2 Sessions

• Saturday | 13 September 2025

     9:30 am - 5:00 pm

St Francis Xavier Seminary Building

618 Upper Bukit Timah Rd

Singapore 678214

This elective course is designed to equip catechetical befrienders with the understanding, skills, and confidence to accompany children and youth with special needs in catechetical settings. Participants will explore the role and disposition of a catechetical befriender and learn to foster meaningful connections with the candidates. The course will also highlight the importance of collaboration with parish coordinators, catechists, and parents, and offer guidance for addressing common challenges. All strategies will be discussed within the context of parish life, enabling participants to envision and initiate support for special needs catechesis in their own communities. 

By the end of the course, participants should

1. Understand the role and disposition of catechetical befrienders in the catechetical space

2. Appreciate the importance of working together with parish coordinators, catechists, and parents for the candidates with special needs under their care

3. Understand some of the challenges in the ministry and how to address them in the work of befriending candidates with special needs in the catechetical space.

Jenny Lim - Manager, Special Needs Catechesis

Jenny Lim is the manager for special needs from the Office for Catechesis. She has more than 30 years of experience in special education in a voluntary welfare organisation in Singapore before she joined OFC. Her professional qualifications include a Certificate in Special Education (National Institute of Education), Diploma in Disability Studies (Centre for Disability Studies, Sydney), and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences (University of Sydney). She is a special needs coordinator and catechist with the Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Anyone who would like to find out more about Catechesis for Persons with Special Needs as well as

• Catechetical Coordinators for children and/or youth

• Catechists who would like to understand the work of the Catechetical Befrienders in the catechetical spaces

• Current and Potential Catechetical Befrienders for children and/or youth with special needs

Lunch Contribution Fees:

$15.00 (includes GST and tea breaks)

Please note the Lunch Contribution Fee is non-refundable in any circumstance

Participants are required to register to assist us in booking appropriate rooms, printing materials, arranging tea and snacks, etc. In the event of a foreseeable no-show, we encourage participants to inform the office in advance to help prevent the wastage of resources. Participants may be charged for no-show.