I spent a good chunk of Saturday with about 30 catechists at St. Paul the Apostle parish in Gurnee, IL, not far from the Wisconsin border. The catechists were from 3 or 4 parishes within the area and they were there for a catechist certification module on the theological foundations of catechesis (10 hours, spread over 2 Saturdays). We had a very productive day, looking at the vocation of the catechist, the ministry of catechesis, and a variety of teaching techniques, especially lesson planning, selecting activities, and preparing the learning environment. We had a very nice mix of people with little to no experience as a catechist to some with 10, 20, and even 30 years experience! That always makes for some great small-group discussions, where the more experienced catechists can share their wisdom with the “newcomers.” So, a big “shout out” to all the folks I met up in Gurnee on Saturday and I hope you enjoy your next session on June 21 with my co-facilitator, Colleen Walery!