Catechists explore Gospel teachings
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
Humor, music, skits and hands-on learning were some of the numerous ways catechists learned about how to spread the Gospel in the diocese’s annual Catechetical Congress Nov. 5 in the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway.
More than 500 people had the opportunity to choose from more than 20 workshops, including two for Hispanic-speaking members of the diocese. Presenters included clergy, religious, laity, members of law enforcement and nationally-recognized speakers.
Attendees also had the opportunity to buy items such as books, music and religious items like Rosary beads and statues. Displays of Catholic social justice work, such as the “Called to Serve” class of eighth-graders from St. Bartholomew Parish, East Brunswick, were also available.
The congress began with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel. In his homily, Msgr. Michael J. Corona, diocesan executive director/superintendent, Office of Education, spoke about hope and how we pray for it every time we say, ‘Thy kingdom come,’ from the Lord’s Prayer.
“As catechists we must go and witness to God’s love, not just in the classroom,” Msgr. Corona said. “Being a catechism teacher calls for true love, true sacrifice. Whenever a man or a woman searches for meaning or truth, God is being served. When our children are being given an opportunity to learn about his love, to experience his love, God is being served.”
St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill Sister Sandra DeMasi led the workshops Celebrating Saints and Seasons and Catechesis and Liturgy: Catechesis in a Worshiping Community.
In the latter workshop, she discussed Chapter 5 of the National Directory for Catechesis, which describes the relationship between catechesis and liturgy.
“Liturgy and catechesis are intrinsically linked with the whole liturgical activity for it is in the Liturgy that Jesus Christ worked in fullness for the transformation of human beings,” Sister Sandra said. “What we’re about is not making informed Catholics only, but we’re about being configured into Christ.”
Lori Brower, diocesan chancellor, explored Catholic-Christian themes such as love and free will found in Harry Potter books in the workshop Finding Catholicism in Harry Potter.
“These are books which tell people about how to live and are morally instructive,” Brower said. “The Harry Potter story ultimately tells of the battle between good and evil . . . Harry has free will and is a good boy because of the choices he makes to be good.
“You can look for the good and find it, and you can look for the bad and find it. The same can be said, curiously, for the Bible. If you look for immorality you can find it there, too. But look what we would have lost if we only focused on the questionable passages in the Bible.”
In other workshops, Sara Sharlow, diocesan director, Office of the RCIA, gave a brief overview of the four periods of the RCIA process that has been adapted for children of catechetical age.
Daughter of St. Paul Sister Nancy Usselmann, who served as coordinator of World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, shared insights into a better understanding of the media culture of film in her workshop titled Meeting Jesus at the Movies.
Catechists willingly gave their impressions of the congress.
Judy Pugliese, a member of St. James Parish, Jamesburg, where she has taught religious education to third-graders for eight years, said she enjoys coming to the congress for new ideas offered by both presenters and colleagues.
“I like to teach with the senses, touch and smell,” Pugliese said. She attended the presentation Laughter – the Road to Resiliency by Dr. Rosemarie Poverman. “(I) learned how (laughter) produces endorphins and keeps (children) healthy and interested. It’s nice to be funny once in a while and connect it to the lesson.”
Louise Dougherty, an eighth-grade Confirmation class teacher in Our Lady of Peace Parish, Fords, said she uses hands-on materials such as pita bread and grape juice, to symbolize wine.
Dougherty believes that discipline is an important part of religious education.
“(Children) need the Word of God, so we have them do lessons outside of the curriculum,” she said.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law