Time to take stock!
You’re halfway through. How’s it going?
Photo from Photos.comHere you are in the middle of the year and perhaps feeling discouraged about your teaching efforts so far. You might even be asking, "Is any of this worth it?" and "What am I really accomplishing?" If you are struggling with these questions, this is a good time to review those intentions you made last fall.
• Are you keeping your time for personal prayer?
• Have you been meeting with seasoned catechists for guidance and support?
• Have you been attending catechetical and adult faith formation?
• Have you been consistently using effective classroom management techniques?
• Are you keeping your time for regular lesson preparation?
If you are on target with all or even some of these, great! If not, you may be encountering some of the following midyear situations.
1. Unrealistic expectations
You may know in your heart that catechesis is a lifelong process, but in fact you expect those you teach to grasp it all. Remember that your lessons are only year-long. You may have dreamed of enthusiastic children arriving to catechesis in the fall and hoped by now there would be a depth to their hunger. But sometimes children don't grow spiritually in a linear fashion. More often, they lack the skills to understand or reflect on their growing faith, so you just don't see that much growth in them.
How many adults have told stories of going through religious education where "nothing" happened and then were suddenly struck by faith later in life? 'Those years of RE weren't nothing, they were preparing for that ah-ha moment. Without the preparation, the moment would have been missed. Remember, just because you don't see growth in faith, that doesn't mean it's not there.
2. Boredom
I often find myself bored by the middle of the year, and so are the kids. I made out my calendar of lessons, and I had every intention of being creative with each one, but as the year progressed I got busy and I started defaulting to the canned lesson plan.
Doing something completely different helps me break out of the pattern. Look over your upcoming lessons and see if one could be a whole session of games or drama skits. Invite another adult to lead a portion of a lesson, especially someone with personal experience in the lesson topic.
3. Difficult children
Nothing wears me out like children who misbehave. If I get to midyear with behavior problems, it's almost always because I haven't been consistent in good classroom management techniques. After some solid prayer and an intention to love these children, it's time to review good classroom techniques and be consistent.
4. Feeling alone in the work
There have been years when I have felt abandoned by parents or the DRE. Even small struggles can feel huge if it seems like no one cares about your ministry. Often the truth is different; people leave you alone, not because they don't value you, but because they feel you are competent.
Regardless, if you're feeling alone, invite others to be part of the work. Look for ways that parents could be involved by drawing on their unique gifts. I have found that when you name a strength that you have seen and then ask them to use it, they almost always say yes. "You have a wonderful prayer attitude. Would you be willing to a lead a session on prayer?"
5. Spiritual questioning
Sometimes the process of catechizing brings on a period of spiritual questioning. As you go through this process, it can be difficult to say things as if they are certain when you don't feel certain. The questioning can feel like a loss of faith, when instead it is often a growth in faith.
Take a step back and recall that we can never fully understand God. Genuine questioning, rather than certainty, is the strongest indicator of authentic faith. Instead of viewing this period as a sign that you shouldn't be catechizing, use it as an opportunity to inspire the children to deep soul-searching. Jesus said to "follow me," and a lifetime of following means a lifetime of exploring that mystery.
6. Exhaustion
Midyear arrives, and we are exhausted from overcommitment. Take some time to reflect upon all your commitments.
Which ones could you say no to? Which ones don't give you life? Which ones do you want more time for?
Perhaps you could find a partner. When catechists teach in partnership, they almost never burn out at the end of the year. Ask your DRE to look into this with you so that you are not teaching alone.
These moments of re-evaluation can lead to more effective catechesis and a stronger sense of fulfillment. Thank God for the darkness because it leads you to the light!
Mia Crosthwaite is an author, lecturer, and catechist who lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and five children.
She is the author of Goand Do Likewise: Catholic Social Teaching in Action (Twenty-Third Publications
