From Sr. Digna Vela Diocese of Victoria in Texas

1. Describe the area you serve geographically  and Catholic population, economy of the parishes, educational level of the people, and the leadership situation in the parishes ( including priests, religious, deacons, other professional ministers.)

• The Diocese of Victoria, located between Houston and Corpus Christi, is comprised of nine counties and parts of two others (9, 609 sq. miles). There are 50 parishes and 19 missions in the diocese.

• The Catholic Population is 109, 321 or 41%. There has not been a census in over 20 years. The ethnic make up of the diocese not just Catholics is 45% Anglo (white non-Hispanic), 10% Black, 35 % Hispanic, less than 1% Asian and 9 % other.

• The city of Victoria has a population of 80, 000 and the next largest city has about 15,000, two cities with 10,000 and one of 5,000. All other towns are under 2,000, many have between 400 and 1,000 population.

• The economy is farming, ranching, fishing, and many chemical plants along the coast.

• There are 15 Catholic schools in the diocese 12 elementary and 3 high schools.

2. Describe the models of catechesis in your rural areas: e.g. family catechesis, whole community catechesis, traditional class model etc.

Most catechetical programs are traditional; however, 10 parishes are implementing Generations of Faith (intergenerational catechesis).

There is one professional DRE (MA in theology) and several other catechetical leaders with an advanced catechist certificate from the diocese. All other parish catechetical leaders have had minimal catechetical and theology training offered by the Catechetical Office. Most catechetical leaders receive a small stipend; but others are volunteers. Nearly all work at jobs outside the parish and run the program.

Some priests take the DRE responsibility themselves. Many priests have several parishes and many are also beyond retirement age. Most of the deacons have full time jobs outside the parish.

3. Considering the challenges that you face in rural catechesis, describe some ways you are addressing these in the areas of catechist formation, adult faith formation, etc.

In the Diocese of Victoria Pastoral Institute Short Term Program, we offer basic catechechetical leadership training as well as the Echoes of Faith catechtical and theological program (56 clock hours for a Basic Catechist certificate). An Advanced Catechist Certificate is issued to persons completing the Pastoral Institute Extended Program, a three year Extended Program (144 clock hours) of Scripture and theology courses plus 14 hours of catechetical courses (158 clock hours total).

4. Describe the areas in which you feel NCCB, NCCL, the Catholic publishing companies and the Catholic foundations could be of assistance in providing resources for rural catechesis.

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Sr. Digna Vela Diocese of Victoria in Texas