Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Mission Statement
The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, under the direction of the Bishop, is rooted in Christ and led by the Holy Spirit. We focus on lifelong formation through proclamation of the Good News. We serve those involved in parish evangelization efforts, in parish catechesis, and all adults in our diocese by providing formation and resources for a multicultural community. Our goal is to empower the people of God to grow spiritually and deepen a living, active faith which enables them to witness and invite others to know Jesus.
Goals and Objectives
Formation for Evangelization
- Coordinate evangelization efforts for the diocese
- Train and provide resources to parish evangelization teams/committees
- Encourage the evangelizing mission of all parish ministries
Formation for Leadership
- Offer theological, catechetical, and administrative training for Parish Catechetical Leaders, catechists, and lay ministers
- Foster community among Parish Catechetical Leaders through gatherings
- Aid pastoral staffs in developing catechetical programs and RCIA processes that meet the needs of parishioners of all ages and cultures
- Provide access to catechetical resources, including book and media library
Formation for a Living and Active Faith
- Offer English and Spanish adult faith formation opportunities through theological and scriptural programs that lead to lifelong transformation and discipleship (e.g. CEMI, University of Dayton VLCFF, and Adult Confirmation Program)
- Provide spiritual formation for Parish Catechetical Leaders and those involved in catechetical certification and programs
- Integrate Catholic Social Teaching into all programs
Church Documents
On Evangelization in the Modern World by Pope Paul VI
The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis
Care for Our Common Home by Pope Francis
The Light of Faith by Pope Francis
Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy by Pope Francis
Leadership Institute Webinars: Living as Missionary Disciples by the USCCB
Disciples Called to Witness by the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis (PDF)
Go and Make Disciples by the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis
Living as Missionary Disciples by the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis
Training Opportunities
How to Begin Evangelization in a Catholic Parish: Preparing Teams/Committees to Share the Good News
This is a series that will be facilitated to help parishes form teams and committees so that parishes can become evangelizing communities forming missionary disciples. We will look at evangelization and the new evangelization. We will discover a vision for evangelization which can effect how we can do the direct ministry of evangelization (reaching out, invitation, welcoming, renewal, RCIA) and how it permeates everything we do in our homes, in our parishes, and in all levels of society. We will learn how to develop a plan for evangelization for our parishes.
Bryan Reising, Director
Evangelization and Catechesis
Welcoming the Parents of New Catholics:
Home Visitation Training
What’s a parish to do after the baptism of a child? Reach out and connect the parents more closely to the parish. This training will prepare parishioners to go out, visit the parents of the newly baptized, and share what the parish means to them and keep the connection going. Come and learn about this new, exciting ministry and decide if it’s for you. (2 hours – 1 session)
(PASTORS, PLEASE NOTE: This workshop is available in English and/or Spanish. You can sign up for both to be offered in your parish at the same time or for just one language. You can also request a change in starting time if needed to fit what is best for your parish.)
Bryan Reising, Director
Paul J. Thomas, Associate Director
Evangelization and Catechesis (in English)
and/or
Jesus Abrego, Director
Hispanic Ministry (in Spanish)
To request a session in English or Spanish please call Anna Stone at 409-924-4323.
Resources
Evangelization materials available in Diocesan Libraries (pdf)
Parish Catechetical Leader Resources
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Parish Catechetical Leader Directory (pdf)
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Parish Catechetical Leader Handbook (pdf)
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2017-2018 PCL Gathering Schedule (pdf)
Newsletters
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Called, Formed, & Sent Newsletter Archive
- January 2020 (pdf)
- December 2019 (pdf)
- November 2019 (pdf)
- October 2019 (pdf)
- September 2019 (pdf)
- August 2019 (pdf)
- May 2019 (pdf)
- April 2019 (pdf)
- March 2019 (pdf)
- February 2019 (pdf)
- January 2019 (pdf)
- December 2018 (pdf)
- November 2018 (pdf)
- August 2018 (pdf)
- May 2018 (pdf)
- April 2018 (pdf)
- March 2018 (pdf)
- February 2018 (pdf)
- January 2018 (pdf)
- December 2017 (pdf)
- November 2017 (pdf)
Guidelines
RCIA Resources
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Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (pdf)
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Guidelines and Resource for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (pdf)
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Previous and/or Invalid Marriages and the RCIA (pdf)
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Valid and Non-valid Baptism (pdf)
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Interview Form for the R.C.I.A. (pdf)
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Affidavit witness to Baptism (pdf)
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Civil Marriage – R.C.I.A. (pdf)
Adult and Catechist Faith Formation
Programs, Services and Resources available from the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in English and Spanish
Websites of Interest for Catechesis, Social Justice and RCIA
| American Catholic Online Home of Franciscan Media | www.americancatholic.org |
| Ave Maria Press | https://www.avemariapress.com/ |
| Bible | www.usccb.org/nab/bible/ |
| Bible (Alternate Website) | www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/_INDEX.HTM |
| Bread for the world Nationwide Christian Citizens movement lobbying for the world’s hungry | www.bread.org |
| Catechism of the Catholic Church | www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM |
| Catechism of the Catholic Church (Alternate Website) |
www.usccb.org/catechism/text/ |
| Catechist Formation Program of the University of Dayton | www.udayton.edu/ |
| Catholic Charities USA Site gives an extensive overview on the areas of justice and peace supported by Catholic charities | www.catholiccharitiesusa.org |
| Catholic Climate Covenant | http://www.catholicclimatecovenant.org/ |
| Catholic Educators Resource Center | www.catholiceducation.org |
| The Catholic Labor Network | http://www.catholiclabor.org/home.htm |
| Catholic Relief Services Helping to end poverty throughout the world | www.catholicrelief.org |
| Catholic Worker Page Online page for the catholic worker Movement founded by Dorothy Day | www.catholicworker.org |
| Center for Action and Contemplation | https://cac.org/ |
| Christian Catacombs of Rome | www.catacombe.roma.it |
| Dynamic Catholic | www.dynamiccatholic.com |
| Good Ground Press Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.goodgroundpress.com |
| Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. | www.habitat.org
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| Homeless Youth and Higher Education | http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/homeless-students-guide/ |
| Human Rights Watch Helps to protect human rights around the world | www.hrw.org |
| Jesuits Resource on prayer, scripture and life | www.jesuit.org |
| Liguori Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.liguori.org |
| Living the Good News Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.livingthegoodnews.com |
| Lonergan Research Institute | www.lonergan-lri.ca/index1.shtml |
| Loyola Press Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.loyolapress.org/ |
| Magis Center | http://www.magiscenter.com/ |
| Maryknoll Missionary Society | http://www.maryknollsociety.org/ |
| Mass Readings and Psalms | www.usccb.org/nab/index.htm |
| National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities Vigilant in promoting inclusion of Catholics with disabilities in parish communities and the total fabric of society | www.ncpd.org |
| National Coalition for the Homeless Ending homelessness throughout our country | www.nationalhomeless.org |
| National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) | http://www.nccl.org/ |
| NETWORK Catholic Social Justice Lobby | http://www.networklobby.org/ |
| Our Sunday Visitor Publisher of Catechetical Materials | www.osv.com |
| Oxfam International Helping to end hunger | www.oxfam.org |
| Paulist Press Publisher of Catechetical Materials | www.paulistpress.com |
| Pax Christi | www.paxchristiusa.org |
| Pflaum Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.pflaum.com |
| RCL-Benziger Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.rclbenziger.com |
| Ron Rolheiser, OMI | http://ronrolheiser.com/ |
| Sacred Space a place for daily prayer and meditation by Irish Jesuits | www.sacredspace.ie |
| Saint Anthony Messenger Publisher of Catechetical Texts | http://www.stanthonymessenger.org/ |
| Saint Mary’s Press Adolescent and adult faith formation | www.smp.org |
| Social Justice resource Center | www.socialjusticeresourcecenter.org |
| Sojo Net – Sojourners Magazine online Worldwide magazine on peace and justice | www.sojo.net |
| Street Law Online Georgetown Law School Democracy Education for youth | www.streetlaw.org |
| Sweatshop Watch Helping to stop Sweatshops around the world | www.sweatshopwatch.org |
| Taize community of France Offering various information about their community, prayer, and music – excellent for young adults 15 to 30 | www.taize.fr/en/ |
| TeamRCIA Helping you form Christians for Life | www.teamrcia.com |
| Texas Catholic Conference | www.txcatholic.org |
| Theology Library | www.shc.edu/theolibrary |
| The Dynamic Catholic Institute | http://dynamiccatholic.com/ |
| Twenty-Third Publications Publisher of Religion Teachers’ Journal and a variety of catechetical and theological resources | www.twentythirdpublications.com |
| United States Conference of Catholic Bishops | www.usccb.org |
| Vatican Website | www.vatican.va |
| University of DaytonVirtual Learning Community | vlc.udayton.edu |
| William H. Sadlier Publisher of Catechetical Texts | www.sadlier.com |
Diocesan Book and Media Lending Library
Availability:
The Book Library and the DVD/Video/Audio Library are located at the Catholic Pastoral Center at 710 Archie Street in Beaumont, Texas. Office hours are 8:00am to 12:00 noon and 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
If you have any questions, please call Joseph Blakeley at (409) 924-4309 or email at jblakeley@dioceseofbmt.org
Library Catalog:
Diocesan Audio/Video Lending Library
(Compressed Access 2000 Database)(Zip File / 2.0 MB)
(Compressed Access 2000 database) (Zip File / 2.0 MB)
These are large files, so they may take some time to download. Save the files on your computer for future reference.
The catalog databases were last updated in August 2011
Video/Audio Library Use and Fees:
Video/Audio Library materials may be accessed through parish leadership of educational and service organizations. The only cost that will be charged is to cover processing and postage for DVDs/videos or tapes/CDs if mailed to parishes which are at a distance from the Catholic Pastoral Center. The mailing fee will be $3.00 per DVD/video or tape/CD. The normal loan period is two weeks. Parishes will be responsible for replacing lost or damaged DVDs/videos or tapes/CDs.
Book Library Use:
All books (except those marked Reference-Noncirculating and some resource materials) may be checked out for two weeks.
Catechetical Conference
Information coming soon.