Catechetical Resources

There are a great number of resources available today to help parish catechetical leaders in their efforts to evangelize and catechize their parishioners. It is our intention that this page provide links to some of those resources. Please email to the OEC any suggestions you have concerning the contents of this page.

Textbooks
It is the policy of the Diocese of Madison that only textbooks from an approved list should be used as the basis for a curriculum in religious education. Presently, that approved list consists of all texts on the the U.S. bishops' "List of texts in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church," which can be found via the link below. Certainly, it is also appropriate to use other non-textbook resources on an ad-hoc basis to supplement textbooks. Textbooks are not salvational, and no textbook is perfect, nor does any book cover all aspects of our Catholic faith. However, some textbooks are better than others.

Diocesan catechetical leaders have provided the below list of a few text series that they deem especially effective. Most religion textbooks currently available from U.S. publishers are available in our diocesan curriculum library for your review.

• List of texts in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church
• High School (9-12)
  
  • Midwest Theological Forum - Didache Series
  • Saint Mary's Press - Total Catechesis
    Manuals used in conjunction with the Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth
  • Harcourt Religion - The Light of Faith (Overview of Catholicism)
  • Ave Maria Press - Your Life In Christ (Foundations of Catholic Morality)
  • Loyola - Six Weeks with the Bible for Catholic Teens
• Middle School (6-8)
  
  • Ignatius Press - Faith and Life
  • Harcourt Religion - Call to Faith
  • RCL (Resources for Christian Living) - Faith First
  • Sadlier - We Live Our Faith
• Elementary School (1-5)
  
  • Ignatius Press - Faith and Life
    Also, the Image of God series
  • RCL (Resources for Christian Living) - Legacy Faith
  • Sadlier - We Believe
  • Harcourt Religion - Call to Faith

   Programs
In addition to textbooks, it is often highly desirable to use other tools in our ministry efforts. One program of particular note is the Dead Theologians Society. The founder of this international youth ministry program for high school and college young people lives right here in the diocese and has offered to help parishes get started. Bishop Morlino and the OEC strongly endorse this program.

Standards and Competencies
Of course, as we look at textbooks and programs, we need to first be clear about exactly what it is we're trying to accomplish. What are we trying to give our children? What knowledge, habits and attitudes do our children need to effectively live out their Catholic faith and know, love and serve God?

The Diocese of Madison invested thousands of hours over a number of years to develop a set of "standards and competencies" which diocesan parishioners felt were essential for their children to master. Ask the OEC for a printed copy or view them here.