How catechists can provide religious education to young people “in today’s fast-paced, religiouslydiverse, globally-connected, mediadriven world,” was the focus of a keynote address presented to some 93 parish catechetical leaders during a Spring Professional Day held March 14 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.

Keynote speaker was Dr. Marilyn Kravatz-Toolan, executive director of the graduate programs in religious education in Felician College, Lodi.

The Professional Day was sponsored by the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization.

Father Doug Freer, diocesan vicar for Catholic education, stressed the essential nature of the subject, saying that those who work in catechetical ministry have to ask the right questions about why what we have been doing for 20 years in the field of catechesis has left us with several generations of people largely in the dark about some of the foundational elements of our faith.” He noted that the Professional Day was hosted by the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization and attended by parish directors, coordinators and administrators of religious education; religious education administrative assistants, pastoral associates; catechists, and pastors.

Dr. Kravatz-Toolan is a former regional director for the Office of Faith Formation in the Diocese of Charlotte and the author of the book, “Partners in Wisdom and Grace: Catechesis and Religious Education in Dialogue.”

She has served as a catechetical leader on both parish and diocesan levels and holds a doctoral degree in religious education from Fordham University, N.Y.

Father Freer noted that the Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization hosts two Professional Days for catechetical leaders each year, in the spring and in the late summer or early fall, and they are designed as a way to offer encouragement to catechetical leaders with master’s degrees serving in our parishes as we do in our (Catholic) schools.”

Father Freer said the Professional Days provides catechetical leaders a chance to gather together for Mass, network and to learn about some of the new resources available from publishers of religious educational resources, then noted that another opportunity for them to hone their skills is during the annual two-day catechetical convocation held in midfall in San Alfonso Retreat House, West End. Scheduled to present the 2013 convocation will be Father Douglas Milewski from Immaculate Conception Seminary and School of Theology.