16 year old religion teacher

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Hey everyone I have a question. I am 16 years old and love to talk about God. Now, would you as parents be happy having a 16 year become your child’s religion teacher? (in a parish not a school)

Second of all does anyone know if parish religion teachers have to have some kind of certificate? I ask this because the teachers at my parish don’t have one.

I remember being in religion class at my parish but I don’t remember ever learning about Jesus’ real presence in the eucharist. That is one reason why I’d be happy to teach children about the Lord as a religion teacher.

Does anyone have a comment or advice?
 
We have some great teens who volunteer with the RE program, they are assistants and bring a great enthusiasm to the class room.

Speak with your DRE!
 
If you feel called to teach in your parish’s program I think that’s great! Talk to the DRE and find out the requirements. Certification might be the ideal, but I think most programs fall short of that.

If the DRE thinks you’re too young to teach alone, perhaps you could assist with one of the classes. Next year you’d have the experience of assisting as well as the desire to teach.

I commend you for wanting to take this step!
 
Plenty of teens at our church have been CCD teachers. It’s not to hard; the parish just has to make sure prevert. I’d teach too, but there is a possibility I may have to move soon.
 
ironman62292 said:
Hey everyone I have a question. I am 16 years old and love to talk about God. Now, would you as parents be happy having a 16 year become your child’s religion teacher? (in a parish not a school)

Second of all does anyone know if parish religion teachers have to have some kind of certificate? I ask this because the teachers at my parish don’t have one.

I remember being in religion class at my parish but I don’t remember ever learning about Jesus’ real presence in the eucharist. That is one reason why I’d be happy to teach children about the Lord as a religion teacher.

Does anyone have a comment or advice?
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I think it depends on the diocese. In our diocese, Catechist are to be certified or working toward certification. I am one of a few certified Catechists in our parish but the diocese does not make this easy. We are in the farthest corner of the diocese and the classes are mostly downtown and at night. 😦 So most of our Catechists are working toward certification very slowly.

Again, speaking for my own diocese, I doubt you can be a lead teacher at 16. All catechists must go through Virtus and a background check which requires you to be at least 18.

Many parishes start new Catechists off as aides working in a class with a more experienced Catechist. We have used older teens as aides after they have been Confirmed and your DRE would likely love to have you volunteer.

Good luck, you sound so enthusiastic I would be happy to have you in a class with my kids. 👍
 
I really appreciate all the great comments and advice. Thank you everyone. Now, is there anyone else who would like to comment? I value your comments.
 
Our Parish has a few teens who teach religious ed…There were 2 teamed together last year and another was an assistant. I think it’s great to have young role models who are excited about their faith around the younger children. You’ll just have to ask your DRE what the requirements are in your Diocese. We don’t need certificates here, but a Diocese we lived in before, you did. Believe me, that certificate didn’t necessarily mean that correct Church teaching would be taught!
 
I can’t speak to the question of whether or not your program would allow you to teach on your own.

But as a mother of eight, with another on the way, I can say that I would be tickled pink if one of my kids had an enthusiastic teenager teaching, provided that the teenager 1) had really good, solid formation (i.e. teach the substance of the Faith, not just “Jesus loves me” and felt banners) and 2) was organized and mature enough to manage the class well and convey the material clearly and kindly.

There have definitely been times when some of my kids would have done better with a very young, peppy teacher rather than the tired, slightly cranky middle-aged person they ended up with. (No offense to the heroic middle-aged CCD teachers out there!) It’s just that sometimes the kids just need to see that young people also take their Faith seriously, and that it’s not just this boring thing that the “old folks” do along with tax returns and such. KWIM? 🙂

Margaret
 
I understand what ya mean redmeg. I am enthusiastic but I do consider myself orthodox. I would do arts and crafts, but as a teacher one must teach. That is what I want to do. I do agree that maybe I should begin as an assistant. But whatever happens I want to bring Jesus Christ to his children by teaching them about him. Thanks everyone. Is there anyone else who has a comment?
 
we have several teens who volunteer with our parish CCD programs, in fact we depend on them. Those who have been confirmed can be full charge catechists. our child safety program requires two adults in a classroom, so no one teaches alone. most rooms have two adults and a teen aide, esp. the younger grades. any new volunteer, adult or teen, serves as aide to an experienced teacher the first year or so.

in this parish basic faith formation, offered by the lay ministry inst, is the entry to Catechist formation, followed by courses on liturgy and sacraments, and grade level teaching methods. Catechists typically gain this over 4-5 years. If they take all the classes offered for catechists in the parish, they will be full charge catechists in 3 years.

Those who have gone through HS or adult confirmation in this parish have basics for certification already.

child safety orientation, grade-level orientation, orientation on our parish program and rules, and lesson-planning workshop are required before teaching (these are offered at least twice a year, sometimes more often).

come on along, we can’t do it without you. God bless you for responding to the call of the Holy Spirit

this caveat for all catechists:
your mission is to teach the faith, not doubt. YOu teach the Catholic faith, not your own personal version of it. If you don’t know what that is, study until you learn it, but Jesus had very harsh things to say about those charged with teaching little ones and innocent ones who lead them astray.
 
Ironman, I have one question for you: Do you think we might be twins seperated at birth? We’re both 16, we’re both interested in catechesis, especially in regards to the Eucharist… 😃
 
You never know Tim, you never know.😃 That’s great to hear. Finally someone my age who got it through their head!😃 You know there’s not many of us, I wish there were. God Bless and Good Luck Tim. 👍
 
Tim Kirchoff:
Ironman, I have one question for you: Do you think we might be twins seperated at birth? We’re both 16, we’re both interested in catechesis, especially in regards to the Eucharist…
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ironman62292:
You never know Tim, you never know. That’s great to hear. Finally someone my age who got it through their head! You know there’s not many of us, I wish there were. God Bless and Good Luck Tim.
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WOW! I feel the same way! 🙂
I’m also 16 and will be a catechist aide for kids preparing for their first communion (and this is my first time… pray for me!). I remember learning about the real presence in Catholic school, but it seemed to me later on that most kids merely learn the motions (parts of the Mass, what to say, what to do etc.) without learning the meaning behind it. I guess thats most Catholics find the Mass boring or compare it to chores and have little understanding of it in the first place 😦

I’m glad to find other young people who want to be involved in the Church and live their faith. It gets discouraging sometimes when you feel like you are alone, if you know what I mean…

God bless the both of you! 👍
 
This summer I assisted with the vacation bible school run by our parish. The DRE got a few tweens and teens from the youth group to come and help out. At the pizza party given for the moms who planned and ran the school, I went over and thanked those kids for being willing to help out, and told them that I really appreciated them giving my children examples of kids in their age group who are enthusiastic about their faith and think it is worth spending some of their summer on.

So I would be excited to see a 16 year old helping to teach the RE classes at my parish! Go for it, ironman.
 
una_ecclesia said:
WOW! I feel the same way! 🙂
I’m also 16 and will be a catechist aide for kids preparing for their first communion (and this is my first time… pray for me!). I remember learning about the real presence in Catholic school, but it seemed to me later on that most kids merely learn the motions (parts of the Mass, what to say, what to do etc.) without learning the meaning behind it. I guess thats most Catholics find the Mass boring or compare it to chores and have little understanding of it in the first place 😦

I’m glad to find other young people who want to be involved in the Church and live their faith. It gets discouraging sometimes when you feel like you are alone, if you know what I mean…

God bless the both of you! 👍
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Then we must be… triplets seperated at birth! :eek: :cool:
 
Ah, isn’t God awesome!? Us three must set a good example for the kids we’re going to teach. We need to be the salt of the earth.👍 You know there is one thing I may find difficult. That is trying to simplify all the knowledge I have of God so that children can understand. That’s gonna be hard. But hey it’s great to hear from two other guys my age who are interested in God. Have either of you considered the priesthood?
 
ironman62292 said:
Ah, isn’t God awesome!? Us three must set a good example for the kids we’re going to teach. We need to be the salt of the earth.👍 **You know there is one thing I may find difficult. That is trying to simplify all the knowledge I have of God so that children can understand. **
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I had trouble with that when I worked with the salesians in a mission trip to the Domincan Republic where I had to teach kids who lived in the poorest parts of Santo Domingo. How could I teach them about God and good moral values in a way that they could understand? One time I tried just to talk with them, but they got easily distracted and bored. So instead of explaining things to them directly, I taught them in parables (some from the bible, and others I made up with some more value in a context that they could relate to). this is exactly what Jesus did with his followers when he taught them about the kingdom of God.
That’s gonna be hard. But hey it’s great to hear from two other guys my age who are interested in God. Have either of you considered the priesthood?
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I kinda can’t… I’m a girl. :eek: 😛

I’ve considered the religious life a few times but so far I have not really received a calling even though I stayed with salesian nuns for a month. I think God for now is calling me instead to just evangelize wherever I am… like in my public school and church.

You sure are right though… God really is awesome!!!
 
Ah man. I’m really sorry about that una ecclesia. I just kinda assumed. My bad.:o But anyway it is great that there are others our age who are not only interested in their faith but who also want to teach it.

Don’t be too worried about what your vocation is. I’m sure you already know this, but God will show you the way. Pray about it. Remember what Jesus said? Ask and you shall recieve, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened to you.

I admire you for taking a step outside of society to be with God and his people. If you ever get married your husband will be lucky to have a wife who is different. (In a good way)👍

You know you really should make it so that people know your a girl.😃 😛
 
I would have no objection to a 16 year old teaching religion if they were teaching correct doctrine. The kids may like it better with someone young and enthusiastic who is closer in age to them and excited about their faith.
 
ironman62292 said:
Hey everyone I have a question. I am 16 years old and love to talk about God. Now, would you as parents be happy having a 16 year become your child’s religion teacher? (in a parish not a school)

Second of all does anyone know if parish religion teachers have to have some kind of certificate? I ask this because the teachers at my parish don’t have one.

I remember being in religion class at my parish but I don’t remember ever learning about Jesus’ real presence in the eucharist. That is one reason why I’d be happy to teach children about the Lord as a religion teacher.

Does anyone have a comment or advice?
Click to expand...
hey dude im 18 and im a confirmation teacher and i started when i was 17 just have faith you can do it and you can do any thing
 
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