SRE + Catechesis

Introduction + Course outline

Introduction

Special Religious Education (SRE)

Special Religious Education (SRE) is education in the beliefs and practices of an approved religious persuasion. Under the Education Act 1990, s. 32, government schools allow time for special religious education. (DoE SRE)

The Catholic Diocese of Wagga Wagga provides a ministry to students in state schools through groups of volunteer Special Religious Education (SRE) teachers. Volunteer SRE teachers and assistants carry the message to the students in state schools that God is love and Jesus came to bring the Good News.

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)

“Being a catechist is not a title, it is an attitude: abiding with him, and it lasts for a lifetime!
It means abiding in the Lord’s presence and letting ourselves be led by him”.
Pope Francis 

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) was founded in 1536 in Milan, Italy, and has a long history of being recommended by Popes and Vatican Congregations to address the perennial need for evangelisation, renewal (re-evangelistion) and catechesis. In the late 1950s, the CCD was established in Sydney, Australia, for the purpose of providing religious education and Christian formation for Catholic children in government (public) schools. The CCD was then established in Catholic dioceses around Australia.

SRE Coordinators + Support Contacts

Diocese, CCRESS  + ICCOREIS

Diocese Catechesis Coodinator

The Diocese provides support and encouragement to SRE teachers and helpers through the Catechist Coordinator:

Call: 02 69370003
Email: catechist@wagga.catholic.org.au
Write:|Po Box 473
Wagga Wagga
NSW 2650

Catholic Conference of Religious Educators in State Schools (CCRESS)
ccress.org.au

CCRESS is the Catholic Conference of Religious Educators in State Schools in NSW-ACT. CCRESS draws its membership from every Catholic Diocese in NSW and the ACT and exists to assist Bishops to promote the evangelising mission of the Catholic Church through the work of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD). Bishop Brian Mascord (Wollongong Diocese) has been allocated the responsibility by the NSW-ACT Bishops for issues associated with the work of CCD via CCRESS.

Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools (NSW) inc. (ICCOREIS)
iccoreis.asn.au

ICCOREIS is the peak body that represents many churches that provide Special Religious Education in public schools in NSW. Visit their website for more information.

Curriculum

Approved for use in the diocese:

All catechists who teach SRE in public schools are required to only use the authorised curriculums which have been approved by the Bishop of Wagga Wagga. This important regulation is in place to ensure the consistency and quality of SRE delivery. Catechists should not deviate from the authorised materials, and/or introduce or teach their own content.

Three Catholic curriculums approved for use in the diocese:

Christ Our Light and Life: ccdwollongong.com/curriculum 

Walking with Jesus: bbcatholic.org.au/our-faith/ccd/curriculum

Faith and Life Series: ignatius.com/promotions/faithandlife/

The current recommended Joint-denominational SRE programs are Connect cepconnect.com.au/curriculum and Godspace godspace.org.au/curriculum.

The scope and sequence for each of these curriculums allow participating schools, parents, and caregivers to understand and have confidence in what is covered in SRE lessons. Approved providers are required to have in place a cyclic review of their curriculum e.g. every 5 years.