August 21, 2013 WBAS Topics Prayer, WBAS Topics For Families, REL Asset - Prayer Card, REL PD - Catechist, REL PD - Leaders
By: Kathy Hendricks
The yellow buses are back in action. Newspaper ads remind parents of all the supplies their children and teen-agers need. There is a noticeable absence of kids accompanying their parents in the grocery stores and malls. School’s back in session.
My own schedule picks up dramatically at this time of year. I 
have a lot of presentations to give – twenty-five keynotes, workshops, classes, and retreats – between now and Christmas. Each one will put me in touch with people who are also “back to school” in some form. Teachers and catechists who are looking for ideas and inspiration as they prepare religion lessons. Principals, catechetical leaders, and pastoral ministers who are seeking motivation and momentum as they move into fall programs. People in certification programs and those simply interested in deepening their faith and broadening the spiritual lives. It’s an honor and a privilege to spend time with all of them.
Preparing for each presentation is a personal opportunity to learn a bit more. Researching my talks, and thinking about how best to engage participants in the process are creative endeavors for me. It’s not unusual to wake up at 3:00 a.m. with a brainstorm rumbling through my mind. It often brings a much-sought solution to a question or process. Learning is an energetic endeavor.
Knowledge moves to another level when it comes to topics of prayer, spiritual transformation, faith, and the infinite love of God. One can only grasp so much with the mind; the heart must come more fully into play. Thus some of the best preparation I can do is meditating quietly, writing in my journal, and remaining in touch with my family, friends, and self.
The late Maria Harris described the process of religious education as both act and art. The latter requires the use of imagination and involves five movements. The first of these, contemplation, requires listening and allowing the subject matter at hand to speak first to our hearts. So, during these last few weeks of summer, I am trying to take in the subject matter I will be presenting over the next several months and allow it to simmer inside both mind and heart. For those of you involved in catechizing, teaching, and facilitating, I hope you find time to do the same. Let’s pray for each other.
Bright Ideas
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Read another article about the joy of learning. What kind of back-to-school moments are you experiencing right now? What do you look forward to as a new school year begins?
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Download my Prayer for a New School Year, and use it in your parish or home.
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