1. Old & New Testaments (ten hours)
2. Christian Morality (ten hours)
3. Sacraments (ten hours)
4. Church History (ten hours)
5. Justice and Peace (ten hours)
6. Liturgy and Rites (ten hours)
7. Jesus (Christology) (ten hours)
8. Church: Vision, Mission, Ministry (ten hours)
9. Workshop to acquire new catechetical skills for further growth and enrichment (five hours)

NOTE: Once a teacher reaches the Advanced level of certification, they must complete 30 hours of maintenance every three years.

To see course offerings for the 2009-2010 school year, check Religion Teacher Certification Courses on our home page.

For purposes of religion teacher certification, you do not need to worry about DCEU's or the number of hours of individual courses. The primary focus is on the specific courses required for specific levels of certification.

To be certified by the Diocese of Covington, a high school religion teacher must meet the following requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree with a major in Catholic theology, religious education, or religious studies. This degree must include a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in theology, religious education, or religious studies. A well-balanced program of study must include courses in scripture, doctrine, church history, moral theology, and liturgical/sacramental theology. Courses in pastoral ministry, prayer, and spirituality will be recognized.
2. An accredited college course in adolescent/developmental psychology, and at least one accredited course in secondary teaching methods.
3. Successful completion of a minimum of one quarter of student teaching or an equivalent practicum in teaching. This practicum must include observation of classes, lesson planning, and supervised teaching.
4. Part-time high school religion teachers must meet these same requirements.
5. Principals are strongly encouraged to make compliance to these standards a factor in determining the selection of teachers.
6. Certificates will be issued by the Department of Religious Education and mailed directly to the schools. A copy of each teacher’s certificate is to be kept in the teacher’s file in the principal’s office.
7. Please, note that those High School Teachers who are already working in the Diocese of Covington before the above policy is put in place but have not completed their Basic, General and Advanced certification, must do so by coming to the Diocesan Certification Program throughout the 5 Deaneries.

Basic Certification Requirements

1. Catechetical Process (five hours)
2. Workshop on developing skills to lead prayer experiences (five hours)

Choose four of the following courses for General Certification and complete the remaining four (completing each of the eight courses) for Advanced Certification:

1. Old & New Testaments (ten hours)
2. Christian Morality (ten hours)
3. Sacraments (ten hours)
4. Church History (ten hours)
5. Justice and Peace (ten hours)
6. Liturgy and Rites (ten hours)
7. Jesus (Christology) (ten hours)
8. Church: Vision, Mission, Ministry (ten hours)

Competency Requirements
Theology Preparation

To be a parish director of religious education, the individual must have a master’s degree in Catholic Theology or a master’s degree in another discipline, and a minimum of 24 semester hours (or 36 quarters) of graduate credits in Catholic Theology.

To be a parish coordinator of religious education, the individual must have a bachelor’s degree in Catholic Theology or a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and a minimum of 30 semester hours (or 45 quarters) of undergraduate credits in Catholic Theology.

The required credits for both the DRE and CRE must include at least six of the following areas:

1. Revelation and Scripture
2. Christology
3. Sacramentology
4. Ecclesiology
5. Theology of Pastoral Ministry
6. Moral Theology
7. Spirituality
8. Ecumenism
9. Liturgy and Worship

Competency in these areas is measured through:

1. Demonstration of designated core competencies in a ministerial setting.*
2. A written self-assessment of competencies.*
3. An interview with designated person from the Department of Religious Education.

Formation

1. Evidence of one activity in Personal and Spiritual Maturity competencies (Core Standard One, page 27*)
2. Evidence of one activity in Lay Ecclesial Ministry Identity competencies (Core Standard Two, page 28*)

Skills

1. Evidence of one accomplishment or activity in Pastoral Praxis competencies (Core Standard Four, page 32*)
2. Evidence of one accomplishment or activity in Professional Practice competencies (Core Standard Five, page 37*)

*See pages 27-37, National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers serving as Parish Catechetical Leaders, Youth Ministry Leaders, Pastoral Associates, parish Life Coordinators, Directors of Music Ministries developed by NFCYM, NALM, NCCL, and NPM and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation.

The Diocese of Covington requires basic, general, and advanced levels of certification for teachers of RCIA and CCD, and elementary school teachers and principals. Each level of certification must be completed within consecutive two-year periods.

Both basic and general certificates are valid for three years. If religion teachers’ basic or general certificates have expired and they have not yet completed the four additional courses necessary to apply for the next level of catechist certification, they must renew their present certificate at the same level. For recertification at the same level, teachers must take two additional classes. Once advanced certification is achieved, teachers do not need to recertify unless they are absent from teaching religion for a period of five consecutive years.

• The fee for each workshop or course is $15.00.
• If there are not at least fifteen catechists registered for a course or workshop, it may be cancelled at the discretion of the instructor. If cancelled, those registered will be notified.
• Registration deadline is two business days prior to the date of the course or workshop.
• Courses & workshops are open to all adults and are not limited to those seeking a certificate.
• To sign up for a course or a workshop, download and complete a registration form, call the Department of Religious Education, 859-392-1533, or email: mwest@covingtondiocese.org.

• Identify faith as our response to God’s call to relationship and as the content of what we believe.
• Define the term creed and distinguish between the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed.
• Describe the process through which the Nicene Creed developed.
• Express a basic understanding of the following concepts: Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), Incarnation, Paschal Mystery, Communion of Saints.
• Explain the meaning of the hierarchy of truths in Catholic doctrine.
• Define the following terms: faith, theology, Magisterium, tradition, doctrine, dogma.
• Explain the relevance of the creedal statements to Christian living.
• Describe the role of the catechist in passing on the Catholic Tradition.

• Define the concepts of revelation and inspiration as they apply to the Bible.
• Explain the formation of the Scriptures including authorship, oral and written tradition and formation of the canon of the Scriptures.
• Recognize some of the major types of literary forms found in the Bible, e.g., myths, legends, parables, proverbs, poems.
• Demonstrate the use of contemporary biblical commentaries, concordances and dictionaries.
• Identify appropriate uses of the Scriptures for personal and communal prayer and in the liturgy of the Church.

• Compare and contrast significant historical developments in catechesis in order to understand contemporary catechetical approaches.
• Describe the primary tasks of contemporary catechesis as well as the role of the catechist.
• Describe the process of faith development, as growing out of an understanding of human development, and its implications for teaching religion.
• Formulate teaching approaches that respond to the needs of the students arising from the cultural and social realities that impinge upon them.
• Appreciate and incorporate the perspectives of different cultures into learning activities.
• Adapt lessons to the wide range of learning needs/abilities represented in the class.
• Write appropriate learning objectives around a given religious concept.
• Translate learning objectives into teaching strategies.
• Design and sequence learning activities into a lesson plan according to the movements of the catechetical process.

GENERAL AND ADVANCED
LEVEL CERTIFICATION

Christian Morality
The learner will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the sources of morality, basic moral principles and theories of moral development.
• Explain how moral behavior has to do with appropriate response in and to love relationships in the human community.
• Demonstrate an understanding that morality is rooted in one’s spiritual life rather than in law.
• Explain the relationship of divine, natural, and positive law.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the connections between morality and the sacraments, especially Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist.
• Explain how one’s moral principles and conviction’s give meaning to one’s actions.
• Describe the nature of a healthy conscience developed in freedom and grace and the role of the conscience in moral decision-making.
• Describe the contemporary nature of sin, its causes and effects.
• Explain the right, duty, and responsibility of the Church to exercise a teachings role in the world.
• Explain and interpret the theological and pastoral aspects of moral teachings and their application to specific situations.
• Identify current moral dilemmas and develop examples of responses in light of insights gained through the study of Christian morality.

• Describe the approach to historical biblical criticism taken by Catholic biblical scholars. (See Divino Afflante Spiritu and Dei Verbum.)
• Identify the most significant geographical sites of the events of the Bible.
• Identify the principal divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures and the literary styles found in the various books of the Hebrew Scriptures.
• Outline the major narratives of the Hebrew Scriptures.
• Describe the distinguishing characteristics of each of the gospels.
• Explain some ways in which the early Christian community depicted in the Acts of the Apostles can serve as a model for the Church today.
• Describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church as found in the Acts of the Apostles.
• Give examples of the audiences for whom Paul wrote his epistles and also the issues which the epistles address.
• Explain the purpose of the Book of revelation.
• Demonstrate approaches for using Scripture in catechesis.

• Explain the principle of Sacramentality and summarize the sacramental theology of Vatican Council II.
• Define grace and explain the teaching of the Church regarding sacraments as sources of grace.
• Explain how human life experiences are expressed in symbol and ritual.
• Give an overview of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
• Describe the role of the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation.
• Explain Eucharist as source and summit of Christian life.
• Explain the sacraments of healing as celebrations of God’s abiding care and concern.
• Explain the sacraments at the service of communion as rooted in our baptismal call.
• Trace the historical development of the sacraments.

• Describe the development of the Church from a small Jewish community of believers to a Greco-Roman state religion under Theodosius.
• Identify some of the key people and events in the first 500 years of Christianity.
• Name some of the issues that led to the East-West Schism and its effect on the development of Christianity.
• Explain the influence of the Roman Empire and feudalism on the Church from Charlemagne through the 1300s.
• Summarize the impact of monasticism on the reform of clergy and the papacy.
• Describe some of the people, events, and ideas that led up to the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation.
• List some of the decisions reached during the Council of Trent and their impact on the life of the Church.
• Demonstrate how the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, French Revolution and other cultures affected the growth of the Church from the 17th century to the present.
• Explain how the Catholic Church developed in the United States and what affects the U.S. Church has had and is having on the Church universal.
• Reflect on the present state of the Catholic Church in light of the past and identify some challenges Catholicism faces in the future.

• Distinguish between the concepts of charity and justice and explain the implications of each for the structures of society.
• Identify the basic principles of justice within our Catholic Tradition as found in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Christian Scriptures, and Church documents.
• Name the seven basic themes of Catholic Social Teaching and apply them to their own lives, communities, and societal structures. (See Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, USCCB)
• Identify three major papal social encyclicals and their themes.
• Explain the economic principles found in the U.S. bishops' pastoral Economic Justice for All.
• Identify and analyze situations in which their own and others' human dignity has been violated and discuss how these examples connect with the larger themes of human dignity and justice.
• Explain the concept of global solidarity and link missionary activities with peace and justice education.
• Apply the pastoral circle (awareness, analysis, action, reflection) to a current peace or social justice issue.

• Define the principle of Sacramentality which is foundational to Catholic liturgy.
• Summarize the historical development of our liturgical tradition.
• Describe the goals of the liturgical reforms mandated by the Second Vatican Council.
• Explain that liturgy expresses in word and action a dialogue between God and the worshipping assembly. (God speaks to us in the Liturgy of the Word and we respond in the Liturgy of the Eucharist by offering praise and thanks and sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ).
• Name and explain the four presences of Christ in the liturgy: assembly, Word, Eucharist, and presiding minister.
• Explain the fundamental principles of preparing liturgy with children found in the Directory for Masses with Children.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Paschal Mystery and its relationship to the liturgical year.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance and role of the Liturgy of the Hours in the Church’s life of prayer.
• Explain the role of symbol, music, art and environment in the liturgical experience.

• Distinguish among Christological methodologies (descending Christology, ascending Christology, low ascending Christology) and explain their impact on current Christological issues.
• Differentiate the four approaches to the historical person of Jesus as presented in the Gospels.
• Summarize Jesus' teaching as revealed through his parables, discourses, miracles and relationships, especially as focused through Jesus’ understanding of the Kingdom of God.
• Appreciate the theological impact of the Paschal Mystery on the earliest believers as well as on believers today.
• Identify the relationship between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith, especially as developed in the New Testament titles for Jesus.
• Name and explain the doctrines formulated by the early Christological Councils (Nicea 325), Constantinople I 381, Ephesus 431, and Chalcedon 451) and the contexts from which they developed.
• Name and explain the Christological doctrines expressed in the Nicene Creed and articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
• Explain the significance of the doctrine of the Incarnation for our understanding of the mystery of the relationship between God and human beings.
• Explore the intersections between contemporary human issues and the Christ event and use these insights in a catechetical setting with appropriate awareness of the process of faith development.