Catechist stories

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Hello peace and grace

May some Catechists please explain their stories about how they came to their vocation. That is all-though I may ask this same post or others in the future.
 
One day some catechists gave a speech stating that there is a need for more catechists at my parish. They invited people for some 2 weeks or so. After reading some Gospels where Jesus invites me to work for his Kingdom (which I interpret as his Church), I contacted these people at my parish telling them id like to become a catechist.

Ive been one for 3 years now. I must say that I love doing what I do. I’m 22 yrs old, and planning to continue for many years if I am able to.
 
Mine’s a longish story. Our parish suffered through a serious dry spell when the DRE became enamored of ‘Whole Community’ catechesis and gutted our Sunday School program. Families voted with their feet and left the parish which caused a precipitous drop in registered parishioners and collections. In the years that followed I was one of those who argued forcefully for the reinstatement of a proper RE program. When we finally got one, I realized I had better put my money where my mouth was so I started volunteering. I started helping out with combined grade 4/5 and haven’t looked back since.

(BTW, the spell-check doesn’t recognize catechesis :rolleyes:)
 
I was 26 and looking for an outlet to keep my teaching skills sharp after the birth of our first child. They had a Saturday morning CCD class and since my husband was home on Saturdays he would watch the baby while I went to teach. This led me to graduate school to study theology

Now over 30 years later, and a number of graduate degrees, I am a DRE. You never know where it will lead you.
 
I taught in a Catholic Elementary school for 19 years. Then I went back and got my masters in counseling. My husband and I switched parishes to our neighborhood parish and I decided that I had been involved in parish activities for 19 years and just wanted to sit in the pew and not get involved. Fortunately, God had something else in mind. I am a Disciple of Jesus and Mary and in the excellent lay formation I received through the DJM, I have committed to do whatever my pastor asks me. As I was “lurking” in the pews, I thought I was pretty safe from such a request. One Sunday, there was a full page insert asking for volunteers for religious education teachers. I didn’t pay any attention to it until I was throwing the bulletin in the recycle bag. The word “Catchiest” caught my eye. Yes, it said that the parish needed “Catchiests,” I laughed at the misspelling, but then I realized that once it had registered in my brain, I was compelled to say, “yes” to the call from the pastor for help. I taught as a volunteer for 3 years, and then, our Religious Ed Coordinator was leaving mid-year to answer her dream of owning a small bakery in her home town. I didn’t want Father to be in the lurch so I offered to help in anyway I could. (At the time, I had been laid off from my counseling job and was working a part-time temp job for the State). Father said he wanted to talk to me. When I told him my background, he hired ME as the Coordinator. God truly has a plan for us. I rejoice every day to be doing a job a love and a ministry to the Church.
 
My wife and I taught adult ed and RCIA from 1999 to 2003. Then the DRE asked me to be the 6th-grade catechist. I did so grudgingly, but it turned out be a great move. I’ll be teaching my 10th year of 6th grade starting this September. It’s just terrific.
 
=RCIAGraduate;10853250]Hello peace and grace
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May some Catechists please explain their stories about how they came to their vocation. That is all-though I may ask this same post or others in the future.
Click to expand...
About 25 years ago, while Living in the Atlanta area in a HUGE parish, I was tasked with taking our son to his second grade CCD class each week.

Every week I’d pick him up and ask" “well son, what did you learn today?”

His constant reply was “nothing!”

This went on for a few weeks and I decided [was prompted by the HS] to puch him harder. So when he replied “nothing!” I pused for greater detail. here’s what he said:

REALLY DAD; I DIDN’T LEARN ANYTHING! YOU COULD DO A BETTER JOB TEACHING! :eek: 😃

WHILE I’M SLOW I;M NOT STUPID!

So I called the DRE [Director of religious education] and offered to be a ASSISTANT. I was told to report for duty the following week. when I got there I was told that the Teacher JUST QUIT and walked our=t; and I “was just promoted” to TEACHER:)

I had a great deal of sales and markeing experience and had done done sales-training in the past. So I said a prayer; understood it was God’s Will and have been teaching ever since.

If God permits; LEARN well our Faith before taking on this kind of responsibility.

Thanks for asking!

God Bless you,
patrick PJM
 
I’m just in it for the indulgences.

(only kidding…but there is one ya know) 😉

Last spring, the week after Easter, I left the Catholic Church. I thought I had arrived at a place where I needed more vibrant worship and as I began to do a lot of independent Bible study, I started thinking Catholic teaching did not line up with scripture. So I left and got hooked up with a little evangelical “Bible church.” Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…

Fast forward one year… I saw, first-hand, everything I had only heard or read about previously from folks like Marcus Grodi and Scott Hahn. I saw the lack of authority, the uncertain doctrines, the lack of reverence and liturgy, the one man rule mentality… you name it. Once I stopped and asked the Lord to show me if I had made a mistake, he did! He showed me the truth of the Eucharist and the Catholic Church and I ran back home! God is good. His mercy endures forever.

I have always sensed a call from God to serve him and his people and tried to discern what role that might involve. I felt it was a call to priesthood years ago but I am married. As a “former Catholic” I was quickly involved in ministry, which I loved. Upon hearing God’s call to return to the Church, I was aware that I would have to give that up.

Following a weekend retreat, during which I asked Jesus many times what I might do to serve his church, once I am done with the “protestant” ministry, I came home and sat down to have coffee with my wife. She picked up a copy of the church bulletin, pointed to a notice seeking catechists and said, “Look at this.”

I have a thick head. But I’ve finally learned one thing since following the Lord. It is that he will direct me by influencing my feelings, impressions and reactions to things, once I have sought his will and asked for guidance. When I saw that notice, my heart raced. Although I’ve never been a teacher professionally, all I felt was excitement and peace about the idea. I prayed about it that night. I dreamed about it all night and was even more excited the next morning!

I contacted the DRE that day. I will be a new catechist in the fall. I’m starting classes soon.

I’m still bugging the Lord every day about what else he has in mind- I would love to be an extraordinary minister of holy communion. Several people have asked if I’ve considered the diaconate. But for some reason, I’ve never had any desire to discern that.

A priest once told me that “God doesn’t call married men!” so I need to forget the call to the priesthood that I thought I heard. So I don’t talk about it any more. Deep down, I still often wonder if I will someday hear the Lord say, “*I called you before you were married but you weren’t listening.” *

We must serve as best we can where we find ourselves I suppose.

Praise Him.
 
I don’t think I know a single catechist who said “I wanted to be a catechist.” Everyone seems to be drawn into it obliquely. May be more God’s will at work than the catechist’s.
 
kkollwitz said:
I don’t think I know a single catechist who said “I wanted to be a catechist.” Everyone seems to be drawn into it obliquely. May be more God’s will at work than the catechist’s.
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Ha! What a great observation. Reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures, one I read over and over the night before I had to address the whole church for the first time:

Then said I “Ah, Lord God!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
But the Lord said to me:
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. (Jer 1:6-8)

Ever since college, friends and family have said, “You should be a teacher.” It went in one ear and out the other.

When I saw that notice in the bulletin, it was like a bell went off! Go figure. It must be a God thing.
 
Few (if any) great figures in the Bible were self-selected either.
 
Well over 30 years ago, a man challenged me by stating that the Catholic Church/Mass was nothing more than a magic show and proceeded in his own way to prove how. I was almost convinced. It forced me to immerse myself in the Church. Her history, teachings, etc. which led me to apologetics. Since then I have taught RCIC and RCIA in a couple of parishes. I ask the questions now. I had an Evangelist living with me for a short time. He was very knowledgeable and knew Church history and Latin. I extended to him many conversations and all my books, tapes, just anything I had and made it so he had access to them at all times. We had many conversations before and after work. He is now a Catholic and does apologetics work. He evangelizes for the Church. I call on him once in a while to have him help me know how Protestants think. He is now married with 5 children and I have been God parent to several of his children. It all started when I got challenged. And it went from there. I attend courses when possible and learn as much as I can on my own. Dig deep. You will never stop learning. Its been over 30 years now and I have come to the conclusion that the more I learn, the less I know. Hope this helps. God Bless You.
 
Patrocinor, if it weren’t for the Fundamentalists trying to save me from the Catholic Church, I wouldn’t be where I am as a Catholic and a catechist either.
 
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