, parents and those who teach our our faith to the next generation of Catholics. It is with deep gratitude children. Without the support of parents and their modeling of what to Martha McCook and her committee members: Christopher it means to be a faith filled Catholic, our program will not succeed. Beza, Michael Drahos, Christine Evans, Cathy Fallon, Sr. Suzanne We need to work together to do the best that we can to assist our Fondini, mfic, Jorge Hernandez, Linda Short and Dr. Linda Trouville children in their formation. that we publish these standards to be used by our dedicated teachers and catechists, so that they may share our treasured faith with These standards attempt to inform, form and transform our children, our children. as they develop their relationship with Christ. It is our prayer that these standards will provide the framework for the development of “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” our faith in each student, so that they, too, may “proclaim the gospel (Mk 16, 15). The teaching of our faith calls us to continue the teaching to every creature.” mission of the church. These standards represent the commitment of the Archdiocese of Boston to work tirelessly to provide support to those who are finding new paths and methods to bring the saving message of Christ to our children. These standards clearly articulate Kathleen P. Mears the minimum of what we want our children to know, understand and Superintendent be able to do as they grow towards a personal relationship with Jesus. Introduction to the 2016 Archdiocese of Boston Faith Formation Standards and Essential Questions e new Faith Formation Standards for the Archdiocese of e six tasks of catechesis as outlined in e National Directory of Catechesis Boston are signicantly dierent from the last approved work (NDC) are: of 1994. It is standards based, provides sample assessments, • Catechesis promotes knowledge of faith. sample family activities and cross curricula connections. ese standards have been developed for Catholic schools. • Catechesis promotes a knowledge and meaning of the liturgy and the Sacraments. In the eld of education, a standard is a term which denes • Catechesis promotes moral formation in Jesus Christ. a cumulative body of knowledge and a set of competencies providing a basis for quality education. Standards indicate what all students should know, • Catechesis teaches the Christian how to pray with Christ. understand and be able to do, but do not indicate how they are to be taught. • Catechesis prepares the Christian to live in community and to participate ese standards are spiral in their approach to teaching and learning, which actively in the life and mission of the Church. means that key concepts are introduced to students at a young age and covers • Catechesis promotes a missionary spirit that prepares the faithful to be these key concepts repeatedly, with increasing degrees of complexity and present as Christians in society. rigor. Each Standard also has an Essential Question that will guide teachers/ catechists in framing their teaching and students in their learning. ese new Standards and Essential Questions establish consistent content for the teaching of the Faith throughout our Archdiocese to ensure that In addition to the standards there is a Checklist for each grade level to assist future generations of Catholics are well formed and led into communion and teachers/catechists in planning instruction and will be helpful to schools intimacy with Jesus Christ. using Curriculum Mapping as well. Teachers/catechists will be able to use the standards to determine what should be covered from their Teacher’s Manual as e Standards invite all teachers/catechists and learners to understand the well as what other resources may be needed to meet the standards not available meaning of discipleship in Jesus Christ and to respond fully to that call in their current textbooks. is will be a shi from being text-dependent to through full participation in the life of the Church. standards focused in planning instruction. Teachers/catechists will determine which resources, textbooks and/or supplementary materials, are needed to Parents/Guardians will benet as well since standards communicate shared meet the standards. expectations for learning. e standards and suggested Family Activities enable parents/guardians to support at home what is being taught in class. Each standard sets clear expectations for what students should know, understand and be able to do based on the pillars of e Catechism of the Catholic Church. e six tasks of catechesis are embedded in all of the standards. Archdiocese of Boston Faith Formation Standards 2016 | INTRODUCTION 5 STANDARDS AND ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS GRADE ___ STANDARD 1: GRADE ___ STANDARD 5: Who is Jesus and what do we believe about Him? Understand, believe and Jesus shows us how to pray: Understand and experience the different forms of proclaim the Triune God as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, as well prayer, recognizing the need to surrender to the movement of the Holy Spirit. as in the signs of creation, Sacred Scripture, Catholic Tradition and human ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does prayer deepen our relationship with the experience. Holy Spirit and draw us closer to Jesus? ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Who is Jesus and what do we believe about Him? GRADE ___ STANDARD 6: GRADE ___ STANDARD 2: Jesus Christ’s Mission Continues in the Church: Understand the Church as Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ: Understand and the mystical Body of Christ; the community of believers carrying out Jesus’ participate in the sacraments of the Church as efficacious signs of God’s grace, mission in the world. Parish Life: Understand and participate in the life of the instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church. Liturgy: Understand and Church as lived in the parish through its community, cultural aspects, worship, celebrate the liturgical rites of the Church as expressed in the Church Year and sacramental life, service, missionary endeavors and organization. epitomized in the Eucharist, the source and summit of Christian life. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does knowledge of the mystical body of ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do the sacraments and liturgy help us to grow Christ and participation in the life of our parish help us to carry out Jesus’ in our relationship with Jesus? mission in the world? GRADE ___ STANDARD 3: GRADE ___ STANDARD 7: Life in Jesus Christ: Understand and live the moral teachings of the Church Responding to the call of Jesus Christ: Understand and embrace discipleship through a life of discipleship in Jesus Christ. in Christ through living a specific call within the life of the Church. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does living a moral life help us to live a life of ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What is Jesus calling each one of us to do in the life discipleship in Jesus? of the Church? GRADE ___ STANDARD 4: Sacred Scripture: Read, comprehend and articulate salvation history as conveyed in God’s revelation through scripture. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does understanding scripture help us to grow in knowledge and love of Jesus? Archdiocese of Boston Faith Formation Standards 2016 | INTRODUCTION 6 Learning Outcomes indicate what a student needs to be able to do or to Additional Resources: understand.