The Basic Catechist Formation Course (BCFC) is intended for all individuals entrusted in passing on the faith, desiring to gain more knowledge of their faith or are interested in serving as a minister in your parish or school community. Students must be at least 17 ½ years old and received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Those under the age of 18 interested in taking the course must present a letter of authorization by the parent and be recommended by the Parish DCM/Pastor to attend the course.
The Basic Catechist Formation Course is a 48-hour course offered at different parish locations throughout the diocese and online. The course, which incorporates the six tasks of catechesis and uses various methodologies suggested in the Directory, is offered for all catechists and parish ministers—preschool through adult. The following is covered in the BCFC:
The course is taught by a team of qualified instructors called Master Catechists. All Master Catechists are approved by the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry and complete a diocesan training program.
The California Catechist Certificate is granted for either one year or three years from the date of issue. Individuals who have not been supervised in their teaching will receive a provisional one-year Basic Catechist Certificate and eligible for an additional two years once their Parish DCM or School Principal has supervised their instruction. A three-year Basic Catechist Certificate is granted to individuals who have been supervised and recommended by their Parish DCM or School Principal.
Catechists who have been certified, must renew their certification every 3 years with thirty hours of renewal formation in the following ways:
Courses are offered in-person, online or hybrid formats during the year at various locations. Please check our events page for a current listing of upcoming courses.
There are no pre-requisites for taking the BCFC.
The cost for the course is $75. The Hybrid Course for Catholic School Teachers at USD is $150.
If you currently hold a California Catechist Certificate from any (arch)diocese in California, your certificate is valid in the Diocese of San Diego. Catechists who hold certification from another Diocese or who have a Masters in Theology, Religious Education, Catechetics may have the requirement for course work waived by submitting a profile which is available from the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry. The Director will review the profile and issue certification, or advise the catechist of coursework needed for certification.
Each parish and school site maintain an archive for each certified catechist; however, it is recommended that each individual keep a record of all formation events and hours attended. (See form under Renewal Requirements) If you are not affiliated with a parish or school and wish to remain in good standing, you must submit a list of all formation events attended and their catechetical renewal hours to the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry by June 1st.
The Basic Catechist Formation Course (BCFC) is not to be re-taken for renewal. Catechists are encouraged to follow the renewal requirements guide for keeping their catechetical certificate current and in good standing. The BCFC may be re-taken if the catechist has taken a leave of absence or lapsed for two consecutive 3-year cycles.
Certification must be achieved within the first two years of hire or service at the parish or school.
For catechists not currently teaching at a parish or school, you may keep your certificate current by completing your required 30 hours of approved catechetical renewal. Upon receipt of renewal notification, you must submit proof of your catechetical renewal hours to the Office for Evangelization and Catechetical Ministry office by June 1st on the year your certificate expires. Upon approval, a renewal notice will be mailed.
California Catechist Certification may be achieved through satisfactory completion of three fifteen-hour Diocesan Institute courses as follows:
C110 – Catechism of the Catholic Church;
S120 – Catechetics;
S100 – Faith Growth: Childhood and Early Adolescence, or
S105 – Faith Growth: Adults
For further information and course descriptions regarding the San Diego Diocesan Institute Courses, please call the Institute Office at (858) 490-8212.
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Bishop Pulido’s coat of arms is divided into four quarters with wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. The blue and white lines represent the Blessed Virgin Mary. They also suggest water, which alludes to Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and to the waters of baptism. The red and gold lines represent the Holy Spirit and fire. The colors also can be seen as referring to the Blood that (along with water) poured from Jesus’ side at His crucifixion, as well as to the bread (gold) and wine (red) transformed into the Eucharist. At the center is a roundel featuring a symbolic representation of the “mandatum” (washing of the feet), which he believes exemplifies service to all humanity. The roundel’s outer edge is a line composed of small humps; it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Diocese of Yakima, where Bishop Pulido served as a priest before being named a bishop.
Bishop Pham’s coat of arms depicts a red boat on a blue ocean, which is crisscrossed by diagonal lines suggesting a fisherman’s net. This symbolizes his ministry as a “fisher of men,” as well as how his own father had been a fisherman. The boat is also a symbol of the Church, which is often referred to as the “barque of Peter.” At the center of the sail is a red beehive (a symbol of the bishop’s baptismal patron saint, St. John Chrysostom, who was known as a “honey-tongued” preacher). The beehive is surrounded by two green palm branches (an ancient symbol of martyrdom; the bishop’s ancestors were among Vietnam’s first martyrs). The eight red tongues of fire around the boat are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and a representation of the diversity of ethnic and cultural communities. The red of the boat, the beehive and the tongues of fire allude to the blood of the martyrs.
The coat of arms combines symbols that reflect Bishop Bejarano’s spiritual life and priestly ministry. The main part of the shield shows four wavy vertical lines on a gold background. These represent flowing waters. This alludes to his chosen motto and also symbolizes the graces that come from the Divine life to quench our thirst for God. The upper third of the shield is red because it is borrowed from the coat of arms of the Order of Mercy, of which the Bishop’s patron saint, Raymond Nonnatus, was a member. The central symbol resembles a monstrance because St. Raymond is often depicted holding one. The Eucharist is Bishop Bejarano’s inspiration for his vocation. It was through the Eucharist that he received his call to the priesthood at age seven and which keeps his faith and his ministry going. It represents the call to offer oneself as a living sacrifice. The monstrance is flanked on either side by an image of the Sacred Heart, alluding to the mercy of God and echoing the idea of a sacrificial offering of oneself united to the sacrifice of Christ, and of a rose for Our Lady. It is an allusion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and highlights the bishop’s Hispanic heritage.