November 3rd, 2013: The Paschal Mystery

Today's material is the core and essence of our faith. Class went well, for the most part, today. As we discussed GRACE events, we found ourselves discussing the central and south American traditions around the "Day of the Dead" which I found fascinating. As for the course material, I tried something new today. I let the kids read a page to themselves and we followed it up with a discussion. Nice dynamics; having silence in the room for a couple of minutes. I will be doing that again most definitely.

This week: the Paschal Mystery, looking for a 5 minute video

I'm looking for a video on The Paschal Mystery and came across this:

Obviously a lot of work has gone into this, but I need the video to be no more than 5 minutes. Still looking.

Warmer:


I think we have a winner for tommorrow:

Class notes from October 27, 2014

“In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” — Dwight David Eisenhower

One break week and a work-related trip to Atlanta had me "on holiday" for two weeks. As I've found, I did AND didn't miss teaching — and that is one problem with finding catechists. Teaching class may not seem that important, that someone else will fill your shoes. Yet, afterwards, it is as rewarding as completing any spiritual discipline or charitable act. Most hopefully, done well, you can pass the spark of God's love off to your students.

Yet, ironic though it be, while catechism might seem "someone else's worry" teaching the class can be nerve-wracking. Of course there's the fringes of controversy on multiple fronts, but I'm warmed to that challenge. I'm more concerned that I engage the kids. I want to hold a solid, fun, and informative class. I don't want to be patronizing and I love challenging questions. However, timing is everything. I've gone too long (today) and find I've not adequately covered the book material. Other weeks I can find my self with 15 minutes before the bell rings. So, of course preparation and planning are both key and something you must be ready to entirely dispense with if the class calls for it.

Today I went over schedule as we had a lot of material to cover — oops, as I type this, I just realized I missed the page on the Solemnity of the Saints" — though we had a good discussion based on a stairwell covered in roughly 12 posters of saints and blesseds. We had the class spend 5 minutes in halves reviewing the saints and picking the one that they most identified with. In retrospect, I did a poor job of scheduling. The chapter we had to cover felt "thin" and I wanted to provide more context. Maybe too much?

So, without further ado, here are my notes for this weeks class:

Class Agenda for October 06, 2013; 09:30 AM

Ugh, typing my agenda in raw HTML is too laborious. Switching to Google Docs, embedding the info here. Link to Google Doc: Class Agenda for October 06, 2013; 09:30 AM

What the Holy Trinity IS

St. Patrick’s Bad Analogies

I hunch that the attributions to St. Patrick on these analogies have been apocryphal but it is an amusing look at bad analogies.

Notes from today's class (2013-09-29)

Notes from today's class (2013-09-29)

• Covered the GRACE events well; I'd like to continue this discussion.
• I let the boys and girls "naturally" form sides. As I expected, the boys became disruptive. (Note: I'm tolerant of a noisy classroom, but when its time for someone to speak, no one may interrupt.) I may do boy/girl/boy/girl seating next week.
• Game School Catechism: girl's team name is "Titans" Boy's team name is "Tacos" That was after some "shepherding" of their self-naming process.
• The game was TIE, with a heavy assist for the boys from yours truly 
• Actual topic of Divine Inspiration and the books of the Bible fell a couple minutes short of what I would have liked.
• Reviewed finding a bible reference by book, chapter and verse.
• Shoulda: know what's going on next week.

Class Agenda for September 29, 2013; 09:30 AM

Class Agenda for September 29, 2013; 09:30 AM

Stuff for class:

• Put a Bible out along with each text book
• Write on the whiteboard:
  • Israelites | Divine Revelation | faith | the Church | creation | Divine Inspiration | Eucharist | Psalms
  • Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom
  • GRACE events
  • Game Show Catechism Team Names and scores

09:15 - 09:40	Kids arrive / Game Show Catechism I presume we'll do boy vs girl teams again? Work with kids to create team names Write on writeboard: Israelites | Divine Revelation | faith | the Church | creation | Divine Inspiration | Eucharist | Psalms God’s making known over time the mystery of himself and his divine plan of creation and Salvation Divine Revelation The first people God chose through whom he made himself known Israelites God’s inviting us to know and believe in him, and our free response to that invitation Faith Gives honor and glory to God Creation The community of believers in Jesus Christ the Church T or F? The Second Vatican Council was called by Pope John Paul II False T or F? Bonus 2 points (if no one says): Who called the Second Vatican Council? Pope John 23rd T or F? Some of us are looking for God. False, all of us T or F? We can come to know God on our own. False T or F? One of the best ways we come to know God is through people True T or F? Theologians help us accept the gift of faith. False; the Holy Spirit How does God help us get to know him? God listens to us. God speaks through the priests. God reveals himself to us. none of the above Why did God create us? to be his prophet to be his disciple to pray with him to know and love him What desire inside every person is part of who we are as human beings? Each of us wants to be liked. Each of us wants many friends. Each of us is looking for God. Each of us wants to be happy. When we accept and live the gift of faith, we are able to do well in school help others come to know, love and serve God be friends with many people all of the above The Word of God is Saint Anselm Jesus Pope John XXIII Saint Augustine
09:45 - 09:50	Opening Prayer: Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom Before Reading Sacred Scripture (shortened) O Lord Jesus Christ, open the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Your word and understand and do Your will.
09:50 - 10:00	Weekly recap: any GRACE events this week? What are GRACE events? Elijah Cup Sacramental Moments Service Projects (Brown Bag Ministry and Youth to Senior Outreach) Upcoming: Living Rosary; October 7th at 7 PM
10:00 - 10:25	Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Faith words: Inspiration of the Bible and Gospel Sacred Scripture exercise: Is John 8:31-32 Old or New? Have everyone look up that passage; wait until everyone finds it Page 22 Page 22 Page 23

End of class

Have everyone tear out page 25

Sources and references

• "Be My Disciples" Chapter 2 test pdf.
• Youtube; "Veritas: Sacred Scripture Introduction" link
• Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom Before Reading Sacred Scripture
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Welcome to The Dadechist

Hello, I'm Kyle, and welcome to my blog, "The Dadechist." I'm a Catholic, husband, father, professional — and so on. I'm blessed with an awesome family and we're members of a wonderful parish, St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church in Apex, NC. 

I'm also a catechist. 

I've kept my online writing to my professional work but decided it was time to write about my "labor of love" that is, being a catechist. I've been a catechist since 2005 when we had to withdraw my oldest daughter from a Catholic school for financial reasons. To continue my children's religious education, I started by "homeschooling" my children. (Note, moms and dads, we're all called to do this, regardless…) After my second year, I had the thought that my time in preparation might be better spent sharing my teaching with a group of children, not just my own. My first year was quite the baptism, teaching second grade which coincides with First Holy Communion. I found teaching a group much more satisfying and have continued to do so.

During my time teaching, there's always been a need for more catechists. I'd love to see more of my fellow dads teach the faith and hope that this blog might help to inspire a dad on the fence to jump on in — regardless, the more volunteer catechists, the better the program. 

See you in my blog — Kyle