Master Catechists Receive Commissions

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/23/02)

For two years, 14 candidates in the diocesan Master Catechist Training Program traveled every other Thursday from as far as Culpeper, Warrenton or Chantilly to Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria for specialized training in catechist formation.

The commitment of these candidates resulted in their graduation and commissioning as master catechists at a Mass celebrated by Father Paul deLadurantaye, diocesan secretary for religious education, at St. Timothy Church in Chantilly last Thursday. Father Michael Bazan, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Warrenton, and Father John O’Donohue, parochial vicar at Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale, concelebrated Mass.

The 14 graduates were: Daniel Ali and Fran Gedra of Holy Spirit Parish; Jennifer Argote and Johannes H.P. Pieters, Jr., of St. Timothy Parish; Judith A. Brusseau of St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax; James G. and Phyllis L. Byrne of Precious Blood Parish in Culpeper; Rickey R. Dean and Joanne L. Warren of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Clifton; Billy Flook, Teresa Marie Paccassi, Donna Marie Stanislaw and Anne Tinsdale of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Warrenton; and Kathleen C. Hale of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

In his homily, Father deLadurantaye recalled the evening’s first reading (1 Cor. 12:4-13) in which St. Paul says each one of us has different gifts and talents, but it is the same Spirit who summons us all. A continual "call and response dynamic" can be seen throughout the bible, Father deLadurantaye said. In the Gospel reading (Lk. 5:1-11), Jesus summons the disciples to leave their familiar surroundings and to go out into deep waters, Father deLadurantaye said. Jesus tells them they will no longer catch fish, but, "Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men."

"The past two years each of you in your own way has heard the Lord’s voice," Father deLadurantaye told the graduates, but in spite of twists and turns, "you have listened to the Lord’s voice." He encouraged them with Christ’s words, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you."

After Communion, Karen Buentello of the Office of Catechetics called each candidate up to the altar to receive a certificate and pin. Before blessing the candidates, Father deLadurantaye said, "May God use you to set ‘on fire’ the hearts of our catechists as they come to know the heart and teachings of Jesus."

Newly commissioned Master Catechist James Byrne explained why he and his wife, Phyllis, had made the 100-mile journey each way from Culpeper for class the past two years. Byrne said he felt led by the Lord to the training to help in his teaching of the Catechism to inmates at Coffeewood and Augusta prisons. Phyllis teaches CCD classes to a core group of a dozen teens at Precious Blood. James said he had seen the need for better training of religious education teachers.

The Master Catechist Training Program, which began in 1991, is sponsored by the diocesan Office of Catechetics and supported by parishes that enroll candidates for the two-year course of training.

To achieve master catechist certification, candidates complete coursework in theology, scripture, adult development and education theory, and methodology. Master catechists are certified to conduct catechist training and formation, workshops and sacramental catechesis in diocesan parishes. They are available to parishes through requests submitted to pastors or directors of religious education.

Since the program began, 69 master catechists have been certified, including the current class.

Persons interested in enrolling in the Master Catechist Training Program should speak to their parish pastor or DRE.

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