What’s Inside My Catechist’s Bag

catechist bag

I teach in a classroom that is in a school that closed a few years ago. While this means I can leave some things at the school, the room is still shared space among two sessions of religious education and a few other groups that use the building during the week. I also like to have my textbook, worksheets, and other learning materials with me when I plan sessions, so aside from the prayer table items and the supplies box provided by our program (pencils, crayons, scissors, paper, and so forth), most of what I use to facilitate sessions I transport with me each week. I have a tote bag for the purpose.

I have a bad habit of not cleaning out my tote bag—which I sometimes laughingly call my catechist’s “bag of tricks”—until right before the next year starts. Only then do I take the time to clean out what I’ve collected over the course of a year. I find the cards I invited the young people to complete on the first day of class, with their names, interests, and questions for the year. I throw out extra copies of notes that I sent to families at the end of the previous year, telling them about the May Crowning. I decide whether to keep unused worksheets that we might use this year or toss them because they likely won’t be brought back for another year.

Cleaning out my catechist’s bag from last year right before I meet my new group gives me an opportunity to consider how I might organize for the new year of faith formation. I make sure that I carry:

  • A binder with my weekly lesson plan sheets and copies of the blackline masters (BLMs) and art print lessons for working with our Finding God curriculum. Some years I type the lesson plans and other years I write them longhand, but I like to keep the entire year’s plan sheets to reference as needed throughout the year. I try to make notes after sessions as to where time may have run out or modifications were needed, which becomes helpful for future planning this year and next. The BLMs make copying materials before class easy.
  • A copy of my student book. I am fortunate to be able to keep a copy of the catechist’s manual at home and have access to another copy at the parish to avoid carrying the heavy but helpful book back and forth. I also like to plan sessions by reviewing the student book first.
  • A pencil bag with writing instruments, index cards, and other small things that I might need for a particular session, such as prayer cards or small prizes for a game.
  • Music and guided reflection CDs for Finding God, so I can preview the materials as I plan sessions.
  • A calendar of readings for the liturgical year. Sometimes if a class runs short, I can reference the calendar to do a brief Scripture study activity with the group in advance of the next Sunday.
  • A calendar of the catechetical year, to know when special events might be happening, such as a prayer service or parent meeting, and to remind young people of holiday schedules.
  • A small stress-relief ball that looks like a globe. This comes in handy if I want to lead a discussion or prayer with the technique of tossing a ball to a student to give him the floor and then he can pass it on to the next student so it’s her turn, and so on. Bonus idea: the fact that the ball looks like a globe makes it a great visual aid when we do a session on care for Creation.
  • Liturgically-colored prayer cloths when it’s time to switch them out each season or other seasonal materials as appropriate, such as materials for the Advent Prayer Grab Bag.
  • Other materials as needed throughout the year that won’t stay in the bag for more than a week, because they are only needed for a specific activity or demonstration.

What do you carry with you to each session to be prepared and to help you stay organized? Are there ways you might resolve to be a better-organized catechist this year?

About Denise Gorss 116 Articles
Denise Gorss is a catechist with more than 20 years experience, mostly in junior high. She appreciates the gifts of Ignatian spirituality and likes sharing various types of prayer with the young people in her groups. She enjoys seeing the world on pilgrimages and lives in the Chicago area, where she works as Web Editor at Loyola Press.

6 Comments on What’s Inside My Catechist’s Bag

  1. Hello, I love this. It’s nice to see what others bring into their CCD classes! Can you please tell me where I can purchase liturgical colored prayer cloths? I have been searching everywhere and just can not find.
    Thank you kindly!

    • Adele,
      I have used purple and green felt that I bought on a bolt at a fabric store. It’s at least a yard wide and you can buy whatever length you want with no hemming needed. If you sew or use iron-on hem tape you can choose other types of fabric. A smaller white lace fabric can be used on top of the felt to make it a bit “dressier.”
      God bless!
      Colleen

    • Hi Adele,

      Thanks for reading. I got my prayer cloths on a remnant table at the local fabric store. You could also use tablecloths or even placemats. Have a great year!

      Denise

    • Adele,

      You can also just buy the felt squares in the colors that you need. I have my own cloths that I have made but our PSR office supplies our cabinets with the Liturgical colored felt squares for everyone to use.

      Pam

  2. I also have a generic cloth that looks like crosses that I also use. It was a reminant from an old piece of drapery I cut to size. I also have gotten some colored cloths off the bolt and stitched a cross on it from a crosstich pattern. There are many ways to make cloths.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*