Practical suggestions, words of encouragement and ways to become reenergized in the ministry of catechesis were highlights presented during a formation day the diocesan Department of Catechesis hosted Feb. 3 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral, Freehold.

The day, which was open to catechists, parish catechetical leaders and anyone using home study for religious education, featured a keynote address on “Structure for Success – Tips That Replace ‘Survive’ with ‘Thrive,’” by Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Patricia McCormack, who shared her breadth of knowledge from her own extensive classroom and administrative experiences working at the elementary, secondary and college levels.

Addressing a number of areas those in catechetical ministry regularly encounter, part of Sister Patricia's talk included offering organizational tips and suggestions on how catechists can better prepare for their sessions; ways to engage their students more during the classes as well as ways to better engage parents in their children’s faith development. Among the many points she covered was the manner of approach a catechist may use especially when facing a challenging situation with students and their families. The bottom line, she said, was for catechists to focus on the positive in their ministry and to remain committed to promoting the Gospel values in all they do.

In addition to Sister Patricia’s presentations, the day included a Mass with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., as principal celebrant. Concelebrants included Franciscan Father Gabriel Zeis, diocesan vicar for Catholic education, and Msgr. Sam Sirianni, Co-Cathedral rector.

In his homily, Bishop O’Connell reflected on the themes of the day’s Readings proclaimed at Mass and applied them to areas that were pertinent to catechetical ministry.

The First Reading tells of when God had appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to Solomon, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” The Bishop then asked the congregation to reflect on how they would respond if God had appeared to them in a dream and asked them the same question.

The answer, the Bishop said, should be important to you “because it probably says a lot about you and what you value most, a ‘self-revelation.’” But more important than the response, the Bishop continued, is calling to mind the action of what it means of having “placed ourselves in the middle of God’s Word.”

“That’s what we have come here together to think and talk about today,” said Bishop O’Connell.

In the Gospel, the Bishop told of how the Lord gathered his Apostles and invited them to take a break from their ministry and rest, but the vast crowds continued to follow them. And, Jesus, who was moved with pity for the crowds, put his time of rest aside and, instead, went about ministering to the crowds. Similarly, the Bishop once again asked the catechetical ministers to place themselves “in the middle of God’s Word" and reflect upon how they would respond to their own communities.

Jesus' “Word and work surround you as does the crowd who come to you for catechesis,” the Bishop said, and while [the crowd] may not be vast and they may not be ‘hastening from all the towns,’ they come from our parishes and families,” the Bishop said. Then posing the questions, “What is in your heart as you see them? Pity? Care and concern? The desire to shepherd them by your role?" the Bishop reminded the catechists of what was in Jesus' heart. “… [and] he began to teach them many things …”

“And that is what you do, what we do, as his disciples. As catechists, we ‘teach many things’ from hearts that are full.”

More to come on this story.