The presence of volunteer Catechists in public schools is a gift to the Church and to the families of Catholic children enrolled in them. This was Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv’s message to the 35 delegates from 11 dioceses gathered at St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre in Baulkham Hills, at the recent CCRESS Conference on May 15 and 16.
The Catholic Conference of Religious Educators in State Schools (CCRESS) includes the Heads of the Confraternity for Christian Doctrine (CCD), the body that supports and coordinates Special Religious Education in public schools, from all 11 dioceses in New South Wales.
Together, the body represents more than 4000 lay volunteers, and 800 secondary students working as Catechists to bring the light of the Gospel to more than 56,500 students across the state.
Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral with Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta and Fr Robert Riedling, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta. Image: Supplied
Hosted by the Diocese of Parramatta, the biannual conference theme was Encounter: Making a World of Difference, focusing on professional learning and personal growth, with speakers addressing the purpose, practice and inner renewal of the work of Catechists in schools.
“The speakers were excellent and provided both spiritual formation and professional development,” said Alison Newell, CCD Head, Diocese of Broken Bay and incoming CCRESS chairperson.
One of the speakers, Professor Br David Hall fms, drew upon Luke’s Gospel story of the woman at the well encountering Jesus, as a fundamental metaphor for Special Religious Education.
“Jesus didn’t ask anything of the woman that she could not give,” Br David explained. “He met the woman as she was, accepting her.
Handing the candle to Bathurst for the November conference. Image: supplied
“As Catechists entering the classroom, we do not focus on what we wish they were, but encounter them as they are, and bring the gift of Jesus’ love to them. We let Jesus change them as they encounter His presence and set them on a path of love,” he said.
Experienced educator and long-time advocate of religious education in public schools Peter Mitchell encouraged Catechists to keep things simple and encourage students to always be on the lookout for ‘oh yeah’ moments, where Jesus’ spirit is apparent in their everyday lives. Whether it be in simple acts of kindness, encouragement or inclusion.
“The Gospel is happening every day, through people around you,” he explained. “Once you help students to tune in to the Spirit of Jesus, then you are making Jesus real in their lives, and the Spirit will flow from the classroom into their lives and homes,” he said.
Sr Patty Andrew OSU, Vicar for Consecrated Life, spoke to the heart of the Catechist as an agent of communion and transformation in schools. Identifying the SRE classroom as a privileged place on the margins of the Church, Sr Patty drew upon Andrei Rublev’s famous icon of the Hospitality of Abraham to show that the Catechist is a bridge between God, who invites us to God’s table, and their students. “It is the nature of God to overflow into the world, calling us to God,” Sr Patty said. “And as Catechists, God’s love flows through you.”
In his final remarks to the delegates, Bishop Vincent highlighted that the CCD embodies the spirit of participation, communion and mission that underpins the Parramatta Diocese’s Pastoral Plan.
“Building up God’s kingdom is no longer just the responsibility of the ordained and the consecrated,” he reminded them. “All of the baptised have their part to play and nowhere is that more obvious than in the work of lay Catechists. The Church is indebted to you as heralds of the Good News.”
At the conclusion of the conference, the outgoing chairperson, Frances Fair, CCD Head from the Diocese of Wollongong, congratulated the Diocese of Parramatta and Merilyn Hancock on such an engaging and relevant conference, and for leaving big shoes for the next host diocese to fill.
