If you were speaking to a group of catholic children or teens, what advice would you give them on becoming and or staying a great catholic? I am trying to collect information to share with the children in my religious education classes at my church. Peace. Cindy
I’ve taught eighth grade RE for several years.
At that level you’ll find they don’t like to talk in class about subject material. Social status means too much to them so they don’t dare risk getting an answer wrong and looking stupid, and they don’t want to be considered nerds by answering questions in class even though they know their stuff. So most of them just sit there with those nervous looks on their faces thinking all eyes are on them the entire time they’re in class.
Ten minutes before class or ten minutes toward the end of class these same kids are bubbling with stories, gossip, jokes and giggles, so it’s not that they are shy or uncomfortable with each other in general, it’s the academics that clam these kids up.
For the specifics you’ll need to cover according to the curriculum, you’ll find most of them do not do the required reading or even consider being Catholic outside that RE class time and when they’re in Mass. That’s the real challenge: how to get the kids to become aware that being Catholic is 24/7, not just when on parish grounds or at parish events.
I start with the small things. As the kids are socializing before and toward the end of class, I listen in on their side conversations and jokes. As I observe non-Catholic behavior, attitudes or language I make a mental note of those examples and then during class time I’ll steer the lesson toward an opportunity to use that as an example of what the lesson was talking about. That helps a lot.
By the end of the year kids who used to swear or say ‘Oh my God’ without realizing it was taking the Lord’s name in vain, not only got it but stopped saying it. The gossiping which was pervasive at the beginning of the year dwindled and there were even times toward the end when a kid would start to share a story about somebody at their school and the other kids would tell them to stop shortly after they got started. They were pointing out to each other examples of non-Catholic behavior and encouraging each other to be better than they were before. We talk about downloading music and games, about what songs and movies they listen to, but I use those conversations as opportunities to get them to think with a Catholic filter.
With one and half hours a week for nine months, I realize I can’t get them fired up about being Catholic, they just don’t have the emotional maturity to grasp what a gift it is they possess, but if I can get them to break that cycle of thinking being Catholic is only for mass, holy days, RE and the sacraments, then I feel I’ve succeeded in making a significant difference in their spiritual journey. I’m not going to be able to inspire these kids to become great catholics or saints, but I am going to get them to start viewing all the things they encounter on a daily basis through a different lense - a Catholic one. Whether it sticks or not is up to the Lord.
Good luck with your group. I hope you’ll let us know how it goes.
to name a few.
