Help with rligion classes during Lent

[PattyPryor]

Hi all,
I took over at a parish that the religious ed corrdinator was fired- she was really into Life Teen- so much Mass was becoming protestant to the teens.

Anyway I am temp. there with my Theology degree. Over half of my teens don’t go to Mass on a regular basis and I feel that if I could get them excited about Lent maybe I would get them to go to the Triduum.

Anyway do you know of any resources where every week we could dig deeper into the lenten experience. I have them for an hour and 15 mins every Sunday- next week I was going to do Ash Wednesday.

The sad thing is they don’t want to do ‘homework’ or any paperwork. They don’t want to sit in desks etc. It is one of the hardest things I have to deal with since I am used to the little children sitting in desks paying attention.

I would love help- also if this is in the wrong spot please move it thank you

 

[The_Old_Medic]

First of all, teens are NOT little children. If you attempt to treat them as if they were, you have lost them from the very beginning. I get the feeling that you have little, if any, experience dealing with teenagers.

They are NOT going to sit there, passively soaking up whatever you provide to them. They will challenge you, they will debate, they will contest almost anything. That is what teens do. They are NOT little children, they are a lot closer to being adults. You ave to have respect for them, for their abilities and for their curiosity. If you approach them properly, they will respond. If you try to impose something on them, they will rebel.

If you “preach at them” you have lost before you even begin.

You say that Mass was becoming “Protestant” to the teens. If that is the case, you can blame the Pastor and any other priests, NOT this teacher/religious education person. No religious education teacher can make Mass a “Protestant” celebration, only the Priests could possibly do that.

Part of the pastors responsibility is to oversee any and all religious instruction going on in his parish. It would appear that he failed in his obligation, if this went on for any period of time. Unfortunately, far too many Pastors do NOT have any idea about what is actually going on in classes in their Parishes.

As to teens not attending Mass regularly, why are they attending a religious education class if they do not go to Mass? That makes little, if any, sense.

It is their parents responsibility to get them to Mass, not yours. If they are not receiving the appropriate examples in their homes, and encouragement to be actively involved in their church from their parents, there is little that YOU can do to overcome this.

 

[guanophore]

Hi all,
I took over at a parish that the religious ed corrdinator was fired- she was really into Life Teen- so much Mass was becoming protestant to the teens.

Anyway I am temp. there with my Theology degree. Over half of my teens don’t go to Mass on a regular basis and I feel that if I could get them excited about Lent maybe I would get them to go to the Triduum.

Anyway do you know of any resources where every week we could dig deeper into the lenten experience. I have them for an hour and 15 mins every Sunday- next week I was going to do Ash Wednesday.

The sad thing is they don’t want to do ‘homework’ or any paperwork. They don’t want to sit in desks etc. It is one of the hardest things I have to deal with since I am used to the little children sitting in desks paying attention.

I would love help- also if this is in the wrong spot please move it thank you

Maybe try some video of Fr. Corapit on the Triduum. He is passionate and blunt.

 

[PattyPryor]

First of all, teens are NOT little children. If you attempt to treat them as if they were, you have lost them from the very beginning. I get the feeling that you have little, if any, experience dealing with teenagers.

They are NOT going to sit there, passively soaking up whatever you provide to them. They will challenge you, they will debate, they will contest almost anything. That is what teens do. They are NOT little children, they are a lot closer to being adults. You ave to have respect for them, for their abilities and for their curiosity. If you approach them properly, they will respond. If you try to impose something on them, they will rebel.

If you “preach at them” you have lost before you even begin.

You say that Mass was becoming “Protestant” to the teens. If that is the case, you can blame the Pastor and any other priests, NOT this teacher/religious education person. No religious education teacher can make Mass a “Protestant” celebration, only the Priests could possibly do that.

Part of the pastors responsibility is to oversee any and all religious instruction going on in his parish. It would appear that he failed in his obligation, if this went on for any period of time. Unfortunately, far too many Pastors do NOT have any idea about what is actually going on in classes in their Parishes.

As to teens not attending Mass regularly, why are they attending a religious education class if they do not go to Mass? That makes little, if any, sense.

It is their parents responsibility to get them to Mass, not yours. If they are not receiving the appropriate examples in their homes, and encouragement to be actively involved in their church from their parents, there is little that YOU can do to overcome this.

Your sort of a mean person- I never said I would TEACH them like little children! and it was the fault of the person fired- it was why she was fired in the first place- what she was saying to them before and after Mass.

Just don’t talk to me anymore- wow I came for some advice on a nice program for teens. Not to be yelled at

 

[PattyPryor]

Maybe try some video of Fr. Corapit on the Triduum. He is passionate and blunt.

Thank you- will this work well with teens?

 

[guanophore]

Your sort of a mean person- I never said I would TEACH them like little children! and it was the fault of the person fired- it was why she was fired in the first place- what she was saying to them before and after Mass.

Just don’t talk to me anymore- wow I came for some advice on a nice program for teens. Not to be yelled at

In your options there is one for “ignore” you can put on people, so you don’t have to see their posts.

I think teens need their faith to be practical. They need to be challenged with real world situatiuons and ethical dilemmas to solve, and learn how the principles of their faith apply.

Lent is also a very good time to do community service, and teach the corporate works of mercy of the Church. Is it possible to go places as a group and be active in serving the poor?

 

[guanophore]

Thank you- will this work well with teens?

I think it depends on the teens. His personal testimony of his own youth is one of the best. He has a series on the catechism. I would pick out a 10 min portion and see what they think.

Teens need a way to face their existential questions, which are, who am I? and Why am I here?

They are best able to find the answers to these questions when faced with situations that challenge their values. What would they do in a given situation, and why? How do the gifts of the HS lay a foundation for how these decisions are made?

And primarily, they need relationship with Christ and His Church (rather than just head knowledge). They need to be able to incorporate the passionate feelings they experience as part of their life cycle into their faith experience. I think this disconnect in catechism is one reason we are losing so many young people.

Come to think of it, you might get some footage from World Youth day and ask them why they think so many young Catholics showed up. What needs are they trying to get met?

 

[stormcloud]

As a 6th grade catechist, I can certainly identify with you’re going through. As you said, we only get them for an hour and 15 minutes a week. For practical reasons, the parents HAVE to be the primary catechists and there are limits to what we can do without parental involvement/support. Getting the kids to attend mass is probably the primary concern. Something new our pastor tried this year is training all the kids (who are old enough obviously) to be altar servers and putting them on the weekly mass schedule. Prior to each class, we’re given a list of who is serving at which mass on the following weekend so we can give reminders during class. It isn’t 100% effective (then again, I can’t count the number of times I’ve subbed as an EMHC because someone who was scheduled didn’t show up), but there does appear to be some improvement in mass attendance by the kids in my class.
As for the rest, I ask the Holy Spirit to work through me, and understand that my role is to plant the seed, let God do the rest, and accept that I probably won’t see the result of those seeds I planted.

 

[guanophore]

As a 6th grade catechist, I can certainly identify with you’re going through. As you said, we only get them for an hour and 15 minutes a week. For practical reasons, the parents HAVE to be the primary catechists and there are limits to what we can do without parental involvement/support. Getting the kids to attend mass is probably the primary concern. Something new our pastor tried this year is training all the kids (who are old enough obviously) to be altar servers and putting them on the weekly mass schedule. Prior to each class, we’re given a list of who is serving at which mass on the following weekend so we can give reminders during class. It isn’t 100% effective (then again, I can’t count the number of times I’ve subbed as an EMHC because someone who was scheduled didn’t show up), but there does appear to be some improvement in mass attendance by the kids in my class.
As for the rest, I ask the Holy Spirit to work through me, and understand that my role is to plant the seed, let God do the rest, and accept that I probably won’t see the result of those seeds I planted.

Your post reminded me of something. One of the things that is lacking in our parishes is making disciples.Most of the parish functions are conducted by elderlies who have been in these ministries for years. There is group of very sweet ladies that design and assemble the altar cloths and other decorations that have no one under 60 in their group.

It might help them in discerning their gifts to have them read as if they are the lector, take turns reading the intercessory prayers, and the readings of the day, or for the Sunday Mass. These are some basic skills that are not usually introduced until an adult expresses interest later in life.

I think it is also useful to talk about the meaning and purpose of the intercessory prayers. Why are we asking God for this at Mass? How might God work through me to accomplish this petition?

One of my greatest regrets in catechism as a teen was not learning to read and understand the scripture. I never go to catechism classes now without a box of bibles that can be passed out and used.

Oh and I have another idea that has been on my mind that hits at the heart of where teens live and that is giving presentations on abortion and birth control. See if you can get some resources from Priests for Life or a speaker from Right to Life who will come in and talk to them. Maybe go together to pray a rosary outside a local abortion mill.

 

[1ke]

Here are some resources for children, teens, and parents:

comcenter.com/search/?q=lent

 

[jmcrae]

Hi all,
I took over at a parish that the religious ed corrdinator was fired- she was really into Life Teen- so much Mass was becoming protestant to the teens.

Anyway I am temp. there with my Theology degree. Over half of my teens don’t go to Mass on a regular basis and I feel that if I could get them excited about Lent maybe I would get them to go to the Triduum.

Anyway do you know of any resources where every week we could dig deeper into the lenten experience. I have them for an hour and 15 mins every Sunday- next week I was going to do Ash Wednesday.

The sad thing is they don’t want to do ‘homework’ or any paperwork. They don’t want to sit in desks etc. It is one of the hardest things I have to deal with since I am used to the little children sitting in desks paying attention.

I would love help- also if this is in the wrong spot please move it thank you

Please remember, you are in Church; not at school. Church is supposed to be fun.

Games and active learning go well with the younger teenager - use worksheets sparingly, and always as part of something that has movement, or else as discussion-starters.

Conversational-style discussion goes well with the older teen. Lose the worksheets. Also, let the older teens develop their own sessions - give two or three of them a topic and let them prepare it for the whole group. Be there to help them with research, steer them in the right direction, and guide them as to what is appropriate, and give them a selection of ideas to choose from, but let it be their presentation. Have access to multimedia, and use it - there is nothing wrong with “praise and worship” style music at this age for both sexes, sappy powerpoint or video presentations are also often a hit with girls of this age, and for boys or for the whole group, punchy video sequences with lots of catch-phrases set to a strong musical beat are always a hit - they need to know that Jesus is their friend and that He loves them very much, before they can move on to the stage of understanding Jesus as their Creator and God who must be obeyed. (They really won’t get to the second stage until they start having their own kids, and realize that discipline and rules stem from love.)

 

[JerrySeibert]

As an 8th grade Confirmation Candidate Catechist please take my advice. Strong arm discipline shuts you adults down. I recently joined the team and the first night I was astonished at the apparent lack of respect. Talking, texting, etc.
So I went and quoted scripture, Blessed are the peacemakers…
Yes, it shut them up and shut them down and it took another three classes before it seemed there was any connection again. But, I have realized repetition is the key to teaching. Every week we would cover something new and recover the high points of last week. Attention of some is not the problem of all…
Repeat, repeat, repeat, it has all that has seemed to help. My personality is the disciplinarian, always focused, always …just the like my dad and the military made me. As my wife loves to point out.
Have fun with it. We bring snacks in every week. Start and end with prayer Hail Mary etc. Middle of class we teach a prayer that may be new to them. Prayer to the Sacred Heart etc.
Class schedule, Opening Prayer, Snack, new information related to scripture or real life events, a little over halfway through the hour and 15 we cover a new prayer, then recap the day and last weeks lesson.
This has seemed to pay off. 4 weeks out of confirmation and all of them the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Good luck, keep it fun and they and you both will get more out of it.
The Catholic Source Book is a great reference for Church history etc.
God bless,

 

[Wildkit]

For the 2 cents this is worth, I have taught 7th grade Faith Formation for 11 years. Yeah, getting all on the same page is difficult, but I put myself as the protagonist, and bring up the multitude of tools, signs, MIRACLES my Lord has given to me. I really don’t believe our Faith Formation catechist have any idea of these tools, signs and revelations our Lord has given us today with this internet phenomenon.

As I try to use miracle after miracle, I ask these students and myself,……is God trying to tell me something? Why don’t they happen to………….?

My experience over the years has been wow…. I can’t explain it either.

Hope this may help.

 

[leonie]

I don’t have any specific recommendations for Lent, though I like Presentation ministries brochures

presentationministries.com/brochures/brochures.asp

Agape Bible studies has some neat stuff

agapebiblestudy.com/Bible_Studies_Menu.php

Mark Hart has a neat study on Revelation

ascensionpress.com/shop/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=146

My own kids love the San Juan Seminars

shop.catholicapologetics.com/ which btw, I’m sure you could find cheaper on Amazon

I have some more ideas, but I have to go now. I’ll do them later.

 

[phoage]

I am a catechist for teens. This is my second year. Last year was mixed class 14 to 17 years old; this year all boys 12-16. Part of my background is that I was a lapsed Catholic for 35-40 years. I share this with my classes; why I fell away and why I came back.

I also have found that stories are good. It helps that I am a story teller but I get into the History, usually of a saint and tell the boys his story. These stories are usually 10-15 min long. I try to give them a historical and personal perspective so that they can relate to the trials and tribulations of the event. I answer questions about the story afterwords.

For Lent: next week, I am introducing it. I will start bringing up Marde Gras, Carnival and Faching. What are they and why are they celebrated in such diverse cultures? What is the next day? History of Lent in the Church. Fast, Abstenance, alms giving, pennance, and giving up something for Lent. The historical prospective on this. ( how it was done by the knights and kings in the middle ages, another story).

The 1st week of lent, part of the class will be class participation in Stations of the Cross.

Palm Sunday I intend to bring in a Cat of Nine Tails to show one (historical) example of how flogging was done, what was involved, and let them draw their own conclusions about Jesus’ passion.

Finally, our CCD classes are 90 min (classroom) but scheduled so that immidiately after, the whole class goes to Mass togeather. Much of our parish population is Hispanic, many undocumented, and most of the parents are non practicing, but they want there children to have sacraments. To get them, our pastor has decreed that they have 3 years of CCD classes targeted at preparing them for sacraments. They have to know basic Catholic prayers (in English or Spanish, Father can speak both fluently along with several other languages). Only one of the 15 boys in this years class said he was there because he wanted to be, the others are there because their parent make them go. It can be a challenge to reach them but there are rewards. 3 of last years class are involved beyond the basics in our parish and several have told me that they really enjoyed the class (although they could have fooled me last year).

Sorry for the ramble. Good luck and lean on the Holy Spirit,

Patrick

 

[leonie]

I love Patrick’s ideas, esp about Mardi Gras and showing an actual scourging instrument.

My other ideas revolved around Holy Week. For one thing, you should remind them why Jesus’s dying on the Cross was necessary. So, go back and review original sin.

Then, just go through the events of Holy Week, esp the events of the Passion. For the Last Supper, I’d talk about Confession. For this, I’d go through what a mortal sin is and the effects of confession. If possible, I’d ask the Pastor to have confession during the class period–of course you can’t compel them, but also don’t warn them. Many won’t come.

For the Last Supper, I’d go over miracles of the Eucharist to reinforce the Real Presence

therealpresence.org/

therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/a3.html If you have power point, you could prepare a presentation using online resources. There’s also dvds, if you have time to order them.

bobandpennylord.com/miracles-of-the-eucharist.htm is one.

For the passion, I’d go through the medical testimony

frugalsites.net/jesus/welcome.htm

After which, I’d present Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ.

here’s some lenten dvds and cds

catholiccompany.com/multimedia-c225/