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May 15, 2026, Adrian, Michigan – Adrian Dominican Sister Janet Schaeffler, OP, a long-time minister in the area of adult faith formation, has written a book as a guide to the spirituality and practice of catechists, religious education teachers.

In A Catechist’s Guide to Vatican II, Sister Janet explores the 16 documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Council’s encouragement of the Catholic laity to read Scripture and to live out their faith actively. 

“Vatican II continues to shape how the Church understands itself and lives its mission,” Sister Janet writes in the opening of her book. “Its invitation to renewal, dialogue, and a deeper return to the sources of faith – Scripture, liturgy, and the lived experience of God’s people – remains woven into the life of the Church today.”

In each section of the book, Sister Janet offers key points of the Council’s documents, as well as an invitation to reflection or a spiritual practice and a brief prayer.

Sister Janet has served as a retreat leader and a consultant for catechists and adult faith formation leaders, as well as the Director of Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit. She has written numerous books on issues of concern to catechists, parents, and the laity in general.

A Catechist’s Guide to Vatican II is available from Twenty-Third Publications and from the Weber Center Shop at the Adrian Dominican Sisters Motherhouse Campus. The shop is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed from noon to 12:45 p.m. for lunch. Copies of the book can also be ordered by calling 517-266-4035 or emailing [email protected]. 

September 6, 2024, Detroit – Sister Janet Schaeffler, OP, an author long involved in adult faith formation, recently published two books that offer support and encouragement to parish catechists, those who teach religious education to the children in their parish.

Guided by the Directory for Catechesis: Transforming the Vision and Practice of Parish Catechesis provides a guide and offers suggestions to catechists on how they should apply the 2020 Directory for Catechesis to the circumstances of their parish. The guidebook challenges and encourages catechists in their ministry of providing effective and lifelong faith formation for parishioners of all ages. Sister Janet co-wrote this book with Catherine LaVecchia and John Roberto.

As the Holy Year of 2025, Pilgrims of Hope, approaches, Sister Janet’s latest book, Catechists as Pilgrims of Hope: Reflections and Prayers for the Jubilee Year offers reflections on the hope lived out by catechists in their ministry. The booklet, based on Scripture, offers encouragement and suggestions to catechists as they strive to live out their ministry of sharing the hope and the joy of the Gospel.

An Adrian Dominican Sister, retreat leader, and consultant for catechists and adult faith formation leaders, Sister Janet once served as Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL). 

Sister Janet has written numerous catechist books and resources, including Spirituality for Catechists and The Creed: A Catechist’s Guide. She also writes annual Advent reflection booklets.

The books are available through Twenty-Third Publications or from the Weber Center Shop at Weber Retreat and Conference Center. The Weber Center Shop is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. The shop is closed for lunch from noon to 12:45 p.m. The book can also be ordered by calling 517-266-4035 or emailing [email protected].