Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Liturgy - Class 6


Tonight as class convened we were asked, “What is the most effective learning experience you have had regarding your faith?” We were supposed to write down our answer on the now familiar sticky notes. The most effective learning experience I have had regarding my faith is (wait for it) my three plus years at ILM.
 
I’ve had two other strong learning experiences in my life. One was in the service where I competed for grades with a physicist and a mathematician. I’m afraid we pushed the grade curve so high that some of the students in our class didn’t pass.  Another one was a technical school called Masters Institute in which I learned computer systems and networking.  All three of these experiences contributed to the next answer.
 
The follow up question was to list the three strategies or elements that made it effective. Of course these had to be written down on sticky notes as well. I wrote “Quality instruction”, “Consistent message”, “Fascinating subjects”, and “Friendly environment”.  Our instructor also liked the idea of fascinating subjects, pointing out that if we're drawn to the subject we can't wait to learn more.
 
However, for teaching others we have to start with what fascinates the hearer, not what fascinates the instructor. Doing so makes it easier for the student to absorb and connect the story.
 
Next we had to do some speed dating. We had one minute to talk to another person in the room and share our “story” and then listen to their story about learning. With the sound of the bell we had to move on to another person, each time trying to remember as much as we could about the strategies and elements that made if effective.
 
Others in the class wrote patience, live experience, volunteering, interactive, examples, retreat experience. Becoming more involved, more engaged, parental guidance, and listening. One student pointed out that “knowledge builds your faith, and faith inspires good works”, and another suggested that “What you know is power, because it enables discernment”.
 
When the student is committed to success it’s easy to do whatever it takes to learn the material. Our instructor pointed out that “People who write down their goals improve their chances of success”. I liked that idea that testimony can make your faith stronger, by helping you develop a consistent message, and teach you how to share your faith.
 
In the end however, developing a relationship with others is how we engage the hearers. It requires skill and patience on the part of the instructor.
 
Someone asked the following question: “Is it appropriate to allow children to do the readings during Mass?” He didn’t think so because when a child reads the scripture during Mass, everyone is thinking “Oh how cute” instead of listening to the Word of God. Our instructor did agree that ultimately the congregation must learn something, or the reading lacks the required level of communication.
 
To me it doesn't seem appropriate to have young children read during an adult mass but it might be appropriate for them to read during a youth mass. It's about the learning opportunity of those you’re trying to reach. It's not just what the documents say, it's about the meaning and purpose of what they are trying to say. It's important to understand the principle.
 
Our instructor moved on with some questions about the reading assignment for this week. I suddenly realized that I had read the assignment for next week, not this week, but I can catch up next week. The class web site lists the assigned readings for the following class, and when I checked on the reading assignment for tonight I was looking at the web page for tonight’s class instead of the previous class. It’s not really as confusing as I make it sound, I just goofed.
 
From the second to last page of the reading in “Fasten your Seatbelt” some had read, “It's more important to catechize the parents during preparation for infant baptism”. He was concerned about parents that have their children baptized and never come back, and he wanted to know how to reach them.
 
Our instructor suggested that it’s the perfect opportunity to use the five questions, discussed in a previous post, for the parents; 1) “Where have you been?” 2) “Where do you want to be?” etc. and that it should be made as interactive as possible to engage the adults. We should try to think of experiences can we provide the parents.
 
After the break we stared with a discussion about why liturgical catechesis important. We’re a hands on community, an expression of what we learn, and it's about our relationship, intimacy and communion with Jesus. The Apostles could have lunch with Jesus as part of their relationship, and since we can’t do that, it’s even more important for our relationship with Jesus to be fully present in the Mass.
 
So then what is liturgical catechesis and how is it different from religious education? For one thing it’s not a classroom activity; it’s an expression of our faith in common events. We’re all learning by example, sharing our struggles, and in the process discovering what Jesus would do. It’s interactive rather than through presentation.
 
All catechesis is liturgical in that we are learning about Jesus, but there is a way in which we forget that it's liturgical. Teaching others about God is liturgical in nature, and through the experience we discover how God is in our lives, we discover what we believe, and we discover who we are in community.
 
How do we do liturgical catechesis and how does catechesis happen in the Mass? Learning about the Pascal Mystery during the Eucharistic Prayer is part of it, but we’re also coming closer to God through interaction and participation.
 
Evangelization is the first level of catechesis in growing the faith, because it leads to the initial spark of faith. Evidently 40% of Sunday attendees are pew warmers that lack intimacy with Christ. Evangelization is sharing who Jesus is to people who do not know "the Good News".
 
Initiatory Catechesis is the second level of catechesis. It is about understanding your faith and sharing that faith with others, like the inquirers in the RCIA process.
 
Liturgical catechesis is the third, ongoing, level of catechesis. It is more like teaching your kids what it's like to be a part of the family. It's more about life style training, or mentoring, then it is about facts. Ongoing catechesis is sharing your faith every day, it’s not accomplished in one hour per week.
 
The model for catechesis is taken from the Baptismal Catechumenate Community. It’s based on the activity of the whole community; which is the Body of Christ. Integrating the Pascal Mystery into the people, the Body of Christ, is the reason a Parish exists. We are not just a community; we are a community of Christ.
 
It’s important to note that the Easter Vigil isn't a one day celebration; it's about ongoing participation and involvement. There is no graduation. To accomplish this, the Good News has to sound like good news. We can’t bore the participants, we have to discover what fascinates them, and it must be shared in stages because people are led through stages by the Holy Spirit.
 
Catechesis is sharing how we live in community and drawing in those we meet. If we tell the story correctly people will be drawn in naturally, because they’ll see that Jesus really is an important member of the community. As they approach the edge of chaos, they will be changed by the Holy Spirit, and it’s our job to recognize this opportunity, bring out this encounter, and emphasis how this brings us to the truth.
 
One lesson about the Paschal mystery is that we need to “suck it up” and give up our ego for the sake of our relationship with God. To teach people about Jesus we must be open about how we live as Christians. Even if we go to graduate school to learn something new, its' liturgical catechesis if it teaches us something about our faith.
 
AT this point someone told a story about a mouse that barks like a dog. It was only peripherally connected to tonight’s topic, but it finished with a funny punch line.
 
Our instructor then asked us to gather into groups of four or five and discuss the following questions, “What is your truest, biggest, wildest, hope for your parish?” What is the one step you can take in the next 30 days to accomplish this goal?” and “How will you hold yourself accountable?” Talk about ending the class with a challenge!

My post to the class website:
 
OK I'll admit it ... I'm an emotional lightweight. Liturgy is a work of God and a work of the people, and in it I encounter the Divine through the beauty of the rites, music, art, and architecture: That encounter quite often brings me to tears.
 
Liturgy is a radiant expression of the Paschal Mystery, in which Christ draws me to himself and calls me to communion. God's love in Christ encounters me, attracts me, delights me, and enables me to emerge from myself; drawing me towards my true vocation, which is love.
 
I’ve always believed that the little decisions are more important than the big decisions, because over time so much more of “who we are” is determined by the little stuff we deal with each and every day. I’m going to add to that something I was reminded about in our last class tonight, that we are led through the stages of our lives by the Holy Spirit.

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