The purpose of our Ministry is to present God's Word to children
in the State Schools of our Parish.

Overview

The Catechists of Frenchs Forest teach in the 8 Public Primary Schools and the 3 State High Schools that are in our Parish. We use a program of Religious education, the ‘Walking with Jesus, Pathways to Discipleship’ curriculum, which is authorised by Bishop David Walker.

The CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine), through the Parish Support unit, supports us in our endeavours at the Diocesan and Regional levels. This support includes access to resources, training and formation courses.

Being a Catechist is passing on the knowledge of God’s love.

Contact

Angela Spencer coordinates the Catechist Ministry for the Primary Schools within the Frenchs Forest Parish. She can be contacted on 0414 664 695, or through the Parish Office 02 9451 5097.

Our Frenchs Forest Catechist Community lies within the Manly Warringah Region of the Diocese of Broken Bay.  We are supported by the Peninsula Parish Support Unit (PSU) based at Manly Vale.  Our Parish Support Officer (PSO) is Trish McKenzie.  She can be contacted on 02 9949 1710 or 0429 820 488.

Our Volunteers

We are blessed to have many volunteers who fulfil the 4 roles within our Ministry:

1. SRE (Special Religious Education) Teacher – these Catechists take on the lead teaching role in the classroom. They prepare the lessons and are the ‘face of the Church’ for the students they share their faith with.
   
2. SRE Helper – these Catechists take on a supporting role within the classroom. They assist with presenting the lesson and classroom management as specified by the SRE Teacher they are supporting.
   
3. Relief Catechist – these Catechists are unable to commit to weekly lessons but are trained and are willing to take lessons when the regularSRE Teacher is unable due to holidays or illness.
   
4. Prayer Partners – these Parishioners pray for the success of our Ministry and for individual Catechists.

The only qualifications you need to join our Ministry
are your love of God, love of children and love of your faith.

Will you help us?

If you satisfy these qualifications and have a desire to share your talents, please contact Angela Spencer with your expression of interest. Thank You.

Curriculum

Bishop David Walker has authorised that all Catholic Special Religious Educators (SREs), within the Diocese of Broken Bay, follow the “Walking with Jesus, Pathways to Discipleship” curriculum. This curriculum is in First Edition for Stage 1 (K-2), Stage 2 (Years 3&4) and Stage 3 (Years 5&6).  Within this curriculum every child has a Student Workbook and the each SRE teacher is given a Teachers’ Manual, which contains background reading, lesson Plans, Family Supplements and explanation notes on each unit.

Training is available on content, application and classroom management.

Our Schools

The Frenchs Forest Catechist Community teaches in 8 primary schools over four days. The schools and their teaching days are listed below for your information. We also hold a ‘seminar day’ once a term in our three high schools, Davidson, Killarney Heights and Forest High.

Our Primary Schools

We teach 850 students every week in our 8 Primary Schools – Belrose, Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Kambora, Killarney Heights, Mimosa, Terrey Hills and Wakehurst PS.

There are more Catholic primary school children in our Parish attending Public Schools
than our 2 Catholic Schools combined.

The SRE (Special Religious Education) lessons are 30 minutes long and are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays. SRE teachers (Catechists) prepare their lessons at home and preparation generally takes 45 minutes per week.

Our Secondary Schools

The Catechists of Frenchs Forest teach in the 3 High Schools that are in our Parish - Forest, Killarney Heights and Davidson High. Each school has one seminar day per term where each year comes for an hour or 2 hour workshop with Catechists. Pauline Van Den Berg, from the Peninsula PSU, hosts joint preparation sessions each term to prepare for the seminar days.

If you are interested in joining us

If you are interested in joining us you will be asked to complete 4 forms and attend a one-day Basic Accreditation Course (BAC).
1. Diocesan Authorisation Document A1
2. Diocesan Authorisation Document A2
3. Prohibited Employment Declaration (PED)
4. Catechist Statistics Form

On completion of these forms you will be issued with a yellow Interim Authorisation Card. This card authorises you to represent our Parish on State School property. You must have your Authorisation Card with you whenever you are on State School property.

Basic Accreditation Course (BAC)

All volunteers must attend the one-day BAC within 6 months of joining the Ministry. This course will give you an overview of our rights and responsibilities within the schools, basic child protection knowledge, basic classroom management and an introduction to the curriculum used. You will be issued with a green Authorisation Card on completion of the one day BAC and completion of the 4 forms.

Further Training

On completion of the BAC you will be invited to attend further training:
1. Level 1 Certificate – ‘Tools for Ministry’
2. Level 2 Certificate – ‘The Church in the Modern World’
3. Level 3 Diploma – ‘Faith in Ministry’
Catechists are encouraged to participate in further study but it is not mandatory.

We are further supported with two reflection days, a weekend retreat, a Diocesan Catechist Conference and numerous workshops each year. The dates and themes for these formation opportunities will be distributed throughout the year. Again, Catechists are encouraged to attend these functions but they are not mandatory.

Frenchs Forest Catechists Community

A meeting for all Frenchs Forest Catechists is held at the beginning of each term, in either the OLGC Parish Centre (Forestville), St Anthony in the Fields Kitchen (Terrey Hills) or the Paddy Gillic Hall (Davidson). Your attendance is important, not only to take care of "housekeeping” details, but also to offer each other encouragement, support and prayer.

Are you able to help us?

We need fresh faces to continue the fantastic work done in this ministry.
The only qualifications you need are your faith and a willingness to share it.
We ask that you pray about it. And give Angela a call.
It’s our responsibility to make sure the children in our Parish know God’s love.
And that’s why we need you.

Please consider sharing your talents by becoming a Catechist.