PURPOSE
OF THE PROGRAM
1. To make the catechists
capable of transmitting the Gospel in the name of the Church. [GDC 236]
2. To afford “the catechists
an organic awareness of the Christian message structured around the central
mystery of the faith, Jesus Christ” [cf. GDC 240], through biblico-theological
formation which involves study of the three great eras of the history of
salvation [OT, NT, Church History], the three essentials of the Faith [doctrine,
moral, worship], and the human experience needed to correlate the message with
daily life. [NCDP 2007, 445.]
3. To prepare catechists in
developing their skills of integrating the truths, meaning and actions of the
faith [orthodoxy and orthopraxis, ecclesial and social meanings] within the
present historical context. [NCDP 2007, 446].
THE
PROGRAM:
Basic Faith
Formation 1 (BFF): The content of this course aims
to orient the volunteer catechists to the basics of our Catholic Faith. The
content of the faith is divided into three parts; the Doctrine, Morals, and
Worship, with the introduction to the scripture in the beginning and the introduction
to the catechetical ministry and methodology at the end part of the course. It
serves as the initial formation for those who are involved in the ministry of
the word and is willing to understand more clearly and deeply the teachings of
the Catholic Church. “…the
quality of any form of pastoral activity is placed at risk if it does not rely
on truly competent and trained personnel.” [GDC, 234]
The first year BFF program will be held in the Vicariate level.
Basic Catechetical
Formation 2 (BCF): The Second Year Program is
designed to help our volunteer catechists have a wider perspective of the
truths of our faith which hopefully would help in their maturity of faith. The challenge is to lead our catechists
relate the truths of our faith in the contemporary issues the world is
facing. Deeper discussion on the challenges on
catechesis and contemporary issues will be discussed together with the means to
transmit it effectively. The second year program will also include special
trainings for other means of catechesis and ministry of the word.
The Second year BCF program will be held at ICAM
or in the Archdiocesan BCF and On-Going Formation Program.
First
Year Basic Faith Formation Program
Introductory Course
Introduction to the
Scripture
IS
1
|
The
Old Testament
|
2
Days or 8 hours
|
Inspiration and Revelation in Scripture
The Pentateuch and the books of the Old Testament
|
||
IS
2
|
The
New Testament
|
2
Days or 8 hours
|
The Synoptic Gospels
The letters and the Acts of the Apostles
|
||
IS
3
|
The
Role of Scriptures in Catechesis
|
1
Day or 4 hours
|
Total Hours
|
5 Days or 20 hours
|
Courses on
Catholic Doctrine
Foundational Topics: Faith and Revelation
CD
1
|
God
the Father
|
2
Days or 8 Hours
|
·
Images of God among Filipinos today
·
God, the Father Almighty
·
God, Creator of heaven and earth
·
Sin and the Fall from Glory
|
||
CD
2
|
Jesus
Christ
|
3 Days or 12 Hours
|
·
The Person of Jesus
·
Jesus: His Birth and His Early Years
·
Jesus Christ’s Ministry and Mission
·
The Kingdom of God
·
Christ has Died, Risen, and will Come Again
·
Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God
|
||
CD
3
|
Holy
Spirit
|
2 Days and 8 Hours
|
·
The activities of the Holy Spirit; in
creation, redemption and the life of the Church
·
The Identity of the Holy Spirit
·
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
|
||
CD 4
|
The
Catholic Church
|
1 Day or 4 Hours
|
·
The Nature and the Mission of the Church
·
The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
|
||
Challenges to
teaching Doctrine and Examination on Doctrine
|
1 Day or 4 Hours
|
|
Total Hours
|
10 Days or 40 Hours
|
Courses on
Catholic Morals
Foundational Topics: Freedom and Conscience 2 Days or 8
Hours
MR
1
|
Loving
God
|
2 Days and 8 Hours
|
·
Understanding the Commandments
·
The First Commandment
·
The Second Commandment
·
The Third Commandment
|
||
MR
2
|
Loving
Neighbors
|
2 Days and 8 Hours
|
·
Love one another
·
The Fifth Commandment
·
The Seventh Commandment
·
The Eight Commandment
·
The Tenth Commandment
|
||
MR
3
|
Loving
Family
|
2 Days and 8 Hours
|
·
The Fourth Commandment
·
The Sixth Commandment
·
The Ninth Commandment
|
||
MR 4
|
The
Beatitudes
|
1 Day and 4 Hours
|
·
The Sermon on the Mount
·
Christian Virtues
|
||
Challenges to
Teaching Morals and Examination on Morals
|
1 Day and 4 Hours
|
|
Total Hours
|
10 Days and 40
Hours
|
Courses on
Catholic Worship
Foundational Topics: Christian Prayer and Liturgy 2 Days or 8 Hours
WS 1
|
Sacraments of Christian Initiation
|
2 Days or 8 hours
|
·
The Ritual Sacraments
·
Sacrament of Baptism
·
Sacrament of the Eucharist
·
Sacrament of Confirmation
|
||
WS 2
|
Sacraments of Healing
|
2 Days or 8 hours
|
·
Sacrament of Reconciliation
·
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
|
||
WS 3
|
Sacraments of Communion
|
2 Day or 8 hours
|
·
Sacrament of Matrimony
·
Sacrament of the Holy Order
|
||
The Lord’s Prayer
|
1 Day or 4 hours
|
|
·
God our Father in Heaven
·
The Seven Petitions
|
||
Challenges to teaching Worship
and Examination on Worship
|
1Day or 4 hours
|
|
Total
Hours
|
10 Days or 40 hours
|
Introduction to
Methodology
IM 1
|
Fundamental of Catechesis
|
2 Days or 8 hours
|
IM 2
|
Introduction to Catechetical
Methodology
|
2 Days or 8 hours
|
IM 3
|
Challenges to teaching Worship
and Examination on Worship
|
1Day or 4 hours
|
Total
Hours
|
5 Days or 20 hours
|
Total Hours for the
whole BFF 1 Course 40
Days or 160 Hours
PROCEDURE:
The program is really intended and designed for PARISH
WORKERS AND VOLUNTEER CATECHISTS. If the
participant wishes to apply as fulltime catechist after finishing the First year
BFF program, CFAM and ICAM does NOT guarantee that they will be become a
fulltime catechist for there are other sciences needed. Graduate of the First year program must
continue their studies and take the Basic Catechetical Formation Program (BCF)
offered by ICAM if they wish to work as a professional catechist.
A candidate to this program must be endorsed and supported
by the Parish Priest. The participants
must submit an endorsement letter from the Parish Priest address to the
Institute of Catechetics of the Archdiocese of Manila (ICAM) copy furnished the
CFAM-Volunteer Catechists Commission. The agreement of their services to be
rendered to their parishes is upon the discretion of the parish priest, this
will be discussed before the catechist is recommended to attend the BFF program. The screening will be handled by the parish
priest and /or the education committee chairperson, head catechist and
volunteer catechist coordinator. Once the
candidate is chosen, a commitment letter will be asked from them to be
submitted to the parish priest and copy furnished the offices of ICAM and CFAM
through the Volunteer Catechist Commission for record and identification
purposes only.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE
PROGRAM
Regular attendance in the class is a must, only a maximum
of 2 absences with valid reasons for every course could be considered. A
certificate of attendance will be given to the candidate each time he/she would
finish a course provided he/she does not have more than 2 absences from that
particular topic/subject.
Examinations in the courses must be passed. All
professors are required to prepare a quiz for every topic discussed and a final
examination for each course will be given to participants.
The written examination together with their
attendance and class participation will be the basis for the grades. Final
grades will be officially credited in the ICAM BFF Program.
The Scripture, Catechism of the Catholic Church
(CCC) and the Catechism for the Filipino Catholics (CFC) and the National
Catechetical Directory for the Philippines 2007 will be the primary sources to
be use in the program. Participants will be required to have their personal
Bible and will be encouraged to have a copy of either the CCC or the CFC.
GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM
Those who completed the First Year BFF Program
will be given a certification from ICAM that he/she has completed the course on Basic
Faith Formation and is
acknowledge to be qualified to hand down to the young and children especially
those who are out of school under their parishes the basics of our faith. He/She
also qualifies to assists in the parish pre-sacramental catechesis and school
catechesis observing the fulltime and at times be given a chance to help
facilitate in the classroom setting. Completion of the first year formation will also
qualify them to take the BCF program offered at ICAM and the On-Going program
for catechists in the Diocese.
NOTE:
1. Those who wish to become FULLTIME CATECHISTS
MUST enroll at ICAM and take the Basic Catechetical Formation Program (BCF) provided
they’ve passed the requirements for the Course.
2. Volunteer Catechists who
graduated from the First Year BFF Program must continue their formations and
training especially on Methodology to be given in the Diocesan Basic
Catechetical Formation Program and the On-Going Formation Program for Volunteer
Catechists.
3. Those who graduated from the Diocesan Basic
Catechetical Formation Program will be officially recognized as Volunteer
Catechists and will be given a Volunteer Catechist Identification Card (ID) issued
by the CFAM Volcats Commission.
SCHEDULE OF
CLASSES
Every Saturday of the Month and/or during free
weekdays available for classes
8:00 am to 1:00 pm [5 hrs. every meeting]
VENUE OF
CLASSES
The program will be held in one of the parishes of
the Vicariate, with a parish hall conducive for formal studies. The Parish will
sponsor the free use of their parish hall.
FINANCIAL
COUNTERPART
At least 25 students are needed to run a program
in a vicariate.
A fee of Php. 100.00 will be collected from the
participants every session to accommodate the snacks for the participants and
the honorarium for speakers and other materials that will be needed in the
class. An honorarium of at least Php. 1,000.00 will be given to the speaker for
every session.
The
students counterpart could be lessen depending on the number of participants.
The
fee could be shouldered by the parish to assist the potential catechist.
The
total fee for the whole first year BFF program will cost only Php. 3,500.00 /
catechist.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Regular Saturday Class Schedule
7:30 am Arrival
of Participants and Attendance
8:00 Morning
Prayer (Lauds)
8:15 Conference
10:00 Health
Break
10:30 Conference
12:30 pm Angelus
Announcements
Dismissal
