How to Inspire children through CCD class

Friendship with Jesus, through CCD class
                                                                    ~ Lin Thomas

This year, I decided to volunteer as a Catechism/CCD teacher. Before my 6th graders took the Mid-term test, I asked them a question. How important is this exam and is it more important than your school exams? I got several answers most of them citing the importance of school exams –how it was important because it would help them get to college, get jobs etc. These marks would not get into their report cards. Yes, they were all right answers from one perspective.
Then I asked another question - True, your education will help you get a job – but how does CCD class help you? Some of the answers were truly amazing. One 6th grader answered – It helps us make the right choices. Another said, it helps to make us learn more and be strong. What beautiful minds these 11 year olds had. Isn’t it true that no matter how educated we are, the basic qualities that make up our personality matter tremendously? After some more brainstorming and discussion about qualities that Jesus teaches us, the class reached an agreement that CCD class/exam was at least of equal importance like the school classes/exams.

After this discussion, I began to think about the people around me that may not have religion or God in their lives. Many of us probably know a few ‘Atheists’. For some it is fashionable, and some it may be due to circumstances. I will describe two such atheists I know. The first person has a hard time getting along with colleagues. She has relationship problems with her spouse. She doesn’t accept differences in people easily. With all that is going on she feels lonely, weak and thinks people don’t treat her right. Perhaps, if she believed in God, a supernatural power who loved her and would guide and protect her, she could be a stronger person. She would love others more and in turn be loved.

The second person also claims to be an atheist. However, he treats everyone with respect. He is a devoted father and husband. He does not speak evil of others. He is a happy person, loved by all. In my opinion, although this person may claim to be an atheist, he is truly living the life of a Christian in thought, word and action. He follows God’s words in how he lives and treats others. On checking further, I discovered that his parents were devout Catholics. I realized that although some circumstances may have caused him to give up his “faith”, his parents had instilled in him strong Christian qualities perhaps by the way they lived and treated others. Isn’t that way of life, more beautiful than saying your prayers regularly, and then treating others with contempt and breaking God ‘s commandments.

As parents and CCD teachers, we have a very important responsibility to set the right example for our children. Although, we need to finish teaching the chapters in the syllabus and conduct the exams, what matters much more is what lessons in life they are taking home from the CCD class. Children may forget names of people in the stories or the stories themselves and may score less on CCD exams. Although the classes and the exams are very important, how they think in their day to day lives and treat others is a true reflection of their faith.

Prayer and faith are definitely important but in addition, I pray that they see Jesus as a friend and Saviour. That is something they cannot forget easily. I also pray that the faith they develop, helps them be stronger people in their future lives, make right choices and in addition to believing in God they also live like true Christians in thought, word and action.
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(Published in StJude NVA November  2012 newsletter)