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Catholic teachers, catechists gather oct. 1 for annual conference

Story and photos by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

“Engaging; inspiring; challenging.” Those were some of the words describing the speaker at the annual diocesan education conference Oct. 1 at Holy Trinity Parish in Fairview Heights.

More than 480 Catholic school teachers gathered to hear Father Ronald J. Nuzzie, Ph.D., director of Catholic Leadership Programs in the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

“He delivered a message that was really uplifting,” Sharon Needham, principal at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Belleville, said. “He talked about how the experience of Catholic education creates civically engaged adults; it’s a win-win situation.”

Father Nuzzi also “validated the generosity of Catholic school teachers,” Needham added. He realized when the budget has no more money for materials or supplies, Catholic school teachers often buy them from their own pockets to make sure students don’t miss out.

Before the teachers heard Father Nuzzi’s message about teachers’ roles, the teachers and catechists who attended the conference could browse and buy from venders who brought their wares to the conference.

One of those venders, new to the conference this year, was Julie Orlet-Schoen, who lives in the diocese but practices the social justice component of her faith around the world.

Through a series of visits to Honduras, first when her son went there for his senior service project, Orlet-Schoen and friend, Pam Klekner, have become engaged in assisting the people of Honduras and are now bringing the opportunity for young people of the diocese to partner with the Lenca Indians of Honduras in what Orlet-Schoen calls “You Have the Power.”

She and Klekner debuted the project at the teachers’ conference to show them what the project looks like and explain how teachers can involve their students.

“It’s all about bags,” they said, explaining the Lenca use two basic types of bags, recycling those bags again and again.

The Lenca also make purses and earrings from potato chip bags, which are in short supply in Honduras.

What Orlet-Schoen and Klekner want to do is ask young people to collect potato chip bags which the two women will send to Honduras where Sister Mary Kennedy, SSND works, and the Lenca can turn the bags into small purses and earrings. Then some of the items can be brought back to the States for sale.

The women hope students will also start using recyclable bags themselves if they don’t already.

Right now, Orlet-Schoen and Klekner hope to speak to students about a number of topics, especially about how to weave social justice issues of fair trade and the dignity of work into their daily lives, creating a link with people in another part of the world.

Sales of the recycled bags not only give the Lenca a way to make a living, they also provide the opportunity for them to provide food for their families and an education for their children.

“The Lenca also have dreams of running water and electricity,” Orlet-Schoen said. “It’s a cycle of good,” Orlet-Schoen said.

For more information on the project and how to become involved, please call Orlet-Schoen at The Vineyard at 394-2050.