NCCL - National Community of Catechetical Leaders

09/11/2026

As we mark the 25th Anniversary of September 11th, we pause to remember and pray those lost on that horrific day, their families, the first responders, and for peace in our world.

09/09/2026

The life of Maureen Gallagher reminds us that catechesis is never only about teaching lessons; it is about shaping a culture of faith where learning, leadership, and daily life are woven together by the Gospel.

Born in Chicago in 1938, Maureen’s interest in theology, science, and history reflects an important truth for catechists: faith does not exist in isolation from the rest of human knowledge. Instead, it invites us to explore the world more deeply, trusting that all truth ultimately leads us back to God.

Much of Maureen’s ministry unfolded in service to Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. As Director of Catholic Education, she guided communities through the complex work of collaboration and change. Her life reminds catechists that building faith communities often involves more than teaching doctrine; it involves fostering unity, encouraging dialogue, and helping people work together for a common mission.

Maureen also invested deeply in people. She mentored young educators and encouraged parishes to remain committed to strong faith formation. Her example reminds us that forming others is one of the most lasting ways we share the Gospel.

Perhaps one of Maureen’s most powerful gifts was her ability to integrate faith into every aspect of life. For her, faith was not confined to the classroom, parish programs, or church buildings; it was present in leadership meetings, conversations with colleagues, and the ordinary rhythms of life. In this sense, Maureen lived what every catechist hopes to teach—that faith is not simply something we learn, but something we live.

Maureen’s life invites catechists to remember that our ministry is both ordinary and extraordinary. We prepare sessions, organize programs, and accompany learners week after week. Yet through these simple acts, we help shape hearts, build communities, and pass on a living tradition of faith.

The above reflection was an excerpt from Sister Janet Schaeffler's book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, which can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications.

The life of Maureen Gallagher reminds us that catechesis is never only about teaching lessons; it is about shaping a culture of faith where learning, leadership, and daily life are woven together by the Gospel.

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day!

As we mark this unofficial end of summer, we pray that is has been a time of rest and planning for the hard working catechists, leaders, and volunteers who proclaim ​and teach the Word of Jesus Christ in every thing that they do. We are praying for you as we begin this new pastoral year!

09/04/2026

James J. DiGiacomo was a high school teacher, youth minister, university professor, popular national and international lecturer. He was known for his ability to tell a good story and a humorous anecdote.

DiGiacomo’s primary contribution was to help reshape Catholic religious education, especially the faith formation of youth, in the post-Vatican II, and the development of youth ministry.

DiGiacomo understood something essential: adolescents are not empty vessels waiting to be filled, but persons already searching, questioning, and longing for meaning. He helped reshape catechesis by inviting young people into a living dialogue with faith—one that honored their experiences, their doubts, and their capacity for deep commitment. For him, catechesis was not about giving answers alone; it was about forming disciples.

DiGiacomo became a leading voice in reshaping adolescent religious education. He emphasized: the importance of personal experience in faith formation; dialogue rather than rote learning; the developmental needs of young people. He helped pioneer approaches that would later shape modern Catholic youth ministry, integrating community, prayer, service, and catechesis.

DiGiacomo’s approach to youth ministry reminds us that relationship is the heart of formation. Programs matter, but people matter more. The credibility of the catechist—our authenticity, our listening, our willingness to accompany—becomes the curriculum through which faith is most clearly communicated.

He also contributed significantly to adult faith formation, reminding the church that catechesis does not end with adolescence. Faith must be nourished across a lifetime. Adults, too, need spaces where their questions are welcomed, their experiences honored, and their faith deepened. In this way, catechesis becomes less about stages to complete and more about a lifelong journey of conversion.

The above reflection was an excerpt from Sister Janet Schaeffler's book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, which can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications.

James J. DiGiacomo was a high school teacher, youth minister, university professor, popular national and international lecturer. He was known for his ability to tell a good story and a humorous anecdote.

08/28/2026

For catechists, the life of Francis de Sales offers a deeply reassuring and practical model of ministry—one rooted not in force or brilliance alone, but in gentleness, patience, and trust in God’s quiet work in hearts.

Living during the upheaval of the Protestant Reformation, Francis entered a world marked by division and strong opinions. Sent to a region shaped by Calvinism, he did not respond with condemnation or argument. Instead, he chose persistence, clarity, and above all, charity. When people would not listen to him preach, he wrote—slipping pamphlets under doors, trusting that truth, offered gently, would find its way. Over time, hearts softened—not because he won debates, but because he reflected Christ’s own patience.

For catechists, this speaks directly to the daily reality of teaching faith in a complex world. Not every teaching is received with enthusiasm. Not every heart is ready. Francis reminds us that evangelization is not about immediate results, but faithful presence. The seeds we plant may take time—sometimes a lifetime—to bear fruit.

His collaboration with St. Jane Frances de Chantal in founding the Visitation community also reveals something essential: catechesis is never a solitary task. It is shared, relational, and sustained in community. We accompany one another, just as we accompany those we teach.

Perhaps Francis de Sales’ most enduring gift to catechists is his conviction that holiness is universal and deeply personal. In his great works, Introduction to the Devout Life and Treatise on the Love of God, he insists that devotion is not reserved for the few or the cloistered. It is lived in the ordinary rhythms of life—adapted to each person’s circumstances, responsibilities, and capacity.

For catechists, this is a profound invitation: we are not forming people into a single mold of holiness but helping each person discover how God is calling them to live the Gospel—in their family, their work, their struggles, and their joys.

In a world that often values quick answers and visible success, Francis de Sales calls catechists to something deeper: to teach with kindness, to accompany with humility, and to trust that God is at work—even in ways we cannot yet see.

The above reflection was an excerpt from Sister Janet Schaeffler's book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, which can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications.

For catechists, the life of Francis de Sales offers a deeply reassuring and practical model of ministry—one rooted not in force or brilliance alone, but in gentleness, patience, and trust in God’s quiet work in hearts.

08/21/2026

Sr. Catherine (Kate) Dooley, O.P., Ph.D. was a Sinsinawa (WI) Dominican Sister who was a professor of Catechetics and Liturgy at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC for over 25 years.

Rather than being primarily known for holding national leadership roles, she is better remembered within catechetical circles for her theological vision and influence on formation practices.

She increased our awareness of liturgical catechesis which acknowledges the liturgy as a source for catechesis, leading communities and individuals to full, active and conscious faith in the light of instruction and the experience of Christian living. Her vision of liturgical catechesis reminds us that the heart of all catechesis is not a textbook, but the living prayer of the Church. In the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, people do not just learn about God—they experience God’s presence, mercy, and saving action.

For catechists, this is both a challenge and a grace. It asks us to move beyond seeing catechesis as information-sharing and to embrace it as initiation into a way of life. The rhythms of the liturgical year, the symbols, the gestures, the Word proclaimed, and the sacraments celebrated—all of these become our primary “texts.” Sr. Kate’s approach encourages us to help those we serve make connections between what they celebrate on Sunday and how they live on Monday.

Kate also advocated that the formation of catechists should have a catechetical style culminating not in theology or method but in a life of witness and mission. She challenged programs that produced “well-trained teachers” but not necessarily “living witnesses.” She advocated for forming catechists in the same way we hope they will catechize others—through reflection on experience, engagement with Scripture and liturgy, and communal faith-sharing.

The above reflection was an excerpt from Sister Janet Schaeffler's book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, which can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications.

Sr. Catherine (Kate) Dooley, O.P., Ph.D. was a Sinsinawa (WI) Dominican Sister who was a professor of Catechetics and Liturgy at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC for over 25 years.

08/16/2026

Announcing the NCCL Catholic Kids Prayer Initiative, where we are exploring Children & Catholic Prayer: Thread by Thread!

At the heart of this program, children are being provided prayer experiences, supported by their catechists, teachers, and parents/caregivers, which will help them deepen their relationship with God.

We look forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks - but for now, you can learn more on our website.

This new program is made possible by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment. With the grant, NCCL is able to provide the Thread by Thread prayer curriculum as a free resource and service to parishes and schools. We are grateful to Jane Angha, Project Coordinator, for her work on this project!

NCCL Kids Worship & Prayer Initiative guides Catholic parishes and schools, engaging children more fully in Mass and nurturing their prayer lives through new curriculum.

08/15/2026

Blessings to you as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

08/14/2026

The story of St. Catherine of Alexandria is one of faith, courage, and wisdom in the service of the Gospel. Tradition tells us that Catherine lived in the early fourth century in Alexandria, Egypt, during a time when Christians were often persecuted for their beliefs. She was known for her intelligence, education, and deep commitment to Christ.

According to tradition, Catherine was a young woman of noble background who had studied philosophy, rhetoric, and the sciences. When the Roman emperor began persecuting Christians, Catherine boldly confronted him and challenged the injustice of persecuting followers of Christ. Instead of responding with anger or violence, she engaged the emperor’s scholars in thoughtful debate about truth and faith. Tradition says that many of these philosophers were so moved by her witness that they themselves came to believe in Christ.

We remember Catherine for the way she lived: as a person whose intellect, faith, and courage were united in service of the Gospel. For catechists, Catherine’s life reminds us that faith engages the whole person—mind, heart, and spirit. She did not separate learning from believing, or intelligence from devotion. Instead, she allowed her knowledge to deepen her faith and her faith to guide her use of knowledge.

Catechists today share in this same calling. Like Catherine, we are invited to help others see that faith is not opposed to thinking, questioning, or learning. Rather, faith invites us to search for truth with humility and courage.

Catherine also reminds us that witness matters. The most persuasive teaching often comes not from arguments alone, but from the integrity of a life lived in faith. Her courage challenges catechists to speak the truth with love and confidence, even when doing so may be difficult.

The above reflection was an excerpt from Sister Janet Schaeffler's book, SAINTS & MENTORS for Catechists: 41 Models of Faith to Support and Guide You, which can be purchased from Twenty-Third Publications.

The story of St. Catherine of Alexandria is one of faith, courage, and wisdom in the service of the Gospel. Tradition tells us that Catherine lived in the early fourth century in Alexandria, Egypt, during a time when Christians were often persecuted for their beliefs. She was known for her intellige...