I have been a catechist for many years and started out teaching First grade at my home parish in Brooklyn when I was 21. I began teaching second grade in 2004 when my son was preparing to receive his First Eucharist.
I enjoyed sharing my faith with the children in first grade but teaching second grade has been so fulfilling! Walking through this journey with them and teaching them about the True Presence in the Eucharist is one of the most important things one can do. To see how much they grow in their faith from the first day of classes until the fulfillment of all they’ve learned on that most special day of reception of the Eucharist, is wonderful.
When they first arrive and we begin to talk about Jesus and how the bread becomes His body and the wine becomes His blood, and tell them that He is in the Tabernacle, they say, “how can He fit?” It’s a little difficult to explain to 8 year olds, but they do understand that the bread is truly Jesus by the time they are ready to receive Him. They are so excited to come to know and love Jesus more and they share that excitement with their families. At the end of each class, we use intercessory prayer and one of my students this year told me that, every morning when she wakes up she thanks Jesus for all He has given her and prays for her family and friends to be happy and healthy. I’ve even had parents tell me that they have started to attend Church regularly again. That fills my heart with joy! These little ones are leading their families back to the Faith and that is all anyone could want!
Doreen Griffin-Gallway, St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square