August 20, 2015 WBAS Cat Prayers & Reflections, REL Asset - Prayer Card, REL PD - Leaders
By: Kathy Hendricks
As a child, I approached the end of August with mixed emotions. I hated to see summer end and had little enthusiasm for resuming the homework routine. I did, however, anticipate the start of a school year because I knew it would bring new experiences. I would have a different teacher and, perhaps, I’d make a new friend. My class would receive fresh textbooks and as I leafed through them, I wondered what I would learn by the time we reached the final chapters. The start of the school year was a time of anticipation.
When I moved to the other side of the desk and took on the role of teacher, anticipation enfolded me as each new year began. I also felt a bit of trepidation when considering the challenges I might face with a different group of students. A few years later, as a parish catechetical leader, mixed emotions once again surfaced as fall approached. The abundance of last-minute details generated no small amount of tension, but I looked forward to greeting and supporting the catechists as they took on their vital role in passing on the faith.
In my current role as national consultant for Sadlier, I recently visited the Diocese of Corpus Christi where I spent an entire day talking to and with Catholic school teachers, administrators, aides, and support staff on ways to maintain spiritual balance throughout the year. It was an energetic gathering that left me inspired by the dedication of the women and men involved in education and faith formation. Theirs is no small task.
As student, teacher, catechetical leader, and consultant, the start of the school year represents a time of new beginnings. Possibilities lie on the horizon as we are brought into contact with various people and open ourselves to diverse experiences. My hope for all you readers is that, whatever your role, the next several weeks will revitalize your heart and spirit. Who knows what we will all learn by the time we reach the “final chapters”!
Bright Ideas
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Write down your own feelings as the school year begins. What anticipation and/or trepidation do you sense? What hopes do you hold? What might you learn as the year unfolds? Place your writing in a calendar or journal where you will find it when the year ends. It is likely to provide some interesting insights into the expectations you hold now and how they are met as the year unfolds.
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Download my Prayer for a New School Year and use it with your school faculty or with your parish catechists.
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