Diocese offers Ministry Basic Training classes in English and Spanish in four locations beginning in October

The diocese’s Department of Evangelization and Catechesis is offering Ministry Basic Training in English and Spanish in 2012-13, a program open to all lay ministers and Catholic school teachers in the diocese to become certified as basic catechists according to the norms and guidelines of the California Catholic Conference and the Diocese of Sacramento.

Sessions begin in October and continue on select evenings through February from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The courses are Faith, Liturgy, Life in Christ, Prayer and the Nature of Catechesis. The courses are taught at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, located at 2110 Broadway in Sacramento, and broadcast simultaneously via the diocese's videoconferencing system to Holy Spirit Parish in Fairfield, Our Divine Savior Parish in Chico and Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Redding. Participants at all locations will gather together in Yuba City for a bilingual retreat on March 2, 2013.

In addition to the in-person sessions, the diocese offers an online program with the full course in faith foundations (Profession of Faith, Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Life in Christ, Christian Prayer and the Nature of Catechesis). For information, visit www.catholicclass.org.

The cost for Ministry Basic Training classes is $20 per class or $110 for all classes. For more information or to register, visit www.ministrybasictraining.com or call Uli Schmitt at (916) 733-0155 or send an e-mail inquiry to uschmitt@scd.org.