Formed In Faith

Last Sunday, I had the kids in my faith formation class draw a picture of a Thanksgiving feast at their house. Most drew a table, some food and family and friends gathered around. Then I had them draw a picture of the Mass and nudged them toward drawing a similar scene. We talked about how the altar is a table, as well as a place of sacrifice, and how the food is Jesus and all of mankind is one family.

I was working my way up to the central idea—that “Eucharist” literally means “Thanksgiving.” But the lesson did not really land because most of the kids did not know the word “Eucharist” yet. Also, some of them did not know what “Mass” meant, and some of them did not know what to draw since they were going over to their mom’s new boyfriend’s house for Thanksgiving, and they weren’t sure if he had a table. One child steadfastly insisted that last time he went to Mass they had wine and chicken. The chicken of life.

And, of course, three of the boys were still convulsing on the rug because, during the story portion of class, I had made the tactical error of showing them an illustration of St. Juan Diego in his tilma, and you could sort of see part of his butt. His butt.

Some weeks, my husband says I come home from teaching with my eyes shining and my face alight. This was not one of those weeks.

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An article from PrayTellBlog.

Anthony Ruff conducted the interview for Pray Tell by email. This interview was first published in February, 2019.

Msgr. Richard M. Liddy is Director of the Center for Catholic Studies, Seton Hall University and Former President of the Newman Association of America. He worked on the Birmingham Diocese Historical Commission in preparation for the beatification of John Henry Newman, who is to be canonized a saint this Sunday.

How is the Newman Association of America responding to today’s news?
Members of the Association have been praying for this and working for this for years. I know that this news [of his canonization] fills them with joy. For many years I have dreamed of attending Cardinal Newman’s canonization.

Who was John Henry Newman? 
He was the most well-known teacher and preacher in England in the middle of the 19th century. At the age of 44, in 1845 he became a Roman Catholic, leaving family and friends to join a faith that at the time was poor and despised in England. In 1847 he was ordained a Catholic priest and subsequently wrote a number of classic books, including The Idea of the University, which is still considered the finest book on the nature of the university education. He could be clear and intellectual and at the same time poetic and loving. James Joyce called him the best writer of prose in the English language. He died in 1890, much beloved by the English people. Of him, The Times of London wrote: “Of one thing we may be sure, that the memory of his pure and noble life, untouched by worldliness, unsoured by any trace of fanaticism, will endure, and that whether Rome canonizes him or not he will be canonized in the thoughts of pious people of many creeds in England. The saint and the poet in him will survive.”

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Overview of Catechetical Ministry Part II
Date: Saturday, September 21, 2019
Time:  9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location:  Catholic Education Center
Presenters:   Loueva Moss, Formation Minister, Christ the King and
Debbie Minton, Director of Religious Formation, St. Athanasius
Cost:  $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)
Registration: Register prior to class to insure class availability.  Contact Lynn McDaniel at lmcdaniel@archlou.org or (502) 636-0296, ext. 1267.
Catechist Credit: 3 hours applies toward Associate Level in the content area of Overview of Catechetical Ministry

This course will focus on the catechetical process in passing on the faith, introduce some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Catholic Church, review the process of Catechist Formation, and introduce practical resources from the Office of Faith Formation.

 Teaching Children about the Mass:  A Hands-on Approach
Date: Monday, October 14, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: St. Martha, School Cafeteria
Presenter:  Annette Bergamini, Parish Catechetical Leader, St. Martha
Cost: $10 (check payable to ALMI)
Registration:  Register prior to class to insure class availability.  Contact Lynn McDaniel at lmcdaniel@archlou.org or (502) 636-0296, ext. 1267.
Catechist Credit: 2.5 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of Catechetics

Sometimes in our school children complain about how boring Mass is and question why they need to attend.  Perhaps a more active “hands-on” approach to liturgical catechesis for children might be appropriate.  Annette Bergamini from St. Martha parish will lead school teachers and catechists through a process that has been successful in exciting children about the Mass as they take an active role in planning, preparing, and implementing a “pretend” Mass for classmates and parents.

 Catechist Day:  Lesson Planning 101
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Flaget Center
Presenter: Various Master Catechists and Parish Catechetical Leaders of the Archdiocese
Cost: $15 (includes lunch) ($25 if taking both Catechist Day classes) (check payable to ALMI)
Registration:  Register prior to class to insure class availability.  Contact Lynn McDaniel at <ahref=”mailto:lmcdaniel@archlou.org”>lmcdaniel@archlou.org or (502) 636-0296, Ext. 1267.
Catechist Credit: 2.5 hours applies toward Catechetics

Bring your catechist guide/manual and join others in a small group as you sit with Master Catechists and Parish Catechetical Leaders of the Archdiocese.  In this workshop we will discuss:  how to read your catechetical guide; how to get started when planning a lesson; skipping lessons in your guide; how to adapt the lesson in your guide to suit your classroom; other resources that you may want to use and MORE!

Catechist Day:  Working with Children with Disabilities
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Time: 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Location: Flaget Center
Presenter: Autumn Geraghty, a functional mental disability (FMD) teacher at Ahrens Work Transition Program and former FMD teacher at Fairdale High School
Cost: $15 (includes lunch) ($25 if taking both Catechist Day classes) (check payable to ALMI)
Registration: Register prior to class to insure class availability.  Contact Lynn McDaniel at <ahref=”mailto:lmcdaniel@archlou.org”>lmcdaniel@archlou.org or (502) 636-0296, Ext. 1267.
Catechist Credit: 2.5 hours applies toward Catechetics

This class will discuss the most common disabilities of children and what we as catechists should know while working with them.  What are their challenges?  What are their strengths?  How to be sure we are providing them the best opportunities to grow in their faith.  And MORE!