"Those who are learned will be as radiant as the sky in all its beauty; those who instruct the people in goodness will shine like the stars for all eternity."
— Daniel 12:3
Our classes are taught by faithful volunteers who generously offer their time to pass on the Catholic faith.
Faith Formation classes are once per week either on:
We start assigning our volunteers to their classrooms in the summer before classes begin. Classes take place during the academic year (September through May). Each catechist is provided with a catechist's lesson book and curriculum calendar for the grade level they are teaching.
Are you interested in teaching or assisting a Faith Formation class? We would love to have you join us!
The call to the ministry of catechesis is a vocation, an interior call, the voice of the Holy Spirit. All faith formation volunteers need to be practicing Catholics who participate fully in the communal worship and life of the Church. If you are called to this ministry, please consider sharing your gift of faith with present and future generations of the church.
Catechist
Prior to each class, the catechist reviews the upcoming lesson of the week. They consider what information they need to brush up on, what questions might arise from students, and which activities will be the most engaging and helpful to learn the material. They consult the calendar to be aware of which lesson will take place that week and read over any background information that the book provides. They arrive 20+ minutes early to class to print, set up, and welcome their students back to class.
Catechist Assistant
The catechist assistant helps the catechist in the classroom to answer questions and leads certain activities. They will be paired with a catechist and may take turns teaching. If the catechist will be absent, they will take the place as the main catechist that day.
Classroom Volunteer
A good position for those who don't feel comfortable teaching, the classroom volunteer helps the classroom run smoothly by passing out/picking up materials, printing copies, and helping maintain order in the classroom. They also assist students who have special needs.
Substitutes
Some days out of the year our volunteers might be unable to make it to their class. On these days you can sign up to take the place of the volunteer who will be out. Please contact the Director of Faith Formation if you would like to be notified which classes are in need of substitutes. Volunteers who teach on one class day (e.g. Sunday) can sign up to be a subtitute on the other class day (e.g. Wednesday).
We take the safety of children extremely seriously. To be a parish volunteer working with children you must be up to date on the Virtus training.
If you have never completed the training in the Austin Diocese:
You must submit an application at https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/index.cfm and sign up for and attend an in-person training class within 60 days of the start of classes to be allowed to serve.
The online registration takes approximately 5 minutes. The in-person training is 3 hours.
If you have done the course before but your training has expired (3 years have passed): You must complete the online renewal at https://www.austindiocese.org/eim-instructions by the first class day.
For more information on diocesan EIM policy: https://austindiocese.org/eim-policies
Contact Information
This is a resource from the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University which provides the best formation/training for you to be catechists/parents in teaching your children at home. This program gives unlimited access to all individuals who sign up. There are hundreds of workshops that offer content and time flexibility.
St. Martin de Porres Parish frequently offers opportunities to go deeper in a particular topic of our faith. We host Bible studies, parish-wide talks and conferences, and retreats. Click the link below to see a list of current Adult Formation opportunities. Keep an eye out in the parish bulletin for upcoming events and sign-ups.
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. Topics include Introduction to Scripture, Creed, Liturgy and Sacraments, Christian Morality and Prayer/Spirituality.