At a Department meeting in Baltimore early this week, I heard about an exciting program coming to the Archdiocese.  In response to the emerging National Directory for Catechesis' call to "creatively engage contemporary culture", the Divisions of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Evangelization and Catechesis will roll out a new model for catechesis, to be piloted in Central and Western Maryland parishes this summer. It is a new twist on whole community catechesis, and it involves soccer - a lot of soccer.

The Family Outdoor Outreach League will combine catechesis and  commmunity building with intramural sports. Parishes will form teams comprised of 11 families/households. Each household will be allowed to have one player on the field during the game. Games will take place on Saturdays or Sundays throughout the year. The surprising twist to all of this is the addition of catechesis to each game. After the first two, ten minute quarters, play will stop and parishes will offer thirty minutes of catechesis. After this catechetical "half-time", play will resume.

Once the program is fully established, a F.O.O.L. season will include not only competition between households, but parish-to-parish play, leading to an Archdiocesan Championship.

Best of Both Worlds
"It's a win-win-win," says April Meurth newly appointed coordinator of the project. "Kids get to play soccer, families get time together, and we get to teach them."

Mark Pacione, Director of the Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, agrees. "I am one hundred percent behind this. If we can pull it off, it'll be bigger than Chris Ashby's monster cookies!"

Of course, there are many details and challenges to work out over the course of the pilot season. Catechists will have to be cross-trained in the fundamentals of soccer, and effective use of movement in catechesis. Mark Pacione noted that his Division will expand its coach's training to meet the need. In addition to the Archdiocesan STAND training, they are considering a new program which has been very effective in the Diocese of Osh Kosh, Wisconsin: Knowledge In Catechetical Kinetics, or K.I.C.K.  For more about this program, click here.

There is also the financial impact of the program. Parishes who wish to participate may need to find, and rent, adequate facilities to host the program. The Archdiocese stands ready to help. Tom Sonni, Executive Director of Development, is working on a new funding initiative, linked to the Cardinal's Lenten Appeal. Through the program, tentatively titled "Big Feet", F.O.O.L. families will be able to donate a portion of their Lenten Appeal contribution toward their parish's F.O.O.L.. expenses.

Worth A Try
If successful, the program will offer the best of family, fun, and formation. It is an experiment with trying. Carol Augustine, Director of Evangelization and Catechesis summed it up with a smile:

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

For more information about the program, click here.
 

Chris Weber
Director, Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland
301-447-3707

Copyright © 2005  by the Catholic Education Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.