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You Just Dont Know How Much You Just Dont Know
by: Carlos A. TorresMost Blessed Sacrament Parish Wakefield,
MA
(as appeared in The Pilot October 22, 2010)
Like most first time catechists, I thought that I must have had
a moment of temporary insanity when Idecided to answer the call to
become a catechist two years ago at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish
inWakefield. I mean, did I seriously think I was qualified to
handle a 6 th grade Religious Education class?
Sure, I went through 12 years of Catholic school, but that ended
nearly two decades ago, so I was pretty
rusty to say the least.
As I started reading the catechist manual and preparing lessons,
I began to appreciate the phrase, you just dont know how much you
just dont know. While I had a fair memory of the basics, this
materialwas much more in depth then I was expecting. It quickly
became apparent that I needed a refresher;after all, I had a
responsibility to provide authentic catechesis to my students and I
didn t want to short
change them, or more selfishly, embarrass myself.
I started by trying to find my own resources to use as a
refresher, and through that search I realized thatthere was a
better way. The Archdiocese offered a number of Catechist
Certification options. They allseemed like good choices, but with
my unpredictable schedule, the online training through the
VirtualLearning Center for Faith Formation (VLCFF) at the
University of Dayton seemed like the most realisticoption.
The beauty of this program is the flexibility that it offers
from a scheduling standpoint. Each course was
5 weeks in length and I had deliverables and discussion topics
due each week; but because it was alldone online, it was completely
up to me whether I submitted my materials at 6PM on a Monday, at
4AMon Wednesday or any other time that was convenient for me
throughout the week. The discussionswere all based on that weeks
material and took place in the course s message boards. The
dialoguebetween students, as well as with the facilitators, was
excellent. Additionally, it validated my ownfeelings about this
ministry because other participants had similar feelings. I was not
alone!
The two required courses that I took through the VLCFF were
Catholic Beliefs and Introduction toCatechesis . The se courses not
only helped me understand what it really meant to be a catechist,
but ithelped strengthen my knowledge of the Churchs teachings
around the use of Scripture and Tradition,including distinguishing
between Tradition and tradition . For example, I came away with
a
completely new appreciation for the Nicene Creed after these
courses.
Beyond the two online courses, the one last step for
certification was to take a course called Roots of our Faith . This
is a course that is offered periodically throughout the year at
parishes within theArchdiocese. The two-hour session was led by
Ceila Sirios, an educator of Catholic Scripture, and NaomiTowvim
from the Jewish Education Bureau. They did a great job of
connecting the Catholic faith to its
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roots found deep in the Jewish faith and tradition. I quickly
began to appreciate how the beauty of theJewish tradition has
impacted our own. Additionally, it helped increase my understanding
of who thevarious groups mentioned in scripture really were and
lastly, it stressed the harmony that exists
between the two faiths in todays society.
Reflecting on my experiences throughout the certification
process, I have a new appreciation for theimportance of catechist
formation. The resources exist, but catechists must choose to take
advantage of them. This process has not only fortified the
catechesis that I received in my youth, but it has helpeddeepen my
faith now as an adult. It s provided me with a strong foundation
for providing authenticcatechesis to the students placed in my
charge. I have to admit, I had the misconception that obtainingthe
certificate was the important part; that it represented how much I
learned and grew. In reality, theknowledge itself and how I ve put
that knowledge and faith to use is what really matters. If you are
acatechist within the Archdiocese and have not gone through the
certification process, I cannotrecommend it enough. If you are like
me, it will just be the beginning of your formation. This fall,
Imtaking Introduction to Prayer at the VLCFF , because like for all
of us, there is so much more to learn.
