2015 Connections Term 2

CCD Newsletter To access information on the 2015 Art Prize go to: www.dbb.org.au/news

Volume 20 Issue 2 Term Two

CONNECTIONS

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Diocese of Broken Bay

in this issue…

World Youth Day 2016 ‘mercy’ in the classroom Catechists tell their stories Ministry Induction is now ON LINE!!

The Joy of the Gospel - Community Guided meditations for children

Training and Formation opportunities for all. pages 7 & 12

in this issue

TERM 2 2015

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Ask your parish coordinator for details or contact registrations: registrations@dbb.org.au or 9847 0448/ 4332 9825

May – June 2015 Level 2 Certificate Course

The Church in the Third Millennium

PSU Training and Formation Program

MEETINGS AND EVENTS April 15 16 17 20 21, 28 22 24 25 27 27 27

MWP: Workshop: Class Management & Curriculum NSH: Workshop: Class Management & Curriculum CC: Workshop: Class Management & Curriculum TERM 2 COMMENCES MWP: CCDMI / Level 1 (Units 8-9) NSH: CCDMI (Unit 7) NSH: CCDMI/Level 1 (Units 11-12) ANZAC DAY CC: Parish Coordinators Meeting MWP: Parish Coordinators Meeting MWP: Secondary Catechists Meeting

9:30am-12:30pm 9:30am-12:30pm 9:30am-12:30pm

TBA CCC The Entrance

12:30pm - 2:30pm 7:00pm - 9:00pm 9:30pm -2:30pm

Forestville Carlingford cancelled

May 1 1 4,11,18,25 5,12,19,26 8 15,22,29 27 29

NSH: Parish Coordinators Meeting NSH: CCDMI/Level1 (Units13-14) CC: Level 2 (Units1-8) MWP: CCDMI / Level 1 (Units 10-13) Andrew Chinn Workshop MWP/NSH: Level 2 (Units 1-6) Date Claimer for Secondary Catechists’ Event Service Award Application Deadline

10:00am -12:00pm

June 1,15 2 5,12 & 26 8 12 19 22 26 26

CC: Level 2 (Units 9-12) 9:30am - 2:30pm MWP: CCDMI / Level 1 (Unit 14) 12:30pm -2:30pm MWP/NSH: Level 2 (Units 7 -12) 9:30am - 2:30pm Queen’s Birthday Holiday Deadline for submitting articles for Connections Term 3 MWP & NSH: Regional Reflection Day 9:30am - 2:30pm CC: Regional Reflection Day 9:30am - 2:30pm Statistics Deadline TERM 2 CONCLUDES

10:00am - 1:00pm East Gosford 9:45am - 12:00pm Manly Vale 12:00pm - 2:30pm Manly Vale

9:30am - 2:30pm 12:30pm -2:30pm 9:30am - 2:00pm 9:30am - 2:30pm

CCC cancelled East Gosford Forestville Manly Vale Forestville CCC

East Gosford Forestville Forestville Terrey Hills Woy Woy

CCC – Caroline Chisholm Centre (Pennant Hills); CC – Central Coast; MWP – Peninsula; NSH – North Shore & Hornsby

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine welcomes the Most Reverend Peter A Comensoli who was installed as the third Bishop of the Diocese of Broken Bay on the 12th December 2014 From the Director From the Diocesan CCD Coordinator A new Generation of Catechists Catechist Formation The Joy of the Gospel ‘Community’ Formation opportunities Technology For the Classroom From the Classroom Noticeboard, Training Dates & CCD Directory

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 & 10 11 12

CONTENTS

from the director

Welcome back! I hope your Easter break We are a lucky country. We are able to practice our faith was blessed, restful and reflective. without hindrance, something that we must remember not to When I received a Whatsapp Easter take for granted. True, there are those who are trying to stop greeting from a friend with the quote “We us from sharing our faith, and we mustn’t let them. Pope are an Easter People and Hallelujah is our Francis’s Easter Sunday Urbi Et Orbi (to the City and to the Song” by Pope John Paul II, I could not help World) message was one filled with prayer for peace. He asks but also think of Pope Francis’ line in Evangelii Gaudium “One for the peace of the Risen Christ for the whole list of countries of the more serious temptations which stifles boldness and suffering war and conflict, for those subject to old and new zeal is a defeatism which turns us into querulous and forms of enslavement, for the marginalized, the imprisoned, the poor and the migrants, and the list goes on. We pray with disillusioned pessimists, ‘sourpusses’”.

Pope Francis.

I reflected on my personal faith journey, and asked myself which end of the scale I was at. Did I feel and behave like an When ordinary folk were asked two years ago, what they “Easter person”? Was “Hallelujah” really my song and was I thought the impact the election of Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio’s singing it? Or was I closer to the “sourpuss” that Pope Francis as our new Pope would have on their lives and on the life of refers to? I think we all fluctuate along that scale depending the Church, many responded that it was one of hope. I on what else is happening in our lives, and I invite you to take believe that sentiment has not changed for the majority. We the time to reflect on this or in your own way as we journey are an Easter people and we are rediscovering that, through the leadership of Pope Francis and our own Bishop Peter! towards Pentecost.

Again, and as always, please accept my gratitude and support So, what does it mean to be an Easter person, for the hope and encouragement in the message of the and who are they?

Bishop Peter’s vision for the Diocese of Broken Bay is one of Gospel that you bring to children in State Schools.

Evangelisation. The Easter people for us must thus be those May the risen-Christ be with you this Easter-tide and always. who live and preach the resurrection more than one day a year. My first thought of who these might be in our Diocese? God Bless, All of you! You, who go out every week and share our faith, Carole Gan, Director, Parish Support Unit you are prime examples of an Easter person.

VALE Pamela Rice 15 April 1930 - 13 March 2015 Pamela Rice was close to 85 years of age when she died suddenly earlier this year. Those who knew her would describe her as a doer and she certainly never slowed in her commitments within The Lakes Parish and the many other activities with which she was involved.

In 2012 Pamela was Pamela and helpers - Narrabeen, 2005 acknowledged for her large contribution to the work of the CCD, particularly for her role in establishing the Catechist Resource Centre in the Manly Warringah Peninsula Region.

Pamela put in many voluntary hours sharing her expertise as a librarian in order to collate and catalogue books and other resources to assist catechists in their role in the classroom. Pamela’s organisation skills ensured that not only were the resources in order but that she had a number of helpers drawn from her parish to assist in her work.

Those who encountered her will recall her warm smile and her able assistance. She will be sadly missed but remembered with joy.

Please remember and pray for catechists who have recently died:   

Pamela Rice ~ The Lakes Parish Graham Horton ~ St Ives Parish Donald Hallett ~ Wyoming

 

Doreen Babs McKinnon ~ Toukley Bruce Walsh ~ Frenchs Forest

Term Two 2015 Week 1 (19 April) Third Sunday of Easter Week 2 (26 April) Fourth Sunday of Easter Week 3 (3 May) Fifth Sunday of Easter Week 4 (10 May) Sixth Sunday of Easter Week 5 (17 May)

Ascension of the Lord Week 6 (24 May)

Pentecost Sunday Week 7 (31 May) Ordinary Time

Trinity Sunday

Week 8 (7 June) Ordinary Time

The Body & Blood of Christ 12 June—Sacred Heart Week 9 (14 June) Ordinary Time Week 10 (21 June) Ordinary Time

24 June—St John the Baptist

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from the Diocesan Coordinator, CCD When addressing catechists of the world in September 2013, Pope Francis threw out the challenge to be a catechist - as opposed to working as a catechist …. The Holy Father said, “Being a catechist is not a job, it is a way of life.” It is this virtue that children recognise in the person of the catechist.

When I ponder the flow of Easter graces into our lives each year, I think of the catechist. Catechists have responded to their Baptismal

call to holiness by answering the call to proclaim the Good News to our Catholic children who attend public schools. Catechists embody the faith they teach. Many of you have had experiences of students from your classes greeting you in church, or in the local supermarket or town centre and telling their parents “that’s my Scripture teacher”.

As you take the graces of the Easter season into your classroom during Term 2, be mindful that what you say… the tone of your voice… what you do… and how you do it… will stay with the children long after they move through their school years.

Remember to use the children’s names as you speak to them with respect and be mindful that you are the face of Christ to them. How you model your own relationship with Jesus will influence them. Pray with the children. Pray for them and their families. Your witness can bring the children to an understanding that they have been made in the image of a loving God who forgives all and whose mercy never ends. May God richly bless you as you continue to carry out the evangelising mission of the Church by being a catechist.

Alison Newell

Independent Review of Special Religious Education (SRE) A review of SRE and special education in ethics (SEE) is currently underway in New South Wales. The review is being conducted by an independent consultancy company called ARTD. It is important to note that the review is not being held to determine whether SRE should continue in NSW public schools. This is our opportunity to showcase what we do well and to highlight the significant contribution which SRE makes to public education in NSW.

I would like to invite you to contribute to the review by completing an online survey which is available online during Term 2, 2015. A web page has been set up to accept contributions to the review from four separate groups: 1) Parents. 2) SRE Teachers. 3) SEE teachers. 4) Other interested parties.

The contributions web link is http://artd.com.au/sre-see-review One of the contribution links is Online contribution for SRE

teachers. I encourage all catechists to contribute to the independent review by completing the survey at this link. When identifying the religious persuasion you teach for, please note Catholic is not specifically named so please select Christian.

The theme of the 2015 Bishop David Walker Student Religious Art Prize is a “Scriptural person, event or passage” Students in Government schools will complete and photograph their art A big thank you to all catechists for work and with the assistance and permission of parents, upload the complying with the new Child photograph to the Diocesan Website.

Protection (Working with Children Parents are to complete Entry Form (not the catechist).

Check) Act by obtaining a WWCC clearance number and providing it to 2014 was the first year that non catholic schools in our Diocese were your parish office for verification. An involved and one of these students achieved a Highly Commended, audit of our database indicates that all attending the Diocesan Awards Evening with their parents and catechist. catechists are now compliant with the A postcard size advertisement will be available for distribution from legislation. your CCD Particular thanks go to our wonderful Coordinator or team of Parish Coordinators who work tirelessly to ensure that children and contact Jenny catechists are experiencing SRE in a Hildebrandt for safe environment by ensuring that more information. catechists are fully authorised and are Visit the website: teaching the authorised curriculum www.dbb.org.au/ Walking with Jesus: Pathways of news Discipleship. These important

Working with Children Checks (WWCC)

regulations are covered by the NSW Education Act and form part of the terms of reference for the independent review of SRE and SEE.

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Please encourage your students to

next gen catechists

Amanda

I was a student at Cheltenham Girls’ High School and last year, during one of my final catholic scripture lessons, our scripture teacher asked our class if we were interested in volunteering as Catholic Catechists. Prior to this, the idea of becoming a catechist had never crossed my mind. I sat in class weighing the pros and cons in my head.

Having fortnightly scripture classes during my high school year taught me a lot about my religion and helped me establish my values and morals. But the majority of my thoughts consisted of unruly children screaming out questions that I couldn’t answer. I was hesitant to volunteer, but something inspired me to do so and I signed up. I currently take two thirty minute classes as a Catholic Catechist at Epping Public Primary School and I couldn’t be enjoying it more. The students greet me with a smile and constantly impress me with their knowledge on religion.

The CCD has been very friendly in the way they’ve eased me into my role as catechist.

Instead of immediately handing me a class to teach they started me off as an assistant of experienced catechists from whom I’ve gained a lot of insight on the job. I even had the opportunity to take a lesson myself with their guidance. The experience has been wonderful and has been a decision that I am proud of.

Amanda Fernandopulle

Christine

Hi! I’m Christine, I’m privileged to be a new SRE teacher. I was inspired by the Holy Spirit through my Mum, my primary school SRE teacher, Mrs. Felicity Macdonald, and my high school SRE teacher, Mrs. Anne Moore. I am forever grateful for their loving nurturing of my faith.

For a very long time I managed to suppress my yearning to be an SRE teacher. As my faith blossomed through numerous God-incidences, it became harder for me to deny it. Then late last year, Mrs. Trish Harrison shared her heart-moving testimony that ignited an overwhelming urge for me to say “yes” to God’s calling to join the catechist ministry. From her story, I realised that because we fear the unknown, we are always able to find excuses to justify avoiding God’s calling, such as “I don’t have time”, “I don’t know how” and “I’m not qualified”. I was reminded that God has given us the gift of life in this world to share His love by imitating Jesus. Life is too precious to waste time procrastinating.

Being an SRE teacher is an extremely rewarding privilege that brings me immense joy. Each week I look forward to teaching the wonderful children about our loving, merciful God. I am aware that for most of them, my very short lessons are the only time they are exposed to our Catholic faith, so effective classroom management is crucial and an ongoing challenge. During my first solo lesson, I felt helpless when the whole class requested to escape to the bathroom simultaneously, but a few lessons later, with God’s help they were beautifully transformed. Nobody asked to go to the bathroom, and every child was engaged in the lesson, listening and participating in prayer requests. I now appreciate that teaching is an art that is taken for granted by many, but not by our Lord who delights in those who faithfully share His love.

Christine Jap

Eda

Hi my name is Eda and I'm 18 years old. I am currently in my first year of university and I have a love of cooking, drawing, skiing and going to concerts. Growing up, I always took up opportunities to learn more about my family's faith and develop my own. I decided to become a catechist, as I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community, after the numerous years of dedicated catechists coming in regularly to teach me and others about Catholicism. I hope that in the near future, I can pass on and teach others about this religion, like those who taught me.

Eda Lin

community and educating Catholic students about their faith in the state school system. I My name is Rachel know for one, it really kept me in touch with Foster, I’ve just my faith amidst busy high school years. graduated from Upon being present at the catechist Cheltenham Girls’ High recruitment drives at my church when it was School where I have been in Catholic scripture nearing the end of last year, I thought that becoming a catechist would be a great thing since Year 7 after to do after my HSC, for the positive impact it attending St Gerard’s Catholic Primary School. has on a parish and local community, and Having had experiences how it helps develop their own faith.

I am currently teaching a lovely group of 6 from both perspectives- catholic private and state scripture, I really appreciate all the work kindy children at Roselea primary school in Carlingford and love every minute of it. The that catechists do both in their church

Rachel

simple joy and wonder that these little children have in God is truly inspiring and heartwarming. To be witness to their first ever lesson being introduced to the idea of God and his love for them, was amazing.

Sometimes it can be quite a challenge in finding things to do that both engage them and teach them. But I know that in continuing to learn and teach myself, I can see it developing my faith as well as those of the little kiddies I teach- a truly rewarding experience.

Rachel Foster

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Diocese of Broken Bay

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catechist spirituality

The Joy of the Gospel

Part 4 of 7

EVANGELII GAUDIUM

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL IN TODAY’S WORLD then I’ve got to do this, that and whatever etc. I remember laughing at Fr Richard Leonard’s rendition on this particular point when he finally says, “If it’s a competition on busyness you want, you win!” Pope Francis challenges us not to get too caught up in all the busyness that we lose sight of the beauty of symmetry, the beauty of the journey, the beauty of the people with us on the journey and the beauty of those we meet whilst on the journey. Taking three facets from Hugh Mackay’s ‘good life’, let’s phrase three questions to discern this beautiful symmetry.

1. What is at the heart of your catechist community?

Challenge 4: Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of community!

2. Who is the face of your catechist community whom you trust?

3. Where in your catechist community does an environment of mutual respect prevail?

experiences, struggles, sensitivities, contexts and desires, which “deepen their recognition of God, others and the world”⁴. Pastorally caring for one another builds trust and hope. And thus we come to the point where we are able to see more clearly why Mackay’s second question leads on from the first and why the third question leads on from the second. For trust and hope honours the wisdom that experienced catechist’s impart, whilst welcoming and acknowledging the dynamism of young new faces, perhaps for some communities this may also incorporate our newly inducted high school student catechists. Fr David Ranson succinctly sums up this environment of mutual respect, by saying “a genuine spirituality is open to organic growth through an ever widening circle of inclusion”³.

Catechist communities are small yet strong communities of faith…. ecclesial communities, who have responded within their parish neighbourhood. At the heart of this response, is the personal and communal nature of catechist spirituality, the “consciously lived relationship with God in Christ, through the indwelling of the Spirit, in the context of a Christian community of faith in midst of the world”¹.

Parker J Palmer beautifully describes this indwelling as “the inner landscape of May I invite you now to sit with John 4:1the teaching self”²; the place the 42, the story of the woman at the Well, catechist teaches from, and the heart The Guide for Catechists (1993, Vatican, they long for in their active ministry. the story of the woman who encountered Congregation for the Evangelization of Jesus at Jacob’s well in Samaria. Allow The communal nature of catechist Peoples) speaks of catechists as “truly the story to speak into your heart, into spirituality includes the way the catechist the pride of the missionary Church”; we your life, to meet an individual devoid of answer the call to continue the mission of approaches and appreciates their life any community, who epitomised feelings the first disciples out into our community, and work. It incorporates the way of exclusion. Sit with the story and allow catechists respond to their families, their into our parish neighbourhood. Yet, the Word of God to unveil to you her faith community, fellow catechists and to being a catechist is so much more than change of heart, the metanoia she children they minister to. For spirituality seeing the childrens’ need for Special undergoes from a scream in the desert to is never individualistic. Fr David Ranson Religious Education and delivering it. a stream in the desert, that living water says “it is inherently orientated towards Pope Francis challenges each of us she found within, that effervescence of being shared and celebrated in through Evangelii Gaudium to life we call joy that she took back to her common”³. contemplate this untapped symmetrical community, transforming her community. beauty, to discern how to not allow There is a need for catechists to come ourselves be robbed of community.

Jennifer Skelly together to build community through Regional Support Coordinator, CCD sharing and empathising life’s Let’s stop for a moment and reflect on Hugh Mackay in his bestselling book The Good Life states “a ‘good life’ is that which is not lived in isolation or in the pursuit of independent goals but that a good life is lived at the heart of a thriving community, among people we trust, and within an environment of mutual respect.”

In a series of interconnected stories, Hugh Mackay unveils the beautiful symmetry of the human condition, that in which we humans need communities, but concurrently how communities also need us.

this word ‘community.’ It is a fact; ¹Philip Sheldrake, Spirituality and Theology: Christian Living and the Doctrine of God, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis communities within our urban Diocese of Books, 1999, 35.

Broken Bay are busy places. We’ve ²Parker J Palmer, Evoking the Spirit in public Education, in ‘Educational Leadership’, probably all come across folks who seem Volume.56 no. 4, 1999. to wear busyness as a badge, who carry ³David Ranson, Across the Great Divide Bridging Spirituality and Religion Today, Strathfield, New South Wales: St Pauls Publication, 2002, 72. it as an excuse; some even express it ⁴Colleen M. Griffith, ‘Spirituality and Religious Education’. In Horizons & Hopes The Future of Religious like a competition; today I’ve done this, taken this one here, that one there, and Education edited by Thomas H. Groome and Harold Daly Horell. Mahwah, New York: Paulist Press, 2003, 59.

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formation opportunities As part of our catechist community you are warmly invited to participate in a number of formation and community building opportunities, some of which are highlighted on this page. Please extend this welcome to others within your own communities.

For further information regarding training and formation refer to page 12 of Connections as well as the Broken Bay News and Diocesan Website: …….www.dbb.org.au

Term Three 2015 Week 1 (12 July) Ordinary Time Week 2 (19 July) Ordinary Time

Andrew Chinn 10:00am - 2:30pm Friday 8 May 2015 Manly Vale

Week 3 (26 July) Ordinary Time Week 4 (2 Aug) Ordinary Time

8 Aug—Feast Day of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop Week 5 (9 Aug) Ordinary Time

15 Aug—Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Morning Tea Provided ~ BYO Lunch

Reflection Days 2015 9.30am - 2.30pm

19 June at Terrey Hills ~ 22 June at Woy Woy Facilitated by Dr Sandra Carroll Comprising of 3 sessions:

Week 6 (16 Aug) Ordinary Time Week 7 (23 Aug) Ordinary Time Week 8 (30 Aug) Ordinary Time Week 9 (6 Sept) Ordinary Time Week 10 (13 Sept) Ordinary Time

1. The new Evangelisation and the Joy of the Gospel 2. Proclaiming the Gospel in story and action-parables and miracles 3. Mary, Mother of Evangelisation Sandra Carroll lectures in Religious Education at the Strathfield campus of the Australian Catholic University, Sydney. Her doctoral thesis from San Francisco Theological Seminary was titled Teaching about Mary: Professional Development for Religious Educators. Sandra is married with two sons. She has published book chapters and journal articles in the areas of Religious Education and Theology and is currently on the Editorial committee of the Journal of Religious Education. She shared a team award for outstanding contributions to student learning from the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

For further information please contact your regional CCD office or call registrations (details p.12)

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technology in training

Ministry Induction Training is Now On Line!

Two additional courses have also been made available online: Classroom Skills: Questioning and The Teaching Authority of the Catholic Church.

The long awaited online training for the CCD Ministry Induction Course is now up and running on the CCRESS* website.

All new catechists are required to complete the CCD Ministry Induction training course. This course is made up of seven topics:- The Mission and Ministry of the Catechist; The SRE Teacher in Parish and School; Child Protection Training; Development of the Child and Adolescent; Classroom Skills: Behaviour Management; Introduction to the Bible and Using an Authorised Curriculum for Planning.

From now on catechists will be given the option of completing all seven topics by attending face to face group training sessions or completing six of the sessions online and one: - Using an Authorised Curriculum for Planning face to face.

New catechists will also have the choice of completing a mixture of the six topics online or face to face as long as Using an Authorised Curriculum for Planning is included as one of the face to face sessions.

Why is one topic face to face?

Using an Authorised Curriculum for Planning is especially beneficial in a face to face session because it provides an excellent opportunity for “hands on� experience with the preparation of SRE lessons and information about how to make the best use of the curriculum materials supplied by the diocese.

The value of face to face training for any of the topics is that it provides a chance for sharing experiences and making contact with other catechists plus an opportunity for enrichment and reflection on the mission and ministry of CCD. It also gives catechists a venue for discussing the course content with others and asking questions.

If you have attended any of the above sessions previously and wish to complete other topics, you can apply to enrol in the online training for any you have missed or wish to revisit for revision.

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These are not compulsory and may be viewed for interest or further study and will provide exemptions in higher levels of CCD training and formation.

This topic is the compulsory face to face session

The online courses involve watching a series of short videos, doing some associated reading and completing short assessments which are intended for reinforcement of what you've learned.

Multiple attempts at the assessments are permitted.

When you have completed each topic, you will be given directions on downloading a certificate for that topic.

Each certificate will need to be copied and forwarded to us at the Diocese of Broken Bay to enable verification and receiving full authorisation to teach SRE in State Schools.

What do you need to do?

Contact joe.pulis@dbb.org.au to arrange a login username and password.

Full details will be emailed to you to enable access to the CCRESS website.

If you have any problems accessing online training, please don't hesitate to email or call Joe Pulis 98470228

ideas for the

classroom

Blessed are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!

The theme for World Youth Day is one of mercy, giving and receiving. Mercy is something which, in our busy lives, we often overlook or neglect. We become so involved in getting things done, we become impatient with those who are not on the same wavelength as us. Let me pose 2 questions 1. What does ‘mercy‘ mean?

2. What would Jesus do in our situation today?

When speaking of mercy, we must understand this in the way God deals with us. It is the quality of God’s loving kindness that is required of us. It is the quality of loving compassion that is expressed in tangible ways.

We see this expressed in the way Jesus treated those with whom he mixed as he undertook the mission of His Father. Jesus is not heard speaking words of scorn or condemnation. Instead, we hear only words of love and mercy. We are then invited into a conversation with the Lord.

Consider the following moments in Jesus’ life. Thomas did not believe it when the other Apostles told him: "We have seen the Lord." ... What did Jesus do? He met with the disciples again when Thomas was there and invited Thomas to came and touch his wounds. Jesus was patient and did not leave him in his unbelief. Thomas’ response was one of great faith, the words of which are still used as prayer to this day. "My Lord and my God!": What about Peter, Jesus’ choice to guide the fledgling community of followers after His return to the Father? During Jesus’ trial, Peter denied Him three times. What did Jesus do? As Jesus went to Golgotha, He met Peter’s gaze and looked into his heart with great patience and love. Peter felt this loving gaze and he wept.

From these two moments in Jesus’ life, we see that Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s loving kindness. We hear this too in the many parables that Jesus used to instruct those who had ears.

As Catechists, what does this mean for us? At home, when we

*What is CCRESS? CCRESS is the Catholic Conference of Religious Educators in State Schools in NSW-ACT. Each Catholic Diocese in NSW and the ACT has membership and voting rights and voting members are those individuals allocated responsibility by the Bishop of each Diocese for the Teaching of Special Religious Education (SRE) in State Schools.

CCRESS exists to promote the evangelising mission of the Catholic Church by assisting families of Catholic Students attending State Schools in NSW and the ACT through programs of religious education and catechesis. CCRESS assist the Bishops in their pastoral duty to provide religious education and catechesis for the Catholic children attending State Schools in New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

are trying to prepare our lessons and the phone rings or a family member interrupts our preparation, how do we respond? Do we sigh at the interruption or answer curtly to the person who is calling us? Or do we take a moment and ‘put on Jesus’ as we attend to the person who needs our ‘loving kindness’?

In the classroom, when there is a child who needs some attention but does not know how to request it. Instead he might call out or she might disrupt others’ work. How do we ‘put on Jesus’ and respond to that child? Blessed or happy are the merciful.

How much better do we feel, walking out of the class when we have been able to attend to the child who needs our attention, in the way that Jesus would have attended. When this happens, we know that we have been Christ’s eyes, ears, hands and heart.

We are witnessing God’s love to his little ones. It is then that we are truly blessed by God. This is the theme for World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow. While we may be unable to attend, there is no reason why we cannot let the theme of mercy well up in our class and water the lives of our students. Who knows where that small spring will flow and fill the hearts and lives of others?

Michael Tebbutt Senior Regional Coordinator Central Coast Deaneries

From Easter to Pentecost Father in heaven, You sent your Son, Jesus, to tell us of your wonderful love.

To show us how much Jesus trusted you, he gave himself to you on the Cross.

As we place these leaves, *(flowers, fruit) on the Cross, Help us to remember that it is now a symbol of new life.

Help us to grow to be new people And through what we say and what we do, May we take the Good News the God loves us And that Jesus is alive, To every person we meet today and every day of the week.

Amen.

The above prayer is from Ideas for the Classroom by Michael Tebutt, Connections, Term 2, 2011. The lesson helps students to make the connection from the Cross on Good Friday to the events of Pentecost. To access the lesson go to the Connections page on the CCD website: www.dbb.org.au/ ccd and you will find all past editions of Connections.

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for the classroom

Preparing for a Guided Meditation St Paul wrote that ‘we do not know how to pray, but the spirit prays within us”. What Paul is saying is that before we can pray we need to become still and attentive. The real work of meditative prayer is to attain harmony of body, mind and spirit. As the psalmist said, “Be still and know that I am God.” For children to be able to effectively meditate, familiarity with the theme or the Gospel passage needs to be done in the lead up lesson. We all like to know where we are going and this lead up work will facilitate this.

On the day of the meditation, have a sacred space to reflect the passage being meditated upon, some reflective music that will mask outside noises and held the children focus on your voice and the stillness. Make sure that the students are sitting comfortably as the meditation will take a little longer than the time they usually sit still in most classes.

To conclude the meditation, it is always wise to have the children either draw or write about their experience. This will enable them to share more easily.

Guided Meditation and Silent Prayer with Kindergarten - a Catechist’s Reflections

My first attempt at quiet, meditative prayer with kindergarten children appeared to me to be a complete disaster. I had one group of about 25 children in a room with lots of chairs and tables. I recall that the children crawled under the tables and giggled and talked. They made too much noise themselves to hear my quiet, reflective promptings. I thought it might work better with my smaller group of half a dozen children in a room without tables; they rolled around in the cushions and wriggled and giggled. I decided that I lacked the classroom management skills required to teach that part of the programme and for the next couple of years I simply avoided that kind of lesson.

I was more anxious about the “Silent Prayer” lesson (K.8.4) which had no story to tell, just guidance in listening and breathing and some quiet music leading into drawing a “mandala” or prayer picture. I was thankful that it was not the first or last lesson of term or a windy day, since any of those factors tend to make the children excitable. I was encouraged to know that a friend was praying particularly for my lessons since I have found that this kind of prayer support makes an enormous difference.

I separated a few children who were distracting each other, and encouraged people, as far as possible to find their own little space, not touching anyone else and to I still struggle with classroom management at close their eyes. Not everyone was times but with the wisdom of hindsight, I now completely quiet or still and only half of the realise that I had quite challenging classes children closed their eyes, but I persisted, that year with a high proportion of seemingly signalling to children to be quiet , rather than hyperactive children, so perhaps it wasn’t all speaking to them, so as not to disrupt the my fault. quiet music and telling the children to go inside themselves into their “heart room” with This year, rather reluctantly, I decided to God because God wanted to love them. We have another go. The children enjoyed the were fairly quiet for about thirty seconds; that lesson (K.5.4) where I brought along a “magic carpet” and asked them to close their was enough. eyes and imagine they were flying on their I also played quiet music to the children own magic carpet to visit Jesus and hear him while they worked on their mandalas and tell the story of the Good Samaritan. Some encouraged them (repeatedly!) to whisper children found it very hard to be still and rather than talk in loud voices. Afterwards, I quiet but not so many as to spoil the lesson. asked if anyone would like to share anything 10

Term Two 2015

about how they had felt or what they had been thinking.

Here are some of the responses: I felt like I was sleepy.

I felt quiet.

Nothing.

Can we have the music again?

I felt like I was lying on the grass.

I was playing Transformers with Anthony*.

(Oops - at least they weren’t noisy!)

I just want to go to Recess. (Oh, well…)

I felt as if I was going into God’s house.

Our meditative lessons have been far from perfect and not all the children were able to settle down or enjoy them, but, despite this, the Holy Spirit has been at work and some children, and their grateful Catechist, have experienced the blessing of quiet.

Ann Bradshaw , Catechist at Normanhurst Public School and Waitara Public School * I have changed the child’s name.

from the classroom

Frenchs Forest, MWP Messages of Compassion

Late last year, the Catechists from Mimosa Public School arranged for Fr. Michael O’Toole to say Mass for the year 5 & 6 students. Fr. Michael was struggling with a very painful leg and used a walking stick to help.

The students were very receptive to Fr. Michael’s message of God’s love for them and compassionate to his pain. They later wrote to him thanking him for coming and wishing him good health. He was thrilled to receive these cards and messages. Some of these are included here.

Fran and Maureen, Frenchs Forest

constantly, and challenged in my own faith understanding. The Joy of the Gospel comes to meet me in these beautiful children.

Child 1: As I invited them to become quiet and enter a prayer-space within so that they could hear the Word of God, and as I was reading the passage in the Bible telling the story of the Annunciation: Why do we call it The Word of God when it is just a story?

Child 2: As the class sat to write a letter to God telling him what actions they had performed to show that they were a disciple of Jesus: I do not want to write that down. When I asked why it was so hard for him, he put his hand to his mouth and whispered into my ear: I do not want to boast.

Child 3: As the class celebrated the ending of the unit and sat down to write a little prayer to Mary, asking her to pray for them: I want to be a palaeontologist but can how can I be a disciple of Jesus if I am a palaeontologist? Can Mary Help me with that?

Child 4: From a Non-English speaking background: if I write in Italian will she hear me?

Eulalie O'Keefe , North Harbour

The Entrance, CC

Loud and Clear!

North Harbour, MWP Treasures from the Classroom While teaching the Year 4 unit on Mary, I experienced many precious faith moments as the children engaged with the lesson and expressed their learning. I always leave this class awed at the way in which the Holy Spirit moves

I am a helper at Bateau Bay public school I had to give up teaching because of my hearing but because of circumstance I found myself teaching again. While discussing the fact that the children must speak up so I could hear them I showed them my hearing aids. One little boy said “my little brother wears hearing aids” Another boy said “my nan and pop wear hearing aids too” then a little hand went up I said yes? Georgia she said

“we are supposed to be talking about Jesus not hearing aids!!! Touché Anne Henry, The Entrance

The Entrance, CC Reflections of a retiring Catechist The year is over and looking back I'd say the amount of joy I got from teaching the kids far outweighs anything else. Telling the kids about God and His great love for us make me feel wonderful. The way they sit there and take it all in and respond with such happiness and enthusiasm makes all my work worthwhile. I would say that that is my greatest reward.

Sure I have had the odd one who plays up and this can be upsetting, but these instances are very minor. Just to know I have played a part in God's great plan of bringing those little ones to Him gives me great strength to keep on with this very important work.

Everywhere I go I meet up with the kids I have taught through the years. They just rush up to me and greet me with "Miss ........., Miss ..........., Hi Miss ............" They introduce me to their parents and all of these actions show that they have had a positive experience in the classroom. This leads me to believe that what I have taught them will stay with them and hopefully give them comfort and draw them and their families closer to God in their future years.

I believe that all of us are similar in our effect on the children we teach. We all love them and give of our time for the great aim of bringing them closer to God. I'm sure that we all get rewards from God from time to time, to show that He loves us more for what we are doing. I hope God will sustain you during the break and replenish your strength and give you the rest you need, so you can carry on your important work each term. name withheld, Ku Ring Gai Chase Parish

We love to receive your stories from the Classroom or Parishes to include in Connections. If you would like to submit an article please do so. It can be as little as a few lines on a good lesson; a story; a resource you’ve found; or a special event in the parish or school. If there’s something you’d like to see us cover in future editions, please let us know that too!

To submit an article or to make a suggestion for Connections please write to: ccdinfo@dbb.org.au or CCD, PO Box 340, Pennant Hills 1715 Closing date for the Term 3 issue is 12 June 2015 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Diocese of Broken Bay

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notices and directory

Training & Formation Courses Term 2, 2015 Course Type

Location

CCDMI / Level 1 (continued)

Forestville (MWP)

CCDMI / Level 1 (continued)

Pennant Hills (NSH)

13, 20 & 27 Feb; 6, 13 & 20 March; 24 April (Fridays)

9:30am –

CCDMI (continuing on to Level 1 contact registrations for details)

Carlingford (NSH)

25 Feb; 4, 11, 18 & 25 March; 1 & 22 April (Wednesdays)

7:00pm –

Level 2

The Entrance (CC)

4, 11, 18 & 25 May; 1 & 15 June (Mondays)

Andrew Chinn Workshop

Manly Vale (All regions)

8 May (Friday)

Level 2

Forestville (MWP/NSH)

Classroom Management & Creative Teaching

Dates

Time

Register by

Phone

Wed 11 Feb

9847 0448

Mon 9 Feb

9847 0448

Thur 19 Feb

9847 0448

9:30am 2:30pm

Mon 27 April

4332 9825

10:00am – 2:30pm

Fri 1 May

4332 9825 or 9847 0448

9:30am 2:30pm

Fri 8 May

9847 0448

9:30am 12:30pm

Mon 29 June

4332 9825 or 9847 0448

17, & 24 Feb; 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 March; 12:30pm – 21 & 28 April; 5, 12, 19 & 26 May; 2 June 2:30pm (Tuesdays)

15, 22 & 29 May; 5, 12 & 26 June (Fridays)

Central Coast Region: Wednesday 1 July 2015 MWP Peninsula Region: Thursday 2 July 2015 North Shore & Hornsby Region: Friday 3 July 2015

2:30pm

9:00pm

All training is offered at no cost to the participants.

Please assist us in our planning for events and courses by replying by the advertised closing date.

Registrations or Enquiries: Colleen Smith

CCD DIRECTORY Current as of September 2014

Diocesan Office Caroline Chisholm Centre (CCC) Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd Pennant Hills (Enter off City View Rd) Postal Address PO Box 340, Pennant Hills NSW 1715 Phone: (02) 9847 0492 Fax: (02) 9847 0481

Call: 9847 0448 or 4332 9825 or Email: registrations@dbb.org.au

Curriculum Orders Dina Leverett Phone: 9847 0442 Fax: (02) 9847 0481 E-mail: ccdresources@dbb.org.au North Shore & Hornsby Office (NSH) Caroline Chisholm Centre Postal Address PO Box 340, Pennant Hills NSW 1715 Phone: (02) 9847 0482 Fax: (02) 9847 0481 E-mail: psunorth@dbb.org.au

Central Coast (Wyong) Office (CCW) PSU Regional Centre Catholic Formation and Education Centre 12 Ashton Avenue, The Entrance Postal Address PO Box 390, The Entrance NSW 2261 Phone: (02) 4334 3367 Fax: (02) 4334 3230 E-mail: psucc@dbb.org.au Rebecca Bishop - (02) 4334 3367 E-mail: rebecca.bishop@dbb.org.au

Manly Warringah Peninsula Office (MWP) Caroline Chisholm Centre Postal Address PO Box 340, Pennant Hills NSW 1715 Diocesan CCD Coordinator Phone: (02) 9847 0516 Alison Newell Fax: (02) 9847 0481 Phone: (02) 4334 3367 Central Coast (Gosford) Office (CCG) E-mail: psumanly@dbb.org.au E-mail: alison.newell@dbb.org.au PSU Regional Centre Yvonne van den Berg - (02) 9847 0494 58 Victoria St, East Gosford NSW 2250 Diocesan Admin Assistant E-mail: yvonne.vandenberg@dbb.org.au Phone: (02) 4323 7090 Phone: (02) 9847 0492 Fax: (02) 4323 7097 Registrations E-mail: sharon.daroza@dbb.org.au E-mail: psucc@dbb.org.au Phone: (02) 9847 0448 or (02) 4332 9825 CCD Authorisations E-mail: registrations@dbb.org.au Michael Tebbutt - (02) 4323 7090 Contact your PSU Regional Centre E-mail: michael.tebbutt@dbb.org.au CCD WEBSITE www.dbb.org.au/ccd To submit an article or to make a suggestion for Connections please write to: ccdinfo@dbb.org.au or CCD, PO Box 340, Pennant Hills 1715 Closing date for the Term 3, 2015 issue is 12 June 2015 Director - PSU Carole Gan Phone: (02) 9847 0560

12

Term Two 2015

Joe Pulis - (02) 9847 0228 E: joe.pulis@dbb.org.au Jennifer Skelly - (02) 9847 0488 E-mail: jennifer.skelly@dbb.org.au