Eucharist for Catechists – Commissioning

RE
October 2013
Catechist Service Newsletter
Eucharist for Catechists – Commissioning
The Commissioning of Catechists serving the Archdiocese of
Perth took place this year in St Michael the Archangel Chapel,
Leederville on Wednesday August 7, the feast of St Dominic.
Bishop Don Sproxton was the celebrant for the Mass and a
number of Parish Priests came along to show their support.
Altogether there were 230 people who attended the
ceremony. This year, for the first time, the Archdiocesan
Occasional Choir, directed by Chris De Silva, provided
the music.
In his sermon, Bishop Don talked about the need to build
sound relationships with those being catechised and the
importance of allowing time for fun in the learning process.
Bishop Don used the example of St Don Bosco, the founder
of the Salesian Order, who had shown his followers this more
child-centred educational method.
Altogether there was 25 Archdiocesan Catechists and
19 Personal Advocacy Service Catechists commissioned,
29 Archdiocesan Catechists who had completed their Initial
Formation and three who had completed Certificate One.
After Mass, Catechists and their families joined the Bishop for
supper and fellowship.
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From the Coordinator
The Year of Faith is due to finish on
24 November when the current
liturgical year is concluded. Our
Conference Day with Sr Gemma
Simmonds (see conference article), was
organised with the intent of providing
an opportunity to reflect more deeply
on what faith means to us.
A valuable source that we can draw
upon to reflect upon faith, long after
this designated year ends, is the
encyclical Lumen Fidei (The Light of
Faith) issued by Pope Francis on 5 July.
This document completes the trilogy
of encyclicals devoted to what Catholic
tradition calls the theological virtues,
and which include Pope Benedict’s
encyclical on Love (Deus Caritas Est)
and on Hope (Spe Salvi). These
encyclicals are clearly closely related,
just as faith, hope and love are
wonderfully interwoven ‘as the driving
force of the Christian life as it advances
towards full communion with God’.
Lumen Fidei 7
It is good to appreciate that encyclicals
are papal letters, teaching documents,
addressed to the Bishops around the
world and applying timeless truths to
the specific needs of the particular
time. The focus on the fundamentals of
faith, hope and love reminds us of the
profound need in our times to focus on
the simple basics of the Gospel.
Lumen Fidei counters the
contemporary tendency to oppose
faith and reason and then marginalise
faith as religious fantasy and personal
opinion. Attempts to make faith and
reason incompatible or to associate
faith with any form of darkness (as a
‘leap in the dark’ for example) are
rejected. There is an urgent need the
letter says ‘to see once again that Faith
is a light’, one that ‘is capable of
illuminating every aspect of human
existence’. (4)
In Lumen Fidei the most essential
aspect of the faith we confess is
explained as our ‘encounter with the
Living God who calls us and reveals his
love, a love which precedes us and
upon which we can lean for security
and for building our lives’. (4) In this
encounter we participate in Jesus’ own
way of seeing and we are provided
with an accompanying presence, ‘a
lamp which guides our steps in the
night and suffices for the journey even
if all darkness and suffering cannot be
dispelled’. (57)
The letter affirms the ‘We’ of faith: we
can respond as individuals only
because we are part of a greater
fellowship of believers. But our faith is
not inward looking, ‘simply to brighten
the interior of the Church’; it turns us
outwards to build our societies and
provide hope for all humanity: ‘For the
more we became immersed in the
circle of Christ’s light, the more
capable we become of accompanying
the path of every man and woman
towards God.’ (35)
Catechists will resonate with the
letter’s account of handing on the
faith. ‘Faith is passed on, we might say,
by contact, from one person to
another, just as one candle is lighted
from another. Christians, in their
poverty, plant a seed so rich that it
becomes a great tree, capable of filling
the world with fruit.’ (37)
Finally the encyclical focuses on the
essential relationship between faith
and love. Against the danger of
removing belief from the core
intentions of our hearts and the words
and actions that flow from them,
Lumen Fidei asserts another basic:
‘Faith transforms the whole person
precisely to the extent that he or she
becomes open to love.’ (26)
Pina Ford
A Day with Michael Mangan
Forty Catechists and music teachers
experienced a day with Michael
Mangan learning about music in
Liturgy. Everyone found themselves
participating in singing, movement and
the playing of percussion instruments
almost as soon as the workshop began.
Michael has a relaxed style which
engages all who attend.
Michael used his own music to explain
various aspects of Liturgy and
introduced his new album – This We
Believe. The songs on this album are
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catchy, reflective and easy to use for
small or large groups.
In the afternoon session Michael
explained how to use his website
and how to order his music and
songbooks and the copyright
implications. He also has songs and
albums that can be accessed from
the iTunes store online.
Michael will tour WA again in two years
and the Catechist Service will certainly
be bringing him back for another
Liturgical Music workshop. Michael’s
latest CDs and music books are
available on the Michael Mangan
website: www.litmusproductions.com
Commissioning Mass
for Catechists
page 3
Priests’ and Coordinators’ Day
Reflecting upon Duty of Care
pointed out, that we all know that common sense is not
always very common! As for setting duty of care standards,
they are never ‘too high’ or ‘too onerous’, she said, if they are
appropriate and achievable.
A simple and very revealing analogy was drawn for the
participants between duty of care and our efforts to protect
our homes and buildings from fire. We have regulations and
standards, we check and double check them and ensure they
are practised because we have a sense of ownership and we
don’t want our property to be damaged – even if property,
unlike children, is quite replaceable.
To continue the analogy, this does not mean that all fires can
be prevented. It certainly does diminish the risk though – just
as when we try to do everything to practise the best duty of
care possible.
Barbara talked about the best practice to use in relation to
our volunteers. We need to know them well and ensure that
they have current Working with Children Checks. This
requirement is not for anyone under 18 years of age, as while
they may be able to help, they cannot have duty of care for a
child. A safe ratio to work with would be one Catechist to
around eight to ten children.
The location where the children have their lessons and
activities needs to be safe. It needs to be checked and
consideration given to whether there are dangerous items
accessible to the children.
Car park safety
Duty of care
The duty of care of children in the Parish Religious Education
Program is so important that this year we had a second
gathering of Priests and Coordinators in order to address this
together. Our special guests and presenters on this occasion
were Barb Totterdel, a member of the Executive and
Leadership Team of Scripture Union, responsible for ministry
oversight, and Bernard Hill, Legal Counsel for the Catholic
Education Office of WA.
Both presenters confirmed the essential place of care in our
ministries – for the sake of the children, the people around
them and the organisation. ‘Children have a right to be cared
for’, commented Fr Geoff Aldous from Baldivis.
Thinking about duty of care does not come easily to most
people. Familiar obstacles and thought patterns get in the
way: it requires more work; it is ‘too big’ to tackle; it appears
to be all about ‘red tape’; ‘we didn’t have to do it in the past’;
‘things won’t happen here’. Often we can believe quite
genuinely that common sense is enough. But Barbara
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Car park safety was discussed at length, especially on how to
ensure the safety of children during dropping off and picking
up. It was important Barbara said, to think through all the
possible risks and then decide on what rules and boundaries
were needed. For example, there may need to be a
designated place for dropping off or picking up a child; a
requirement that parents come in to leave the child and to
collect them.
Safe ‘hand over’ practices need to be established. How do
you know whether a child has been collected? Do you know
who is permitted to pick up the child? This should be stated
on the child’s form and any changes authorised by the parent/
carer. A signing in and signing out sheet can be used, and/or
a lanyard that can be handed over at the end of the session.
It is also important to clearly communicate the time frame
when a Catechist will be on duty to receive and to hand
over children.
Good judgement needs to be exercised in providing food for
children. All food needs to be handled with gloves and nuts
and products containing them completely avoided.
As part of duty of care, an emergency plan needs to be put
into place. Ask: What if..? What would you do? Think through
a response strategy to a possible accident. It is important that
there is someone who has up-to-date first aid qualifications.
There also needs to be an accessible first aid kit. It is good to
keep an ‘incidents book’ where anything of concern is
recorded, a child falling or hitting their head, for example.
• lower yourself to the child’s level
• blessings on the top of the head are okay
•do not single out children but remain in group situations
Maintaining up-to-date paper work for each child with
contact details, medical issues and allergies and so forth is
part of the love and care we owe children. Paper work should
be stored securely but also easily accessible to the
coordinator. Important information can be communicated to
other Catechists on a ‘need to know’ basis.
Barbara advised that anyone working with children should
look out for signs of physical, sexual or spiritual abuse. They
ought not to ask leading questions, but rather to be a
supportive presence. In case of concern, the Catechist would
inform the Coordinator who may consider it necessary to
inform the Parish Priest. He would then contact the Director
of the Archdiocesan Professional Standards Committee. It is
important to support a Catechist if a child reveals abuse to
them; it is not necessary for other Catechists to be informed.
Added thought would need to be given to any offsite activity.
First the safety of the environment would need to be checked
beforehand. Catechists should avoid giving lifts to children
unless there is express permission from the parent, but they
should still not be in a car alone with a child. It is important
not to take a child to your home or to run activities or social
events in your own home. Permission slips are needed for any
activity that is outside the norm. In off-site situations it is
important that the Catechists are clearly distinguishable to
the children.
Guidelines
Barbara and Bernard in tandem provided a number of
sensible and simple guidelines based on their training and
experience regarding physical contact with children:
• don’t take children to the bathroom alone
• always remain within eyesight of others
• use ‘hi five’ instead of hugs
•don’t initiate touch, but don’t shun children either;
respond and move away
•
•
occasional touch on the back is okay; side hugs are okay
as much as possible.
Warning Signs
In the concluding session Bernard Hill advised that to provide
duty of care we need to take the most pessimistic approach
and ask: What could possibly go wrong? And then consider
what we put in place to prevent that from happening. He also
explained the legal foundations for duty of care. Even where
there is no strict ‘contractual’ arrangement, the law expects
that people will provide care to one another on the basis
of the Scriptural imperative to love one another as we
do ourselves.
Participants were asked to reflect on the information
presented in the light of their own circumstances. They
contributed very useful comments and questions in response.
In particular, they (and all parishes who provide a Religious
Education Program) were asked to consider writing a Duty of
Care Statement or, if they already have one, to see whether it
needed to be revisited.
All participants received a copy of the Australian Catholic
Bishops’ Conference document: Integrity in the Service of the
Church: A Resource Document for Principals and Standards
for Lay Workers in the Catholic Church in Australia.
maintain a distance
page 5
Conference for Catechists
‘You are a people of hope and faith and love; take yourselves seriously, the Church
would be very different without you,’ Sr Gemma Simmonds told participants in her
opening remarks. People today seek faith, hope and love just as they have always
done, she continued, and Catechists are in a prime position to guide them towards
these precious things.
She went on to describe the deep need for meaning, to see beyond our present life
and to understand both our origins, the where from and our purpose, the where to.
She compared the role of the Catechist to being a ‘simultaneous translator’.
Catechists listen into the word of God and speak this in a language that can
be understood.
Sr Gemma reminded the audience that we live in a dispensation of grace, bought
by Jesus. This enables us to live our ordinary life in holiness. But holiness is not
some sort of sacred varnish that we slosh on top. It is there through and through.
There is no aspect of our human reality that is not a holder of the sacred.
Ordinariness is deeply embedded in the sacred.
Sr Gemma further affirmed the role of Catechists when she explained that faith can
be lost in two generations. Evangelisation is necessary to the life of the Church.
Essential to the work of evangelisation is a direct personal experience of Jesus
aided by prayer and participation in the Liturgy. It is sustained through a sense of
belonging experienced in community. It is also sustained through works of justice.
page 6
All these things are needed for a genuine Christian spirituality, which is an
encounter with the living God, not a program of self-help.
In a culture dominated by signs and symbols through which people from a very
early age identify their favourite sporting teams, fast food outlets, and the products
and clubs that claim their loyalty, Sr Gemma asked what signs are we giving? She
pointed the audience in the direction of demonstrating a love for life, all of it, by
recognising its sacramentality. It is possible to say, ‘this too is Eucharist’ even in the
most difficult circumstances, when we know that God is with us at all times.
As Christians we are people of hope. Unlike optimism, hope does not claim that
things will work out well, only that in God everything is already as it should be.
Resurrection is real, not only in death, but in all things.
Catechists must place their trust in God for their work, knowing that there are those
whose faith is known to God alone. In their sincere service to God, Catechists are
blessed to receive in return the very gospel they preach.
Comments from Catechists about Sr Gemma
•Sr Gemma is a gifted person and an experienced teacher, who recognises God
as her teacher. She brought the challenges of the Church to the forefront for
our conversation.
• She told us that we are Catechists not because we are worthy, but because of God’s
grace. She stressed that God has chosen each of us to share our faith and that
everyone belongs to the community of God. She also shared stories in a humorous
way about experiencing the sacraments in the ordinary happenings of life.
page 7
Religious Education
with Children
Catechists were treated to a wonderfully informative day
with Dr Jan Grajczonek from the Australian Catholic
University in Brisbane. Below are some of the ideas that
she presented on the religious education of young
children.
Young children’s spirituality is central to who they are and
who they will become. All children are innately spiritual.
Children’s spirituality is an important aspect of their
wellbeing and wholeness. Each child has a personal
spiritual signature that is comprised of:
•their sense of being loved and feeling secure
•their sense of loving and caring for themselves
•their sense of loving and caring for others
•their sense of loving and caring for the environment
•for some, their sense of God, Creator, or a creative force
in the cosmos.
The key characteristics of children’s spirituality include a
universal search for meaning and identity and a sense of
belonging in relationship with others. It is linked with mystery,
awe and wonder and is an eternal yearning for something
more or beyond ourselves and a desire to be connected with
something larger than our own egos. Whilst it overlaps with
the moral, social and cultural development of a child, it goes
beyond these at a deeper level, raising issues of who an
individual really is, and their place and purpose in the world.
Adams, 2009; Coles, 1990; Eaude, 2005; Hay & Nye, 2006;
Robinson, 1977
Children’s sense of relationship and connectedness can be
nurtured by creating communities of friends, assisting
children to come to know themselves, giving them
opportunities to empathise, modelling with them the
management of conflict peacefully, enabling children to
contribute in discussion, showing them how to care for the
environment, giving them voice and decision-making rights
and developing their reflective thinking skills.
Children’s sense of transcendence can be nurtured by:
•encouraging them to wonder about God and giving them
time and space to be still
•
meditate and pray.
Children’s sense of awareness can be nurtured by:
• raising their awareness of their likes and dislikes
•giving them time and modelling language to reflect on
and express their disappointments and frustrations, their
joys and accomplishments.
Children’s sense mystery can be nurtured by:
• creating an awareness and appreciation of the unknown
•helping them to notice and appreciate beauty
encouraging children’s questions and not
overemphasising facts; stimulating imagination with story,
scripture, gestures and symbols
•wondering with children as they respond to a rich variety
of literature including scripture stories, religious symbols,
artefacts, art works and sculpture.
Children’s sense of value can be nurtured by:
• giving them opportunities to explore religious beliefs
•supporting children’s religious beliefs in ways that are
personal and relevant for them
•giving them time to express their likes, dislikes and
responses to a variety of stimuli
•discussing with them the values developed in children’s
literature including scripture stories, religious symbols,
artefacts, art works and sculpture.
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Encountering the Sacred
This year the course on sacraments ‘Encountering the
Sacred’, was run at St Jude’s Parish in Lynwood/Langford with
15 Catechists and a number of teachers participating. The
course was run over four nights during the Lenten season as
part of the parish’s preparation for Easter.
In this course the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism,
Confirmation and Eucharist are presented and discussed.
The Sacrament of Penance/Reconciliation is also discussed in
the final session.
Discussion also focused on the Early Church and how Baptism
and Confirmation are closely linked.
Special thanks to Linda King, the Catechist Coordinator and
Sheila Desker for their wonderful hospitality and for preparing
the hall.
Gospel of St Mark National eConference
Catechists participated in the replay of the Gospel of St Mark
National eConference at the Newman Siena Centre on
30 May. This one day eConference was conducted as a live
webcast simultaneously across Australia from the Broken Bay
Institute in NSW two weeks earlier.
Participating Catechists enjoyed this great opportunity to get
a better understanding of the Gospel of St Mark presented
by Australian scripture scholar, Fr Francis Moloney SDB and
Sr Michele Connolly RSJ.
The eConference dealt with topics such as the beginning
and the end of Mark’s Gospel, the theology of Mark’s Gospel
– Jesus the Holy One of God and Jesus crucified and raised.
It ended with a discussion panel addressing questions from
those watching across Australia.
The DVD copy of the eConference can be ordered by visiting
the Broken Bay Institute website at http://www.bbi.catholic.
edu.au/ and following the links. Previous eConferences can
also be ordered from this site. The Catholic Library also holds
copies of the eConferences.
The greatly anticipated next eConference, will be on the
Gospel of St John on Tuesday October 29 at the Newman
Siena Centre, one which will be greatly anticipated. If you
wish to participate please register by email catechists@ceo.
wa.edu.au or phone 6380 5335.
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Initial Formation Part One
The first part of training for Catechists on their way to being
commissioned is the Initial Formation Program Part One. This
is a good program for PREP Coordinators, Co-coordinators
and Sacramental Coordinators as well.
The course offers sessions in Catholic Theology, Scripture,
Spirituality and Religious Education conducted by the
Catechist Service and outside presenters.
Karen Hart presented the sacraments and it was very
interesting to hear about all of the sacraments, especially
Holy Orders, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick.
Sr Kerry presented a session on Liturgy which provided useful
insights and resources. She was a magical speaker.
Below are comments from some of the participants.
Michele Purcell presented The Truth will set you free, the
Archdiocesan mandated religious education program for
Catechists. Comments about her work are listed below.
Fr Peter Porteous, who spoke about the Images of God,
Jesus and the Church was my favourite guest presenter. I see
God the way I see myself. It is interesting how different
religions have evolved over time.
‘I enjoyed being able to network with other Catechists.
I learnt a lot about how to teach the sacraments, plan a
lesson, use prayer and quiet time in a lesson and use
resources from the Catholic library.’
Fr Joe Parkinson, who presented moral theology, helped me
understand simple and complicated moral issues and I
enjoyed his teaching style.
‘These sessions also helped me appreciate what school
teachers have to do and how to make a lesson about God
enjoyable for children. Michele gave us a lot of useful
information about how children learn, useful teaching
strategies and tips on how to manage a small group.’
Pina Ford presented the topic of Trinity. This was a great
session which opened the door to the Trinity and Spirituality.
page 10
Working with Children with Disabilities
When referring to the education of children with disabilities,
The General Directory for Catechesis states, ‘Education in the
faith, which involves the family above all else, calls for
personalised and adequate programmes. It should take into
account the findings of pedagogical research. … The
particular demands of this catechesis require a special
competence from Catechists.’ (#189)
This means Catechists need the skills to be able to engage
with children with disabilities and ensure useful learning
experiences for them.
With this in mind, Catechists were treated to a delightful day
with Sue Seeber, a consultant in the Students with Disabilities
Team, at the Newman Siena Centre. Sue presented a number
of strategies for working with children with disabilities. Five
key areas were highlighted: visual learning, using concrete
materials, experiential learning, errorless learning and
accommodating different learning styles.
Sue also pointed out that visual aids, necessary repetition,
meaningful learning experiences and the use of flash cards
were good strategies for all children, not just those with
disabilities. Sue also provided useful information which can
assist in the teaching of children with three specific
disabilities: children with Downs Syndrome, Autism
and ADHD.
Teaching strategies
Below are some teaching strategies which are useful for
teaching children with special needs but to which all children
respond well.
1.Avoid verbal overload irrespective of children’s language
ability. Use short simple direction and phrases. Aid verbal
information with charts and diagrams.
2. Use visual cues and prompts – cards, pictures, photos,
compics, written words, objects, underlining, dot points,
highlighting, finger pointing etc.
3. Provide structure and organisation in environment and
content.
4. Teach in the concrete as much as possible. Use real
objects, flash cards and sentence builders when writing.
5. Teach discrete skills in a hierarchical structure.
6. Prepare students for each change in activity.
7. Use a consistent approach to teaching.
8. Allow time for relaxing activities eg movement times.
Finally Catechists were given the task of making step by step
instruction booklets that would be useful to help a child with
autism participate in making their First Holy Communion or
Confirmation. Sue used a Reconciliation instruction booklet
as a guide for the Catechists. Catechists then shared copies
of what they produced.
page 11
REMINDERS
OF COURSES,
INSERVICES
AND EVENTS
TERM FOUR
For full details of all courses see the Catechist
Formation Program Booklet.
Initial Formation – Part 2
Scripture in the Classroom
DateWednesdays 23 Oct – 13 Nov
(4 weeks)
Time
9.30am – 1.00pm
OR
7.00pm – 9.30pm
Venue
Newman Siena Centre
Facilitator Michele Purcell
AccreditationTowards Commissioning
Children’s Prayer and Spirituality
DateFriday 25 Oct and 1 Nov
(2 weeks)
Time
10.00am – 1.00pm
VenueSt Luke’s Parish
Presenter
Michele Purcell
AccreditationHalf unit Religious Education Cert I/II
eConference: Gospel of John
DateTuesday 29 Oct
Time
9.30am – 2.30pm
Venue
Newman Siena Centre
PresenterStephen Harris
AccreditationHalf unit Scripture Cert I/II
Theology of the Human Person
DateThursdays 31 Oct – 21 Nov
(4 weeks)
Time
7.00pm – 9.30pm
VenueOur Lady of Lourdes Parish
Rockingham
Presenter
Dr Pina Ford
Accreditation Full unit Theology Cert I/II
Religious Education and Technology
DateTuesday 12 Nov
Time
9.30am – 2.30pm
Venue
Newman Siena Centre
PresenterStephen Harris
AccreditationHalf unit Religious Education Cert I/II
Happy Classrooms Good Behaviour
DateWednesday 20 Nov
Time
9.30am – 2.30pm
Venue
Newman Siena Centre
Facilitator
Michele Purcell
AccreditationHalf unit Religious Education Cert I/II
Coordinators’ Network Evening
DateWednesday 27 Nov
Time
6.00pm Mass 6.45pm Dinner
VenueChapel and Dining Room
Catholic Education Centre
page 12
The Trinity:
A Community of Love
This two day course addressed
the most foundational beliefs of
our faith. Indeed the Trinity is not
so much a doctrine amongst
other doctrines but the very
container for all our Christian
beliefs.
Participants began by
considering some of the shared
beliefs of monotheistic faiths,
that is, of those faiths that, like
Christianity, believe in one God.
For Christianity, however,
oneness does not entail that
God is solitary. We profess that
God is a Community of Three.
As we considered the scriptures we realised that they do not contain a
theology of the Trinity, not even in the New Testament. Nonetheless, the
lived experience and the belief of the early Christian community in the
revelation of God in Jesus and of the empowering love of the Spirit,
guided the theological reflections of the early Fathers of the Church.
These reflections culminated after many discussions, arguments,
countering of heresies and refinements, in the 381 Nicene –
Constantinopolitan Creed. This is the same profession of faith we
make today.
Participants in the course were able to briefly see how the Trinity has been
explored in theological writings and works of art throughout the centuries
and in our times. These explorations do not alter our creedal beliefs, nor
do they aim at ‘solving’ the mystery of the Trinity. St Augustine’s anecdote
of comparing his own exploration of the Trinity to a small child on a beach
naively trying to empty the ocean into the little hole he had dug, aptly
shows us the impossibility of containing the infinite God within our human
thoughts. Nonetheless we are drawn as God intends us to be to the
mystery and wonder of who God is.
Augustine, like many in our tradition (Thomas Aquinas, Bernard of
Clairvaux, Hildegard of Bingen and other more contemporary writers and
artists), show us that our explorations and encounters serve to deepen the
mystery of God within us, not to lessen it. In this process we are ourselves
deepened in our knowing, loving and doing. We are especially challenged
to consider our relationships. As the very meaning of our existence is to
share in the community of love that is the Trinity we are obliged to create
communities (marriages, families, classrooms, workplaces, parishes,
nations etc) that reflect the reality that we profess.
CATECHIST SERVICE
Catholic Education Office of Western Australia
50 Ruislip Street, Leederville WA 6007
PO Box 198, Leederville WA 6903
P (08) 6380 5335 F (08) 6380 5350 E catechists@ceo.wa.edu.au
W www.ceo.wa.edu.au Not for NEALS