by Joe on December 30, 2006
I’m participating in a good discussion about liturgical catechesis at www.catechistconnection.net. Here’s my latest comments on liturgical catechesis in response to someone who defines liturgical catechesis the way I would define lectionary catechesis.
“I think most people use the term lectionary catechesis to refer to what you’re talking about (lessons that flow from the Sunday Scripture readings). From my experience, liturgical catechesis is any form of catechesis that prepares one to celebrate the liturgy more fully. Something as simple as preparing a prayer table for Advent with a purple cloth and an Advent wreath and inviting children to sing the refrain of O Come O Come Emmanuel is a form of liturgical catechesis. Or beginning class by asking the children to trace a cross over their forehead, lips, and heart as together you pray, “May the Word of God be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart” is a form of liturgical catechesis. In other words, any religious education program can incorporate liturgical catechesis into their existing format without having to change the entire curriculum. It is simply a matter of integrating our liturgical life into our catechesis so that we are preparing our young people to participate more fully in the Mass.”
What’s your understanding of liturgical catechesis?
by Joe on December 29, 2006
Be sure to visit Catechist Connection, a forum for catechists by catechists. It is administered by Elizabeth, from Northeastern Illinois, who describes herself in the following way: “I work in a K-5 elementary school part-time as a Media Clerk. I also teach 4th Grade CCD on the side. And yes, for those who are wondering… I’m a cradle Catholic and PROUD to be Catholic!” (go to www.catechistconnection.net).
by Joe on December 29, 2006
In catechesis, we are always inches away from profound issues. Recently, I was collecting some confirmation assignments when one of my students told me that she hadn’t finished hers because “it was a bad week.” She wanted to know if it would be OK with the DRE if she turned in her material the following week. I urged her to be sure to do so. Several more times, she mentioned that “it was a bad week.” Then, after a brief pause, she elaborated: “My father died last week.” In a flash, we had gone from a confirmation assignment to the loss of a parent. Thankfully, I was able to just pause there and spend some time talking with her as she told me about the experience. Then I invited the rest of the class to join in praying for her, her family, and her deceased father. I am grateful that she felt compelled to talk to me about her dad’s death. I can only hope that she felt responded to in a compassionate manner. For all I know, it may be the only thing she remembers about me when all is said and done.
by Joe on December 26, 2006
Working with eighth graders, I find that there seems to be no happy medium when it comes to their energy level. I can have them simply read from the text, which gets boring and makes them lethargic, or I can engage them in activities (my preference), which gets them overly excited and creates discipline problems! Sometimes, I feel like my own worst enemy: I get the kids engaged, and then I’m doing all I can to contain their exuberance. Frankly, I prefer that over lethargy. I would much rather have myself worn out by the end of class than have the kids feeling that religious education is boring. To me, the words boring and gospel are wholly incompatible. It is unacceptable to have young people equate being bored with learning about the Creator of the universe!
by Joe on December 23, 2006
Some weeks, I feel like being a catechist is the greatest gift on earth and that I have influenced the lives of young people in profoundly significant ways. Other weeks, I feel like I’m completely inadequate and that I’m wasting my breath. Suffice it to say, there are ups and downs to being a catechist. What’s your greatest joy in being a catechist? What is the greatest challenge you face as a catechist?
