Update+
Volume 8, Number 1 September 3, 2026
Spirit of God, enlighten our minds and draw us closer to all that is good and true. Strengthen us for the days ahead and guide us with your patience and compassion.
On September 14th, Jennifer McNeaney will be joining the ORE as our new administrative assistant. Jennifer has been an administrative assistant in a number of diocesan parishes and, most recently, also coordinated the religious education program at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Baldwinville.
Until then, please direct all questions and emails to emarcil@worcesterdiocese.org, mheelan@worcesterdiocese.org or dfarland@worcesterdiocese.org
Until then, please direct all questions and emails to emarcil@worcesterdiocese.org, mheelan@worcesterdiocese.org or dfarland@worcesterdiocese.org
CALENDAR
Sept 10 Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist (1st session)
St. Bernard Church, Worcester
Sept 12 Administrator of Religious Education (ARE) course
(1st session) - Zoom
Sept 24 Introduction to Worship and Sacrament - Master Cat Level
(1st session) - Chancery, Worcester
Oct 1 Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist (1st session)
St. Edward the Confessor Church, Westminster
Oct 9 Catholic School Enrichment Day 8:30 am - 2 pm
St. Paul Junior-Senior High School, Worcester
(Catechetical leaders welcome.)
Oct 22 Creed - Basic Cat Level (1st session)
St. Bernard Church, Worcester
Nov 7, 8, 9 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I, Part 2B
St. Rose of Lima Church, Northborough
Nov 15 - 21 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WEEK
Dec 13 Spirituality of the Catechist - Advent Retreat - 2 pm - 8 pm
Location: TBD
Jan 29 Circle of Grace reports due
Feb 14 Rite of Election - 3 pm - Cathedral of St. Paul
Also this fall but not yet scheduled:
Introduction to the Ministry of Initiation (OCIA) 4 sessions
Passport to Success - 10 am - 2 pm Issues in OCIA
Introduction to Circle of Grace - for new leaders
Sept 10 Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist (1st session)
St. Bernard Church, Worcester
Sept 12 Administrator of Religious Education (ARE) course
(1st session) - Zoom
Sept 24 Introduction to Worship and Sacrament - Master Cat Level
(1st session) - Chancery, Worcester
Oct 1 Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist (1st session)
St. Edward the Confessor Church, Westminster
Oct 9 Catholic School Enrichment Day 8:30 am - 2 pm
St. Paul Junior-Senior High School, Worcester
(Catechetical leaders welcome.)
Oct 22 Creed - Basic Cat Level (1st session)
St. Bernard Church, Worcester
Nov 7, 8, 9 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Level I, Part 2B
St. Rose of Lima Church, Northborough
Nov 15 - 21 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WEEK
Dec 13 Spirituality of the Catechist - Advent Retreat - 2 pm - 8 pm
Location: TBD
Jan 29 Circle of Grace reports due
Feb 14 Rite of Election - 3 pm - Cathedral of St. Paul
Also this fall but not yet scheduled:
Introduction to the Ministry of Initiation (OCIA) 4 sessions
Passport to Success - 10 am - 2 pm Issues in OCIA
Introduction to Circle of Grace - for new leaders
Catechist Training - Introduction to the Ministry of the Catechist
The ORE will be offering this course twice this fall.
At St. Bernard Church of Our Lady of Providence Parish
228 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605
Thursdays, Sept 10 (6-9 pm) and Sept 17 and 24 (6-8 pm)
and at
St. Edward the Confessor Church
10 Church St, Westminster, MA 01473
Thursdays, Oct 1 (6-9 pm) and Oct 8 and 22 (6-8 pm)
Session 1: The Ministry, Vocation and Roles of the Catechist
Session 2: Lesson Planning and Developmental Stages of the Learner
Session 3: Methodology and Classroom Management
Taught by Mary Pat Heelan and Darleen Farland
Cost - $45 for Session 1, 2, 3 – includes text
Session 4 The Spirituality of the Catechist Advent Retreat:
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026 from 2 – 8 pm Location: TBD
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Pat Heelan at mheelan@worcesterdiocese.org
To register:
The ORE will be offering this course twice this fall.
At St. Bernard Church of Our Lady of Providence Parish
228 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605
Thursdays, Sept 10 (6-9 pm) and Sept 17 and 24 (6-8 pm)
and at
St. Edward the Confessor Church
10 Church St, Westminster, MA 01473
Thursdays, Oct 1 (6-9 pm) and Oct 8 and 22 (6-8 pm)
Session 1: The Ministry, Vocation and Roles of the Catechist
Session 2: Lesson Planning and Developmental Stages of the Learner
Session 3: Methodology and Classroom Management
Taught by Mary Pat Heelan and Darleen Farland
Cost - $45 for Session 1, 2, 3 – includes text
Session 4 The Spirituality of the Catechist Advent Retreat:
Sunday, Dec. 13, 2026 from 2 – 8 pm Location: TBD
If you have any questions, please contact Mary Pat Heelan at mheelan@worcesterdiocese.org
To register:
NEW BASIC LEVEL Catechist training program from Loyola Press and Joe Paprocki. This formation experience is for catechists who seek to deepen their knowledge and skills for faith formation and evangelization ministries and is one of the courses required for Basic Catechist certification. This fall we will focus on
The Creed.
‘Live’ Basic Catechist Course
offered this fall:
What We Believe – the Creed
Instructor: Mary Pat Heelan
offered this fall:
What We Believe – the Creed
Instructor: Mary Pat Heelan
St. Bernard Church of
Our Lady of Providence Parish
228 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605
Tuesdays from 6-8 PM
Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, 2026
Cost: $45 (Includes book)
Our Lady of Providence Parish
228 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA 01605
Tuesdays from 6-8 PM
Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, 2026
Cost: $45 (Includes book)
Master Catechist Certification Course
Fall 2026
Chancery, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609
Thursday mornings: SEPT 24 (9:30-11:30 am)
OCT 1 (9:30-11:30 am)
OCT 8, 15, 22, 29 (9:30-Noon)
NOV 5 (9:30-11:30 am)
Fall 2026
Introduction to Worship and Sacrament
Instructor: Elizabeth Marcil
Chancery, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609
Thursday mornings: SEPT 24 (9:30-11:30 am)
OCT 1 (9:30-11:30 am)
OCT 8, 15, 22, 29 (9:30-Noon)
NOV 5 (9:30-11:30 am)
Cost: $65 per course – Text included
REPORTS
Thank you to all who completed the annual reports. As pastoral and staff changes happen, a number of pastors and catechetical leaders came to the ORE to review the parish files. These reports are very helpful to them and also a source of data for all the reports the Diocese has to file both nationally and with Rome. Please make sure your parish is counted!
With regard to the "Inventories," again this year many commented on how helpful it is to them in gauging student progress. While we had hoped to revise them this summer, that is one project that had to be delayed. Attached you will find the same Inventories that have an updated label -- 2026-2027.
Certainly if students are with us for 9+ years, should we not expect them to know the basic prayers, the commandments, the sacraments? Shouldn't Catholic young people know what a "tabernacle" is? We will not know if they do unless we test them in some fashion.
Thank you to all who completed the annual reports. As pastoral and staff changes happen, a number of pastors and catechetical leaders came to the ORE to review the parish files. These reports are very helpful to them and also a source of data for all the reports the Diocese has to file both nationally and with Rome. Please make sure your parish is counted!
With regard to the "Inventories," again this year many commented on how helpful it is to them in gauging student progress. While we had hoped to revise them this summer, that is one project that had to be delayed. Attached you will find the same Inventories that have an updated label -- 2026-2027.
Certainly if students are with us for 9+ years, should we not expect them to know the basic prayers, the commandments, the sacraments? Shouldn't Catholic young people know what a "tabernacle" is? We will not know if they do unless we test them in some fashion.
We welcome all new pastors and catechetical leaders and pray that we will have an opportunity to meet with you soon. Know that you are in our prayers as we start this new year. Please never hesitate to call us.