Evangelization and Catechesis

Changing of a name

On July 1, 2013 the Office of Christian Formation (OCF) changed its name to the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC); this change better reflects the mission of the office. The current National Directory for Catechesis (USCCB), as well as the General Directory for Catechesis (Vatican) calls for an intentionally evangelizing catechesis in our faith formation efforts.

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Luke 12:49)

There is also a certain number of baptized Christians who, desiring to promote dialogue with various cultures and other religious confessions, or on account of a certain reticence on their part to live in contemporary society as believers, fail to give explicit and courageous witness in their lives to the faith of Jesus Christ. These concrete situations of the Christian faith call urgently on the sower to develop a new evangelization, especially in those Churches of long-standing Christian tradition where secularism has made greater inroads. In this new context of evangelization, missionary proclamation and catechesis, especially of the young and of adults, is an evident priority. (GDC, 26)

“Some level of conversion is necessary…if catechesis is to be able to fulfill its proper task of education in the faith” (NDC, 19).

“Every element of the parish must respond to the evangelical imperative—priests and religious, lay persons, staff, ministers, organizations, social clubs, parochial schools, and parish religious education programs. Otherwise, evangelization will be something a few people in the parish see as their ministry—rather than the reason for the parish's existence and the objective of every ministry in the parish." (Go and Make Disciples, 85)

Mission

The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) is guided by the Mission Statement of the Diocese of Lubbock and the Evangelization and Catechetical documents of the Church. The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis seeks to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ into every human situation, attentive to the signs of the times, through the service of pastoral leaders and all Catholics. The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis builds upon the rich Catholic legacy of faith in the cherishing of her religious, cultural, geographic and generational diversity.

We collaborate with pastoral leaders and leaders in various ministries to: bring about in all Catholics in the diocese such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others; invite all people in the diocese, whatever their economic, social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith; foster gospel values by promoting the dignity of the human person, especially persons experiencing poverty and marginalization; celebrate the richness of diversity among God’s people; uphold the common good and the importance of the family, so that our society may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.

We assist catechetical leaders in parishes and schools in furthering the evangelizing catechetical mission of a family-oriented, multi-cultural church of adults, adolescents and children. We provide services to promote lifelong formation so that each person's faith becomes living, conscious and active.

We Believe That Sound Evangelizing Catechesis:

• reflects gospel values and church teaching to encourage discipleship,
• enables the spiritual growth and giftedness of all people,
• is a lifelong, on-going process of education, formation and transformation,
• reflects sensitivity to the multiple expressions of the family and supports the enrichment of the family,
• responds to all ethnic groups in all diocesan geographical areas,
• invites and empowers the community to assume responsibility for the ownership of its faith formation.

We Serve One Another Through:

• witnessing to gospel values,
• prayerful support, availability and presence,
• offering opportunities for spiritual development,
• providing ministry formation programs and processes,
• offering guidelines for the reception of sacraments as well as for formation,
• planning and program development,
• providing placement services,
• networking and collaboration, consultation and support.

Overview of the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis

The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) seeks to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in every human situation, attentive to the signs of the times, through the service of pastoral leaders and all Catholics. The OEC builds upon the rich Catholic legacy of faith in the cherishing her of religious, cultural, geographic and generational diversity.

We collaborate with pastoral leaders and leaders in various ministries to: bring about in all Catholics in the diocese such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others; invite all people in the diocese, whatever their economic, social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith; foster gospel values by promoting the dignity of the human person, especially persons experiencing poverty and marginalization; celebrate the richness of diversity among God’s people; uphold the common good and the importance of the family, so that our society may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Training and Formation

One of the primary functions of the Diocesan OEC is to provide training and formation for Parish Catechetical Leaders (PCLs - previously referred to as DREs) and Catechists for children, young people, and adults. This includes basic, advanced, and on-going formation that’s inclusive of an intentional evangelization component. The OEC offers recognition in the form of certificates for those who meet and exceed standards in that formation.

Annual Events

Additionally, the OEC sponsors a variety of yearly events, such as the Catechetical and Ministries Conference in the fall, Leadership Day in late summer, In-service, etc.

Resource Library and Webpage

Via a Resource Webpage, the OEC assists parishes in selecting texts for pre-school, elementary, middle and high school students in Catholic Schools and Parish programs. All elementary, middle school, and high school parish and school textbooks used in the Diocese of Lubbock must be chosen from the Conformity Listing of Catechetical Texts and Series as set forth by the Bishops' Committee on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. All parish programs must use one of these approved texts as the basis for their classes.

Evangelization and Catechesis for Adults

Inspired by the USCCB document Our Hearts were Burning Within Us and the NDC, the Diocesan OEC is happy to assist parishes in making adult faith formation "the central task in the catechetical enterprise."

The OEC also provides a Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program, and partners with the University of Loyola to provide a graduate level process through Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension program.

Safe Environment Program

The Diocese of Lubbock is committed to ensuring the safety of our children and young people in keeping with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops through the program Called to Protect by Praesidium. This program is used with children from K to 12th grade, parents and families, as well as with lay ministers and clergy. The Diocese of Lubbock also has established Policies and Procedures to Reduce the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse.

Correctional Ministry

The OEC seeks to coordinate a Catholic presence in each federal, state, and local facility of incarceration, as well as provide resources, such as, bibles, rosaries, RCIA materials, etc., to those who are incarcerated. 

We Are

Director of Office for Evangelization and Catechesis –
Coordinator for ARISE Together in Christ (Three Year Process) –Alicia Alvarez
Coordinator for Catechesis – S
Coordinator for Evangelization (After ARISE) - TBD
Coordinator for Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program – Alicia Alvarez
Coordinator for Safe Environment Program – Alicia Alvarez
Coordinator for Correctional Ministry – Alicia Alvarez
Resource Library –
Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension Facilitator –
Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension Liaison – Alicia Alvarez
Administrative Assistant/Resource Webpage Administrator - TBD
Diocesan Pastoral Council Staff Liaison – Alicia Alvarez

Christian prayer is “the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment.” (218)

Help all who catechize to understand that, like Jesus, their teaching is not their own but, rather, comes from God. (238)

In presenting catechesis, dioceses and parishes should ensure that catechesis: transmits the one faith to all peoples; introduces catechumens and those to be catechized to the unity of the profession of faith; nourishes the unity of the Body of Christ.

The Gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ has a distinctly historical character. Jesus Christ is a historical figure who preached the Good News of the coming of the Kingdom of God in time. The Incarnation, passion, death, and Resurrection of Christ are real historical events. Jesus Christ poured out his Holy Spirit and established the Church on Pentecost thereby ushering in the new era of salvation history: the age of the Church. During this era, Christ is revealing the work of salvation in the life of the Church “until he comes” again. (259)

The programs offered by the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis are made possible by the Diocesan Catholic Appeal and Catholic Church Extension Society.