Catechist Formation

Formation sets as its goal, in the first place, making catechists aware that as baptized persons they are true missionary disciples, meaning active participants in evangelization, and on this basis are enabled by the Church to communicate the Gospel and to accompany and educate believers in the faith. —Directory for Catechesis, 2020

The Diocese of Joliet has partnered with the Catechetical Institute of Franciscan University of Steubenville to provide a common, normative resource of ongoing formation — called Franciscan at Home — for all who work as catechists and administrators in religious education and youth formation programs throughout the diocese. With the Holy Spirit as their most welcomed guest, individual learners, alongside a formation companion or within a small group, engage and interact with workshop content. Diocesan mentors oversee progress as learners complete workshop tasks. Four completed workshops satisfy the requirements for a course-level certificate, approved by the diocesan mentor. All learners begin with the course offered in the Foundational Track. Upon its completion and approval, they will then move on to courses in their role-defined track (DRE, Catecheist, Youth Minister, etc.).