"Faith is a gift from God.  In his Providence, God has chosen to
           use human instruments to ensure the growth of the faith received
           in Baptism...members of the Church community are called not only
           to grow in knowledge of the faith but, at the same, to pass on that
           faith to others."
                                         National Directory for Catechesis, page 217

Ministry of Catechesis Certification is a process which officially recognizes the educational and formational experiences of individuals within the Catholic faith which qualifies them to teach and to lead in their respective ministries.  The dioceses of the state of Wisconsin have a long tradition of standards for those in catechetical ministry.

In the early 1970's, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference formed the Christian Education Commission (CEC).  The purpose of this commission was to assist the five dioceses in Wisconsin to plan for total Christian education.  In March 1975, after two years of study and a statewide survey, the Policy Board of WCC adopted a series of policy statements which dealt with the professional standards for those teaching in Catholic schools and religious education programs in the dioceses of Wisconsin.  This project had been initiated in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Pastoral To Teach As Jesus Did which stressed the importance of the total educational mission of the Church. 

The Catholic Bishops of Wisconsin addressed catechesis and the ministry of catechesis in Discipleship from Age to Age: A Call for Renewal in Catechesis in 1994, following the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  The Wisconsin document continues to guide catechesis.

 
          The responsibility for catechesis in the Catholic faith lies with both the clergy 
              and laity.  Although the bishop is the primary catechist of his diocese, he does 
              not work alone.  Our priests, deacons, parish catechetical leaders, and catechists 
          are all an essential part of the catechetical mission of every diocese...those involved 
              in catechetical ministry are expected to participate in initial and ongoing formation
              in the "human, spiritual and apostolic qualities and catechetical skills" necessary 
              for this most important endeavor.    
                                                                                 Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen
                                                                                 Bishop of Superior
                                                                                 January 2012