"Catechetical Weekend 2004 "

So, what is catechetical weekend and why is it important to the people of St. Ailbe Church?  This weekend is incredibly important for all of us.  This is the weekend in the United States when we Catholics highlight the men and women who are entrusted with passing on (teaching) the Catholic faith in our schools and churches.  This should be a weekend of great prayer of thanksgiving heard throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago!

Each time as we gather for prayer here at St. Ailbe Church we hear a simple prayer that I pray during our Liturgies, “Lord, never allow us to be complacent or comfortable here at St. Ailbe Church.  Lord, allow us to live out the mission of our Church — to bring one more soul closer to you and to help someone along the way.”  Our mission is lived out as our catechist, pass on our faith to men, women, boys and girls.  Our catechists are entrusted with a great ministry.  The mission of our Church would be hampered without the dedication of our catechists.

This year we are highlighting the three-fold aspect of our faith formation — our children’s Sunday school, our elementary school, and our adult faith formation program.  There are many ministries that fall under the above aspects of faith formation:  our Bible Study, Emmaus Retreats, Youth for Christ, St. Ailbe Book Club, etc.  We are in the process of re-aligning the many ministries of our Church to better coordinate our mission as a Church.

I thought it might be helpful to highlight through this means those entrusted with our adult faith formation, our elementary school, and our children’s Sunday school.

Mrs. Rubye Brown is our Director of Religious Education/Formation for our Church.  In her position/ministry, she acts as a consultant for the other two leaders (Sunday school and our elementary school).  Mrs. Brown is also entrusted to guide the adult faith formation/adult Sunday school as well as the R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) process.  Rubye who is a long-time member of our Church was born and raised in Greenville, Mississippi.  She has a Master’s Degree in Education and has served for many years both in the Archdiocese of Chicago as well as in the Chicago public school system.  Not too many years ago, she retired from the Chicago public schools.  She has worked within many ministries in our Church community and is a wonderful leader in the field of catechesis.  Presently, she is serving on various archdiocesan boards that develop policies to pass on our faith.  Rubye is a certified catechist and lay minister.

Mrs. Ruthie Hawkins is the director of our children’s Sunday school.  Ruthie was born in Bolivar, Tennessee.  She is a registered nurse who received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Mehary Medical College.  She is also a certified catechist, which was a two-year faith formation program sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago.  Mrs. Hawkins continues to update herself by attending many faith formation conferences and workshops.  Like Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Hawkins has received the Fr. Augustus Tolton Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago as well as the Archdiocesan Catechetical Leadership Award from Cardinal Francis George.  As many are aware, Mrs. Hawkins’ love for children and her faith motivates her to volunteer in her ministry as Director of our Sunday school program for the past 15 years!!  Under Mrs. Hawkins’ leadership, our Children’s Sunday School has become an incredible ministry within our Church.  Her devotion to our children has led many children to be Baptism, First Communion, welcomed to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and to desire to be confirmed in the faith.  Her theme as volunteer director is about inclusion — many of us have heard, “no big I’s nor little u’s” come from the heart of Mrs. Hawkins.

Our next catechist leader is Ms. Stephanie Clausell, the principal of St. Ailbe School.  After an exhaustive process, I received the report from our principal-selection committee to hire Ms. Clausell as principal of St. Ailbe School.  What impressed me during an interview was her response to a question — “Why do you want to be principal of St. Ailbe Catholic School?”   Her response was a blessing, “To give back from what I received.”  What a great scriptural lesson for all of us!  Ms. Clausell is a graduate of Central State University and received her Master’s degree from Columbia College.  She continued her educational pursuit at Lewis University where she was awarded a certificate of advanced studies/school administration.  Ms. Clausell, working in conjunction with our other catechetical leaders, will be instrumental in passing (teaching) our Catholic faith.  The mission of our school is simple — “To pass on the Catholic faith within the context of a quality education system.”  (see school web page:  www.stailbeschoolchicago.org)   Our school children will be blessed with the guidance that Ms. Clausell will offer them as she works daily with our teachers/catechists to pass on our faith.  

We are blessed to celebrate Catechetical Weekend 2004.  We are always in the process of fine-tuning the mission God has appointed for our Church.  We are far from finishing the re-aligning of our faith formation for our Church; yet I believe we are on the right track.  

These leaders do not share their wisdom alone.  They are greatly assisted daily and weekly by certified catechists — women and men of our Church who daily and weekly share their time, talent and treasure passing on (teaching) the Catholic faith.  Yes, we need more!!  Yes, some are becoming certified each year.  Be blessed.

On the Battlefield for my Lord!

 
                       "The SPIRIT of the LORD is upon US."

 Jesus breathed on them and said:

            “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whose sins you forgive are forgiven and those sins you retain are retained”.

This day is like no other day here at St. Ailbe Church.  After months and months of preparation, our Sunday School children will be baptized and/or gather at the table for first Eucharist. 

The ministry of religious formation/education for children and adults is an ongoing process.  The process of religious education twenty-five years ago is not utilized today.  The families must become more involved as it is now a process rather than a program.  The experience of religious education's direction is that the process has to be experienced in a family setting, however one defines a family.  The parents/caregivers are the first teachers in the way of faith as the baptismal rite highlights.  Our religious education here at St. Ailbe Church, whether in our elementary school and/or Sunday School, can only reinforce what the child experiences at home.  If the family and/or the church become complacent in catechetical continuance, our children will not be formed as they are today at St. Ailbe Church.  This is a time of transition, and transitions are never easy.  We are learning as we go; yet we are committed to an ongoing process of faith formation for all who choose St. Ailbe as a Church home. 

We are so blessed to have people at St. Ailbe Church claim their rightful places in ministry.  Our children’s Sunday School is a wonderful example of how the spirit of the Lord is upon us.  Every year under the direction of Mrs. Ruthie Hawkins, our Sunday School for children expands.  I love seeing the children “on fire” for knowledge of the Lord.  Those who minister as catechists, assistants, and/or parent coordinators all work together as one body to bring forth new life.  We would not be this blessed parish we are without their dedication to the ministry of education/formation.

As we continually move ahead, pray that GOD’S SPIRIT may truly come down upon all of us as we minister in His name.

Please take a moment or two to look at the beautiful display dedicated to our children who will be receiving SACRAMENTS this weekend.  We are so blessed with these “new” additions to our sacramental family.  Be blessed.

On the Battlefield for my Lord,