Comments on: Online Retreat for Catechists – Week 6: Missionary Zeal

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:03:30 +0000

Pithy post, Henry.
It’s funny how nice it is to have the summer off, but also good to be teaching during the rest of the year.
It’s hard to imagine not catechizing….one of the best ways I can be a conduit of the Holy Spirit.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:55:35 +0000

Henry, thanks for sharing your great story about the 3 E’s…what a great idea. You’re so right about the fire becoming unquenchable….the sure sign of a true vocation. I’m glad that the retreat, etc. have been good resources for you.

By: Henry

Henry — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:22:10 +0000

I haven’t been a catechist for very long (4 years), and I’ve sometimes asked myself (and God) why I continue to do this (especially after a rough night of class, teaching first fifth graders, soon to be 8th graders, my daughter included). But, it’s amazing how, once I begin to prepare the next class, that “fire” begins to burn in me, and I get all enthusiastic and can’t wait to get to the next class. I have kicked off each year with a very brief speech (borrowed from ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale) where I encourage my students to remember the “3 E’s” throughout their lives, and to apply them to whatever it is they are involved with at the moment. The “3E’s” are Energy, Enthusiasm, and Excitement. If they can remember to apply those to any endeavor they may take on (including religious ed class), they will get so much more out of that endeavor, and it will have so much more meaning for them. I often use that as motivation for myself. And it has already proven to be quite rewarding! Whenever we are asked to “double up” with another class whose catechist is absent for the evening, at least half of my class volunteers to tell our temporary classmates the “3E’s” story!
And, as more time goes by, I find that the “fire” I feel in my heart to help spread Jesus’ Good News is unquenchable. And, as a previous comment stated, one of my goals is to insure that these young students are getting the “real” facts about our faith, not some distortions or misinformation that might be found in the mainstream media. And I also pledge to continually increase my knowledge and understanding of those truths by my own constant education. This website, Joe’s blog, and his publications have already been a great source of knowledge in the brief time I’ve been aware of them. So thank you again Joe for hosting this online retreat which will serve a great purpose, not only for these past few weeks, but well into the future!

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:32:15 +0000

I have often thought Catechists as missionaries. The reason for this is, in a lot of cases for our children , we are the face of our Church, of Jesus goodness and for the peace and harmony that alot of the kids need and don’t receive any where else but through us , one hour a week ..
Most of my kids do not go to Mass and do not receive much instruction at home, and usually the kids are quite receptive, when they get settled into the year and realize why their family drops them off for the hour.
Thanks for the scripture reading above , its really wonderful ..

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:13:10 +0000

Great post….you are right, to see the kids understand the whys and hows of faith is a terrific encouragement to any catechist. Funny I didn’t think of it that way myself, because after every class I come home pumped up & tell my wife what amazing thing one or more of my students observed/ concluded/ asked/ understood.

When the kids are engaged they are capable of greatness.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:52:30 +0000

Nancy, I guess the trick for us is to keep the zeal at a 10 during the teaching year, eh?

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:05:08 +0000

At this point in the summer, my missionary zeal is about a 10. ( Isn’t it funny that at the end of the school year, our excitement level goes way down, not because we don’t enjoy what we do or the students we work with, but quite honestly, we are tired and worn out). Thanks, Joe, for this opportunity to connect with other catechists. This online retreat has been the “shot in the arm” that I needed before the upcoming school year. I have long felt a calling to be a teacher/catechist, but now I have a renewed excitement and stronger commitment. I really think that it’s important for us to have enthusiasm if we expect to reach our students. If we’re not excited about our faith and our relationship with God, how can we convince our students? I do think authenticity goes hand-in-hand with missionary zeal;kids have to believe that our faith is genuine too.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:39:04 +0000

Greg, thanks so much for your kind words…this really means a lot to me and inspires me to greater zeal!

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:31:13 +0000

What increases my missionary zeal? My students certainly do as they validate what I’m trying to do in teaching them about our faith. But, ironically, fellow catechests sometimes increase my missionary zeal as well. I can get frustrated listening to fellow catechists complain about our religious ed programs saying that the protestants are so much better at entertaining the kids and drawing them in. That may be true, but for me (and this where my zeal takes an uptick), I try to explain that OUR enthusiasm (as catechists) about the sacraments and the Catholic church are what our students can pick up on. We should be trying to teach foundations that our students can keep coming back to, not just entertaining short term ideas that will kill an hour of class time. I know sooo many cradle Catholics that have come back to the faith because of the foundations they were given when they were younger. And I mean no offense, but the grass isn’t always greener on the protestant side of the fence.

As far as people I’ve met that have missionary zeal. Actually, it’s people like Joe P. (our catechist blogger and retreat master) or my DRE. I’ve picked up on a pattern in listening to people like this in that they don’t seem to get rattled by those who insist that the sky is falling because something (or someone) doesn’t go our way. I read a lot of Catholic / Faith oriented media and, much like those in the political arena, there are a lot of people with strong opinions. But in following this blog, for example, or by listening to someone like my DRE, I’ve learned that holding true to the “center” of our Faith, really keeps me on track.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:44:49 +0000

God bless you on your retreats….and your re-energizing yourself….the Holy Spirit is waiting for you….remember us in your prayers.