Obedience, Ethics and the Holy Spirit

[CatherineOfS]

I’m having rather a difficult time in sorting out this situation.
Hopefully, someone can help.
I co-teach a high school confirmation class with two other catechists. While all three of us attend Charismatic confrences, prayer groups, etc…, I seem to be the odd man out when it comes to sharing personal experiences with the class. Our Youth Minister and DRE have both asked us to refrain from discussing these experiences in the classroom, as not all the students may be ready for this. We can certainly teach about the Eucharist, saints and the Bible and what charisms and miracles are involved with these, just not our personal miracles. My fellow teachers feel God compels them to “speak the truth boldly”, and have doubts about anyone our diocese officially approves (YM & DRE being diocesan employees). I understand their concerns. Our bishop actively promotes the “pastoral coordinator/priest-minister” model in our diocese. However, our Pastor, priests and Youth Minister are certainly orthodox. Also, Christ gave the example of obedience to the Father and to lawful authority. I, myself have no problem with this request. The problem is, I’m getting a reputation for not working cooperatively with the other catechists . I love working the teens and don’t want to quit, but the students are beginning to notice the tension between the three of us. Where do I go from here?

Behold the Handmaid of the Lord.

 

[CatherineOfS]

CatherineOfS:

I’m having rather a difficult time in sorting out this situation.
Hopefully, someone can help.
I co-teach a high school confirmation class with two other catechists. While all three of us attend Charismatic confrences, prayer groups, etc…, I seem to be the odd man out when it comes to sharing personal experiences with the class. Our Youth Minister and DRE have both asked us to refrain from discussing these experiences in the classroom, as not all the students may be ready for this. We can certainly teach about the Eucharist, saints and the Bible and what charisms and miracles are involved with these, just not our personal miracles. My fellow teachers feel God compels them to “speak the truth boldly”, and have doubts about anyone our diocese officially approves (YM & DRE being diocesan employees). I understand their concerns. Our bishop actively promotes the “pastoral coordinator/priest-minister” model in our diocese. However, our Pastor, priests and Youth Minister are certainly orthodox. Also, Christ gave the example of obedience to the Father and to lawful authority. I, myself have no problem with this request. The problem is, I’m getting a reputation for not working cooperatively with the other catechists . I love working the teens and don’t want to quit, but the students are beginning to notice the tension between the three of us. Where do I go from here?

Behold the Handmaid of the Lord.

 

[Spunky]

I was in a similar situation. I allowed the others to push me out and I watch a youth group who should be maturing in their faith turn themselves more towards what their friends do than following the Lord. They come to youth group becauses its “fun” and gives them something to do on an evening that isn’t very busy anyway. Our director asked me to design a retreat. The retreat took me two days to write and I feel the Holy Spirit was right there with me writing it. After looking at it, she said they were not old enough for that “type” of retreat and it wasn’t “fun” enough. They are all 16, 17 and 18. She rewrote it taking out anything that would have caused them to think and perhaps grow in their faith and turned it all into just another “fun” time. Unfortunatley, I allowed the education commission, who is very liberal, to drive me out of youth group and I no longer participate.

If you have contact with your students outside the classroom, perhaps that is where you can share your experiences. I have found that there are many “teachable moments” we just have to be open to them.

When our youth group recently lost one of their school friends to a tragic car accident, it was not addressed in their youth group. My daughter, a former member of the youth group and known for her strong, vocal faith, helped one of the members cope outside the classroom and helped him to grow in his faith. A “teachable moment”. He knew she would have answers because of her vocal participation when she was in youth group and he listened.

Good luck and my advice is this. Don’t let them drive you out. Let your spirit shine where the youth can see it and when the “teachable moments” come along, recognize them and use them to the fullest. I would however, push the “envelope” as they say, as far as you can in the classroom.

God Bless you and your work and may you attract more people with your attitude to help with the youth.

 

[Mysty101]

That is a tough situation.

Have you discussed this with your fellow teachers? I personally would do the obedient thing, which is always the best road to follow, and not worry about what what others think or say. You are responsible to God, your surperiors and the children, not anyone else.

We are called to be obedient to lawful authority, and this is also a form of Spiritual authority, unless they tell you to do something sinful. It would be a poor choice to choose your will or the pressure of someone over a lawful instruction.

 

[Flounder]

I agree with sticking with it if you can, too.

Have you considered sitting down with the other teachers and the Youth Minister and DRE and discussing this together? It might allow you to clear the air and let your fellow teachers voice their views and get a face-to-face ruling.

Good luck.

 

[Todd_Easton]

In my opinion, since the extraordinary charisms are mentioned in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in only perhaps 8 of its 2865 paragraphs (799-801, 809, 951 and 2003-2004, 2024), or less than 0.3% of the book, relatively little classroom time should be spent in discussing them. Although such gifts may play an important role in your life and the lives of the other catechists, their over-emphasis in the classroom will only serve to distort their relative importance in the minds of your students and short-shift the remaining 99.7% of the Catholic faith they are supposed to learn.