Many of us catechists are either finished or close to wrapping up the “year” in religious education. This is a good time to reflect on this past year, asking the Lord to help us learn and grow from the experience. Here is a reflection you may want to use to review your past year. (I’ve written it in such a way that it is best read aloud by an individual who is leading others in the reflection, however, it can also be used in private with minor adaptations).

We often tell our learners to use their imaginations. Now it’s your turn. Use your imagination to reflect on this past year as a catechist.  (Pause.)

First, find a position that feels most comfortable to you. (Pause.) If you like, close your eyes. (Pause.) Now relax your entire body—your neck . . . your shoulders . . . your arms . . . your legs. (Pause.) Feel all the tension flowing out of your body, into the air and away. (Pause.) Now be very still and listen to the rhythm of your breathing. Listen. (Pause.) Feel your breath go in and out, in and out, in and out. (Pause.) Now let’s begin. (Pause.)

In your imagination see yourself in the place where you’ve been teaching this past year. (Pause.) Imagine that you are there all alone, slowly walking about the room, recalling the times that you were teaching. (Pause.) Imagine that you can hear the echoes and see the shadows of the experiences you shared with your participants over the weeks and months. (Pause.)

Imagine that in the midst of this remembering, Jesus enters the room. As he comes in, you go to meet him. He’s obviously glad to see you. Listen to him tell you how glad he is to be with you. (Pause.)

Jesus asks you what you were just doing. Tell him that you’ve been thinking about this past year and your service as a catechist.

Listen as Jesus thanks you for being his disciple and for sharing his Good News with others. (Pause)

Jesus asks you, “What moments in your teaching this past year do you feel best about?” (Pause) Take some time to recall these moments and share them with Jesus. Tell him why these moments were special. (Pause)

Tell Jesus what you are most thankful for as you recall this past year. (Pause)

Jesus asks you, “What were your biggest struggles this year?” (Pause) Take some time to share with Jesus what you struggled with. (Pause) Listen as Jesus responds. (Pause)

Talk to Jesus about specific individuals in your group. Tell him about the gifts you recognize in them. Tell him what special needs some of them have that you are concerned about and how you tried to reach them. (Pause)

Jesus asks you how you are doing with your own faith life. Talk to him about where you feel your relationship with him is at this point in your life. (Pause)

Ask Jesus for the grace to grow closer to him. (Pause)

Jesus asks you if you will consider serving as a catechist again. Thank him for this special invitation and calling and talk to him about how you would like to respond at this time. (Pause)

If you feel ready to respond to this call, tell Jesus what specific help you will need to grow as a catechist in the coming year. (Pause)

If you are not ready to return as a catechist, ask Jesus for his help in discerning how you can best use your gifts to serve others. (Pause) Listen as Jesus speaks to you. (Pause)

Jesus reminds you that the Holy Spirit is always with you to guide you.(Pause.)

You’ve discussed a lot with Jesus already, so now just rest in his love. Words are no longer needed. Be still together. Know how much he cares for you. (Pause.)

You recognize that it’s time to go now. Thank Jesus for the gift of this past year and for this time you just spent together. (Pause.)

Gradually bring yourself back from your reflection.(Pause.)

End this prayer time by giving praise to the Trinity: “Glory be to the Father…”

At some point in the life of every catechist, someone will ask, “Why do I have to go to confession to a priest? Why can’t I just talk to God in my heart and ask him for forgiveness?”

Well, a new phenomenon is begging this question. I read that “confession websites” are becoming all the rage…places where people can anonymously post their sins (and, of course, read about the sins of others). The hope is that, by sharing one’s sins anonymously in cyberspace, one will experience some degree of healing.

Although the word “confession” is most often associated with Catholicism, these confessional websites are not Catholic. So what’s going on here? People seem to feel a need to articulate their sinfulness to others, even if done anonymously. Some people see this as a catalyst to have people open up to others whom they have hurt. The host of one such site says that “it is easier to tell the truth in complete anonymity.”

If this is helping some people to come to terms with the truth, that’s nice. However, from a Catholic viewpoint, here are some problems:

1. Although anonymity can make it easier for some to tell the truth, it also can delude us from the truth. It is easier to live in denial unless we name the sin to another human being.
2. Anonymity does not recognize the true social nature of sin. No sin is truly private. Even if shared anonymously with millions of people, in essence, the sin remains private.
3. The wisdom of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is that sin, in order to be truly healed, must be named to at least one other human being, namely, to a priest. This is the same wisdom that forms the foundation of all Twelve-Step programs.
4. Naming the sin is only half of the story. Receiving absolution is what truly heals. In the Sacrament of Penance, we hear the priest say the words of forgiveness and absolution.
5. Sacraments are always about what God is doing. “Confessional websites” are strictly about what we do. Again, that may be a good step for some people to take, but the main point is being missed: forgiveness comes from God through Jesus Christ. Our naming of the sin is in response to the loving invitation that comes from Jesus to turn our lives over to him.
6. Finally, the anonymity of confessional websites removes the sacramental nature of forgiveness that is present in the Catholic Tradition. What makes Penance and Reconcilation “sacramental?”

• The sign value of articulating the sin to a human being and asking for forgiveness
• The sign value of the priest representing Jesus and the Church
• The sign value of the words of absolution being spoken aloud
• The sign value of penance being performed afterwards

All of these things make Jesus’ forgiveness a tangible reality in the life of the penitent. Most importantly, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation reminds us that true healing and forgiveness come from God. We cannot earn it on our own. The “danger” of confessional websites is the implicit message that we can heal ourselves.

The popularity of confessional websites shows that many people are eager to experience healing and forgiveness in their lives. As Catholics, we are blessed to have a means available to us by which we truly experience the healing and forgiveness that can only come from God. As catechists, we are blest to have opportunities to teach others about the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, inviting them to embrace God’s loving invitation to turn away from sin and to enter into a deeper relationship with him.