Glad We Can Help Eachother Out

I received the following email and thought it was worth sharing because it points to the fact that we catechists are finding ways of connecting with one another so that we can better ourselves and become more effective catechists!

Joe – thanks for the site. I just started teaching 13 year olds on
Monday nights – my first time teaching ANYTHING. My father and brother
are both school teachers and when I went to them for advice, thinking
they would have the secrets to dealing with kids this age, the basically
told me how hard it was and that you just have to work through their
behavior.

Searching around the internet for support I was surprised to learn how
little there is out there – how few real ideas are out there (at least
as far as my surfing was concerned) – until I came to your site.
Reading what you write I feel like you’re in there with me in my class
and it all feels so much better. I’m not really at a loss for ideas; my
theology classes at Fordham already inspired in me a love for learning
about God and religion and for exploring my faith. And I have always
felt that there was something missing in how we carry young people
across the threshold from childhood’s “Jesus is my friend” to a serious
attempt at coming to terms with God in their lives and what it all means
in real and practical terms. So the challenge compels me and the kids,
for all their obnoxiousness, are all just so bright and passionate about
life. But in those moments after class, alone and cleaning up after
them, sometimes (oftentimes) it’s just so discouraging. Your site has
helped me through those times.

I hope I can continue to be of help and I know that so many of you are of great help to me. Thanks!

About Joe Paprocki 2757 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*