What we do
The Archdiocesan Cathechetical Office (ACO) is committed to the care for and promotion of ongoing faith formation for all persons in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain. This includes all religious formation in parishes, inclusive of sacramental preparation, and religious education in schools. The ACO evaluates the real needs of catechists and school teachers, and seeks to provide a basic and on-going formation for them, while providing specialized formation for Parish Catechetical Leaders and members of school Religious Education Committees.
Director of Catechetics:
Mrs. Gillian Ruben
Vision Statement
We support parish catechetical leaders and catechists so that they can offer a Christocentric catechesis to all people, especially the most vulnerable, accompanying them towards integral development through life-long transformative encounters with Jesus Christ, while also supporting Catholic schools in becoming communities of faith with students at its centre, in a secure and welcoming environment for all families, deeply rooted in the evangelical values of the Gospel and in Catholic spiritual tradition, and led by principals and teachers as missionary disciples.
Mission Statement
To be the resource of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain which, inspired by the life and mission of Jesus Christ, commit to evangelize, educate, and empower others, thus fostering excellence in parish catechesis and religious education in Catholic schools, by providing accompaniment, support, and training so that those serving in maturing the faith of others, and in teaching Catholic ethos and values, may find success in their ministries.
Values Statement
Those working within the ACO are guided by, and committed to, the following values:
- Evangelization: Through the evangelizing action of catechesis to evangelize by inviting people into intimacy with Jesus Christ, by sharing the biblical story of salvation, and our Catholic doctrinal beliefs, liturgical celebration and Christian witness.
Education: Through an intentional and systematic process of echoing the Gospel, to educate others of God’s love revealed to us through Jesus Christ, thus inviting them to grow in faith and discipleship.
Empowerment: Through ongoing formation, by accompanying all believers in Jesus Christ in the maturation of their faith, to make them aware that they are missionary disciples, and to empower them for mission.