Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

Celebrate Catechetical Sunday, September 17, 2023

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The start of a new school year can be hectic with the rush to put children in the appropriate class, handle late registrations, and maybe even find catechists. In all this activity, the Church reminds us how important catechesis is with Catechetical Sunday, which began in 1935. In the United States, the Bishops set the third Sunday of September as Catechetical Sunday. This year Catechetical Sunday is on September 17, 2023, with the theme of “Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened” (Matthew 11:28).

How to Celebrate

Since we are a people of prayer, begin your parish celebration at Mass. Let people know about the day with this poster. Choose one Mass and ask all the catechists to come to it. Don’t forget to include those who serve in youth ministry, RCIA/OCIA, and other adult programs. During Mass, the celebrant can bless and commission the catechists. After the blessing, if time permits, have children from the religious education program give a prayer card to each catechist. It is a great witness to the parish if the catechists come forward from wherever they are sitting and stand where they can be seen.

You may want to give a certificate of thanks already formatted for you from the USCCB.

After Mass, continue the celebration with a breakfast in their honor. This is your opportunity to let the catechists know how much you appreciate, need, and admire them. Does your parish have a Knights of Columbus or Council of Catholic Women’s group? Ask them to prepare and serve breakfast. If your parish is a potluck type of place, ask parents to bring food. Or keep it simple with bagels, donuts, juice, and coffee. Whatever you choose, have something to gather all the catechists and their families together to thank them.

Tokens of Appreciation

It is always nice to give something to the catechists that remind them of the parish’s gratitude. A notebook (for women or men) and a new pen are both practical and fun. Another gift idea is a scripture jar or bag. Pick verses that pertain to children, teaching, conversion, and perseverance. Attach a note from the pastor as the tag, and you are all set.

One year, I asked the parishioners to pray for a catechist. I put each catechist’s name, first name only, on a card and asked parishioners to take one as they left Mass on Catechetical Sunday. Don’t forget to add your name! You could also add each class or group to the cards. This reinforces the idea that everyone in the parish has a part in catechesis. And, you have covered your work in prayer.

No matter how you choose to celebrate and acknowledge those who serve as catechists, do so with joy as you witness to the Gospel.

Catechist Self, no Soul-Care

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Self-care can be such a buzzword, being the reason given for spending time and money on ourselves, having a night out with friends or even exercising. It seems like we cannot take care of ourselves without external permission. This is not true. We are created in the image and likeness of God, who loves community and rest. Many times, in scripture, we see Jesus going off on his own to pray or to spend time alone with his apostles, away from the crowds. We can certainly take note and have Jesus as our model rather than the self-care the world considers important. Let’s focus on soul-care, rather than self-care.

As a catechist, you give of yourself – possibly without thought to yourself. As the saying goes, you cannot give from an empty cup. What does our soul need?

5 Ways to Care for your Soul

  1. Start your day with a prayer

It does not have to be long or formal. Each day, when you wake up, say a short and simple prayer: Lord, I consecrate this day to you. Be with me in all I do.

  1. Read scripture

Have the daily Mass readings sent to your inbox. Or use one of the many Mass books with the daily readings, Magnificat, The Word Among Us . 

  1. Spend time in nature, noticing the beauty of God’s creation

Confession time, I think this is very helpful but don’t do it as often as I’d like. And I live in a place where the weather makes this so easy. Have your morning beverage and prayer time outside. If you have children go outside and play with them, ride bikes, play tag, or hunt for bugs or leaves.

  1. Sit in silence for a short time

I am quite good at talking to God. I have the list of needs, prayer requests of friends, and rote prayers. Stop talking. Be still. Sit in silence and be in His presence. It may be the most efficacious prayer you ever pray.

  1. Practice gratitude

Every day, at least one thing you are grateful for, is articulated to someone else. I am on a text thread where we say what we are grateful for that day. Some days it is as simple as a good night’s sleep, while other times for great joys, college acceptances, healing, or a new baby. Big and small, thank the giver of all gifts.

 

 

 

Can I Be that Teacher?

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He is that one student you feel you can’t reach. He doesn’t want to participate. He thinks no one likes him. You suspect things are difficult in his personal life and he does not seem to realize his own value. He is a lost boy. He has burned through most of his second chances and some seem ready to give up on him. I can’t.

When I was middle school age, I had a teacher who recognized that I was lost. He reached out to me and saw past my sadness. He changed my life. I also had a kind guidance counselor that showed me gentleness and understanding. They didn’t give up on me, so I can’t let go of the hope I have for my student.

It worries me to see someone so young give up on their future, so I am trying to think outside the box. If you are struggling with a student like mine, here are some ideas:

Pray…really pray for that child. Offer small inconveniences for them, make a holy hour or go to an extra Mass for them.

Greet them as if they were the person you most desired to see that day. Often the people who act the least love able are most in need of love.

Consider the surroundings, perhaps the student needs to sit closer to the front of the class; are there smells or sounds distracting the student that need to be reduced or eliminated.

Explore other ways to present the same information. Are there board games or online games that can convey the lessons for that week? Is the student particularly tactile? Would making posters or clay models be an effective way to teach this child? Can movies or songs aid in teaching your student?

Our Faith teaches that EVERY person has dignity and each life is sacred. I know, dear Catechists, that you live by this daily, but we are all human and we struggle with other humans! We need to pray for each other and for ourselves to have the grace to deal with challenging students. God bless you.
Copyright 2016

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Be Merciful – A Retreat

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This post is written in response to a question from one of our readers for a fun retreat for catechists. I willingly took up the opportunity to craft a retreat. I hope it is of use to you.

Since we are currently celebrating the Year of Mercy, it seems appropriate that we form our retreat around the theme of mercy.

Theme: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
Gather: Serve refreshments appropriate to the time of the retreat; have music playing in the background; if your group is large and people do not know each other’s names, provide name tags.
Welcome: The retreat leader should welcome the group and give an overview of the day.
Opening Prayer: Have a prayer space set up with a covered table, crucifix, Bible, flowers, candle, etc. Use items which are meaningful to your group.
Song: Sweep me Away by Kari Jobe
Psalm 136: Have copies of Psalm 136 available for each participant. Separate the group into two groups and pray the Psalm with each group alternately praying two verses. (Click here for handout)
Reflection: How do I see God’s mercy enduring forever?
Prayer: Lord, you are the Father of all mercy. Throughout history you have shown your people how to love and serve you and each other. You gave us the ultimate sign of your mercy in your Son, Jesus. Help us to know your mercy and then to learn to share it with those you ask us to teach. May your mercy flow in us as we grow closer to you this day. We ask for Mary’s intercession as we pray: Hail Mary…

Ice Breakers: These are helpful and important, especially if your group is large or unfamiliar with each other.
Some possible ideas
1. Human Bingo: Make up Bingo cards with one item in each square, people find one person that has that characteristic in the square. Possible squares: married more than 10 years, is wearing boots, speaks a foreign language, loves to cook, has been anointed, has read the entire Bible, goes to daily Mass, has on a medal or crucifix, carries a rosary in their purse or pocket, is on Facebook, etc. The first one to have a signature in each box wins.
2. We’re all connected: one person stands up in front of the group and starts talking about themselves: I’m from New York, my favorite food is steak, I like to sew, etc… As the person is talking, if another person in the group hears something that is also true of them, they get up, link arms and start talking about themselves until another person hears something that is also true of them, gets up, starts talking and so on until everyone has gotten up. When you explain the game remind people to tell unique things about themselves, not your usual I’m a mom, I teach Confirmation class.
3. That’s Me: (I can’t recall if that really is the name of the game) this works with a small group, no more than 12 or so. Each person writes down something very unique about themselves that people cannot tell by being casual friends or acquaintances. I often write that I forgot how to speak English when I was little. Once everyone has written something, they fold the slip of paper and put it in a basket. Pass around the basket, making sure you don’t have your own paper. Each person reads the slip and tries to guess who wrote it.

Break for bathroom/water

Talk: Retreat Leader or other suitable person
Pick a story from the Gospels that focuses on healing and mercy. For me, I’d have to choose between the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and the Healing of the Blind Beggar (Luke 18:35-43). Read the Gospel passage chosen and give an explanation of it. After the explanation, it would be appropriate to give a personal testimony of mercy in your own life. Then, either in pairs or small groups, have each participant tell their own story of mercy.

We want to give people the opportunity to see God’s mercy in our everyday lives. When we see mercy in our own lives and reflect on it, it convicts us and hopefully leads us to share it with others.

Group Activity: Mercy is Falling
Play the song Mercy is Falling for the group. Break up into small groups and give each group a large sheet of paper and markers. Instruct the groups to either make a list of or draw what they see when they think of mercy.
When everyone is finished, have them explain to the whole group what they discovered. Post them around the room.

Break for lunch, allow time for fellowship, going outside weather permitting; come back together and open with a song.

Song: Lord I need You by Matt Maher

Lectio Divina: Luke 6:27-36
Here is an explanation of Lectio Divina from the Religion Teacher. I’ve also included an explanation in the handout. I recommend doing this in small groups, no more than five or six people.

Closing Prayer: Before praying, have each participant write their name on a small slip of paper, fold it and put it in a basket.
Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
After the prayer, have each person take a name from the basket to pray for that person.

Closing: Thank everyone for coming, if a priest or deacon is present have him offer a blessing to the group.

If possible, do the closing prayer in a chapel or in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  This outline is for a retreat without a priest; if you have a priest I’d add opportunities for confession and Mass depending on time constraints.

Copyright 2015, Deanna Bartalini

Learn how to use Web 2.0 tools

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About eighteen months ago I took an online class called Digital Discipleship Boot camp or DDBC.  I wrote about it at New Evangelizers.  Now I am a presenter and coach with the program and would like to encourage you to look into the course and participate in it.  Though I was fairly savvy about social media and how to use it before the course, I enjoyed the class as it exposed me to uses of technology and new forms of media I was not familiar with or in some cases even aware existed.Print

If we are to be a part of the New Evangelization we need to use the tools of the time.  Certainly most of us would agree technology is a tool of our time.  While I do not want to see technology take the place of person to person interaction, it certainly can assist us in reaching those we catechize.  In particular, using technology to reach children and youth, as they are the generation which has grown up with electronic media and technology in unprecedented ways, is most important.

Digital Discipleship Boot Camp is an online program using a combination of live interaction, mentoring, coaching and personal assignments for people at any and all comfort levels in regard to technology.  The topics addressed range from social media, websites and digital storytelling to the International Society for Technology in Education Standards and website copyright rules.

If you are a teacher, catechist, or a religious education director, or you work or volunteer in a parish in any capacity, this course is for you.  I am not exaggerating when I say that anyone who is involved in parish ministry and uses a computer can benefit from this program.  A new group is starting in February and you can find more information at Digital Discipleship, Lifelong Learners in the New Media Age.  You can also learn more about Sr. Caroline Cerveny, who runs the program and is so enthusiastic about being a digital disciple!

If you have any questions, please ask in the comment box or email me at faithformation(at)stedwardpb(dot)com.

Copyright © 2014, Deanna Bartalini

 

Review Terms with Penance Bingo!

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bingoThe attached Penance Bingo Cards and definitions sheet were created by a wonderful catechist, Mary Elise Eckman, who teaches in The Narnia Clubs in New York City. I share them with permission.

Instructions: Read out the definitions as students cross off the term described (or mark them with checkers, dried beans, or buttons). You might also laminate the cards and re-use with wipe-off markers.

Make sure to keep track of the definitions you call out to your students, so you can verify the winner’s card.

Have fun!

Attachments include six different cards and a definitions key: