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formed in faith: Catechetical programs begin in diocesan parishes

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Whether they gather on Sunday mornings or one evening a week, young people in diocesan parishes are beginning their religious education classes. These opportunities to learn about and deepen their faith are an integral part of parish life, especially for those youngsters who do not attend a Catholic school.

Moms, dads, grandparents, young adults — in fact all of the above can be found preparing for class with more than lesson plans to guide their activities.

Because these catechists — people of faith — decided not only to teach their students but also to provide a living example of what it means to be willing to share their faith on a regular basis.

Catechists are generally paid compliments but rarely a salary. Parish leaders rely on volunteers to lead classes and take on the added responsibilities that accompany any successful classroom experience: preparation, additional meetings and usually additional classes themselves for certification.

However, they believe the time they spend in and out of the classroom is worth all of the effort.
When Chris Keeven, director of Family Faith Formation at St. Clare Parish in O’Fallon needed an additional religious education teacher, he turned to parishioner, Robert Cherry, “I just knew he would be good.”
For his part, Cherry said he agreed to take on the additional responsibilities because he “wanted to make a difference.”

Cherry’s attitude is repeated by catechists across the diocese. At St. Mary Parish in Mt. Vernon, catechists welcomed their students to class as Gretchen Morgan, director of Children and Youth Ministries, welcomed students, parents and teachers, answered questions of those same people and participated in the opening prayer for this year.

Morgan said teachers and staff prepare for classes well in advance of the first day.

“Our goal is to reinforce what the parents are teaching at home. They are the children’s first teachers,” Morgan said.
Grandparents also play a pivotal role in faith formation. At St. Boniface Parish in Germantown, grandparents were invited to attend class recently and participate in activities with their grandchildren.

Morgan also said religious education must compete with other activities for the children’s time.
In Mt. Vernon, she said, “sports and dance” are extremely important and popular with the youngsters so they appreciate the time parents and teachers set aside for faith formation.

Pastor, Father John Iffert, said he realizes students sometimes find it difficult to focus on faith formation during the evening after a full day at school.

Although setting aside time to teach or attend class-es can be difficult, “the best part of religious education is seeing children growing in their faith,” Morgan said.

In addition to regular religious education classes, St. Mary’s, like many other diocesan parishes, includes summer Vacation Bible School, a “Kids Club” being instituted this fall, and Bible study for pre-kindergarten-fifth grade.
Because St. Mary’s also has a Catholic school, students in public schools seldom meet their counterparts in the parochial school.

The staffs of both the Catholic school and the faith formation program want to provide opportunities for the two groups to come together to share faith and fun so that they will get to know each other and share the best of both worlds, Morgan said.

Not forgetting their teenagers, the parish also provides service opportunities and mission trips for youth to share their faith and their talents with others less fortunate.

Efforts are made in a variety of settings with all age groups to integrate youth into the parish.

At St. Boniface in Germantown, students have religious education every day beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Germantown’s elementary school which at one time was St. Boniface Catholic School.

Because many of the families in Germantown are Catholic, students begin their day with religious education and at 8:30 a.m. their public school teachers arrive to continue with the rest of the school day.

Six of the catechists are also seniors at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese. Volunteering as catechists has been a tradition at Mater Dei for a number of years and has provided seniors with a way to share their time and their faith with elementary school students.

Religious education director, Evelyn Kuhn, said the cooperative effort between the St. Boniface program and Mater Dei has worked well. “We’ve been very pleased to have them as catechists.”
At the other end of the age spectrum, Hank Wesselmann has been a catechist for more than 20 years. His love of working with the students continues to draw him back to share his time and his faith with the youngsters.