Introducing terms in Religious Education An introduction for

Introducing terms in Religious Education An introduction for non-RE teachers

Evangelisation Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ Catechesis Handing on and sharing the faith within the community of believers

General Directory of Catechesis, 58 distinguishes ‘three basic situations’ of evangelisation:

1. Those who do not know Christ, ie, the unbaptised, invited to conversion

2. Established Christians, ie, the baptised, requiring ongoing catechesis

3. An ‘intermediate situation’ where ‘entire groups of the baptised have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church…. ’. These require ‘a NEW EVANGELISATION’.

General Directory of Catechesis (1997) restates The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School (1988): ‘there is an absolute necessity to distinguish clearly between religious instruction and catechesis’ A recent national study found that this distinction is affirmed in Religious Education curricula across Australia

How? • Recognise that they are part of the Church by virtue of their baptism • New ways • Many ways, not one • New media • Responding to their context • Invitational and dialogical

What is classroom Religious Education? • Catholic school: formation in Catholic discipleship • Catholic school: a web of formative religious experiences • RE: the KLA at the heart of the Catholic curriculum • RE: a systematic educational process with educational purposes and outcomes • RE: a compelling invitation to faith and discipleship

Religious Education in its various forms? EVANGELISATION FOR ALL depending on their experience of the Good News (which changes and develops over time):

Religious Education in its various forms? • • • Primary proclamation for some, for those with no experience of the Gospel New evangelisation for many, with limited current involvement Catechesis for some who have involvement RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION FOR ALL according to their individual circumstances