Catherine Dooley
By Elizabeth J.Flaherty
Catholic

SR. CATHERINE DOOLEY, O.P., Ph.D. (1933-2015), an outstanding international leader in the field of catechesis, has consistently generated significant contributions to the mission of spreading the Gospel, including writing, publishing and teaching. 鈥淜ate鈥, as she is known, is a Sinsinawa (WI) Dominican Sister who has been professor of Catechetics and Liturgy at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. She is best recognized for developing a field called liturgical catechesis which acknowledges the liturgy as a source for cathechesis, a pastoral activity that aims to lead communities and individuals to full, active and conscious faith in the light of instruction and the experience of Christian living.
Biography
Catherine Agnes Dooley (Kate) was born and raised in Minnesota, was educated in the city of Faribault at Immaculate Conception Elementary School and Butler Academy High School. She became a member of the Congregation of the Dominican Order at Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Some 50 years later Kate wrote in the newsletter of the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC: 鈥淚t is in the Sinsinawa Congregation that I learned that teaching was a vocation and to be a teacher was a gift. So I began with 1st graders, and I loved teaching them just as I now love teaching university students. It might seem to be a great leap between those two levels, but there is an old adage: if you can teach 1st graders, you can teach anyone.鈥
And teach she did鈥攁t the elementary level of the congregation鈥檚 schools in Illinois, Wisconsin and Colorado. She was also giving religious education workshops for teachers in the Chicago area. In 1975 Kate was an invited presenter at a Religious Education Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. Her presentation was titled 鈥淕ospel Values: a Family Challenge.鈥 She became a key figure in catechetical renewal after the Second Vatican Council.
These experiences led her to turn from the role of teacher to that of student. Kate earned degrees in Theology and Religious Education from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA, and the Catholic University of Leuvain, Louvain, Belgium. These studies led to teaching positions at Rosary College, River Forest, IL, Edgewood College, Madison, WI, and ultimately to the Catholic University of American in 1984 which became her home for over 25 years. When honored for her long-term service to the University, Kate responded with the following comments in their newsletter of December, 2004:
鈥淚 remember coming in for my interview and people were very frank about what to expect and what not to expect. I wasn鈥檛 completely sold. When two faculty members took me out to lunch that day, I had to ask them, 鈥榃hy do you stay?鈥 They didn鈥檛 hesitate for moment. They said, 鈥楾he people.鈥欌 By the time lunch was over, the Dominican nun from Minnesota knew where she wanted to be. CUA buildings, salaries and class sizes have changed over the last two decades (when Sister Dooley first arrived, she typically taught 50 under桃花视频s per course), but for her, the good nature of the people has remained the same.
Contributions to Christian Education
Kate鈥檚 ministry at Catholic University as teacher, author, innovator , publisher, and liturgist let to national recognition for her contributions to Catechetical Renewal. The following quotes are from the Beacon , the newsletter of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters:
1999: Kate Dooley, OP, associate professor of Religion at the Catholic University, Washington, D.C., has been given the Michael Mathis award by the University of Notre Dame. Sr. Kate was recognized for her faithful and consistent efforts to keep liturgy and catechesis in dialog and for her writings and teachings that shed light on both sacramental practice and sacramental understanding.
2001: The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership honored Catherine Dooley, OP with its annual award for her outstanding contribution to catechetics. Sr. Kate also gave the keynote address at the yearly NCCL meeting.
2005: The Georgetown Center for Liturgy honored Catherine Dooley, OP, with its annual 鈥淎ward for Outstanding Contributions Made to the Liturgical Life of the American Church.鈥 Sr. Catherine鈥檚 visionary and widely influential work in liturgy and catechetics were cited.
2005: The lead article in the November issue of New Theology Review is 鈥淭o Be What We Celebrate: Engaging the process of Liturgical Catechesis鈥 by Kate Dooley, OP. A noted voice in the field develops solid principals and a solid process to help parish catechetical and liturgical ministers to envision the task.
2005: The National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors presented the 鈥淓mmaus Award for Excellence in Catechesis鈥, to Kate Dooley, OP, an outstanding national leader in the field of catechesis who has consistently generated significant contributions to the mission of spreading the Gospel, including writing, publishing and teaching.
2006: Catherine Dooley, OP, has been promoted to full professor in the School of Theology and Religious Studies, Catholic University, Washington, DC. She is the second woman since 1888 to hold that position!
The Winter 2000 issue of THE LIVING LIGHT features an essay titled 鈥淐atholic Foremothers in American Catechesis.鈥 The works of the 鈥渇oremothers鈥 cited there inspired and nurtured contemporary catechetical leaders. Today鈥檚 leaders include Catherine Dooley, described as 鈥渢aking a cue from the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC), elaborates how the formation of Catechists should have a 鈥渃atechetical style鈥 (GDC, no. 241) whose point of culmination is not in theology or method but in a life of witness and mission.鈥
Catherine Dooley, OP, (Kate) emerita of the Catholic University of American, Washington, DC, currently resides at the Dominican Convent in Sinsinawa, WI. She continues to inspire students at the Dominican University in River Forest, IL.
Addendum: SR. CATHERINE DOOLEY, O.P., passed away on December 1, 2015, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa December 7, 2015, followed by burial in the motherhouse cemetery.
Professional Education
- PH.D. Religious Studies, Catholic University (KUL), Leuven, Belgium, 1982 ( Dissertation: An Historical and Theological Study of Devotional Confession)
- M.A. Religious Studies, Catholic University (KUL), Leuven, Belgium, 1977
- Th.M. Theology. Harvard Divinity School, 1975
- M.A. Religious Education/Catechetics, The Catholic University of America, 197
- B.A. Education/English, Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin, 1963
Teaching Experience
- 1984-2009 Professor, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
- 1981-1984 Professor of Religious Studies, Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois
- 1975-1976 Instructor, Religious Studies Department, Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin
- 1969-1974 Religion Consultant, Elementary Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago
Awards
- Merrill Fellowship, Harvard Divinity School, 1974
- F. Sadlier Dinger Award for Religious Education, 1993
- Michael Mathis Award, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, 1999
- Sabbatical Research Grant, Louisville Institute, 1999
- Catechetical Award, National Conference of Catechetical Leadership, 2001.
- Emmaus Award for Excellence in Catechesis awarded by the National Catholic Education Association (National Association of Parish Catechetical Leaders), 2005
- Georgetown Center for Liturgy: National Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Liturgical Life of the American Church, 2005
- ACTA Foundation grant for the initiation and implementation of an Under桃花视频 Certificate Program in Pastoral ministry to prepare students for future ecclesial ministries, 2003
Professional Organizations
Member of:
- Catholic Theological Society of America;
- Religious Education Association;
- Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education;
- National Association of Catechetical Leaders
Participant in the Field of Christian Education
- Intercontinental Symposium on the Catechumenate, Lyon, France, 1993
- Delegation to the International Catechetical Congress, Rome, 1997
- Lilly Foundation sponsored Education for Religious Particularism and Pluralism: Relationship of Catholics and Jews, 1994-1996
- U.S. Delegation to the International Catechetical Congress (Canada, Latin America, and U.S.) , Miami, FL, 2003
- USCCB Committee of the Liturgy, 1987-1993
- International Committee on English in the Liturgy, 1995
Bibliography
Books
- Author: In progress: Be What You Celebrate
- Author: To Listen and Tell : a Commentary on the Introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children. Washington, D.C.: Pastoral Press, 1993.
- Co-Editor: The Echo Within: Emerging Issues in Religious Education , ed. Catherine Dooley and Mary Collins. Thomas More: Allen, Texas, 1977
- Editor: Ecclesial Mediation of Grace : Essays in Sacramental and Liturgical Theology . Louvain Studies 23, no. 2 (Summer, 1998)
Articles
- Christiane Brusselmans. 鈥 Christian Educators of the 20th Century 鈥
- Claimed for Christ , RITE 38, no. 2 (March/April 2007): 22-25
- 鈥淒o This in Memory of Me鈥. RITE 38, no. 4 (May/June, 2007): 22-25
- 鈥淟ife is Changed, Not Ended鈥. RITE 38, no. 4 (July/August, 2007): 22-25
- 鈥淭he Service of Light鈥. RITE 38, no.1 (January/February, 2007): 22-24
- 鈥淪acraments: Celebrations of the Whole Community鈥, in Whole Community Catechesis: Come to the Table . ed. Bill Huebsch (Harcourt Publishers) TBP Summer, 2005
- Lex Orandi, lex credenda: Implications for Catechesis. Sister Maria de la Cruz: Herald of Hope . Annual National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors Convocation (April 13-16, 2004); Department of Religious Education, Washington, D.C.: National Catholic Educational Program, 2005
- 鈥淓ngrave it by Memory in your Hearts,鈥 Living Light 40, no 4 (Summer 2004): 30-36
- 鈥淭o Be What We Celebrate,: New Theology Review 17, no. 4 (November 2004]: 9-17
- 鈥淚magine that鈥..Preaching to Children, 鈥 Preach 1 (July/August) 2004): 19-24
- 鈥淟iturgy: Source for Catechesis, 鈥 Catechetical Leader (January 205): U1-U5
- 鈥淥ur Story column: St. Thomas More鈥, 鈥淪t. Ignatius Loyola鈥, 鈥淪t. Jane Frances de Chantal鈥, 鈥淪t. John Vianney: The Cure of Ars:, 鈥淪t. Clare of Assisi鈥, 鈥淪t Alphonsus Ligouri鈥, 鈥淪t. Angela Merici鈥, in Why Catholic? Renewing Family Faith . Published monthly by RENEW International, Newark, N.J.
- 鈥淢ystagogy: A Parish, Not a Program鈥, Today鈥檚 Parish , no 3 (March 2003): 18-21
- 鈥淐elebrating the Word of Forgiveness鈥, Liturgical Catechesis 6, no 2 (2003): 9-12
- 鈥淩enewing the Parish鈥 , The Living Light 40, no 1 (Fall 2003): 24-31
- 鈥淐hurch Community as Catechist鈥, Living Light 39, no 3 (Spring 2003): 15-18
- s.v. Catechist; First Communion; Liturgical Catechesis TBP New Catholic Encyclopedia , 2002
- 鈥淟a formation des catechistes.鈥 In Theologie, Mission at catechese , 165-174, ed. Andre Fossion. Brussels: Lumen Vitae, 2002.
- 鈥淐atechesis and Religious Instruction in Catholic Schools: Perspectives of the General Catechetical Directory ( 1997). In Religious Education as Practical Theology , ed. B Roebben and Michael Warren. 175-190. Leuven: Peeters, 2001
- 鈥淕ive Imagination a Chance!鈥 The Living Light 38, no 1 (Fall 2001): 17-27
- 鈥淭he Religious Education Curriculum in Catholic Schools鈥 in The Catholic Character of Catholic Schools , ed. J. Youniss and J. Convey, 156-73, Notre Dame University Press, 20.
- 鈥淟iturgical Catechesis for Confirmation鈥, In Traditions and Transitions , ed. E Bernstein and M Connell , 253-65. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1998.
- 鈥淭he General Directory for Catechesis and the Catechism: Focus on Evangelizing鈥. Origins 28, no.3 (June 4, 1998): 33, 35-39. Excerpts reprinted in Catholic Trends 28, no. 21 (1998)
- 鈥淏aptismal Catechumenate: Model for All Catechesis鈥, In Louvain Studies 23, no. 2 (Summer 1998): 114-123
- 鈥淓vangelization and Catechesis: Partners in the New Millennium.鈥 In The Echo Within: Emerging Issues in Religious Education , ed. C Dooley and M, Collins, 145-159. Allen, Texas: Thomas More, 1997.
- 鈥淐elebrating the Child鈥檚 Natural Sense of the Sacred.鈥 Childspirit 8 (Winter 1997-1998): 7-9.
- 鈥淢ystagogy: Ministry to Parents鈥, In Catechesis and Mystagogy: Infant Baptism , ed. V Tufano, 97-104. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1996.
- 鈥淲omen Confessors in the Middle Ages?鈥 Louvain Studies 20 (Summer-Fall, 1995): 271-281
- s.v. Lectionary for Masses with Children. Christiane Brusselmans. In New Catholic Encyclopedia, vol 20, ed. B Marthaler. Washington, DC.: Catholic University of America 1996
- 鈥淭he Bible in Ministry: The Lectionary for Children鈥. Bible Today 33, no. 5 (September 1995): 281-285
- 鈥淟ife in Christ: The Approach to the Ten Commandments on the Catechism of the Catholic Church鈥. In Looking at Our Faith . New York: William F. Dadlier, 1995.
- 鈥淢ystagogy: Model for Sacramental Catechesis鈥 In New Directions in Sacrament and Spirituality ed. Mary Gray, 58-69. London: Geoffrey Chapman, 1995
- 鈥淔rom the Visible to the Invisible: Mystagogy in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 鈥. Living Light 31, no.3 (Spring 1995): 29-35
- s.v. Catechesis; Catechetics; Catechism; General Absolution; In The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia , ed. M.Glazier and M.Hellwig. Collegeville; Liturgical Press, 1994
- The Catechism of the Catholic Church: 鈥淏oth the Old and the New鈥. Chicago Studies 33, no.1 (April 1994): 5-14
- 鈥淲hy a Lectionary for Masses with Children?鈥 Pastoral Music 18 (June-July 1994) 36-38
- 鈥淟iturgical Catechesis in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.鈥 In Introducing the Catechism of the Catholic Church:Traditional Themes and Contemporary Issues ,87-98, NY:PaulistPress,1994
- 鈥淭he Directory for Masses with Children鈥: 1973-1993鈥. Liturgy 90,24 no.2 (Feb./Mar.1993):4-7
- Liturgical Catechesis鈥. In Sourcebook for Sunday and Seasons 1993, xii-xv. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1993
- 鈥淭he Lectionary for Children鈥. Liturgy 90, 23 (August-September 1992) 4-7,12. Reprinted in Supplement Liturgy 90, 1993
- 鈥淟iturgical Catechesis:Mystagogy,Marriage or Misnomer鈥, Worship 66 (September,1992)386-97
- 鈥淔irst Communion: Sacramental Event or Initiation Process ?鈥 Professional Approaches for Christian Education (PACE) 21 (February 1992): 146-49
- 鈥淐elebrations of the Word鈥, Liturgy : Ritual and Reconciliation 9, no 4 (Fall 1991):101-107
- Overview of the Directory for Masses with Children鈥. In The Liturgy Documents: A Parish Resource , ed. E.Hoffmann, 230-33. Chicago: Litrugy Training Publications, 1991
- 鈥淏aptismal Catechesis for Children of Catechetical Age鈥. In Issues in the Christian Initiation of Children: Catechesis and Lturgy . ed.K.Brown and F.Sikol, 47-60.Chicago:Liturgy Training Publications, 1989
- s.v. 鈥淭heology of Forgiveness鈥. New Directory of Sacramental Worship , ed. Peter Fink. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1990
- 鈥淪acraments: Signs of Conversion and Commitment鈥. In The Catechist Connection 5, no 44 (1988 1-2)
- The Catechumenate for Children: Sharing the Gift of Faith鈥. In The Living Light 24, no.4 (June 1988): 307鈥17. Reprinted in Readings in the Christian Initiation of Children , ed. V. Tufano, 66-82. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1994.
- 鈥淭he Lectionary as a Source Book for Catechesis in the RCIA鈥. In The Catechumenate 103 (May 1988): 10-22; Reprinted in Before and After Baptism: The Work of Teachers and Catechists , ed. J.A.Wilde, 39-51. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1988
- 鈥淐atechesis and Sunday Worship鈥. In Catechesis: Sow Justice; Reap Peace . USCCB, Catechetical Sunday Publication, 1988, 6-8
- 鈥淭he Sign of the Cross鈥. In Liturgy 7, no.1 (1988) 61-65
- s.v. 鈥淐atechesis, Catechetics鈥. In The New Dictionary of Theology , ed. J. Komonchak and M. Collins. Collegeville: Liturgical Press (Michael Glazier)1987.
- 鈥淎 Lectionary for Children?鈥 In Living Light 23 no.4 (June 1987): 325-332
- The 1987 Synod of Bishops and the 鈥淐risis of Confession鈥. In The Fate of Confession , ed. M. Collins and D. Power, Concilium 190, no 2 (1987):11
- 鈥 Early Penance History and Its Implications for the Future of the Sacrament 鈥, In Reconciliation: The Continuing Agenda, ed. R. Kennedy, 83-95, Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1987
- s.v. St. Thomas Aquinas. In Harper鈥檚 Dictionary of Religious Education , ed. K. and I. Cullly. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1987
- 鈥淐atechizing Through the Liturgy鈥. The Catechist Connection 3, no. 26 (January 1987) 1-4
- Catechesis for a Community of Saints 鈥. Liturgy 5, no. 2 (1985): 95-99
- 鈥淩econciliation in the Wake of the Synod: Reflections of the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II鈥. The Living Light 21 (1985) 328-336
- 鈥 The Rite of Penance for Children鈥. Study paper prepared for the Bishops鈥 Committee on the Liturgy, 1985
- 鈥淩econciliation in the Early Church: Lessons from History鈥. New Catholic World 227 (January- February) 16-21
- 鈥淒evelopment of the Practice of Devotional Confession鈥. Questions liturgiques 64(1983):89-117
- 鈥淔rom Penance to Confession: The Celtic Contribution 鈥. Bijdragen 43 (1982): 390-411
- 鈥淩eflections on the Ministry of Teaching鈥, Service 4 (1982): 379-381
- 鈥淐atechesis in Our Time鈥. Louvain Studies 7 (1979): 195-200
- 鈥淢oral Education in Sourcebook for Modern Catechetics 鈥. ed. Michael Warren, 395-410. Winona, MN: Saint Mary鈥檚 Press, (1983)
Religious Education Materials
- General Editor: Elementary religion series, Christ Jesus the Way, 2002-2005
- General Editor: Celebrate series, Grades 1-8; Author: Celebrate for Grade One,
- General Editor: Christ Jesus the Way, Benziger/McMillan/McGraw-Hill,2002-2003
- Author: 鈥淟iturgy and Sacraments鈥, in Echoes of Faith : Video Assisted program for Catechist Formation, Resources for Christian Living, Allen, TX, 2001
- Author: The Jesus Book, Paulist Press, 1983
- Author: The Saints Book, Paulist press, 1981
- Author: The Mary Book, Paulist Press, 1978
- Author: The Gift if Peace, W.H. Sadlier, 1978
- Co-Author: Leader鈥檚 Guide and Participant鈥檚 Guide, Paulist Bible Program, 1990
- Co-Author: Come Together: An Adult Catechesis for the Eucharist , Tabor Publishing Co., 1985
- Co-Author: Family: A Parish Religious Education Program . Paulist Press, 1975
- Co-Author: Come to the Father (Teacher鈥檚 Guide, Grade One), Paulist Press, 1970
- Editor: The Idea Book: A Collection of Shared Ideas for Religion Teachers , 2 volumes, Archdiocese of Chicago, 1970-71.
- Consultant: Familytime, Tabor Publishing Company, 199
- Consultant: Coming to the Faith Series , W.H. Sadlier Company, 1987-1989
- Consultant: My Eucharist Book , W.H. Sadlier Company, 1987
- Consultant: My Reconciliation Book , W.H. Sadlier, 1987
- Consultant: The Easter People, Winston Press, 1974-1981
Audio-Visual Materials
- Author: Liturgy for the Primary Child, Paulist Press, 1982
- Discipline and the Primary Child, Paulist Press, 1978
- Consultant: God鈥檚 Life, Our Life, Mark IV, 1983
- Dialogue, Roa Films, 1975
- Children of Light, Roa Films, 1974
Excerpts from Publications
To Listen and Tell: Introduction to the Lectionary for Masses with Children, with Commentary . By Kate Dooley, O.P.. Washington, D.C. :The Pastoral Press.
Sister Kate鈥檚 credentials are first rate. She explains the history, nature and structure of the lectionary and its intended uses, i.e. , Masses where a large number of children participate with Adults; Masses where the congregation is mainly children; separate liturgies of the word; sacramental celebrations; classroom or family prayer. She reminds us that the spiritual lives of children are no less real and serious than those of adults, and that children need to be nourished by the Bible proclaimed in words they can understand.
鈥溾橪ectionaries are creations of the churches. The Scriptures are inspired; lectionaries are not.鈥 Dooley provides an historical development of the lectionary of the church鈥檚 worship鈥nd gives important background information on the construction of the Lectionary for the Mass in order to help parish leaders understand the design of the lectionary for Masses with children.
Liturgical Catechesis: Mystagogy, Marriage or Misnomer. By Catherine Dooley. Liturgical Catechesis: Resource Publications: San Jose, CA.
鈥淟iturgical catechesis is only one part of the larger catechetical ministry but it is primary form of the catechetical ministry. Liturgical catechesis is not an alternative form of catechesis; catechesis by its very nature has a liturgical component as one aspect of the whole process and cannot be separated from the other tasks of catechesis. Scripture and tradition, liturgical worship and prayer, action for justice and the fostering of a solid community life are integrally related.鈥
Liturgists and Catechists are often viewed as opposites of religious education, i.e. ritual versus creed. Here Kate Dooley cleverly presents a relationship which blends the two: a) as coexisting as in the RCIA process of mystagogy ; b) as partners as in a marriage ; c) as a mistaken belief of religious contradictions, a misnomer . This is a must read on a Dooley book list.
The Echo Within: Emerging Issues in Religious Education : a tribute to Berard L. Marthaler, OFM, ed. by Catherine Dooley, O.P., and Mary Collins, O.S.B. Resources for Christian Living: Allen, TX.
Preeminent religious educators explore major issues in religious education. Topics include: the question of revelation, the story of the human place in God鈥檚 creation, the mystery of the Eucharist, the reform of the sacrament of reconciliation, Jesus as catechist, evangelization and catechesis in official discourse, and formation in Christian spirituality for the next century.
Here Kate Dooley offers the meaning of 鈥渘ew evangelization鈥 as the process whereby individual and social life is transformed in the light of the Gospel.鈥 But she also offers the need for 鈥渞e-evangelization鈥f the baptized who have lost a living sense of the faith鈥. This text of Dooley, first published fifteen years ago, is most valuable in interpreting the concepts of both new- and re-evangelization.
Author Information
Elizabeth J.Flaherty
Elizabeth J. Flaherty, O.P., MTS, is a 桃花视频 of St. John Major Seminary (Plymouth, MI), former adjunct faculty at Sacred Heart Major Seminary (Archdiocese of Detroit), at SS Cyril and Methodius Seminary (Orchard Lake, MI), and Theology Department faculty, Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI.