By Julie A. Miller
Catholic Herald
Religious educators struggle to bring Good News to parish youth
According to Phyllis Schlagel, diocesan school superintendent, there were approximately 2,900 students enrolled in 17 parish schools in the 1999-2000 school year.
Deacon Roger Cadotte, diocesan director of religious education and youth ministry, said that over 10,200 students -- prekindergarten through 12th grade -- are enrolled in parish religious education programs for students not attending Catholic schools.
The degree of cooperation between Catholic schools and religious education programs varies from parish to parish. "I think in parishes with schools they (the school and religious education program) generally work pretty well together. We've worked with the office of schools to make that happen," Cadotte said.
Joanie McKeown, pastoral minister and director of religious education for the Webster-Crescent Lake-Danbury cluster, had a different opinion. "In most cases there is not much communication or cooperation between the two. There can be a bit of an elitist attitude on the part of parents (who) are making a big sacrifice to send their children to the school," she said.
"As to my own experience ... we have generally a cooperative spirit," said Sr. Jovita Winkel. Winkel, a Sister of St. Agnes, is pastoral associate and director of religious education for the Ladysmith-Hawkins-Tony cluster of parishes. She did see some problems with funding: "The funds do not get shared equitably (between schools and religious education). Part of that (is because) individual parishes don't understand their responsibility to educate."
Religious education students are taught mainly by dedicated volunteer catechists. Although a few receive stipends, most are unpaid, Cadotte said.
Parishes have varying budgets for religious education, depending on the size and location of the parish. According to Cadotte, the programs could always use more money that directly benefits the children. McKeown said religious education teachers need materials for craft projects and other activities. "You can't just sit the kids in a room with a book."
Education programs also need parish support for continuing education of both the volunteer and paid religious education staff so they can travel to workshops and classes, Cadotte said.
"Another challenge is retaining and keeping quality catechists. They leave either because their (own) kids grow up or they ... have good will going into it (teaching religious education class), but later find some challenges they didn't expect," Cadotte said.
Sometimes the challenge is working with the children's busy schedules.
"Some parents are very cooperative and will do anything they can. Kids are involved in so many projects now. Its very hard to get church in when coaches say you must be at practice," McKeown said. "You also run into Sunday morning hockey games, so even getting to church is a problem."
While most parents are cooperative, McKeown said, "you also run into parents who see the whole responsibility is with the catechist and the DRE (director of religious education) who is running the program. We run into a lot of children who are in first and second grade who don't know how to make the sign of the cross."
"One of the challenges in working with parents is non-participating families, sending their children and not participating themselves, either in the (education) program or in liturgy," Cadotte said.
In working with teens, there are different parent issues. In confirmation orientation, "we try to get parents and teens together ... Parents are very concerned that their children are Catholic and learn about the faith, but I find that parents are not comfortable in sharing their faith. We need to empower them,"said Mary Modjeski.
Modjeski is director of adult formation in the Amery-Glenwood City cluster and director of both religious education (grades seven through 12) and adult formation for the Cumberland-Almena cluster.
Working with teen-agers presents some other difficulties. "I think one of the biggest challenges in doing religious education with teens is the contrast or the seeming contradiction between the good news we try to share and the culture that doesn't seem to support the religious formation," said Modjeski, adding that teaching and the culture "seem to be at opposite ends and I see it as our task to bridge that."
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2000