DRE questions

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Jenlyn

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I am interested in becoming a DRE. I know that I need a Theology degree. I haven’t started that yet.

I know that there is a lot of learning to do once you graduate. I also know that there are some things that are not taught.

If you are a DRE what do wish you would have learned in school to better prepare you?

Beyond the basic theology degree, what else is good to know?

How can I prepare for my theology degree, since I am waiting to start it, hopefully in the spring?

:angel1:
 
Thank you for pursueing God’s will in your life. We certainly need good DRE’s. I would recomend reading the Catecism of the Catholic Church to prepare, and the documents of vatican II, beginng with Lumen Gentium. These will help put theology in a proper perspective for you. Theology degrees these days can be tricky. I hope that you will have the privlage of attending a school that will offer the teachings of the Church as revealed truth.

Good luck and God Bless,

Casey the Seminarian
 
I’m a DRE and I’m just a bum off the street.

Well, no actually I have a college degree but in music and not theology. I was chosen because I did well as a volunteer teacher and it was obvious that I taught, as Proud2bePapist put, “the teachings of the Church as revealed truth.”

So that would be my advice, be a volunteer teacher where you can.

Scott
 
Scott_Waddell said:
I’m a DRE and I’m just a bum off the street.

Well, no actually I have a college degree but in music and not theology. I was chosen because I did well as a volunteer teacher and it was obvious that I taught, as Proud2bePapist put, “the teachings of the Church as revealed truth.”

So that would be my advice, be a volunteer teacher where you can.

Scott
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🙂 I have a music degree as well. I am looking at becoming the DRE at my church, we are without one at the present moment, and the priest wants me to have a theology degree.

I do lead a women’s group at church.
 
Having known more than a few DRE’s in my time…

It seems that the very best (and the very worst) did NOT have degrees in theology.

Most of the ones who did/do have degrees fell in the middle somewhere.

Good DRE programs…?? try Stubenville, or Christendom, or the like. Many of the diocesan programs (especially the two local programs) are suspect - the books and the programs they suggest are among the weakest, not the strongest.

If you can, (assuming you persue your dream and enjoy the life of a DRE 👍 ), try to incorporate some Catholic homeschooled kids into your program… they will help keep others interested, and will respond more often to the information.

God Bless

.
 
Proud2BePapist said:
Catecism of the Catholic Church to prepare, and the documents of vatican II, beginng with Lumen Gentium. These will help put theology in a proper perspective for you. Theology degrees these days can be tricky. I hope that you will have the privlage of attending a school that will offer the teachings of the Church as revealed truth.

Casey the Seminarian
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Thanks for the reading list. Do you have a way to read the Catechism so it sinks in? I know Fr. Corapi has a series, which I try to catch.

Walsh University would be the school I go to. It is the closest Catholic university to me.
 
Scott_Waddell said:
I’m a DRE and I’m just a bum off the street.

Well, no actually I have a college degree but in music and not theology. I was chosen because I did well as a volunteer teacher and it was obvious that I taught, as Proud2bePapist put, “the teachings of the Church as revealed truth.”

So that would be my advice, be a volunteer teacher where you can.

Scott
Click to expand...
That’s pretty much the way it works in our diocese. Our own DRE is retiring and her successor does not have a degree in theology either. The diocese has a program to certify catechists and then a follow up program for Religious Ed leaders. Both have theology courses (taught by diocesan personnel, not college courses) as requirements but no actual university type education requirements. The rest of the leader’s level certification classes deal with things such as integrating the Religious Ed program into parish life, cultural differences, the different needs of different learners (children, RCIA candidates, adult RE students, engaged couples etc.) and a variety of other topics beyond those included for the Catechist Certification. The Catechist cert includes classes in lesson planning, liturgy, spirituality, learning styles, human sexuality. All real good information for the DRE to have.
 
Corki,
I will investigate this for my diocese and pass it on to my priest.

MrS,
I would agree that there is something to beinging picked for the job without the qualifications to having them. Those people would be the ones living the life people want to follow.
 
One other thing you might ask about. Our diocese periodically holds “seminars” for a day or a weekend that are for those discerning the call to Catecetical leadership (DRE, CRE, Youth Ministers etc.). If your diocese does something similar, you will probably find good information and support there.
 
when I was a catechist I asked the director of catechetics for the diocese what I would have to do to qualify as a DRE (I was looking for a retirement job that would cover my insurance) and I was hired by a pastor the next week. She knew me, knew him and the parish and thought I would be a good fit, and the parish had been without a DRE for over a year, and learned it is not a job that can be effectively done by a volunteer.

My MA is in history, but I had 150 hours master catechist certificaiton and am on the way to completing the additional 40 hours required by the diocese. I am actually a “catechetical leader” so I don’t type DRE on my letters yet.

If I had gotten a theology degree at any of the colleges convenient for me at the time I was considering it 15 years ago I surely would have lost my faith, or even worse, spent my career teaching error and dissent. As it was, the first 10 yrs of catechist formation was wasted and I had to learn all over again properly when I went to Steubenville for their summer catechist conferences. You can get your certification in 5 yrs there in summer program (or through distance learning in regular MA theology program) and you will be a lot better qualified than many DREs with theology degrees from in-name-only “Catholic” colleges.

the number one qualification is to know your obligation to teach the Faith, not doubt, and realize your position is ecclesial and your authority to teach comes from the bishop who commissions you, and you have no right to teach your own opinion. Learn obedience, humility, and flexibility if you want to succeed. the year I began my studies I began using the Catechism (new that year) for my lectio divina and covered it over a two-year period, in prayer as well as study.
 
You might want to look at catholic distance university at cdu.edu they have a vatican approved course called a catechical diploma. You may be able to get your parish to pay for part or all of the course if you agree to stay DRE after getting the diploma.
 
tunemiester said:
You might want to look at catholic distance university at cdu.edu they have a vatican approved course called a catechical diploma. You may be able to get your parish to pay for part or all of the course if you agree to stay DRE after getting the diploma.
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I believe they also offer a master’s degree in theology, if memory serves correctly. They are accredited by the DETC, which is recognized by the USDOE and CHEA.
 
I heard back from my diocese.
For certification as a parish director of religious
education, the Diocese of Youngstown requires a master degree in theology, catechetics, youth ministry, pastoral ministry, religious studies, or another related theological area.
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So many different degrees! What’s the difference between them.

Which one is the best for DRE? Which one is best to make me most marketable. Meaning, which one is best incase I would like to hold a different position in the church later on?
 
Jenlyn said:
I heard back from my diocese.

So many different degrees! What’s the difference between them.

Which one is the best for DRE? Which one is best to make me most marketable. Meaning, which one is best incase I would like to hold a different position in the church later on?
Click to expand...
Go with the master of theology. It’s a great prep for DRE and other jobs in the Church.
 
I have not been a DRE but I do know many. I hate to say this, but ask around to find out which parishes and pastors are more “difficult” to work with. If this is a career path you are seeking, try to avoid the difficult parishes in your diocese. I understand that my advice may not be very nice, but I have seen how nasty a situation can get when one is working in a difficult parish or working for a difficult pastor (one was fired a month before the end of the year b/c this DRE didn’t make it to the meetings with the pastor, the same meetings that the pastor always marked on his calendar incorrectly and always changed without notifying - the pastors 3rd DRE in 2 years). Your diocese office of Catechesis should be aware of the difficult parishes and priests.
 
I want to be able to move around in the different jobs offered at the parish and diocese.

In order to do that, which is better? Does it matter which one? A master degree in religious education or pastoral studies or theology?
 
Here in Chicago, you need a Masters in whatever it is to hold the formal position of DRE. That doesn’t mean, though, that the pastor can’t cheat and make you a part time “CRE” (Co-ordinator or Religious Education) if you don’t have the degree.
 
Jenlyn said:
Thanks for the reading list. Do you have a way to read the Catechism so it sinks in? I know Fr. Corapi has a series, which I try to catch.

Walsh University would be the school I go to. It is the closest Catholic university to me.
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how far are you from Steubenville? you can also get MA in theology from them via distance learning, also DRE certification through their summer conferences.
 
About 2 hours from Stubenville.

I want to be able to different jobs in the parish so I don’t think I want just a DRE degree.
 
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