Today we hear a lot about people demanding their rights! Fortunately, we live in a country that guarantees those rights according to the Constitution.
If there were a “catechist’s bill of rights,” one of those rights would be training and formation and I wish that more catechists would speak up, demanding this right. I’ll never forget my friend Brian Lemoi, Director of the Catechetical Office in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FLA, telling me that, when it comes to catechist formation and training, “we owe it to them!”
Recently I received an email from a new catechist pleading for help because she was recruited as a catechist and then told that she had to submit detailed lesson plans and homework assigments a week before class so that they could be posted on the parish religious education Web site for parents to access. I have no problem with that – it sounds like a good plan. Unfortunately, the DRE neglected to provide training for catechists on how to prepare a lesson plan! This poor catechist is now totally demoralized and thinking of quitting.
We owe it to them!
Catechists, if you have not received training, support, and formation to fulfill your call to serve as a catechist, you should “demand it” from your catechetical leader, pastor, and/or diocese. If they cannot provide you with hands on training and formation, they should at least point you in the right direction where you can find it. Do not be shy about asking for the help that is owed to you. You have a right to training and formation!
Amen to both responses…I took a break this year after teaching 1-2 classes per year for the past 6 years because we had no support at our parish. I saw the RE Director 2x in 2 years…at the opener session for each year. I got disheartened and did not feel supported in the ministry. You get tired and need the occasional bit of encouragement or ideas to vary your style and make the class more fun! We are lay people who are not trained teachers and have jobs and families in addition to our call to teach the faith. We don’t have tons of time to write lesson plans and research various teaching styles/activities for the classroom.
Thanks for you comments, Liz. Sorry this was your experience and unfortunately, it’s all too familiar. I’m not trying to dump on DREs because many of them are not supported by their pastor or diocese. It is a systemic problem that the Church needs to work on.
Wow. I was never shown how to create a lesson plan, take attendance or assign homework. Thank goodness I read Joe’s book the summer before I began teaching!
My DRE generally doesn’t talk to us unless we have done something wrong, in which case she will let us know, right before or after class, in the hallway or wherever. This year I am teaching several classes and I’m already thinking I bit off more than I can chew.
As for formation opportunities, my diocese offers classes online and in classrooms and they are helpful. But my parish seems not to care much about it. They never discuss it and do not recognize catechists who complete all the courses needed for certification; I know because I have done so.
But preach I shall, in season and out of season…. for the love of Jesus and those teens and tweens headed towards confirmation!
God bless you Joe.
You GO, DJ!!!
What I’ve started to do with my Catechist team is before we begin a new course (we do a three year rotation of two semester courses for junior high) I hold a formation day for them and any parents or adults interested in joining us. It runs from 9-12 and there are a total of five workshops: three in person and two will be recorded and posted online for the team and adults to watch when time permits. The first one is coming up in January on Social Justice!
Great idea, Jared.