Digital Culture – Formation for Catechists


This is one of the very few courses available on the ‘digital culture’ explicitly for catechists.

It follows the new Directory for Catechesis (2020) which say this now needs to be a priority.

“It is also a priority for catechesis to educate believers in the good use of these tools and in a deeper understanding of digital culture, helping them to discern the positive aspects from the ambiguous ones.” (DC 216)

Careful evaluation and use of digital catechetical resources are an essential aspect of formation. As the Directory warns

“Catechists today must be aware of the extent to which the virtual world can leave profound marks, especially in younger or more fragile persons” (DC 216).

Course structure

The courses can be taken in two formats. 

  1. Individuals can buy and download the Course Reader and have personal tutoring for the practical tasks that help one learn on the spot, to evaluate and distinguish ‘the positive aspects from the ambiguous ones’ in the digital culture.
  2. Small groups can buy and download the Course Reader and pass it amongst the group. Instead of personalised tutoring, the group leader can invite one of the course authors to speak to the group via, for example, a zoom meeting, for up to 5 online meetings.  The group would be required to read approximately 8 easy and fascinating pages of the Course Reader in preparation for each meeting.   

The Course Reader booklet has several suggested activities to try, such as watching various short video clips and using catechetical criteria provided by the new Directory for Catechesis to evaluate them.  These are fun and interesting rather than arduous. 

For those who want to investigate the whole subject further, the Course Reader includes a list of documents that the Church has written on the subject and a list of recommended books and websites. 

For individuals

The cost for the year 2021 : £180 sterling

The cost covers:

  • 1 download of the Course Reader
  • Personal tutoring for the learning activities of the course.
  • To register for the course as an individual, please click here for an application form and follow the instructions.
  • A link will be sent to you upon application, for you to access the downloadable Course Reader.
  • On receiving the Course Reader, you can begin immediately and must begin within 3 months.

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For small groups

The cost for the year 2021 : £180 sterling

For groups, the course is normally arranged by a parish or a parish group, such as, for catechists, interested parents or parishioners, website organisers and so forth).  The cost is the same whether there are 2 people or 12 people interested (12 is the maximum number for an online group meeting to work well).  There is therefore a single fee for each group and for a single download of the Course Reader that can be passed on to all participants. 

The cost covers:

  • Up to 5 zoom meetings with one of the course authors. 
  • 1 download of the Course Reader that can be forwarded by the group leader to all group/parish participants.
  • To register for the course, please click here for an application form and follow the instructions.
  • A link will be sent to you upon application, for you to access the downloadable Course Reader.
  • Following this, negotiations can begin at any time for dates to begin the zoom meetings.