Why be an SRE Catechist?
The impact you will have on young people is lifegiving and lasting. You will be welcomed by young people who are eager to hear about God’s Love. Teaching young people to pray and nurturing their relationship with Jesus and the Church is a priceless gift that gives direction, purpose and hope. You will make a difference in the lives of young people and form a special relationship with them that in many ways will live on in their minds and hearts long after they finish school.
*Special Religious Education
“In my Vision for Parishes, Come & See, Go & Make, I implore the faithful of the diocese to truly embrace the mission of the Church, by allowing what breaks the heart of Jesus, to break our hearts too — namely, the many who do not yet know that they are loved unconditionally by God.
It is this that should be the fire within us and move us out to the borders of our small parishes, to reach out into the deep. It is this longing to make Jesus known and loved that fuels the heart of the SRE Catechist.
Come and join many others in this amazing ministry, and be the lighthouses that God created us to be as bearers of Christ’s love.”
Most Rev Bishop Brian Mascord DD,
Bishop of Wollongong
WHAT IS AN SRE CATECHIST?
SRE Catechists are members of their local Catholic community who volunteer to teach or assist Catholic Special Religious Education (SRE), also known as “scripture”, in government schools. SRE Catechists come from all walks of life but share the common mission of providing Catholic religious instruction for Catholic children. SRE Catechists are mums and dads, grandparents, retirees, professionals and students.
What is Catholic SRE?
Catholic SRE is offered in over 120 government schools around the Diocese of Wollongong. Each lesson is approximately 30-minutes in length and is taught from an authorised curriculum, Christ Our Light and Life. This curriculum is provided to SRE Catechists and contains detailed lesson plans to make teaching in the class as simple as following the steps provided. A lesson usually contains 4 elements - prayer, introduction, story and activity.
How do I become aN SRE Catechist?
SRE Catechists are authorised and trained by their local parish priest and the CCD Wollongong Team. After obtaining a Working With Children Check and submitting a Teacher Engagement Form, signed by you and your parish priest, you will complete SRE Catechist Training (Level 1). This training is offered live in-person or can be completed online via a video course. After this, your parish will provide you with a teaching curriculum and you will be assigned a class to teach/help. Most new SRE Catechists begin in the ministry as a helper.
what’s the commitment?
SRE Catechists commit to the ministry on a yearly basis. This means committing to a class of Catholic children for one school year. This allows the students time to build a student-teacher relationship with the SRE Catechist and provides them with a sense of stability within their Catholic SRE lessons. Some SRE Catechists have been involved in the ministry for many years whilst others choose to volunteer for shorter periods of time (e.g. a university student may be a SRE Catechist for a couple of years).
Child Protection (professional standards & SafeguardinG)
All SRE Catechists must have a verified Working With Children Check and complete compulsory SRE Catechist Training, which includes Child Protection and Classroom Management. Working With Children Checks are provided by Service NSW and are free for volunteers. Your local parish or the CCD Wollongong team can assist you in obtaining your check. Your participation in the ministry is subject the approval of your Parish Priest and the CCD Wollongong Team.