For my birthday, I received a truly unique and clever gift from my brother Al and his wife Kim – a bottle of 7 Deadly Zins wine! I think they saw on my Facebook that I’ve been writing a series on the Seven Deadly Sins for the Chicago Archdiocesan newspaper and thought (rightly) that I would appreciate this gift. It is, of course, a Zinfandel…I’ve yet to taste it…gotta keep that gluttony in check!

I’m told that a DRE at a large parish in Albany, NY, recently gathered a number of catechists in one of their homes and viewed my catechist training webinar on a wide-screen TV (hooked up to the computer) while enjoying wine and cheese! What a great idea! Maybe I’ll ask permission to DELIVER a future webinar while enjoying wine and cheese!

Maybe not.

Last night, we had our opening catechist meeting for the 09-10 catechetical year! It was great to see my fellow 8th grade catechists as well as all of the other catechists and aides who gathered for the evening. There was a palpable sense of excitement and enthusiasm in the air. Here are a few highlights:

• Arlene, our DRE, demonstrated how we can all start our classes by enthroning the Bible. She invited 4 volunteers: one to carry a small Cross, two to carry small candles, and one to carry the Bible. She played a CD of a hymn that we call sang along with as the four processed around the room and then placed the Bible, candles, and Cross on the prayer table.
• The focus of the evening was on how we need to incorporate prayer into our sessions. Needless to say, I was very happy with the direction of the evening!
• Arlene asked a few catechists to share a few thoughts about their vocation – why they became a catechist. Very inspiring to listen to peoples’ stories.
• I have an aide! Last year, we had trouble finding someone to serve as an aide and I often went at it alone. This year, I have Lucy, who is a Mom and a nurse and served as a 7th grade aide last year. I’m thrilled to have another adult in the room with me.
• I have 10 students! 6 boys and 4 girls. I’m picturing my seating chart already: boy-girl-boy-girl-boy-girl-boy-girl-boy-girl-boy!!!
• We begin in less than 2 weeks, with classes starting on Monday, September 14.
• I stopped at CVS on the way home and purchased a number of extra supplies (the parish provides a number of school supplies in a bin that we carry to class…I’m just supplementing as many of us catechists do!)
• In the weeks ahead, I’ll be praying for my students and their families.

Anyone else have an opening catechist meeting to tell us about?

Recently, a very brave catechist, Greg Olson, about to enter his second year as a catechist, spoke at all of his parish’s Sunday Masses to give witness to his vocation as a catechist and to help recruit new catechists. Greg is no stranger to this blog as he shares his thoughts and comments often, especially during this summer’s online retreat. With Greg’s permission, I am sharing his experience of speaking at the Masses. He and I both hope that in doing so, other catechists will find the courage to do the same. Thanks for sharing Greg!

I spoke today at all masses to share my experience as a one-year catechist trying to recruit others. Whew. First of all, I can’t give our pastor and deacons enough credit for being there the whole time on Sunday! Rather demanding. I was terribly nervous to get up and put myself “out there” for others to hear. I am a Lector and I never thought I would say that it is easier to proclaim the Word of God than it is to proclaim the Word of Greg. In the end, all went well.

 

I want to point out something though. I just finished an online course and we read the GDC (General Directory for Catechesis) and in it, it considered the elderly as “a gift to the church”. Now, I consider myself as someone that has historically not appreciated the elderly at Mass. I have slowly been learning though, this past year, that the elderly are quite wise (with age comes wisdom…duh….that phrase is finally starting to have meaning to me). I love the devotion of the elderly that are at daily mass when I can attend…..they also have a lot of insight every time I attend a parish adult faith formation event. Anyway, there were several times today in my speech when I saw some of the “old folks” smiling at me as I was speaking as if they were on cloud-9 that someone young (I’m in my 40’s…..still in denial that I’m aging) was up on the altar promoting the passage of our Faith. Whether they knew it or not, those smiles out in the crowd really calmed my nerves. I came away from today so fulfilled with that image! What a great gift the aged are to our Faith!

 

I continue to be amazed that every time I think I’m really stepping forward for the cause of promoting the Catholic Faith, I end up getting something greater back out of it! Today was no exception! I’d encourage anyone our there to “sing from the mountaintop” whenever they get a chance.

 

Blessings to All.

 

Greg