| Into the Fields Teacher & Catechist Formation for all catechetical ministries in the parish |
Twenty-Third Publications Serving the Church for more than 40 years! |
| Now working in partnership with PastoralPlanning.com Providing resources & coaching for lifelong faith formation |
| Choosing & Preparing Your Facilitators Use the Training Tools below to Prepare. |
Credentials for the Facilitator
Over the years, our experience with facilitator-implemented curricula has demonstrated repeatedly that the group
facilitator is the key to a positive learning experience for all participants. The facilitator should have training and/or
experience with small group dynamics. We believe that the training should include small group issues and
dynamics, but it is advisable for prospective Into the Fields facilitators to come to the role with pre-existing
training and experience. Obviously, pastors, associate pastors, adequately-trained and/or experienced DREs,
pastoral ministers, school principals, and/or master catechists would make good candidates.
However, a given parish might also have people within the local faith community with the needed professional
skills – e.g., counselors (educational or private), social workers, community college and university educators, and
human resource personnel. Assuming these folks have experience in catechesis, and that they have theological
grounding (perhaps through diocesan programs), they could possibly serve as effective facilitators.
Qualifications of the Facilitator
The qualifications of a facilitator should include at least:
Preparing yourself to be a group facilitator
Like Leaven
Love for God and commitment to the teachers and catechists of their parish and school is the motivating force of
the Into the Fields facilitator’s ministry. In a sense, he or she has made a covenant, as God did with the prophets
and the people: to be a sign of God among the members of the group. Like leaven in the dough, the facilitator’s
role is to empower the group members to grow and to become bread for others by becoming the best catechists
and teachers, youth ministers or catechumenate team members, they can be.
Facilitation is a method of serving the members of the group by setting the stage, guiding the discussion and
allowing the group members to draw conclusions on their own. In order to do this, facilitators will want to
emulate God’s example, helping the members of the group become aware of God’s presence among them as they
share and discern. They can best fulfill this role by reflecting on the Word of God and on the experience of
gathering in the Sunday Assembly, by praying for the members of their group, and by keeping in mind the purpose
of the gatherings.
Over the years, our experience with facilitator-implemented curricula has demonstrated repeatedly that the group
facilitator is the key to a positive learning experience for all participants. The facilitator should have training and/or
experience with small group dynamics. We believe that the training should include small group issues and
dynamics, but it is advisable for prospective Into the Fields facilitators to come to the role with pre-existing
training and experience. Obviously, pastors, associate pastors, adequately-trained and/or experienced DREs,
pastoral ministers, school principals, and/or master catechists would make good candidates.
However, a given parish might also have people within the local faith community with the needed professional
skills – e.g., counselors (educational or private), social workers, community college and university educators, and
human resource personnel. Assuming these folks have experience in catechesis, and that they have theological
grounding (perhaps through diocesan programs), they could possibly serve as effective facilitators.
Qualifications of the Facilitator
The qualifications of a facilitator should include at least:
- Skills and training in small group dynamics and/or training-plus-experience in the facilitation of adult
learning groups. - Minimum of a bachelor's degree in theology, religious education, education, or a related field, but an
appropriate Masters degree is preferred. - In exceptional cases, and with the recommendation of a parish pastor, a person with extensive training in
theology; someone with experience as a parish director of religious education or school principal; or a
master catechist from a parish or school with at least five years of experience might be acceptable if they
have the formal recommendation from the pastor or school principal or administrator.
Preparing yourself to be a group facilitator
Like Leaven
Love for God and commitment to the teachers and catechists of their parish and school is the motivating force of
the Into the Fields facilitator’s ministry. In a sense, he or she has made a covenant, as God did with the prophets
and the people: to be a sign of God among the members of the group. Like leaven in the dough, the facilitator’s
role is to empower the group members to grow and to become bread for others by becoming the best catechists
and teachers, youth ministers or catechumenate team members, they can be.
Facilitation is a method of serving the members of the group by setting the stage, guiding the discussion and
allowing the group members to draw conclusions on their own. In order to do this, facilitators will want to
emulate God’s example, helping the members of the group become aware of God’s presence among them as they
share and discern. They can best fulfill this role by reflecting on the Word of God and on the experience of
gathering in the Sunday Assembly, by praying for the members of their group, and by keeping in mind the purpose
of the gatherings.
| Introduction to the Program The Scope & Sequence Choosing a Facilitator TRAINING & LINKS The Authors The Learning Pathway University Credits FAQs Purchase Organizing in the Parish or School |
Training & Preparing
Yourself or Others to Work
as Into the Fields Facilitators
This is not a complicated process. If you have
chosen leaders who are capable of convening
and facilitating a group, then this training has
the purpose mainly of orienting them to the
method and learning pathway of Into the
Fields.
Remember, you can always call us. We have a
professional staff ready to assist.
Yourself or Others to Work
as Into the Fields Facilitators
This is not a complicated process. If you have
chosen leaders who are capable of convening
and facilitating a group, then this training has
the purpose mainly of orienting them to the
method and learning pathway of Into the
Fields.
Remember, you can always call us. We have a
professional staff ready to assist.
| Stephanie Baker & Anna Humaydan Click here to send a note |
Four Exercises for new
facilitators
Or for experienced facilitators
who want to brush up and
refresh their skills.
Click on the candle to open the PDF.
facilitators
Or for experienced facilitators
who want to brush up and
refresh their skills.
Click on the candle to open the PDF.
Two helpful
PowerPoint
Presentations to
use for Training.
One. For you as the
Trainer, walks through
every aspect of Into
the Fields, following
the outline for
Training which is to
the left. Click here to
open this on your
screen in PowerPoint.
PowerPoint
Presentations to
use for Training.
One. For you as the
Trainer, walks through
every aspect of Into
the Fields, following
the outline for
Training which is to
the left. Click here to
open this on your
screen in PowerPoint.
Two. A self-directing
demo of the First
Session of Into the
Fields. Use this in the
training to walk your
folks through a sample
session. Click here.
demo of the First
Session of Into the
Fields. Use this in the
training to walk your
folks through a sample
session. Click here.
| Training Session Outline Which makes use of the Four Exercises and matches the Two PowerPoint presentations. Click here to open this PDF. |
