tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216919512961858215.post4516197318401201182..comments2024-01-25T14:28:19.368-05:00Comments on Smaller Manhattans: Cri de Coeurkkollwitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216919512961858215.post-82840086798542046352013-06-30T11:49:25.182-04:002013-06-30T11:49:25.182-04:00I completed the initial phase of Father John Hardo...I completed the initial phase of Father John Hardon's Marian Catechist program thinking that I might become a catechist. God didn't have that in mind for me, however. Still, one of the greatest things for me in taking that program was listening to Father's tapes on all the subjects. If we're going to live the Faith, let alone teach it, we have to keep learning the Faith. That means reading, attending programs like were enumerated in this post, praying, Adoration, retreats, and frequenting the Sacraments. That's the ongoing formation of us as Catholics. This fuels that ardent love for God that all the techniques in the world can't give, although techniques are important in communicating the ardent love.Barb Schoenebergerhttp://www.sufferingwithjoy.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216919512961858215.post-66014954093911942062013-06-16T15:23:11.227-04:002013-06-16T15:23:11.227-04:00Interesting that you bring them up- my 180-day sch...Interesting that you bring them up- my 180-day school year textbook spends a week on the Beatitudes. But of course that's not the same as how individual catechists succeed or fail at teaching the Beatitudes especially given about 30 class meetings per year. That's why even if x is covered in the book, it's valuable for teachers to learn from those who teach x well. kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216919512961858215.post-7010636380553531492013-06-16T13:09:52.130-04:002013-06-16T13:09:52.130-04:00My publicist at Liguori said the religious educato...My publicist at Liguori said the religious educators all seemed to be excited about my new book because it was about the Beatitudes; apparently there isn't much out there on the Beatitudes for kids. I'm way out of the loop on that, so I present that just as a matter of interest.<br /><br />I think you have a good point, though: that feeding your own faith can, should and indeed must be a precursor and an integral part of any training to be a catechist. I like your list of topics.Kathleen Basihttp://www.kathleenbasi.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216919512961858215.post-84472021474561005792013-06-15T23:14:11.641-04:002013-06-15T23:14:11.641-04:00Yes, I'm not the average catechist. But I worr...Yes, I'm not the average catechist. But I worry about the rest. When I go to workshops and schmooze with the others, they are all ok with their textbook (as I am with our series). But they suffer from not knowing how to take that content (which to some extent can provide some faith-formation) and teach it effectively to the kids. So like you say, they fall back on time-fillers. I think if the catechists had more how-to from the likes of that pistol of a middleschool teacher I mentioned, they'd do better. And other stuff like lesson plans, I have seen the model plans with the forms and stuff. But it seems like the catechists again have trouble making the jump from the forms and written advice to a lesson plan that works for them. I've brought my legal-pad ones to workshops, and over lunch shown exactly how I go from the chapter to the legal pad, to the classroom, and how that works great for me. That sort of how-to would be great: a session where a catechist teaches other catechists how to do it, that is, not leaving them to deal with standard forms and procedures, but the testimony of a living person. And who also invites input from the audience on their lesson-plan successes or frustrations.<br /><br />Yes, "the most important tool for catechesis is the catechist, not the book" I expect we agree that they have to depend on the book more early in their vocation than later.<br /><br />"..an example of faith, a storyteller and a leader of prayer are the primary ways church leaders are working with catechists these days." Wow. I am not seeing it in South Carolina.<br /><br />"Most sign up to be a catechist thinking it is just being a teacher." Yes, that's what I thought when I started.<br /><br />"...they are in actuality facilitators of the work of the Holy Spirit, walking in faith with their learners for the span of a single school-year." Yes, I read that sort of thing when I started, but I had to figure out what that would mean in practical terms through my first couple of years in the classroom. I the meantime I was lucky to already have teaching experience. <br /><br /> <br /> kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216919512961858215.post-29879806785061258712013-06-15T22:47:11.967-04:002013-06-15T22:47:11.967-04:00Some good points. I totally get it that presenters...Some good points. I totally get it that presenters for catechists should be authentic and speak from their own experience. I also suspect you are not the average catechist.<br /><br />Authors and publishers of the major textbook series already provide many of the items on your list, so that catechists are guided through lesson planning, activities, age-appropriate presentation of sacraments and doctrine and more. <br /><br />Most catechists I interact with do not seem to be asking to take on those tasks independent of their textbook's wrap-around lesson plan. When they ask for things, our DRE's tell us they mostly want more crafts and videos - presumably to fill up extra time or to change the pace.<br /><br />That being said, the NDC says that the most important tool for catechesis is the catechist, not the book. Forming the person of the catechist to be an example of faith, a storyteller and a leader of prayer are the primary ways church leaders are working with catechists these days. <br /><br />From the perspective of a diocesan leader who helps form catechists I can say it is more true that we need them to be people who have experienced personal conversion, who have a relationship with Christ, and who have an evangelizing spirit. Most sign up to be a catechist thinking it is just being a teacher. Our initial formation stresses that they are in actuality facilitators of the work of the Holy Spirit, walking in faith with their learners for the span of a single school-year. It is more about being an evangelizing faith mentor to the young people than the mechanics of teaching... for which their textbook, other catechists, and their local DRE will be good resources. <br /><br />Not that there should never be instruction in methodology, but it needs to be subordinate to the catechist's own adult formation into a witness for Christ for any of the methodology to be effective.jdonliturgyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15729552755992633453noreply@blogger.com