Gerard Baumbach
Rank
Professional Specialist
Title
Concurrent Professor, Department of Theology, and Professional Specialist and Senior Catechetical Advisor, Institute for Church Life
Fields
History of Christianity
Systematic Theology
Education
B.A., Saint Michael's College [VT]1968
M.Ed., University of Maryland, 1975
Ed.D., New York University, 1989
Research and Teaching Interests
Baumbach’s scholarly interests are in the history and theory of catechesis, mystagogical catechesis, initiation and the catechumenate, evangelization and catechesis, creative linkages between spirituality and catechesis, approaches for the application of ecclesial documentation to contemporary parish life, and parish and diocesan catechetical leadership.
Recent Publications
"Catechesis Since the Second Vatican Council: An Incomplete Reflection (Part One)." Catechetical Leader, September 2012, vol. 23, no. 5: 15-22.
"Catechesis Since the Second Vatican Council: An Incomplete Reflection (Part Two)." Catechetical Leader, November 2012, vol. 23, no. 6: 15-20.
“Eucharistic Mystagogy.” Catechetical Sunday (September 18, 2011). Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011. Web: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechetical-ministry/catechetical-sunday/eucharist/upload/catsun-2011-doc-baumbach-mystagogy.pdf
Spanish translation: “Mistagogía eucarística.” Domingo Catequético (18 de Septiembre de 2011). Washington, DC: Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos, 2011. Web: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/eucharist/upload/catsun-2011-doc-sp-baumbach-mystagogy.pdf
“Sadlier’s We Believe with Project Disciple Program: A Spiral Curriculum.” New York: William H. Sadlier, Inc., 2011. Web: http://www.sadlierreligion.com/liveourfaith/article.cfm?sp=teacher&typeid=29&id=453
Collaborated with the publisher William H. Sadlier, Inc. on the new edition of the catechetical program We Believe, entitled We Believe with Project Disciple (New York, Sadlier: © 2011).
“The Field That Is the World: Catechesis in a Pluralistic Society.” Catechetical Leader, 19 (1), January/February, 2008.
“Responding to God’s Love in Prayer.” Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press (Catechism for US series), 2007.
“Love and Respect in Family.” Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press (Catechism for US series), 2007.
“Christ’s Love and God’s Law.” Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press (Catechism for US series), 2007.
“Initiation into the Body of Christ.” Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press (Catechism for US series), 2007.
“The Church: People, Body, Temple.” Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press (Catechism for US series), 2007.
“Faith in a Self-revealing God.” Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press (Catechism for US series), 2006.
“The Center for Catechetical Initiatives at Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life.” Notre Dame Center for Liturgy Bulletin, Autumn, 2006.
Catechetical and Liturgical Consultant, We Believe and Celebrate First Penance. New York: Sadlier, 2006.
Catechetical and Liturgical Consultant, We Believe and Celebrate First Communion. New York: Sadlier, 2006.
Catechetical and Liturgical Consultant, We Live Our Faith as Disciples of Jesus). New York: Sadlier, 2006.
Catechetical and Liturgical Consultant, We Live Our Faith as Members of the Church). New York: Sadlier, 2006.
Contributor to the article, “A Look into the Future: Where is Catholic Education Headed for the Next Generation?” Momentum (Journal of the National Catholic Educational Association), 36 (3), September/October, 2006.
“What Will Tomorrow Bring for Catechesis and Catechetical Leadership? Five Gifts or Challenges for the Road Ahead.” Momentum (Journal of the National Catholic Educational Association), 36 (3), September/October, 2005.
“Developing Catechetical Leaders: The Aspect of Risk.” FaithWorks, March, 2005.
“Cultivating Rich Soil: Forming a New Generation of Catechetical Leaders.” Catechetical Leader, 15 (2), June, 2004.
Initiated and inspired the development of and was chief contributor to Sadlier We Believe (New York: Sadlier, © 2004). Student and teacher texts of this K-6 series received First Place from Catholic Press Association in its Educational Book Award category for 2004.
“Spirituality and the Catechist.” New York: Sadlier, October, 2003. Web: http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/catechistdevelopment.cfm?section=resource&grade=k,2&isarchive=1&ID=205
“The Baptismal Catechumenate: Inspiration for Catechesis.” Antiphon, 7 (3), 2002; published 2003.
“September 11 in Manhattan: Finding My Son Alive.” St. Anthony Messenger, September, 2002 (Catholic Press Association Award: Third Place, Best Feature Article, General Interest magazines, 2003). Web: http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Sep2002/Feature1.asp
Letters from a Wounded Heart: Reflections to Strengthen and Comfort Your Soul. New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2000. Spanish edition: Cartas de un Corazón Herido: Reflexiones para fortalecer y consolar tu alma. Mexico City: Panorama Editorial, 2002.
“Catechumenal Model: Inspiration for Initial and Ongoing Catechesis.” NCCL General Directory for Catechesis Study Project. Washington, DC: National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, 2000.
“Jubilee: Turning Time for Conversion and Reconciliation.” NCCL Catechetical Update, 2000.
Spirituality for Lent and Easter: A Guide for Bridging the Mysteries. New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1998.
“A Never-Ending Relationship: Catechesis and Catholic Social Teaching.” Catechetical Leadership, 9 (5), December, 1997.
Experiencing Mystagogy: The Sacred Pause of Easter. New York/Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1996.
Biography
Gerard F. Baumbach joined the faculty of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life in 2003 after a distinguished career in publishing, writing, and parish catechetical leadership. He was the founding Director of the Institute’s Center for Catechetical Initiatives and its Echo Faith Formation Leadership Program. In July, 2011 he assumed the new role of Senior Catechetical Advisor in the Institute. He served for many years on the Master of Divinity Committee and the Master of Arts in Theology Committee of the Department of Theology, where he teaches periodically with a focus on the history and theory of catechesis and catechetical theology.
Baumbach was the recipient with the Center for Catechetical Initiatives of the 2008 NCCL Catechetical Award, the highest award of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. In 2003 he received the F. Sadlier Dinger Award for his leadership of and service to catechesis nationally and internationally. He has served on task groups of the United States Catholic Conference (on Catholic social teaching and Catholic education) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (on children and the liturgy). He directed and/or participated in the publication preparation process for numerous catechetical publications during his nearly 25 years at William H. Sadlier, Inc. in New York City, where his last position was executive vice president and publisher.
Areas of interest for his presentations include catechesis, adult faith formation, RCIA, spirituality of leadership, lay ecclesial ministry formation, Catholic identity, sacraments of initiation, priesthood and catechesis, and contemporary culture. Examples of presentations include: presenter, “The Pedagogy of Faith” (for teachers of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, 2012); presenter at “Anticipating Advent: Sharing Pastoral Leadership in a Very New Church Year" (Loyola University of Chicago and the Archdiocese of Chicago, 2011); presentation to the class of “Echo 6” upon their completion of Echo and the MA degree requirements in Theology (2011); and presentation with Echo graduates on the Echo Program at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (Washington, DC, 2011).
Contact
326 Geddes Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556
574 631-2894
baumbach.2@nd.edu