Office of Religious Education

About Basic Formation for Catechetical Ministries

What is a catechist?
What is basic certification?
Is there a basic requirement to apply for certification?
How does a person become certified as a catechist in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles?
Once I am certified, do I ever need to update myself?
What is a Master Catechist?
What material is covered in a formation center's Theology Phase?

"Become a Certified Catechist"

"Become a Certified Catechist" is a downloadable brochure (202KB PDF) that outlines the characteristics of a catechist. It also explains the process for becoming a certified catechist in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

What is a Catechist?

A catechist is a person of faith who is called by the parish or school community to hand on the tradition and teaching of the Catholic Church to others. This call demands that the catechist understand church doctrine and demonstrate appropriate teaching skills. More than that, a catechist realizes God’s voice in this call to serve, and recognizes the need for continuing personal growth and faith formation.

A catechist...

has a strong awareness of God’s grace in his/her own life
realizes the importance of building Christian community
participates regularly in the liturgy and desires to deepen her/his own prayer life,
is open to change, yet is deeply rooted in Christian convictions while respecting individual growth, differences and cultures
communicates effectively with others
is committed to ongoing personal religious education and formation
has a dedication to service and commitment to teaching within the Roman Catholic tradition.

What is Basic Certification?

Basic Certification is a process through which a person gains the basic knowledge and skills to communicate effectively the basic Christian message. The bishops of the California Catholic Conference have established criteria to promote and standardize the competence of catechetical programs. The Ministry Formation Program offered throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles implements these guidelines of the California bishops. It is called “formation”, for its object is not primarily to develop skills, but to assist the person to grow and develop as a proclaimer of the message of Jesus Christ through his Church.
The Catechist Certificate is recognized by all dioceses in the State of California.

Is there a basic requirement to apply for certification?

To be certified for Catechetical Ministry in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a person must be actively involved in the faith life of the Church.

It is understood that there is a need for a certain maturity of faith, as well as a capacity and desire to share that faith effectively with others. It is expected that a candidate for certification be at least 18 years of age.

How does a person become certified as a catechist in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles?

There are three distinct phases to the certification process, all of which must be successfully completed by the candidate for catechist certification:

1. Theology Phase
This entails participation in a Ministry Formation Center conducted by a team of Master Catechists. The curriculum serves to enrich the faith of the person, and meets the minimum requirements of the bishops of the California Catholic Conference for certification as a catechist.

2. Applications (Specialization) Phase
This phase serves to develop the particular skills required for their particular area of catechetical ministry (e.g. adult, elementary, youth, confirmation, etc.).

3. Practicum Phase
Two observations of a certified catechist by the candidate, two evaluations of the candidate by a certified catechist, a recommendation from the parish catechetical leadership, participation in two workshops, and a final interview comprise the third and final phase of the process. Forms for evaluations and observations are available on the Catechist Certification Resources page.

Successful candidates for certification are commissioned annually at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on the second Sunday of September

Once I am certified, do I ever need to update myself?

Catechists are certified for a period of 3 years. During that time, catechists are expected to participate in 30 hours of ongoing formation for recertification. It is the responsibility of the catechist to keep a record of their ongoing education and to submit a Recertification Form to the Office of Religious Education.

Download a recertification form
(565 K PDF File)

What is a Master Catechist?

Master Catechists are formed in accordance with the guidelines for Advanced Certification published by the bishops of the California Catholic Conference and represent the Office of Religious Education in conducting Ministry Formation Centers. It is upon their recommendation that a candidate receives certification as a catechist.

(see also Advanced Formation FAQs)

What material is covered in a formation center's Theology Phase?

Christian Prayer
Divine Revelation. Familiarity with the scriptures. Contemporary concept of revelation. Relationship between the Scriptures and oral tradition.
Encountering God. Scriptural images of God. Personal images of God. God as a Trinity of Persons.
Encountering Christ. Christ as the fullness of revelation. Christ as true God and true man; The meaning of the incarnation.
Encountering Christ in the Church. Formation of community as people of faith. Church as the People of God. Mary: model of the Church.
Encountering the Mystery of God in Sacramental Celebrations. Theology of liturgy and sacrament flowing out of the reformed rites of Vatican II. Communal dimension of the sacraments. Relationship among the sacraments.
Living the Gospel. Moral development and conscience formation. Conversion: an ongoing response to the Gospel message. Biblical concept of social justice. Integrating a sense of social morality into one’s life.

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