Catechetical Resources

• Jubilee Prayer Book | Online Order Form - Pay with a credit card 
• Parish Resources Order | Attendance Roster, Student Record
• Mail-in Order Form
• Pay an Invoice by Credit Card 
• Recommended Catechetical Schedule

 

• Bullying Policy
• Code of Particular Law (specifically Book 2 and Book 3)
• Baptismal Sponsor Covenant | Convenio Padrino de Bautismo
• Confirmation Sponsor Covenant | Convenio Padrino de Confirmación

As Catholics, we believe that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God. Each of us is sacred and our lives — body, mind, and soul — should be treated with respect. Empowering God's Children (EGC) is an age-appropriate comprehensive safety education and sexual abuse prevention program that gives our youth practical tools, using simple activities, to help them understand this fundamental teaching of our faith.

Each parish and Catholic school in the Diocese of Austin is required to use Empowering God's Children every school year to help educate all K-12th grade students about abuse prevention and personal safety. Besides being developmentally appropriate and sequential for each age group, EGC differs from other Ethics and Integrity in Ministry programs in that it is classroom-based (rather than a facilitator-led workshop) and the program instructors are the teachers/catechists the students already know.   

Please see below for more information on implementing this program in your parish. 

• List of Approved Textbooks
• Frequently asked Questions on List of Approved Text
• Recommended Catechetical Schedule

Vocations Week | January 25-31, 2025

Our Faith Formation Programs will play an integral role in raising vocation awareness in our diocese. Our Vocations Director, Fr Greg Gerhart, with the support of Bishop Vasquez and the priests of the Diocese of Austin, has launched a Vocations Plan for the Diocese of Austin. Fr. Greg has asked that our Faith Formation efforts in the parish, at all levels, include a session devoted to vocations each year, preferably during Diocesan Vocations Awareness Week.

Beginning with Called By Name Sunday, and continuing through the week, RE sessions will be devoted to vocations awareness. To assist with the lesson content, the Vocations Office has arranged for all parishes within the diocese to have access to vocations lessons through Vianney Vocations. {TEACHER Portal Login:  AustinVocations787}

For lessons in Spanish, click here.  The Password is Austin2023

Catechetical leaders are asked to familiarize themselves with these lessons and communicate to their catechists the information needed to access the lesson for their grade level. Login below for access to ready-made materials for all elementary, middle, and high school students.

• Recommended Catechetical Schedule
• Parish Religion Education Curriculum
• RCL Benziger
• Our Sunday Visitor
• Sadlier
• Loyola 
• Pflaum

• Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age--Adapted for Parish and Youth Ministry Programs

Spiritual Formation and Catechesis for Adults

In addition to meeting the certification needs of catechists, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis supports the ongoing spiritual formation of Catholic adults throughout the Diocese by opening its course offerings to all who wish to deepen their understanding of the Church’s teachings and in so doing, become better equipped for Christian discipleship and evangelization in a variety of settings. This intentional change in scope is a service to parishes and individuals who currently might not have these resources available to them. While some of the courses listed below are primarily for catechists, many of them are general enough to offer content useful to any Catholic adult.

Serving Remote Locations, Multiple Languages    

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis will continue to offer a limited number of courses in remote locations throughout the Diocese, via the online technology of Google Hangout, which offers the benefits of live instruction and communal learning in multiple locations (pending). These sites accommodate an optimal number of 10-15 students. 

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis also seeks to provide guidance on Adult Formation Leaders.

Reading List

• Catholic Bible Study Resources

• Baptism Preparation Resources

• Home-based Catechesis

• Alpha for Catholics - Series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation.   

• Formed.org - FORMED On Demand is a subscription service offering access to thousands of studies, films, audios, and ebooks. Discover great digital media from over 40 of the best Catholic content producers including the Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, the USCCB, Catholic Answers, EWTN, St. Paul Center, Marian Press, Sophia Press, Knights of Columbus, FOCUS, and many more.

• Dynamic Catholic - The mission of Dynamic Catholic is to To re-energize the Catholic Church in America by developing world-class resources that inspire people to rediscover the genius of Catholicism.

• Christlife.org - Equips Catholics for the essential work of evangelization through the ChristLife process: Discovering Christ, Following Christ, and Sharing Christ.

• Evangelization.com - Ascension Press - Built to Enhance the Small-Group Experience.

• Paulist Evangelization - Helps Catholics with programs to share their faith, to reach out to seekers and those who are disconnected.

• Amazing Parish - Seeks to revitalize the church by equipping her pastors and leaders with the training, resources and support they need to create vibrant and thriving parishes.

• Rebuilt Parish - Draws on the wisdom gleaned from thriving mega-churches and innovative business leaders while anchoring this vision in the Eucharistic center of Catholic faith.

• RENEW International - Fosters spiritual renewal in the Catholic tradition by empowering individuals and communities to encounter God in everyday life, deepen and share faith, and connect faith with action.

• The Catholic Apostolate Center has a website in Spanish www.centrodelaapostoladocatolico.org. A page devoted entirely to the Blessed Mother. The Portal de la Virgen Maria features resources in Spanish from Pope Francis as well as articles, devotions, and other items  from various sources.   www.centrodelapostoladocatolico.org/portal-de-la-virgen-mariacutea.html

• Resources from the USCCB
  • Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States (English/Español)
  • Disciples Called to Witness: A Statement by the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis (English/Español)
  • The Intellectual Tasks of the New Evangelization
  • The New Evangelization and Social Justice
  • The  New Evangelization: Disciples on Mission in the World

A retreat can be defined in the simplest of terms as a definite time (from a few hours in length to a month) spent away from one's normal life to reconnect, usually in prayer, with God. The following retreat opportunities are available throughout our diocese:

• ACTS Retreats - An ACTS retreat is a three-day and three-night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow parishioners. The retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday at a Mass celebrated with the parish community. Retreats for men, women, and teens are given separately. Talks and activities during the retreat focus on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service, from which the ACTS acronym is derived.

• TEC Retreat - TEC starts as a three-day retreat centered on the Paschal Mystery of Jesus and then welcomes you into a greater community focused on living our Catholic-Christian faith daily. TEC of Central Texas is a weekend of prayer, reflections/talks, group discussions, personal reflections, recreation, live music, and activities. Sharing, getting to know those around you, and participating in activities are important aspects of the weekend.

• Cursillo - Cursillo is a movement of the Catholic Church that promotes Catholic ideals, fellowship, and spiritual growth in daily living. It provides an opportunity to deepen your Catholic faith and to experience the love of God within a supportive and prayerful community. The Cursillo is a method of giving those, who have the potential to influence others, a personal encounter with Christ and the means to further enhance, support, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelizing their environments.

• Light of the World -  Light of the World Evangelization Ministries (LOTWEM) brings a powerful plan for evangelization and renewal to your Catholic parish -- it's a comprehensive process. It begins with the kerygmatic Light of the World Retreat, which is designed for all adults 18 years and older. After this Catholic retreat, the process continues with Small Faith Communities, and it extends into all the areas of your parish.

• Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center - Many spiritual retreats are offered throughout the year at our diocesan retreat center. 

On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis announced that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time is to be celebrated as the Sunday of the Word of God.

“Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world. Here, we are reminded of the teaching of Saint Ephrem: “Who is able to understand, Lord, all the richness of even one of your words? There is more that eludes us than what we can understand. We are like the thirsty drinking from a fountain. Your word has as many aspects as the perspectives of those who study it. The Lord has coloured his word with diverse beauties so that those who study it can contemplate what stirs them. He has hidden in his word all treasures, so that each of us may find a richness in what he or she contemplates,” (Francis, Aperuit Illis, 2).

To assist you in planning your celebration and in providing ongoing catechetical formation around the Word of God, a number of resources are available:

1. austindiocese.org/sunday-of-the-word-of-god
2. usccb.org/committees/divine-worship/sunday-word-god