Category Archives: catechesis and faith formation

October 11, 2012 · 6:58 pm

the year of faith

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the opening session of the Second Vatican Council. It is also the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In order to celebrate these two milestones, Pope Benedict XVI has declared this to be a Year of Faith; beginning today and ending on Christ the King Sunday in 2013. The purpose of the Year of Faith is to re-energize and revitalize the faith of all Catholics. But, how is this to be done?

Christopher Lamb, writing for the Tablet, suggests that the specific focus of diocesan efforts can reflect theological leanings. Some dioceses in England are focusing on the documents of Vatican II, while others are focusing on studying the Catechism. The former is considered more of a liberal approach, while the latter is more traditional or conservative.

It is true, that quoting from the Catechism as a black and white tool for apologetics removes the need for careful discernment of the many grey areas in our lives. Therefore, it becomes a favored means for debating right and wrong for fundamentalists. Apologetics, by nature, is a process of defending the faith. When doing so, official teachings and documents become weapons to debate with rather than resources to dialogue with.

Now, I can already hear my more conservative friends rising up to accuse me of being a cafeteria catholic, picking and choosing what I believe in. No. There are absolute truths of our faith that we are all called to give assent to. Top of the list in the hierarchy of truths is the existence of God, and our Trinitarian belief in three Persons in one God. Some of our other teachings have developed over time. Some are still in the stages of development. Who knows what new questions our world will produce in the next decade that the Church will be called upon to discern?

But, I digress. Many folks have an aversion to the Catechism because of the way it has been used – as a weapon of defense and judgment. But, if you actually read the Catechism you will see that it is filled with quotes and footnotes from scripture, saints, Church Fathers and ecclesial documents…including the documents of the Second Vatican Council. In fact, Vatican II documents have a pride of place in many sections of the Catechism.

So, it does not need to be an either-or issue. Both the Catechism and the Documents of Vatican II are valuable resources in faith formation. But, doctrinal formation is not enough.

Faith formation that focuses just on the head seldom leads to a true conversion of the heart. I have written previously about the need to find a balance between the two extreme catechetical paradigms of rote memorization with little or no understanding, and arts and crafts classes. We need to nourish and nurture both the head and the heart. We need to feel our faith, a faith of the heart, for then it impels us to action. But, we must also know what it is we believe in.

My hope is that this Year of Faith will be an opportunity to truly read the signs of the times, to discern the spiritual needs and yearnings of women and men of today. And, may we not be afraid to revisit the teachings and traditions of our two thousand year history, while seeking new methods for making it relevant and meaningful for modern times.

The news of the gospel is and always will be good. May we find ways worthy of proclaiming it so others may find the joy and passion that comes with the gift of faith.

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October 5, 2011 · 11:08 am

which is worse; a bad catechist or no catechist?

Which is worse; a bad catechist, or no catechist? It`s a question I frequently ask myself. And, yes, I`ve pondered this question with regard to parish priests. And, on both counts, I`ve come to the conclusion that it`s much worse to have a bad catechist (or priest) than no catechist (or priest)!

In our part of the world,(especially in rural parishes) there is a shortage of catechists. As with any job placement, a shortage of candidates doesn`t bode well for the quality pool. The standards are low, or non-existent. Any willing soul is welcomed to fill the position.

Thankfully, we are blessed with some gifted, compassionate women and men who generously give of their time and talents to help with the faith formation of the young people in our parish. But, we also have some who are dragged into the job just to fill the void.

What makes a good or a bad catechist? Being well-formed in the faith should be a basic criterion. But, the reality in some parts of the world finds few adult women and men who have had a formal faith formation themselves. We need to step back and form the adults first, before we can expect them to form the children. On the other hand, many catechetical programs come with well-written catechist manuals. A good catechist will avail herself of the resources so she is well prepared for the class she is to teach. And most dioceses will offer training programs and work-shops for ongoing catechist formation.

So, good formation is important but still does not guarantee a good catechist. Some have the gift and some don`t. It`s sometimes difficult to put your finger on that certain quality that makes some teachers shine, and others fall to the bottom of the barrel. Here are some qualities that I think are important,

  • KINDNESS – You cannot teach young children about the love of God by shouting and barking to them.
  • PERSONAL PRAYER – We come to know God through a personal relationship in prayer. A catechist who is grounded in prayer, will know how to speak naturally about God and the role of God in her life.
  • PERSONAL WITNESS – A catechist needs to be a person of integrity and generous service. This doesn`t mean that `only saints need apply`. Far from it! We need women and men who understand struggling to live the gospel faithfully, and who remain faithful to the struggle.
  • JOYFUL SPIRIT – We cannot be happy all the time, but we must show to children the true joy that God offers to each and every one of them. This is not a shallow joy, but a promise grounded in the deep hope that no matter what, eventually all will be well in God`s loving, providential plan for each of us.
  • CREATIVITY – As with any profession, creativity is a valued gift. It gives a person an openness of mind and heart to discern the needs of those in their care. A creative soul will take the time to ponder the best methods and means to present the message for each place and time.

A friend once shared with me that her young son dreaded going to the weekly catechism class because he was scared of the teacher! She was a zealous soul, constantly correcting the smallest detail of a genuflection or sign of the cross. Catechism classes are not a boot camp. Children come to learn of the love of God not through the mind alone, but by experiencing that same love in action.

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October 4, 2011 · 11:55 am

the trad-lib pendulum in catechetics

My generation of baby-boomers was raised in the heady days after the Second Vatican Council. I am just old enough to remember Latin masses. And, I have a very clear recollection of the Baltimore-style Catechism in my early school years. Our religion classes consisted of memorizing, verbatim, responses to questions. I still remember the first two questions,

Who is God?

God is a Supreme Being. 

Why did God make you?

God made me to love Him and serve Him, in this world and the next. 

This is heady stuff for a six year old! Yup, back in St. Werburgh`s in Chester, England, we began the long journey through the Catechism as soon as we started school. The words SUPREME BEING, for some reason, terrified me. Is this what the fear of God is all about? And `the next world` sounded so eery!

We came to Canada when I was eight years old. The more liberal approach to catechetics was making its way into the parishes. Ours was named after good Pope John XXIII. For a couple of years we used more traditional text-books. Being a voracious reader, I loved these books; especially the ones on the lives of saints and Church history.

Slowly, the books were put aside and the art supplies came out. We were now taught that God was butterflies, and encouraged to express our faith through collages and drawings. We listened to Simon and Garfunkel and discussed the deeper message in their words.

As with most pendulum swings, going to extremes might have its strengths. But it almost always results in weakness for what is left behind and thrown away. We need a good grounding in the teachings of the Church. But, we need to ground it in a faith of the heart otherwise it becomes merely an intellectual activity. We need to tap into our emotions, for our emotions help our souls to soar! But love that is based solely on emotional feelings is bound to fail. We need deeply formed roots; a mind and will to remind us of the roots of our faith and why we believe.

And what about Simon and Garfunkel? I still love the lads. They taught me to seek the wisdom and truth in art and culture; whether it is a top 40`s hit, a symphony, a T.V. show, a witty ad, or a brilliantly done graphic design. God can, and does speaks through all. And, isn`t it good to seek God in the world around us?

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September 29, 2011 · 2:14 pm

carrot before the horse – sacramental preparation

In yesterday`s blog post, I expressed my belief in an inclusive approach to catechetical programs. All children should be welcomed with open arms. Obsessively policing Mass attendance or judging the lifestyle or faithfulness of a family should not be the criteria for admittance into a parish catechetical program.  My favourite gospel scenes are those where Jesus puts the Pharisees in their place, and chows down with the sinners!

But, this open and inclusive approach is challenged in the sacramental preparation years; First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. I struggled with this in my years as a First Communion catechist. I hated the “carrot before the horse” mentality of sacramental preparation. A long list of requirements was given to parents at the beginning of the year. If these requirements were not met, then the child would be refused the sacraments. I was stuck in the middle of many power struggles between priest and parents.

There is one case that remains burned in my memory. A mother had refused to take the child to Sunday mass all year, and was locked in a battle of wills with the pastor. She had been told that her son could not receive the Eucharist at this time, but she defiantly dropped him off for our last class before First Communion Sunday. Her son was a wonderful, sweet boy and a good student. He knew nothing of the battle going on behind his back. I had to hide my fury and pretend all was well, while building up the excitement for the rest of the class.

The pastor was the kind that was always ready for a fight, but his stance was not unique. Friends from other parts of the world have described priests who demand to see a bulletin from a visiting parish if you do not show up in your home church on a Sunday morning! A subsequent pastor in our parish had the Catechetical Director handing out attendance tickets at the end of mass to all the students. These were to be handed to their Catechism teacher at the next class. What a sad state of affairs. What an inhospitable welcome into our worshipping community.

Catechist’s have a difficult job already. Policing a child`s church attendance shouldn`t be part of their job description. It especially embarrasses the younger children who depend on their parents to get them to church. They shouldn`t have to squirm in their seats, mumbling out some excuse or another in front of teacher and class-mates.

On the other hand, many parents do not understand the connection between catechism classes and attending mass. We must seek better ways to encourage participation in our Sunday liturgies. Threats seldom work. With the First Communion parents I tried to explain it in this way…would you send your child for swimming lessons without ever letting them set foot in a swimming pool? How can we teach them about the Eucharist if they never attend mass?

When a parent has their child baptized, they promise to raise them in the faith. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes a church community to form them in the faith. But the primary responsibility lies in the domestic church of the family. Parents are number one! Not the pastor, and not the catechist. The parish catechetical program cannot be a magic dispenser of faith. God can work miracles, but God works best with our cooperation and collaboration!

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September 28, 2011 · 5:00 pm

teaching the faith – who`s responsible?

The family is supposed to be the primary educator of the faith. In his 1979 Apostolic Exhortation, Catechesi Tradendae (Catechesis in our Time), John Paul II stresses that it is within the ecclesia domestica, or domestic church, that children are formed in their faith. When I first read this, I interpreted it as a wonderful shout-out to the subsidiarity of the family unit. In a church that too often thinks in hierarchical terms, here`s an example of Mom and Dad coming out on top! Do you hear that, Father?!

Of course, all families do not accept or embrace this responsibility of primary educators; whether in secular or religious education. It’s easier to pass the buck to the ‘professional’ teachers, even if those teachers are ill-equipped or under-qualified volunteers.

Formation in the faith is more than memorizing dogma and prayers for one hour a week. It requires being immersed in your faith, allowing it to weave into your daily life. The sacramental spirituality of Catholicism encourages us to put flesh on our beliefs through meaningful routines and ritual actions.

Crucifixes on our walls and around our necks remind us that our darkest worries can be raised in hope-filled prayer. Statues and pictures of Mary and the saints remind us that we have friends standing by to pray with us and pray for us. Praying as a family answers the summons of ‘where two or more are gathered in my name’. Collecting pennies from our Lenten sacrifices connects us to social justice actions around the world, with a preferential option for the poor. And we gather as the Body of Christ to celebrate the Eucharist; the source and summit of our faith.

But what about the child who comes to the parish catechism class with little or no exposure to their faith? What about the child who seldom sets foot in a church? Where does a catechist begin? What would Jesus do?

We know what Jesus would do. He would welcome all the little ones with open arms, without judgment. And this is what a good catechist would do. If the one hour a week of parish catechism classes is all the faith formation that a child will receive, then the catechist will try to make the best of that hour. And let God do the rest.

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September 27, 2011 · 6:00 am

the best and worst of times; my life as a parish catechist

When my children were young, I put my heart and soul into our parish catechetical program. I was in the midst of studies myself, and on fire with a desire to teach the Catholic faith. There were no paid positions in our rural parish, but I willingly put in many volunteer hours preparing children for Sacraments and facilitating adult faith formation sessions. I had found my calling. In many ways, it was the best of times.

Unfortunately, our parish and diocese was in the midst of a sadly dysfunctional situation with our priest and bishop of the time. Heads were rolling. Priests and laity were being dismissed, often without explanation. Lines were being drawn in the sand. Folks sucked it up, grumbled and stayed. Or, they spoke out and quickly found themselves on the other side of the church door. I was in the latter group. It truly was the worst of times.

I learned several lessons about church politics from this experience. My priest friends, who were skittishly looking over their own shoulders at the time, were not willing to stand up for me. They offered a shoulder to cry on and affirmed the injustice that had been done, but that was the extent of their help. I was left alone. But when two of their own were unceremoniously removed from the diocese, we lay folks were expected to raise our voices in loud protest and support!

I also learned that each parish has a small flock of obedient sheep that will continue to do the pastor`s bidding regardless of the extent of his nastiness. They will commiserate and grumble loudly about the injustices being committed, but never directly to the priest. Their silent acquiescence is interpreted as support, and enables the bad behaviour to continue.

Several priests have come and gone in our parish since then. I had one more `best of times` experience facilitating the RCIA program. The pastor at the time affirmed and empowered us in our work. It was a refreshing interlude, but only lasted as long as his time in the parish. His successor was another over-controlling, micro-manager and I wasn`t ready to join his ranks of minions.

What is my involvement in parish catechetics today? Zilch! Sadly, my roller coaster experience sucked all my energy and passion. I no longer feel called to parish work. It took a long time, but I`ve finally made my peace with it.

I`m sharing this story in the spirit of disclosure. Yes, my experience left me scarred and more than a little embittered. It has also given me the perspective of both an insider and outsider. Our parish catechetical programs have their shining moments, and faith-filled and committed catechists provide the brightest lights. But there are weaknesses that need to be addressed with honesty, creativity and collaboration. And so, this discussion will continue….

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September 26, 2011 · 4:30 pm

cheers for parish catechists!

A National Catholic Reporter article is, yet again, my inspiration for a post; actually a series of posts. Heidi Schlumpf gives a much needed shout-out to catechists and DRE’s (Directors of Religious Education) in Unsung (and underpaid) heroes of the parish.  She praises those (mostly) women and (few) men who generously give their time to help form our children in the faith. She describes the many challenges faced; over-worked and under-paid DRE’s, under-qualified teachers, demanding priests and uncooperative parents. The article is a good opportunity to ponder catechetical experiences in your own part of the world.

The next few blogs will focus on various aspects and issues within parish catechetical programs. Of course, my own sharing is but one view and one experience. Keeping with the goal of this blog, I hope that it will open up a much needed dialogue on this important task.

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