Assesses the current status of catechesis and religious education in Australian Catholic schools and parishes. Notes recent efforts and offers suggestions for improving religious education in those settings. (DMM)

Describes the development of a video-based training program for the formation and certification of catechists for the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. Offers information on the need and rationale for the program, the production of the videocassettes and learner's manual, and responses to the program. (DMM)

Traces changes in the content and instructional methods of catechesis from the early centuries of Christianity, when the focus was on evangelization, to the twentieth century. Reviews the influences of developmental psychology and social consciousness on modern catechetical renewal. Considers the educational needs of the twenty-first century. (DMM)

Reviews recommendations put forth in "The Challenge of Adolescent Catechesis: Maturing in Faith." Enumerates principles related to the development of a personal faith and Catholic identity in adolescence, stressing respect for variability in maturation rates and learning needs and the need for variety in learning formats, environments,…

Uses the Archdiocese of New York to illustrate the Catholic Church's successes and failures in religious education. Discusses the archdiocese's efforts to reduce widespread ignorance of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, including a community needs assessment and a weekend Synod. Highlights religious education needs. (DMM)

Identifies 11 techniques for procuring grants in religious education. Outlines project personalization, clarity of proposal, naming intended outcomes and evaluation of project, flexibility, avoiding jargon, finding common goals with prospective donors, recognizing your limits and perceived image, having realistic hopes, persistence and…

Explores changes that have taken place in the Catholic Church's understanding of the concepts of "religion" and "faith." Discusses the effects of these changes on the ministry of religious education. Makes suggestions concerning the development of a suitable environment and atmosphere for approaching religious education within…

Describes the foundation, growth and philosophy of Teachers' Teams, an international movement of Catholic educators who view teaching in public schools as a vocation, mission and ministry. Discusses activities such as monthly meetings and conferences and defines the three steps in their approach: seeing, judging, and acting. (BCY)

Examines the implications of the bishops' pastoral, "The Challenge of Peace," for Catholic schools and analyzes issues and problems in responding to the pastoral. Recommends clarification of philosophical positions, development of archdiocesan guidelines, varied teacher in-service opportunities, and global concept development. (DMM)

Suggests that religion teachers develop mentor-friend relationships with their students, as characterized by being available to students outside of class, sharing oneself in a personal way, expressing interest in the student's life, and sharing faith. Discusses acceptable and unacceptable types of relationships. (DMM)

Examines the role of the Catholic school ministery team in proclaiming the Gospel throughout the school and its community. (SJL)

Discusses the features of the National Catholic Educational Association's newest instruments for assessing students' faith, attitudes about religious and social questions, and religious practice. Describes the 1989 administration of the Assessment of Catholic Religious Education multi-level instruments. (DMM)

Reviews guidelines and objectives established by the United States Catholic bishops report on teaching human sexuality, identifying the goal of such education as the "realization of total sexual identity" and affective maturation. Describes workshops designed by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to train sexuality educators in accordance with the…

Describes a Catholic high school science unit on the origins of energy, matter, stars, planets, and life. Explains how the three- to four-week unit seeks to promote a unifying vision of science and religion, physics and biology, art and chemistry, education and living. (DMM)

Article suggested that if teachers are adequate to the task, all manner of lessons can be drawn from pets. These run the gamut from math to language skills to social sciences to sex education. (Author/RK)