"The same God who called Prisca and Aquila to work with Paul in the first century calls thousands of men and women to minister in our Church in this twenty-first century. This call is a cause for rejoicing." -United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord
Service to the Church and the World
Echo participants engage in service to the Church through one of two tracks: Echo Parish Catechetical Leadership or Echo Teaching Theology. In their document on Lay Ecclesial Ministry, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, the bishops write, “The actual practice of pastoral ministry is a powerful occasion for ongoing formation and provides valuable opportunity for integration” (50); all areas of formation are brought to bear in the pastoral environment. This guides Echo's emphasis on direct service.
Echo Parish Catechetical Leadership: Echo apprentices are placed in full-time ministry positions in parishes; a limited number of students serve as apprentice catechetical leaders in diocesan offices and campus ministry settings. All apprentices engage in leadership in a variety of catechetical ministries, including but not limited to RCIA, Children’s Religious Education, Youth Ministry, Adult Faith Formation, and Social Justice Ministry. Apprentices are matched with a mentor who is an experienced catechetical leader to help guide their ministry experience and assess their professional development.
All those who are applying to Echo are considered for this position. In a given year, generally 20-24 students are placed in the EPCL track.
Echo Teaching Theology: Echo theology teachers are placed in one of our partner Catholic schools, at the middle or high school level, and teach a variety of theological courses. Some students in the Echo Teaching Theology track are assigned to dual theology teacher/campus minister positions. Echo theology teachers also engage in limited extracurricular activities to contribute to the school community outside of the classroom. Echo theology teachers are matched with a mentor teacher or administrator in the school with whom they meet weekly to discuss their teaching experience and assess their professional development.
Echo candidates may opt-into consideration for this position. In a given year, 6-10 students are placed in the ETT track. While many successful applicants for this track have formal theology and/or education/pedagogy experience, all candidates are welcome to apply.
Is there formal licensure for teaching theology? How will Echo prepare me?
While no formal licensure exists for those who teach theology, Echo’s model of robust theological formation, hands-on preparation, on-site training, and real-life service aims to meet a critical need in the formation of a future generation of theology teachers.
Here are some highlights of our training:
- In the first three-week module of the first summer, students will take a course called “Theological Pedagogy.” The primary focus of the course will be on a) the vocation of teaching theology and b) basic pedagogical principles for the theology classroom. Students will engage educational and sociological research relevant to teaching high school and middle school and learn pedagogical techniques which build upon this research. Students will address fundamental topics and areas like lesson/unit planning, pedagogical theory and resources, classroom management, assessment, and obtaining a sustainable balance between work and life.
- In the second module of the first summer, students receive additional teaching support and professional development from experienced Catholic school teachers.
- Over the course of winter retreat, students engage in practical pedagogical/theological workshops designed to build upon and process their experiences in the classroom.
- Students also receive hands-on mentorship for two years from a current teacher in their school placement as well as ongoing professional development opportunities offered by our various partner schools and dioceses.
Formation for Service
Echo and its partner dioceses offer various opportunities for professional and ministerial development throughout each year. Echo mentors guide students in their experience and assess their professional development. Apprentices and theology teachers are frequently invited to lead diocesan ministerial experiences, such as young adult ministry events, youth ministry retreats, and professional development workshops, that further contribute to their formation. In addition, some Echo participants attend diocesan and national conferences dedicated to pastoral and catechetical praxis.
Both the mentor relationship and the direct theology teaching or ministry experience, as well as formal theological, catechetical, and pedagogical training and integrative formation, serve to prepare Echo participants for their catechetical ministry within Echo and beyond.
Read more here about Echo's robust and integrative formation