1. Welcome
Introduce yourself
Introduce the Effective Catechetical Leader series as a joint effort between Loyola Press and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)

2. That’s SO last millennium!
The Effective DRE
Explain that the original collaboration was titled The Effective DRE series and that it was published in the late 1990s
Talk about how the Church, society, and the world have experienced significant changes in these past several decades leading to the need to revise the series
NCCL approached Loyola Press about collaborating on a revision several years ago and the new series came to fruition in 2017.
That’s SO last millennium!

3. The Effective Catechetical Leader
Do a brief overview of the titles and their authors:
Called by Name: Preparing Yourself for the Vocation of Catechetical Leader – Joe Paprocki (National Consultant for Faith Formation, Loyola Press)
Catechetical Leadership: What It Should Look Like, How It Should Work, and Whom It Should Serve – Adrian Alberto Herrera (Associate Director for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston)
Developing Disciples of Christ: Understanding the Critical Relationship between Catechesis and Evangelization – Julianne Stanz (Director of New Evangelization, Diocese of Green Bay)

4. The Effective Catechetical Leader
Cultivating Your Catechists: How to Recruit, Encourage and Retain Successful Catechists – Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy (Director of Religious Education, Diocese of Honolulu)
Excellence in Ministry: Best Practices for Successful Catechetical Leadership – Tom Quinlan (Director of Religious Education, Diocese of Joliet)
All God’s People: Effective Catechesis in a Diverse Church – Donna Tolliver Grimes (Assistant Director for African American Affairs in the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

5. Catechetical Leadership
What It Should Look Like, How It Should Work, and Whom It Should Serve
By Adrián Alberto Herrera
Introduce the focus of this presentation:
Catechetical Leadership: What It Should Look Like, How It Should Work, and Whom It Should Serve - This book closely examines the specific leadership skills and competencies that are necessary for a catechetical leader to be effective in a parish setting.
Adrián Alberto Herrera is an Associate Director for the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He has served as consultant to the National Advisory Committee on Adult Religious Education, formerly known as NACARE. He wrote Oraciones y Reflexiones Dominicales para Católicos 2017 and developed materials for the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis. Herrera has served as catechist, youth minister, and Director of Religious Education.

6. Leadership
Invite participants to brainstorm the names of people in history considered to be great leaders.
Explain that, depending on our definition of leadership, we may find ourselves identifying a wide range of people serving in a wide range of “stations” in life: politics, sports, business, religion, and so on.
Discuss and identify the qualities that these leaders possess and exhibit.
If time permits, consider using the chapter 1 printable “Heroic Leadership” to help participants identify examples of excellent leaders.
Nelson Mandela photo credit: Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license, the author is Nelson_Mandela-2008_(edit).jpg: South Africa The Good News by ezMandela in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on 13 May 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr. photo credit: Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division under digital ID ppmsc.01269, date: 26 March 1964
Abe Lincoln photo credit: Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs division under digital ID cph.3a53289, November

7. Leadership Business Politics/Military Sports
Point out that, when searching for book on leadership, we tend to find three categories from which to choose: business, politics, and sports.
Explain that while we can learn a number of things from leaders in these areas, their models of leadership do not “fit” with the kind of leadership we are called to exhibit in catechetical ministry or pastoral leadership in general.
So, where do we turn for our model of leadership?
Business
Politics/Military
Sports

8. How did Jesus Lead? We look to Jesus for our model of leadership!
Talk about how, at the Last Supper, Jesus demonstrated what leadership in the Kingdom of God looks like when he got up from the table, tied a towel around his waist, and washed the feet of his apostles.
Share Jesus’ words: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (Jn 13:12b-15)

9. “Every leadership situation offers an opportunity to put our faith into practice.”
Explain that we refer to Jesus’ model of leadership as “servant leadership.” And, we also follow the wisdom of Pope Francis who consistently calls us to this form of discipleship.
Point out that, in his book, Servant Leadership Models for Your Parish, author Dan Ebener says that “Every leadership situation offers an opportunity to put our faith into practice.”
Explain that, in this presentation, we will look more closely at what the servant leadership model looks like when applied to the catechetical ministry.

10. Servant Leadership Recognizing Serving Empowering
Point out that there are basically three characteristics of servant leadership: recognizing, serving, and empowering.
Recognizing refers to all of the ways that we, as leaders, shift the focus of attention away from ourselves and onto those we are serving and collaborating with – highlighting their gifts and talents and affirming them for what they do.
Serving refers to all of the ways that we place the needs of others before our own.
Empowering refers to all of the ways we seek to equip and enable others to share leadership tasks and to develop their leadership skills.
Consider using chapter 10 (from Called By Name) printout “Three Behaviors of Servant Leaders” to further discussion.

11. Recognizing Call forth their gifts. Affirm their work.
Show appreciation
Say, “Thank you!”
Talk about how catechetical leaders can RECOGNIZE those they collaborate with and serve:
Calling forth gifts (not just recruiting catechists but affirming charisms)
Acknowledging (going out of your way to acknowledge accomplishments)
Affirming (telling people that they are doing a good job)
Developing quality relationships and building community, growing people (striving to always build networks of people)
Calling forth vocations (letting people know they are more than volunteers but are fulfilling their baptismal call
Personal invitations (relying on the personal touch rather than on bulletin/Web site announcements
Sending cards, notes (taking a few minutes to dash off notes to those you lead)
Recognizing birthdays (making sure that milestones get celebrated)
Bulletin Boards (posting pictures and stories that recognize work being done by others)
Appreciation parties (celebrating the work of others and showing appreciation in concrete ways)
Commissioning events (recognizing people as they begin their service or reach milestones in formation)
Thank you’s (in person or in writing, always showing appreciation)

12. Serving Putting other’s needs first Leading with humility
Admit mistakes
Listen
Talk about how catechetical leaders can SERVE those they collaborate with and supervise:
Putting other’s needs first (making sure that people have what they need)
Leading with humility (not drawing attention to yourself but seeking to blend in)
Egalitarian Relationships (never placing yourself above others but treating them as equals)
Not above menial tasks (rolling up your sleeves and getting your fingernails dirty)
Stepping into the trenches (spending time alongside those working under your supervision)
Responsiveness (acknowledging people by responding to their questions without making them wait)
Deflecting Credit (immediately giving credit to others for successes)
Walk the talk (be authentic in practicing what you preach)
Admit mistakes (own up to mistakes and refuse to blame others)
Listen (mingle) (interact with people and give them the time of day…listen to them and their concerns/needs)
Pay attention to creature comforts and hospitality (go out of your way to make people feel at ease and at home)
Avoid the pedestal (play down your role as a leader and focus on collaboration)
Ask questions/invite feedback (let people know that you hope to grow through their feedback)

13. Empowering Sharing power/authority Collaborate in decision-making
Invite, accompany, offer opportunities for continued training and formation.
Talk about how catechetical leaders can EMPOWER those they collaborate with and supervise:
Developing and enhancing capacity for others to act (make it possible for others to succeed)
Sharing power/authority (delegate responsibilities and entrust people with important tasks)
Collaborating in decision-making (advisory board) – (develop a true shared-vision and invite input into decision making)
Building a sense of ownership & commitment (ensure that people have a sense of ownership in the program that results in heightened commitment)
Delegating tasks (avoid the do-it-yourself approach and ask others to take on key responsibilities)
Leadership development (mentor others to assume leadership positions and provide them with opportunities for growth)
Articulating a vision (make sure people know what the program’s priorities are and where it is “heading”
Always inviting (never be satisfied with the status quo…always seek new life, new “blood”, and new perspectives)
Inviting, accompanying, paying for formation/training (provide catechists with opportunities for growth, accompany them, and make sure your budget pays for it)

14. Articulating a Vision
Propose an appealing and inspiring picture of the future
Offer a method for implementing the vision
Identify specific steps and a timetable for implementation
Implement an action plan that is in line with the vision
Talk about how one of the most important responsibilities of a leader is to articulate a vision. Emphasize that a vision is the proposal of an appealing and inspiring picture of the future (where we hope to be in x years)
Explain the importance of working with others to hammer out a plan for making that vision become a reality.
Explain that it is critical to identify specific steps and to articulate a realistic timeline for achieving these steps.
Talk about how one goes about implementing an action plan in such a way as to be able to observe hoped-for results.
Consider using chapter 2 printout “Creating a Vision Statement” to advance the discussion

15. Collaborating Collaborating Avoid silo mentality Communication Trust
Adapt, be flexible
Introduce the importance of collaboration in leadership
Point out that collaboration is more than a technique or a strategy but is a characteristic of being church.
Share stories of struggling with “silo mentalities” and strategies for overcoming them
Emphasize the need to open and honest communication and emphasize the importance of listening to others.
Talk about the critical need for trust, how it is earned and built and how it is restored when damaged.
Explain that an attitude of stewardship is key to healthy collaboration because it emphasizes the gifts of the whole community and the ownership of the whole community.
Point out how important it is to seek out the wisdom of others when making major decisions
Emphasize the need for being adaptive, flexible, and evolving (willing to change) when it comes to collaboration.
Talk about how important it is to keep perspective and to always have the needs of the many in mind
Consider using chapter 3 printout “What Kind of Collaborator Am I?” to further the discussion

16. Handling Conflict Don’t ignore conflict Clarify the problem
Avoid making presumptions
Show respect for all parties
Avoid a combat mentality
Deal with conflict, not the person
Avoid taking things personally
Explain that no leader, no matter how good they are, will be exempt from conflict. Invite participants to share stories of conflict they have experienced in ministry as well as your own. Share the following strategies:
Explain how important it is to never let conflict fester or grow unchecked.
Point out how important it is to check one’s emotions for attempting to settle a conflict.
Talk about the need to clarify the problem at hand so as to remain focused.
Emphasize the need to de-escalate conflict situations and invite strategies
Be sure to resolve conflict face to face.
Make sure that everyone involved feels they have been heard.
Continue sharing strategies for handling conflict:
Emphasize the importance of not making presumptions or drawing to conclusions too soon.
Talk about ways to showing respect while engaging in conflict
Explain how to proceed with a “win-win” mentality as opposed to a combat mentality
Discuss ways to avoid over-generalizing or blaming (i.e. how to make “I” statements instead of “You” statements
Identify strategies for remaining detached and not allowing feelings to take over
Invite any other suggestions, stories, insights, and experiences related to handling conflict.
Consider using chapter 9 printout “How Did Jesus Handle Conflict?” to further the discussion

17. Strengthen 4 Core Areas Human Spiritual Intellectual Pastoral
Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord
Talk about how the final area to cover has to do with four core areas that all leaders need to strengthen just as experts tell us that it is crucial to strengthen core muscles in our bodies.
Explain that the area of HUMAN development refers to our ability to engage effectively with others on a social level with proper emotions and communication skills.
Talk about the nature of SPIRITUAL development meaning that we need to pay attention to our relationship with God.
Explain that INTELLECTUAL development refers to our ongoing need to grow in knowledge of our Catholic faith and Tradition.
Identify PASTORAL development as growing in one’s ability to effectively connect people’s everyday lives with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

18. Available for iOS and Android in the app store.
The ECL App
Available for iOS and Android in the app store.
Make reference to the ECL App. Note that it is FREE.

19. More Resources
Continue to train and equip your catechists with The Catechist’s Toolbox Series.

20. More Resources www.LoyolaPress.com
Visit our home on the web for resources for catechists and lesson plans.
Sunday Connection
Catechist’s Journey