Catechetical Leader Certification Program
“The single most critical factor in an effective parish catechetical program is the leadership of a professionally trained catechetical leader.”
U.S. Bishops in the National Directory for Catechesis.
The Catechetical Leader Certification Program, sponsored by the Catholic Education Office and the Ministry Formation Office, fosters the development and training of catechetical leaders to serve in parish faith formation programs as Directors of Religious Education (DRE) and Directors of Youth Ministry (DYM).
Sessions will be held on Saturdays at the Diocesan Administration Building in Rockford from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. The sessions also include assigned readings from catechetical documents, occasional research, and active participation. Catechetical Leader Certification sessions take place on Saturdays once a month beginning in September and ending in April.
The classes are facilitated by a Core Team of highly qualified catechetical leaders from the diocese and are based on competency standards of the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers.
“…The quality of any form of pastoral activity is placed at risk if it does not rely on truly competent and trained personnel.”
-General Directory for Catechesis, 234
2025 Catechetical Leader Certification Program Schedule
| DATE | SESSION | REQUIRED READING | PREVIEW SHEET AND IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS |
| October 18, 2025 | Called by Name | Called by Name -The Effective Catechetical Leader Series – Loyola Press* | |
| November 8, 2025 | Developing Disciples of Christ | Developing Disciples of Christ – The Effective Catechetical Leader Series – Loyola Press |
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| December 6, 2025 | Catechetical Leadership | Catechetical Leadership – The Effective Catechetical Leader Series – Loyola Press | |
| January 10, 2026 | Cultivating your Catechists/Volunteers | Cultivating Your Catechists/Volunteers – The Effective Catechetical Leader Series – Loyola Press | |
| February 21, 2026 | Catechumenate Model and Primacy of Adults | ||
| March 14, 2026 | Family Faith Formation | USCCB: Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us (1-97) | |
| April 11, 2026 | All God’s People | All God’s People – The Effective Catechetical Leader Series – Loyola Press |
The program is only offered every other year, so, the time for you or someone you know to act is now.
Requirements for Admission
- Involvement in a parish program such as Youth Ministry, Religious Education, RCIA, Evangelization, or Adult Faith Formation.
- Endorsement of your pastor.
Interested? Please submit the “Application” and have your pastor submit the “Pastor’s Endorsement” located at the bottom of this page.
LOCATION:
Diocesan Administrative Building
555 Colman Center Dr.,
Rockford, IL 61108
Please use the north parking lot and entrance.
*Required Reading information – The books in “The Effective Catechetical Leader” series can be bought individually or as a set. The set also includes the title “All God’s People,” which is not a required reading but will be referred to in different sessions. Buying the set may be more cost-effective than buying the individual titles.