Become a Catechist
June 13th, 2008 by Joe
Here’s a link to a nice effort by some folks to recruit catechists for their parish:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90OcnKfpURk
Archive for the 'Creative Moments' Category
Summer Intensive R.E.
June 6th, 2008 by Joe
I’m hearing that some parishes are experimenting with a catechetical model that employs a summer intensive religious education program for K-8 (usually 3 weeks) while throughout the year, offering periodic intergenerational events and a weekly children’s liturgy of the Word. Sounds to me like an interesting alternative. This is not to be confused with a Vacation Bible School. it is the formal religious education program taking place in a 3-week intensive model. Instead of having twenty- to twenty-five weekly sessions of 75- to 90-minutes throughout the year (@ 30 hours of formal class time), the summer intensive meets 4 or 5 days a week for 2 or 3 hours, covering about the same amount of class time…about 30 hours. I’d love to hear thoughts, especially from anyone doing this model. Have a great weekend!
A Different Kind of Homework for R.E.
May 23rd, 2008 by Joe
I’m pondering a different kind of homework for my religious education students for next year.
Typically, we think of homework as completing some type of worksheet, writing an essay or a paragraph, or reading a chapter and answering questions.
I’m talking about a different kind of homework: assignments that amount to practicing what we preach. In other words, we hope that what we teach our young people will have an impact on how they live on a daily basis. We are trying to apprentice them into a way of life. Perhaps we can devise assignments that require them to attempt a new “skill” for Christian living with the idea that, on the following week, we could talk about their experience.
What might I be thinking about? Here are some examples based on Catholic social teaching:
- Life and dignity of the human person: Think of someone at school who is often “left out.” Go out of your way to sit with this person at lunch or during recess.
- Call to family, community, and participation: Go out of your way to do a chore at home that will make life easier for your parents and family.
- Rights and responsibilities: Focus on a responsibility that has recently become yours (at home, in school, as part of an extra-curricular activity) and do your best to fulfill it.
- Option for the poor and vulnerable: Select an opportunity this week, either at school or at your parish, to contribute to or participate in efforts to help those who are poor (e.g. a food or clothing drive, Catholic Relief Services, working at the soup kitchen, etc.)
- The dignity of work and the rights of workers: Visit www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/food and find out what FAIR TRADE is all about and come back with one example
- Solidarity - Visit www.hcakids.org to find out about the HOLY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION and come back with a story about children in another country who need our help.
- Care for God’s Creation - Keep a tally of how many items you can recycle in one week (e.g. plastic bottles, glass bottles, newspaper, aluminum cans, and so on)
As much as possible, I’m looking for these ideas to be practical and simple enough for an individual to accomplish on their own without requiring them to “make something” (no posters, etc.) and without repeatedly asking them to give money to causes that address these various needs. Likewise, various categories can be used to inspire the assignments. There can be assignments based on the Beatitudes, the Virtues, the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and much more.
My inspiration for this is Luke 10 in which Jesus sends out the 70 disciples in pairs with a mission to accomplish and then they report back to him. Likewise, in Luke 24, the Emmaus story, the 2 disciples go on to Jerusalem after their encounter with the Risen Christ and they report what they have experienced. I believe that this is an important part of the process of mentoring: assignments are given and then a “report” is given at which time advice can be offered. It is often in the telling of these experiences that the hand of God is recognized in the experience. I think we need to give our young people more experiences!
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Reflecting on the Year
May 2nd, 2008 by Joe
Some of you may recall one of my posts from last year at this time when I shared a meditation for catechists to reflect on their year. Here it is again:
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…”
My Catholic Voice
April 30th, 2008 by Joe
Have you heard of MyCatholicVoice.com? It’s a great new Web site that is kind of like the Catholic YouTube. Here’s what the site says about itself:
Launched in February 2008, MyCatholicVoice is your online Catholic resource for personal inspiration and community ministry.
Designed to capture, organize and share the tradition of the Catholic church for the next millennium, the site features a broad range of current and historical material that speaks most to you.
MyCatholicVoice invites you to…
- …ask questions
- …find inspiration
- …create conversation
- …listen to great music
- …share your thoughts
- …connect with people
- …seek your truth
- …participate in the global Church
- …see beyond the pew
- …explore tradition
- …find your voice
- …visit a safe place online
- …explore what matters most to you
I thought I’d try my hand at MyCatholicVoice, so I uploaded the brief segment that introduces my DVD Welcome to God’s Library: Introducing Catholics to the Bible. Check it out:
http://www.mycatholicvoice.com/media/view/snRY2s
The Pope’s U.S. Visit
April 4th, 2008 by Joe
Some people have been asking me about resources for the Pope’s upcoming U.S. visit (April 15-18). Kids may have questions and this could be a good teaching moment. The U.S. bishops have an official Web site for the papal visit at http://www.uspapalvisit.org/
In particular, there is a link there for teaching resources.
More on JESUS OF NAZARETH
April 1st, 2008 by Joe
Showing a segment of the DVD Jesus of Nazareth worked out beautifully last night.
As I mentioned yesterday, I showed the segment beginning with the Way of the Cross, leading up to the end of the film as the Risen Christ assures his apostles (and us) that he will be with us always. This is about 40 minutes.
I paused the video frequently, pointing out information and asking questions and inviting the young people to ask questions. They indeed had a number of very good questions about Jesus’ death and Resurrection. It made for a very good educational and formative experience. We talked about Nicodemus, Mary Magdelene, the act of crucifixion, the Pharisees, Mary the Mother of Jesus, Veronica who wiped the face of Jesus, the “good thief” (”Dismas”), Jesus crying out “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” the apostle John, Peter’s denial, the Jewish burial customs, and the question of whether or not Jesus could have been “spared” this gruesome death. Kids can get into some heavy stuff, eh?
From there, we went right into a reflective prayer, focusing on the story of the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus. The young people were extremely well-behaved (it helps when 2 of the usual trouble-makers are not present) and prayerful.
Back to Jesus of Nazareth, this is a good way to use video in religious education. Be sure to preview the DVD ahead of time and find points at which to pause it and ask and invite questions. It transforms the young people’s mindset from one of being passively entertained to one of being actively engaged in learning. Jesus of Nazareth is a good resource for catechesis because it is quite faithful to Scripture for the most part and, where it isn’t, it allows you the opportunity to point out what Scripture actually does teach. Our young people are so visually-oriented, it is good to provide them with visuals of the Gospel.
The Angel Sitting on the Stone
March 24th, 2008 by Joe
A very blessed Easter to you all!
My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the Easter Vigil at St. Clement parish on the North side of Chicago. It was a beautiful and moving experience. It was doubly special because a friend and co-worker was being received into the Catholic Church that night.
Fr. Ken Simpson, the pastor, gave an excellent homily. He spoke about what he called “the angel with an attitude” from the Gospel of Matthew (28:1-10) who rolled back the stone and then sat on it. He emphatically made the point that the angel did not roll back the stone to allow Jesus to “escape” the tomb. Rather, the angel rolled back the stone to allow the women to see that there was nothing there for them to see…that Jesus was not to be found there. Instead, the angel tells them to go quickly and tell the others and then to find Jesus in Galilee.
I couldn’t help but think that all of us catechists can look to this “angel with an attitude” for inspiration. Our job is to roll back the stones on the various tombs in which our young people think they will find life. Perched atop the stones of these tombs, we warn them away and instead send them in the direction in which they will encounter the Risen Christ.
May the joy of this Easter season give all of us an attitude of confidence so that we can tell our young people to not fear, to turn away from places of darkness and emptiness, and to go quickly to those places where they will find new life in the Risen Christ!
Amen, Alleluia!!!
Living Stations of the Cross
March 18th, 2008 by Joe
Last night, the 8th graders did the Living Stations of the Cross and they did a beautiful job. They showed a reverence that was very refreshing. 4 of my students had prominent roles: narrator, Simon of Cyrene, Veronica, and one of the women of Jerusalem. I was very proud of them and of all the 8th graders, including the rest of my group that behaved well as part of the assembly. Kudos to our DRE, Arlene, for a job well-done!
My Article in Catechist Magazine
March 12th, 2008 by Joe
Here is a link to my article in Catechist magazine!
The Liturgical Catechist: 10 Ways to Make Your Lessons More Liturgical
