3 secrets for starting off right

By Amy L. Chapman

Thank you for answering the call to hand on the faith to the children in your parish. It’s no small job, but it can be very rewarding and uplifting. The beginning of your year sets the tone for the entire year, so what can you do to start off with your best foot forward?

Attitude and support
First, hang on to your enthusiasm and lose any trepidation. Your charge is to hold on to the interest, joy, and excite­ment that prompted you to volunteer. Don’t let fear work its way into your classroom. If you are nervous, your stu­dents will sense that; if you are excit­ed, they will sense that, too. It’s better if they are eager for class rather than worried!

Beyond that, remember you have abundant support as you embark on this ministry, whether this is your first year or your tenth. Your catechetical leader is a great resource for you, provid­ing ideas for your lessons and helping you maintain an upbeat attitude. Be in touch with him or her for guidance, reassurance, and encouragement.

Further help can be found in your fellow catechists, who can and should share in your joys and concerns. Meet with them and exchange email address­es and phone numbers so you can communicate whenever you like. An­other way to find support is through print and online resources like RTJ’s Creative Catechist, which provides practical how-to articles and activities, spiritual guidance, and ways to sustain your enthusiasm.

Faith sharing and teaching
A major component of catechesis is formation: You are educating children in the faith. There are many resources that can help you in this regard, and there is always something new to learn. As catechists, you do not sim­ply teach the facts of the faith, you help children develop their faith and live it in their everyday lives. To do this successfully you need to share and model your faith in the class­room. Your catechetical leader, text­book, print and online resources pro­vide you with ways to bring faith alive. Make it your goal during every lesson to discuss how you and the children can live and practice your faith, rather than just reciting and having them memorize lists.

Remember, you have been called to do this, and you already have skills to be an effective catechist. What are you good at? What do you love? Are you artistic, musical, or clever with arts and crafts? If so, play to those strengths. If you have other areas of knowledge and creativity, think about how you can use them in your les­sons. You will have more confidence, and the children will be more excited and engaged if they see that you enjoy and are comfortable with what you are teaching.

Set the tone
Another aspect of your ministry is setting the tone in your teaching space. Good teaching involves creat­ing an atmosphere in which students feel comfortable and open to learn­ing, while at the same time ensur­ing the classroom is well disciplined so that learning can take place. One way to find that balance is to develop a mission statement together. Just make sure it is brief and everyone agrees on the wording. When every­one is aware of the goals and expecta­tions, it is far more likely your class will run smoothly and children will be able to focus more on the lesson than on distractions.

As you embark on your catechetical ministry this year, remember to keep an upbeat attitude, seek out help when you need it, and be attentive to bringing the faith alive in your class. With these things in mind, you will have a success­ful start and a rewarding year!

Writing a mission statement
Mission statements accentuate the positive of what you are trying to accomplish as a group. This can be done with children kindergarten-age and up. First, state who the mission is for. Then, state your goals and include ways that you will accomplish these goals.

Here’s a sample.
2011-2012 mission statement of Ms. Smith’s class
The third grade religious ed children who are part of St. Mary Parish will do our best to learn more about our faith and become closer to Jesus. We will accomplish this through good listening, respect for each other, and a positive attitude.

Amy L. Chapman

Amy L. Chapman is director of faith formation at St. Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She can be reached at chapmaab@bc.edu.