Post by pianistclare on Apr 8, 2017 15:38:55 GMT
Within catechesis.
A thread somewhere else (got me thinking and reflecting on the issue of catechesis for families and in particular for their offspring.
One of the comments that I, as a Religious Ed Director and Youth Minister get with nearly every formtation registrations is "When will my child/student be DONE?"
There seems to be a widespread notion in our part of the country (I say that because I understand that many places are much more saturated with practicing Catholics) and I find it problematic on many levels. It seems that some, not all of course, parents tend to think of Sacraments as sort of the Scout Badge of Catholicism. You come to a bunch of meetings, and at the end you get a badge and God declares you good to go, prepared for life, and it looks good on the resume of your soul. I've never ever heard a parent say that they desire a relationship with the Lord for their teen, or they want their children to be well equipped to handle the struggles of life. They just want to know: how much does it cost, are the classes mandatory, how many can they miss, and when is the big day.
?
I suppose they think the other stuff is obvious. But when you meet the students, they also have this notion, that once they are "done" they will not need to step into the Church unless they can't get married on the beach for some reason.
I'm not saying that these children don't turn around with the example of great catechists, lots of community service in which they feel good about helping others, learning and re-learning their prayers. But it makes the job of the catechists so hard at the outset. Just when they are coming around, oops! The hourglass has expired! Poof! Your'e done! You don't HAVE to come anymore! We tell them they are welcome to come anytime, we'll make them leaders, they can share, do fun stuff, influence the younger children in a positive way, participate in the Mass by training to be a reader or an Extraordinary Minister, .....we'll even write letters of recommendation to colleges, for jobs, etc!
And...I have to say, we remind them how the Hail Mary goes. Just sayin'.
But they just smile and look at us as if to say "oh how sweet. She thinks I still care. I'm done!"
It's very hard to take. Couple that with an elderly parish base who believe that they are also done. They don't need to volunteer...been there done that. They raised their kids. Time for someone else ( you ) to step up to the bat, I mean after all, aren't all teens HORRIBLE? What would I say to them?"
I always tell them: well. They're YOU'RE grand kids. Were they raised by wolves? Seriously, the students are pretty nice kids. But if their parish family doesn't care......unless they need free slave labor of course (insert roll eyes here).
Much of the social needs of the parish are met by the kids.
Need junk moved from here to there? Ask the kids!
Need someone to serve at the picnic? Ask the kids!
Need someone to watch the children in the nursery? Ask the kids!
Need weeds pulled? Ask the kids!
Need babysitting for your big event? Get the kids to do it!
OK, so they do need community service hours, but they are eager to do work with the poor, the hungry, (not the hungry at the picnic), the homeless.
They want to make a difference, not make the parishioners lives easier.
It's just so discouraging. Yes, I have plenty of students who got the memo. I really do. But the constant apathy from the people in the pew.....the parents, the priests.....just get it done. Get it over with. Don't tell me you need help. That's what we pay YOU for. Dig up your own volunteers. Aren't they everywhere? Why aren't you asking the right people?
Note to leadership:Most of the people ho volunteer will do so if the pastor directly asks them because they don't want him to think they are apathetic. They want to have an "in" with the pastor. They want to be noticed. They want to be put on committees or help make decisions, Note to membership: the pastor smiles benignly at your suggestions, but in general, does whatever he intended to do at the outset of the meeting. You only THINK you have a voice, Because look! He smiled at you! You're IN! okaaaaay.
When did our Church become a club with bonus miles?
When did the Church get assigned sole responsibility for the way the children grow up and what they believe?
When did outside activities begin to exclude worship as the thing to do weekly?
Well.
So.
Obviously I'm ranting.
It seems that back when all I had to hear is "why did you play that song at Mass?" THOSE were the good old days.
Just so frustrated. Thanks for listening friends.
Just so frustrated.
A thread somewhere else (got me thinking and reflecting on the issue of catechesis for families and in particular for their offspring.
One of the comments that I, as a Religious Ed Director and Youth Minister get with nearly every formtation registrations is "When will my child/student be DONE?"
There seems to be a widespread notion in our part of the country (I say that because I understand that many places are much more saturated with practicing Catholics) and I find it problematic on many levels. It seems that some, not all of course, parents tend to think of Sacraments as sort of the Scout Badge of Catholicism. You come to a bunch of meetings, and at the end you get a badge and God declares you good to go, prepared for life, and it looks good on the resume of your soul. I've never ever heard a parent say that they desire a relationship with the Lord for their teen, or they want their children to be well equipped to handle the struggles of life. They just want to know: how much does it cost, are the classes mandatory, how many can they miss, and when is the big day.
? I suppose they think the other stuff is obvious. But when you meet the students, they also have this notion, that once they are "done" they will not need to step into the Church unless they can't get married on the beach for some reason.
I'm not saying that these children don't turn around with the example of great catechists, lots of community service in which they feel good about helping others, learning and re-learning their prayers. But it makes the job of the catechists so hard at the outset. Just when they are coming around, oops! The hourglass has expired! Poof! Your'e done! You don't HAVE to come anymore! We tell them they are welcome to come anytime, we'll make them leaders, they can share, do fun stuff, influence the younger children in a positive way, participate in the Mass by training to be a reader or an Extraordinary Minister, .....we'll even write letters of recommendation to colleges, for jobs, etc!
And...I have to say, we remind them how the Hail Mary goes. Just sayin'.
But they just smile and look at us as if to say "oh how sweet. She thinks I still care. I'm done!"
It's very hard to take. Couple that with an elderly parish base who believe that they are also done. They don't need to volunteer...been there done that. They raised their kids. Time for someone else ( you ) to step up to the bat, I mean after all, aren't all teens HORRIBLE? What would I say to them?"
I always tell them: well. They're YOU'RE grand kids. Were they raised by wolves? Seriously, the students are pretty nice kids. But if their parish family doesn't care......unless they need free slave labor of course (insert roll eyes here).
Much of the social needs of the parish are met by the kids.
Need junk moved from here to there? Ask the kids!
Need someone to serve at the picnic? Ask the kids!
Need someone to watch the children in the nursery? Ask the kids!
Need weeds pulled? Ask the kids!
Need babysitting for your big event? Get the kids to do it!
OK, so they do need community service hours, but they are eager to do work with the poor, the hungry, (not the hungry at the picnic), the homeless.
They want to make a difference, not make the parishioners lives easier.
It's just so discouraging. Yes, I have plenty of students who got the memo. I really do. But the constant apathy from the people in the pew.....the parents, the priests.....just get it done. Get it over with. Don't tell me you need help. That's what we pay YOU for. Dig up your own volunteers. Aren't they everywhere? Why aren't you asking the right people?
Note to leadership:Most of the people ho volunteer will do so if the pastor directly asks them because they don't want him to think they are apathetic. They want to have an "in" with the pastor. They want to be noticed. They want to be put on committees or help make decisions, Note to membership: the pastor smiles benignly at your suggestions, but in general, does whatever he intended to do at the outset of the meeting. You only THINK you have a voice, Because look! He smiled at you! You're IN! okaaaaay.
When did our Church become a club with bonus miles?
When did the Church get assigned sole responsibility for the way the children grow up and what they believe?
When did outside activities begin to exclude worship as the thing to do weekly?
Well.
So.
Obviously I'm ranting.
It seems that back when all I had to hear is "why did you play that song at Mass?" THOSE were the good old days.
Just so frustrated. Thanks for listening friends.
Just so frustrated.
