Pastoral
Coworkers in the Vineyard of the Lord
Catholic Pastoral Studies Series
Catechetical Formation Program:
This three part Catechetical series is designed for parishes and deaneries who seek opportunities to provide there catechetical volunteers with foundations in catechetical theology, spiritual, and practice. These courses will provide catechists with a basic sense of our Catholic tradition and help to establish personal confidence is the usage of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, National Directory for Catechesis and the General Directory for Catechesis. Each part of the program provides 20 hours of formation and can be offered in 4 hour time sequences.
Part I: Doctrinal Foundations and Basic Beliefs of Faith
Helps assist catechists learn core doctrines and basic beliefs of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that will serve them throughout the catechetical process. Participants will learn Catholic principles of Scriptural interpretation, the centrality of Jesus Christ, an understanding of revelation and grace, the nature of sin, salvation and redemption, sacramental practice and the mission and ministry of the Church.
Part II: Catechetical Spirituality and Process
Explores the critical role of the catechist as one who shares the Good News of Christ and His Church. Through personal conversion to the Call to Holiness, Communion and Witness, the catechist helps others discover their own need for conversion, discipleship and spirituality. The role of prayer, types of prayer and planning prayer for catechetical settings will also be emphasized.
Part III: Communicating the Faith Effectively
Effective communication of faith requires a serious understanding of contemporary issues of culture and society that impact our lives. Being aware of family perspectives and the challenges of modern cultural values on our spiritual and moral life will assist the catechist to make relevant the need to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Understanding moral and faith development will assist the catechist in effective communication and sharing of faith.
Pastoral Skills Program:
The pastoral skills program is based on the four key pillars of lay ecclesial ministry formation as outlined by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops document Coworkers in the Vineyard of the Lord. The call to ministry should be discerned through the lens of Theological, Spiritual, Pastoral and Human Development. The Pastoral Skills Program is designed to provide formation training with a particular emphasis on the “Pastoral” and “Human” skills development for those serving in pastoral ministry.
Communication I: Effective Listening
Knowledge Objective: To assist pastoral ministers to reflect on effective communication through listening and acquiring a more heightened spirituality of presence.
Workshop Competencies:
- Becoming aware of one’s own communication style and comfort with communicating needs, views, feelings and concerns.
- Bringing awareness to active listening, attending to both verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Learning to stay connected, providing feedback, affirmation and support.
- Discovering appropriate processes for communicating concerns and issues in non threatening ways.
- Being clear, genuine and respectful in all forms of communication
Communication II: Pastoral Relationships
Knowledge Objective: Examines appropriate ministerial relationships, the need to establish healthy boundaries, and to recognize the dignity of coworkers, colleagues and subordinates.
Workshop Competencies:
- Creating and establishing appropriate relationships and safe environments in the ministerial workplace.
- Acting with sensitivity and prudence in dealing with others, especially their personal lives.
- Setting healthy and responsible boundaries.
- Inviting input from persons who will be affected by an action or policy.
- Initiating, deepening, and terminating ministry relationships at appropriate times.
- Maintaining confidentiality and objectivity.
Communication III: Diversity
Knowledge Objective: Assists in bringing awareness and sensitivity to different cultures and styles of learning. Aims to promote understanding of the diversity present within the parish and diocesan system.
Workshop Competencies:
- Recognizing, respecting and honoring diverse cultures.
- Effectively using different cultural communication patterns where appropriate in various settings.
- Understanding diversity within a parish system-including: culture, ethnicity, gender, spirituality, and generational.
- Integrating diverse people, ideas, and needs into all areas of parish life and activities.
Communication IV: Group Dynamics and Facilitation Skills
Knowledge Objective: Familiarizes the participant with the stages of group development and the principles of community building. Recognizing the principle skills in group facilitation and understanding the dynamics of group interaction.
Workshop Competencies:
- Motivating and leading groups to set agendas collaboratively.
- Working productively with those from differing value systems, cultural experiences and professional backgrounds.
- Building groups and community with solidarity, cooperation, trust and teamwork.
- Communicating decisions effectively.
Leadership I: Styles, Functions and Models of Leadership
Knowledge Objective: Gain an understanding of the principles of Servant Leadership and learn basic theory, functions/tasks and models of leadership.
Workshop Competencies
- Examination of some of the contemporary definitions of leadership, and developing a personal definition of leadership.
- Exploration of selected historical and contemporary models of leadership and how individual styles compare to such leadership.
- Understanding the responsibilities and privileges of leadership, including moral and ethical decisions and the use of authority and power.
- Examination of the context of leadership which is mostly central between the individual and the group.
- Application of the foundational areas of leadership to practical and real-life situations within your immediate environment.
Leadership II: Goal Setting and Mission Planning
Knowledge Objective: Introduces processes for goal setting and mission planning. Introduces skills of time management, prioritizing and problem solving.
Workshop Competencies:
- Working with other parish leaders, both paid and volunteer, in order to achieve a parish mission statement, goals, objectives, strategies and evaluations.
- Setting goals, articulating vision, and recognizing a global perspective and its implications.
- Clarifying tasks to provide accurate information to meet acceptable standards of completion.
- Overcoming obstacles and meeting deadlines to organize tasks by priority.
- Delegating responsibilities, including authority to act.
Leadership III: Organizational Development
Knowledge Objective: Introduces the processes for planning, implementing and evaluating programs. Continues development of decision making skills in ministerial leadership.
Workshop Competencies:
- Initiating, organizing, implementing and evaluating programs.
- Creating healthy organizational structures
- Learning effective assessment and evaluation skills and processes
- Recognizing stress and methods of dealing with it.
Leadership IV: Conflict Resolution and Consensus Building
Knowledge Objective: Helps participants learn to identify issues involved in conflict and to discover effective and appropriate ways of handling situations of conflict and seeking positive resolution.
Workshop Competencies:
- Discerning the issues giving rise to conflict and seeking effective solutions for resolution and reconciliation.
- Giving others behavior focused feedback.
- Stating differences of opinion with without hostility or defensiveness.
- Explaining ideas clearly, seeking collaboration, and processes for inclusion and consensus.
- Avoiding gossip, triangulation and alienation.
- Articulating one’s role and responsibility to a given situation.
Leadership V: Team Building, Problem Solving and Planning Changes
Knowledge objectives: Teaches how to define areas of responsibility, collaboration and methods for approaching problems and issues. Develops ability to seek information from multiple sources, generate alternative solutions and implement a course of action.
Workshop Competencies:
- Defining areas of responsibility for decisions on personal and group levels.
- Employing effective communication methods regarding decisions and decision making.
- Establishing mutuality within a group by promoting cooperation, collaboration and team building, and personal parish stewardship.
Ministry I: Theology and Spirituality of Ministry
Through the grace of our baptism, we are all called to be priests, prophets and royalty in our call to discipleship and service in the name of Jesus Christ. However, ministry in its more formal understanding is a unique call, distinguished in its character by a direct role of leading, guiding and teaching on behalf of the Church. This course examines the various dimensions and multiple faces of lay ecclesial ministry and the ministry of ordination. It seeks to reveal the appropriate understanding of ministerial roles, functions and authority within specific specialized ministries in a collaborative framework for serving all of God’s people.
Ministry II: Called and Gifted
Explores the nature of charism and gift and raises awareness of the differences of gifts and talents others possess for the building up of holiness, communion and witness. Seeks to help us deepen our understanding of each person’s unique calling and vocation, enabling us to appreciate the diversity of gifts and learn to affirm and call forth the gifts of others.
Workshop Competencies:
- Witnessing Gospel values in life-giving and empowering ways.
- Articulating your call to ministry as a vocation.
- Identifying, calling forth, affirming, and supporting the gifts and talents of others.
Ministry III: Supervision Skills for Ministry
Provides an introduction to basic leadership principles for effective supervision of staff and volunteers. Enables pastoral leaders to understand parish structures and models that can help them navigate the diversity of parish ministries and relationships.
Workshop Knowledge:
- Provide an understanding of the principles of servant leadership and reflect on one’s own leadership strengths, limitations and challenges.
- Identifying and examining various supervisory skills.
- Develop a mature spirituality that invites constructive criticism of yourself and others.
- Receiving and giving positive feedback to enhance team building.
- Clarifying roles, tasks and expectations for effective and open communication.
- Handling conflict, stress, personal problems, and a range of on-the-job work situations.
Ministry IV: Volunteers and Collaboration
Continues reflection on supervision with particular attention to recruiting, training, coordinating and supervising volunteers. Provides recommendations for developing collaboration, cooperation and consultation. Using your gifts, leadership skills and expertise in ways that both invite and affirm those who support your ministry.
Workshop knowledge:
- Recruiting, training, coordinating, supervising, and terminating staff and volunteers in ministerial relationships.
- Supporting the ministry of others in a collaborative manner.
- Carrying out the tasks of your specific ministry in consultation with appropriate persons.
- Facilitating and participating in efforts of consensus and discernment with pastoral councils and other ministry teams.
Creating an environment of welcome and hospitality that develops relationships and helps others feel valued and encouraged to grow in faith and service.