Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework - USCCB

1 Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materialsfor Young People of High School AgeUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishopsi Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School AgeDoctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Frameworkfor the Development of Catechetical Materialsfor Young People of High School AgeUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops Washington, document Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age was developed by the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ( USCCB ).

2 It was approved by the full body of the USCCB at its November 2007 General Meeting and has been authorized for publication by the David J. Malloy, STDG eneral Secretary, USCCBE xcerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, copyright 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, Used with permission. All rights texts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, copyright 1991, 1986, and 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC 20017 and are used by permission of the copyright owner.

3 All rights from Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents edited by Austin Flannery, OP, copyright 1975, Costello Publishing Company, Inc., Northport, , are used with permission of the publisher, all rights reserved. No part of these excerpts may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without express written permission of Costello Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-1-60137-042-6 First printing, July 2008 Copyright 2008, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, All rights reserved.

4 No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright ..ivINTrODUCTION ..1 COrE Curriculum ..2I. The revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture ..2II. Who Is Jesus Christ? ..6 III. The Mission of Jesus Christ (The Paschal Mystery) ..11IV. Jesus Christ s Mission Continues in the Church ..15V. Sacraments as Privileged Encounters with Jesus Christ ..20VI. Life in Jesus Christ ..27 ELECTIVES ..31 Option A.

5 Sacred Scripture ..31 Option B. History of the Catholic Church ..35 Option C. Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ in Society ..40 Option D. responding to the Call of Jesus Christ ..44 Option E. Ecumenical and Interreligious Issues ..49iv Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School AgeAbbreviationsCCC Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Libreria Editrice Vaticana United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition: New English Translation (Codex Iuris Canonici).

6 Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, Pope John Paul II. On Catechesis in Our Time (Catechesi Tradendae). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1987. DV Vatican Council II. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum).FC Pope John Paul II. On the Family (Familiaris Consortio).GDC Congregation for the Clergy. General Directory for Catechesis. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Vatican Council II. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium). In Vatican Council II: Volume 1: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, edited by Austin Flannery.

7 Northport, NY: Costello Publishing, New American United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. National Directory for Catechesis. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope John Paul II. On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone (Ordinatio Sacerdotalis). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Rite of Christian Initiation for Vatican Council II. Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio).USCCA United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ (CT, no.)

8 5). These ends are evident in this Framework designed to guide catechetical instruction for young people of high-school age wherever and however it takes place: in Catholic high schools, in parish religious education programs, with young people schooled at home, or within the context of the catechetical instruction which should be part of every youth ministry program. The Christological centrality of this Framework is designed to form the content of instruction as well as to be a vehicle for growth in one s relationship with the Lord so that each may come to know him and live according to the truth he has given to us.

9 In this way, disciples not only participate more deeply in the life of the Church but are also better able to reach eternal life with God in a Framework , this document offers guidance to catechetical publishers in the creation of instructional material. Within each theme, Doctrinal Elements related to it are identified. The order in which the Doctrinal Elements within each theme are identified should not be understood to be an outline of a text or course. rather, they are offered as building blocks that can be combined in any number of ways within that particular thematic structure and can be augmented with additional Doctrinal teaching, depending on the creativity of authors and editors.

10 In addition to aiding those creating catechetical texts and materials, this Framework will also serve to aid those responsible for overseeing catechetical instruction within dioceses as well as those responsible for Curriculum development or the development of assessment instruments designed to complement texts, programs, or curriculums. It is understood that implementation of a new Curriculum will require time for the development of new materials as well as revision to diocesan guidelines and curricular structures within schools and religious education programs. A successful implementation will rely heavily on catechetical publishers of high-school-age materials as well as on the teachers and catechists of high-school-age young Framework is designed to shape a four-year, eight- semester course of catechetical instruction.