Connections Magazine - Issue 1 2023

CONNECTIONS 2023 TERM 1

Lent and Easter

INSIDE >> 9

CLASSROOM TIPS

12-13

CARITAS LESSONS

15

TRAINING & FORMATION

16-17

ANNUAL MASS WRAPUP

HIST CATEC Y SUNDA UARY R B E F 19

EVANGELISE + GATHER >< SEND >

VOL 28 ISSUE 1

FROMTHE THEDIOCESAN DIOCESANCOORDINATOR COORDINATOR FROM Happy New Year to all our coordinators and SRE catechists across the Diocese of Broken Bay. Over the summer break, I took the opportunity to read again Bishop Anthony Randazzo’s Pastoral Letter to the community of the Church in Broken Bay, Jesus Christ, our beginning and end. I would recommend that you, too, revisit this beautiful document that captures Bishop Anthony’s vision for the people of God in Broken Bay. I was particularly struck by Bishop’s writing in Chapter 5 Authentic Catholic education for the flourishing of human and faith development. In this Chapter, Bishop Anthony affirms the role of SRE Catechists by naming them alongside Catholic school teachers as people “who live their vocation educating our youth and accompanying them in the faith”. Bishop goes on to speak of a “personal witness to the Gospel”.

You would have heard me say so many times over the years that your personal witness to the Gospel is the greatest gift which you share with the children. You proclaim the Gospel in words by teaching them the Word of God through correct use of the authorised SRE curriculum, Walking with Jesus, Pathways of Discipleship. Your proclamation of the Gospel will come alive though through your witness, as you practice what you preach in the classroom. There is a saying attributed to St Francis of Assisi – “Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary”.

Continued next page...

CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE BROKEN BAY Caroline Chisolm Centre 423 Pennant Hills rd PENNANT HILLS NSW 2120 PO Box 340 PENNANT HILLS NSW 1715 ALISON NEWELL CCD Diocesan Coordinator P: 8379 1637 M: 0424 737 911 E: alison.newell@bbcatholic.org.au

KRISTY KOMADINA North Shore Region P: 8379 1639 M: 0400 809 644 E: kristy.komadina@bbcatholic.org.au SUE-ANNE SHERWOOD North Shore Region P: 8379 1639 M: 0416 141 508 E: sueanne.sherwood@bbcatholic.org.au

JOHN DONNELLY Northern Beaches Region P: 8379 1640 M: 0437 964 072 E: maricel.malapira@bbcatholic.org.au E: john.donnelly@bbcatholic.org.au MARICEL MALAPIRA Diocesan CCD Admin P: 8379 1638

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Central Coast CCD Resource Centre 12 Ashton Ave THE ENTRACE NSW 2261 (Behind OLOR Church) PO Box 390 THE ENTRANCE NSW 2261 MICHAEL TEBBUTT Central Coast Region P: 8379 1641 M: 0407 218 677 E: michael.tebbutt@bbcatholic.org.au

ALICIA KLEIN Diocesan CCD Admin P: 8379 1642 E: alicia.klein@bbcatholic.org.au Registrations for CCD Training P: 8379 1643 E: registrations@bbcatholic.org.au WWJ Curriculum Resources P: 8379 1642 E: ccdresources@bbcatholic.org.au

Join the conversation on our social media pages. instagram.com/ccdbrokenbay facebook.com/ccdbrokenbay

FROM THE DIOCESAN COORDINATOR At CCD, we regularly hear stories from catechists about them running into former students years later, sometimes as adults, who will stop them and greet them with the words “you used to be my Scripture teacher”. Don’t ever underestimate the impact you are having on the lives of children and young people as you carry out your mission to spread the Good News of the Gospel.

In his pastoral letter Bishop Anthony also reminds us that “The scope of the Church’s mission in the field of education is such as to embrace all people, without exception, according to the command of Christ, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations’.” As you respond to the command of Christ as an SRE Catechist, remember that the children and young people we teach need hope more than ever before; the hope of the Christian believer that “the good news of Jesus Christ is the only news that is good for everyone”.

As we leave the Christmas season behind us, we once again look forward to the upcoming Season of Lent. Lent provides us with the opportunity to share our faith in a particular way. In Australia, often referred to as a land of plenty, it is important that children begin to develop awareness that there are many in our world who have very little – even many within Australia including some of our own students, so be conscious of this as you teach. The Project Compassion resources from Caritas provide a colourful and hands-on addition to our Lenten lessons. Whilst we wouldn’t be collecting money in the SRE classroom, the Project Compassion box can be used as a prayer box during Lent and become part of the sacred space for your lessons during the Lenten season. Children can be invited to write a prayer intention on a small piece of paper and post it in the box at any time across the weeks of Lent.

Age-appropriate lessons using the Caritas resources have been developed for use in the classroom and are available on the CCD website at the following link: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/our-faith/evangelisation/ccd/resources

(scroll down to find Caritas resources) Prayer in the classroom is always an important component of the work we do. A focus on prayer during Lent is a great way to help develop within the children a daily practice of prayer. If we can teach the children to pray and grow a relationship with Jesus, then we have given them the greatest gift to take into their future. Formal prayers are good. It is also important to have the children understand that they can simply talk to Jesus as a friend and then be silent to see what’s happening in their mind and their heart.

As you prepare to return to the classroom in 2023 take some time to plan for the term ahead. You may like to begin this preparation by praying the Catechist Prayer. You will also be aware that it is important to plan your lessons in advance. Remember to use the CONTENTS PAGE in your WWJ teacher’s manual. Note the date of Ash Wednesday is 22 February 2023 so your Lenten lessons would begin as close to this date as possible. Always teach to the AIM of the lesson plan. At your first lesson, create a welcoming atmosphere by greeting the students as they come into the classroom.

Convey a message of I’m happy to be here and see you. Set a precedent for the rest of the year in the first few lessons. Being friendly doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t outline your expectations for classroom behaviour and management. Ensure the students know what you expect of them and have a disciplinary plan in place to deal with any challenges. Make sure you follow through. Don’t make bottomless threats. The students will see straight through this.

To get the best out of the Walking with Jesus curriculum material, why not undertake some of our Level 1 training, which is being held at the beginning of Term 2; some units will be offered on Zoom and some will be face-to-face.

You would be aware that we must use the authorised curriculum when teaching SRE. Our Level 1 training program helps you to use the authorised material creatively so that you can bring the lessons to life in the classroom.

Creative workshops in prayer, music, storytelling, drama and the use of the curriculum PowerPoints can assist you to joyfully share your faith with the children. If the children witness you radiating joy as you teach them, they are much more likely to develop a relationship with Jesus. Every edition of Connections provides you with ideas to use in the classroom. Additionally, at special times of the year, we can provide extra authorised resources, e.g., during Lent, age-appropriate Caritas Project Compassion resources; during the month of May, we can provide lessons on Mary the Mother of God; the month of August would be ideal to teach the children about Mary MacKillop and in October each year Catholic Mission resources complement Mission Sunday. Please see your Parish Coordinator or Regional CCD Office for extra authorised curriculum material.

Child protection is something which is very important to all of us. We all share in the responsibility of protecting children and young people. CCD in Broken Bay promotes the creation of a safe working environment in the SRE classroom which is good for children and catechists alike. In this edition of Connections, you will find a link to the Diocesan Rights of the Child Framework which outlines the Diocese of Broken Bay’s commitment to ensuring that our people are educated and trained in their obligations and accountability in this regard. Our Bishop Anthony Randazzo reminds us that “Upholding and protecting the dignity of children who have been made in the image of God is foundational to our faith, and not simply a matter of civil compliance.” SRE catechists are required to update their Safeguarding/Child Protection training every three years. Our quality CCD training assists you to take up your responsibility in the protection of children and young people, so please avail yourself of the training opportunities as required.

As you commence your teaching for 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing commitment to teaching SRE. My prayers are with you and your families as you go about your work of spreading the Good News to the children and families of our Diocese.

Wishing you every blessing for the year ahead.

Alison Alison Newell 3 | CCD NEWSLETTER TERM 4 2023 | VOL 28, ISSUE 1

GREETINGS FROM OUR TEAM Happiness is the new rich.

Inner peace is the new success.

Health is the new wealth.

Kindness is the new cool.

Sue-Anne Sherwood North Shore Region

Happy 2023 fellow Catechists! Aren’t those great resolutions for this year, no matter whether for our ourselves or our students. Yes, I want to be rich, successful, wealthy and cool in this way and to share this with others.

As you go forth this year into your classrooms, I invite, challenge and encourage all of us to let Christ’s words and deeds shine out through us in our every interaction and especially in our classrooms. Smile more often, listen for longer, take a breath and give your lesson over to the Holy Spirit (obviously with good preparation). You’ve got this and God’s got you. Let’s create imagery in our classrooms, the same way these words have spurred my imagination: ‘Go and sow the seed of faith that grows into a tree in which others can find their home; tend the flame of discipleship that transforms the soul and makes it new.'

God Bless you all for your good work.

Kristy Komadina

Maricel Malapira

North Shore Region

This year I am undertaking some study. I am enrolled in the Arete Foundations of Missionary Leadership Program.

I have just come back from my first 4 day intensive retreat with 60 of us students run by Fr Dr Chris Ryan MGL. Our CCD team sits within the Evangelisation team as the work that we do with children from public schools in our diocese is an extraordinary opportunity for evangelisation for not only children, but their families as well.

I was reminded of this fact this past intensive weekend at my course over and over again when I heard various testimonies of people coming to more fullness in faith through the prompting of children.

I met a lady who was baptised an Anglican but never really put much thought to a life of faith and who's husband was a cradle Catholic and similar lived a fairly secular life. It wasn't until their son brought home some craft that he had made in an SRE class, and through the insistence of their son to pray together that they started to think about their faith more meaningfully. To support their son they started coming to Mass. Before too long, the husband was an altar server and the lady spoke to her priest because she felt God's grace working in her life so much that she wanted to become a Catholic.

A young lady who was 26, spoke to our group about her faith journey and made a point to thank all the Catechists in the room for the integral role they played in helping her to know God's love. Absolutely incredible.

A woman told us a beautiful story of God's grace though her love of Christmas Eve Masses. On one occasion she was moved to tears by her daughter singing "O Holy Night". Quite a few years later, her daughter's son begged her to come to Christmas Eve Family Vigil with them because he wanted to be a Catholic like his Nanna.

Let's not forget our impact on children and in turn their impact on others. The Holy Spirit is working in amazing ways that we often don't even realise!

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CCD Admin

Hello everyone! I am Maricel Malapira who will be taking the role of Administration Assistant servicing the North Shore and Northern Beaches regions based in the Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills. We all know that nobody can replace Sharon. She is irreplaceable! They are big shoes to fill, so please pray for me that I will be able to perform what is expected in this role. (I am already working on some good memes!)

For a number of years I was the Parish Coordinator at Chatswood Parish and I supported the coordinator at Lindfield Killara Parish for some time last year. I am so excited to now be working from a totally different perspective supporting you all from our Diocesan office. I used to receive emails and notifications from Sharon and NOW…… I will be the one clicking the send button to all of you.

I am taking the opportunity to get to know the ins-and-outs of this role. When I worked at a parish I only saw a small part of what goes into keeping this ministry going - just the tip of the iceberg!

I am now discovering there was a bigger part submerged beneath the surface. Please bear with me in the transition stage and do not hesitate to give me a buzz if you have queries. I love being connected to each one of you and building a relationships through every interaction.

You can reach me by emailing: Maricel.Malapira@bbcatholic.org.au or by phone 02 8379 1638.

Michael Tebbutt Central Coast Region

Welcome back everyone! This time last year I was buoyed by the number of new people who had enrolled in the CCDMI and were excitedly looking forward to beginning teaching in the classroom with the eager students. I am pleased to say I am feeling similarly this year too. It is great to welcome new people into this CCD family.

For the more experienced catechists among you, thank you for once again fronting up to take Jesus’ Good News to the children in the state schools.

This is an invisible ministry, unseen by many of the people with whom we celebrate the Eucharist but it is one that the children appreciate and one for which the parents are truly grateful.

One of the highlights for me is working with you, the catechists, is in the training arena. Last year we combined the 3 very interactive units of Level One – music, drama and storytelling – and on the days this workshop was presented, there was much laughter and light heartedness. I am looking forward to more of these workshops again this year, along with our reflection days and of course spending some time with the children in our SRE classes.

It will be a busy year so might I suggest that for this that we call on the Holy Spirit to energise us in this ministry and guide us in our teaching.

John Donnelly

Alicia Klein CCD Admin

I write this, my very first Connections article, with great pleasure! I began with the CCD office in a part-time capacity last November while I was also working part-time with Toukley Parish, where I had been Parish Secretary for the past two years. I had a 7-week part-time transition into my CCD role but I am now extremely pleased to be working full-time with the CCD team. And what a team it is! Already I feel a great sense of friendship and camaraderie which has clearly contributed to the longevity and success of the CCD team over many years. I look forward to contributing to this amazing team and helping our Catechists to continue to serve our communities.

On a personal note, I have lived on the Central Coast my whole life, apart from a couple of years in my early working life when I lived on the Northern Beaches. I am married to Nick, and we have 3 children; Siena, Max and Ciara who all attend local Catholic schools. We are actively involved in our local parish of The Entrance and I enjoy helping to plan and run our ‘KidsClub’ activities for children which we hold on Saturday afternoons once a month. I attended primary school at Our Lady of the Rosary, back in the 1980’s when the school was shared between two sites - The Entrance and Shelly Beach.

Two of my primary school years were spent at The Entrance site and, coincidently, part of the CCD office is situated in what used to be my Year 4 classroom! Memories!

I am really excited to meet our catechists and coordinators in the coming months and I hope I can support you as well as Colleen did over the past 17 years. I wish you every blessing for the coming term as we begin another new school year. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for Registration/Training and WWJ Resource enquiries, or just to say ‘Hi’. I look forward to meeting you in person throughout the year.

Northern Beaches Region

Brenda my wife and I have just returned from a week at the Australian Open and we have been converted. The ‘festival of tennis’ as I like to call it, is a real education in how to enjoy and share one’s love of something. Melbourne is a buzz with tennis, signs, sounds and screens all over the city proclaiming the good news that tennis is here!

Whether you are a tennis fan or not, there is something for you at the AO. The fashion, the food the fun there is something for everyone. The festival has appeal for all levels of interest and a wide range of tastes. After all this is an international tournament and the organisers go all out to ensure we have a great experience. In fact, that is the key and that is what we as SRE Catechists can learn from them. It is all about the experience!

Our SRE lessons could be mini festivals of faith which provide our students with an experience of Catholicism. Through the signs, symbols, words and gestures of our great tradition we can ignite, renew or restore the faith of these young people and their families. Let’s use this first term to draw them back into our parish communities at Easter time. Why not set this as our goal as parishioners and catechists to ensure our local celebrations on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are packed full with families from the local government schools.

We are not talking about using coersion, manipulation or guilt - they never really worked. Let’s use the clever tools of promotion, engagement and welcome. The tools we need are already in our lessons and family supplements. God sent His son Jesus to save us from ourselves, so that we may enjoy life to the max! Easter is the high point of the Jesus story and we celebrate it every year. Why not target our students right from the start of the year with an invitation for their families to sit with us in church at Easter.

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SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

The Psalms Through Lent

Lent, as we know is a season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting until sunset on Holy Thursday. It is a season of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; by giving alms; and practicing self-control through fasting. We are encouraged to give things up and are called to a true conversion of heart. Let us reflect on the psalms, used as a response to the first reading at Mass, to deepen this conversion of heart this Lent.

All too often, all we remember of the Responsorial Psalm is the verse from the psalm that we repeat after each stanza that has been read by the lector. In some parishes, the psalm is sung by the cantor and we respond by singing the same verse but still, we often miss the wonder and beauty that is contained in the words to the psalm.

Please have your Bible with you as you read this article so you can read the psalms in order to contemplate what the psalmist is communicating to us.

The Responsorial Psalm for Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent is Psalm 51. It is a poignant psalm of lament in which the psalmist implores ‘be merciful O Lord, for we have sinned’.

Take time to read all the verses of Psalm 51. This is the most famous of the penitential psalms and you may well recall the words of this psalm from the prayer, ‘The Miserere’.

Beginning with a plea to God to have mercy because of God’s goodness, the psalmist emphasises his sinfulness by repeatedly asking God to be washed clean of all the wrongs committed. The psalmist then states how it is impossible to escape the guilt he bears.

For I acknowledge my offense, and my sin is before me always: "Against you only have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight" Think of a time when this was your prayer.

In this first section, there is the plea for forgiveness. In the second half of the psalm, you will note that the tone changes to one of seeking a closeness with God:

“Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me, Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain in me a willing spirit.”

Is not this what we long for during this time of Lent?

Is not a willing spirit what we wish to have in order to be able to joyfully inform the children of the Good News of Jesus?

What is it that you wish to seek forgiveness for and how do you need your spirit to be refreshed and made willing?

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The Responsorial Psalm for the Second Sunday of Lent is Psalm 33. We hear of Abram (Abraham) being missioned by the Lord to leave his homeland and travel to a land the Lord will show Abram. The reading concludes with Abram doing as the Lord directed him. Such a person of faith!

In the first half of this psalm, the psalmist invites us to praise the greatness of God with songs of joy; to praise the greatness of God expressed in His character, and in creation and to call the whole of creation to be in awe of the Lord. In the second half of the psalm we learn of the greatness of God: God over all the nations; how strong people are no match for God and God’s care for the individual. It is from this idea that our response is made,

“Lord, let Your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.”

In what area of your life is God asking you to place your trust in Him? On the Third Sunday of Lent, in Psalm 95, the psalmist invites us to praise and worship God; the God who is king of all creatures and also the loving kindly shepherd who cares for each sheep individually. We are urged to hear God’s voice and listen to what God is saying to us.

As the Response verse urges us,

“if today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”

How has your heart been hardened against the message of the Lord, or in a moment of pride, have decided that a particular issue is not your concern?

Let us be open to God’s message, even if in the past we have ‘hardened our hearts’, do not harden them today.

SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT The Fourth Sunday of Lent has a very well-known psalm, Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd. This psalm is all about God’s loving care for His people. The right path reminds us that God has sent us Jesus to teach us how to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. The fact that God will set a table for us in front of our enemies, shows God’s strength and power over those who hate us. The problem is, do we trust God enough to rely on the direction of the Holy Spirit when we encounter these enemies, whether they be people, temptation, challenging situations at work or even our own nature?

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.”

May our prayer for this week be the said response and let us pray this with confidence.

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”

On The Fifth Sunday of Lent we hear in Ezekiel 37, of God’s promise to the people of Israel to open their graves and put His spirit in them and settle them on their land. Psalm 130 begins similarly to Psalm 51 but unlike Psalm 51, its tone quickly changes to one of hope., realising that with the Lord there is forgiveness. This is followed with a statement of faith.

“I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word.

More than sentinels wait for the dawn, let Israel wait for the LORD. For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities.”

What comfort does this psalm bring to you? Knowing that despite the times we have failed to live as God would have us live, if we turn to God and truly repent, there is forgiveness and mercy and fullness of redemption.

Take some time now to reflect on an area of your life of which you are not happy. Have a conversation with God about it. Be careful not to talk too much though. Let there be silence in your conversation so you can hear with the ear of your heart, what God has to say to you.

On the Sixth Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday, we read a section of Psalm 22. It sounds like a prayer of doom. For the main part it describes Jesus’ death on the Cross in gory detail, but toward the end of the psalm that is prayed in the Liturgy of the Word, the tone begins to change. The last third is an invitation to praise God and becomes a universal chorus of praise.

Read Psalm 22:1 – 22.

Take some time to reflect on when you have felt as though you have been abandoned. What was your situation? By whom did you feel abandoned? How did you feel physically?

Emotionally? Spiritually?

Now read the rest of Psalm 22.

Dear Father in heaven, Thankyou for those of faith who have gone before us and have recorded the Words of Your love for us.

May we truly prepare for Your Son’s resurrection this Lent through self-sacrifice, alms giving, penance and prayer.

May we live as people of the Resurrection each day And boldly proclaim your Good News to the children You have given us to teach.

We make our prayer through Jesus, Your Son, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

How would you describe the change in the psalmist, writing this part of the psalm? What has happened?

Recall a time when you have felt like this?

What led to this feeling of being made new? How was God involved?

How will you be this faith filled person this Easter? What vows will you fulfil?

What will you need to do to continue to be this Easter person through the coming year?

Michael Tebbutt

Regional Coordinator Central Coast

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CATECHIST ENRICHMENT

Use of Visual Art in Special Religious Education As a mode of creative expression, communication, and self-definition, art is a primordial facet of human existence and constitutive factor in the evolution of religion. Through visible expression and form, art imparts meaning and value to anthropic aspirations, encounters, and narratives, and simultaneously orients the human within the horizon of a community, world, and cosmos. Thereby, art renders the human situation—origin, existence, death, and afterlife—comprehensible through visual representations. -

The Cycle 3 B unit includes a reflective art lesson which asks students to illustrate their learning about the Eucharist in a mandala.

https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/art-and-religion

Our ability to express ourselves through colour, pattern, texture and image precedes and often exceeds our expression through spoken and written words. However, all forms of expression develop with maturation and education.

Whilst some forms of artistic expression seem innate they can be nurtured and often need to be encouraged.

Our training in Child and Adolescent Development demonstrates the importance of various modes of learning through the recognition of multiple intelligences. The Walking with Jesus program provides many opportunities to make use of the arts in our Catholic SRE lessons. These graphic art opportunities go far beyond ‘colouring in’.

Many other lessons invite students to pray through art and express their understanding of the Gospel message graphically. Most students cherish this form of expression.

Recently I asked a Year 5 class to colour and complete a cover for the Book of the Gospels using what they had learnt about the four evangelists. They were asked to create and give prominence to a symbol for Jesus as the main subject of the books.

On this page is some of the art my students have produced last year. I look forward to seeing what they come up with in 2023.

John Donnelly

Regional Coordinator Northern Beaches

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CATECHIST ENRICHMENT

Classroom Tips to Start a New Year

As we return to the classroom in 2023 take time to prepare. You may like to begin by doing so with the prayer on this page. You will also be aware that it is important to plan your lessons in advance. Be ready! Remember to use the CONTENTS PAGE in your Walking With Jesus teacher's manual. Note the date of Ash Wednesday is 22 February (wow that's really soon!) Begin your Lenten lessons close to this date.

Create a welcoming atmosphere by greeting the students as they come into the classroom. Convey a message of "I'm happy to be here and see you."

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CATECHIST SUNDAY

Catechist Sunday Catechist Sunday is an annual event originating in 1935, when the Vatican published a document entitled On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education. The document acknowledged the importance of the Church’s teaching ministry and asked every country to honour those catechists who serve within their Christian communities.

Catechist Sunday will be celebrated this year Sunday 19 February when your parish is asked to stop and think about the incredible work and dedication of volunteer catechists.

Your Parish may choose any number of ways to recognise and celebrate the Ministry of SRE:

Catechist Sunday

Sunday 19 February

Commissioning Service with blessing ritual.

Inviting catechist prayer partners and the family of the catechist to join in the blessing ritual.

Together reciting the catechist prayer.

Inviting a catechist to highlight their vocation to the ministry at Mass.

Write catechist profiles in the parish bulletin (over a number of weeks) Display of Walking with Jesus resources outside Mass Morning tea after Mass, hosted by the Parish catechists.

In addition to SRE catechists, some parishes choose to commission all volunteers who work in catechetical ministries on Catechist Sunday, such as Sacramental catechists, Children’s Liturgy of the Word catechists and RCIA catechists.

Catholic schoolteachers also work in a teaching ministry, so they may be invited to be commissioned as well.

Catechist Sunday resources can be found at the following link on the CCD webpage https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/our-faith/evangelisation/ccd/resources

Highlighting the achievements of Catechists on Catechist Sunday

Don't Miss a Recruitment Opportunity Catechist Sunday is the perfect time to promote our sometimes invisble ministry. In the weeks leading up to Catechist Sunday it is a good opportunity for Catechists to get up and give a short testimony in front of the congregation telling them why they became a Catechist and how it has positively impacted their lives.

Nothing beats a personal invitation! If every catechist invited just one person to become a catechist each year we would have a never ending supply of applicants. Of course, not everyone will say yes, you have to expect that you could get a no. If a "no thank you" is the worst outcome, it's definitely worth the risk.

Our parish Catechist Coordinators do such a wonderful job but if we leave recruitment to only them, it's an unfair burden that could easily be shared. We need to use the power of all our networks - family, friends, adult children, neighbours, trusted colleagues. If we cast our nets wide, we'll catch more fish!

Challenge: once this year either get up and speak about being a Catechist with a call to action for those listening - or - ask one person you know to become a Catechist.

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FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EVANGELISATION

Proclaim the Good News to All Creation!

Welcome to 2023. I hope that each of you enjoyed a well-earned break and had the opportunity to spend quality time with your family and loved ones during the Christmas season. This past Christmas was certainly very different from what we experienced the previous few years - with all that COVID-19 threw our way. What a difference a year makes!

Our Church is always enriched by those who step forwards anew in faith. We invite the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire and sustain us in our mission. As Catechists, please continue to impart your passion, and the gifts that you have for your ministry with the young people in your life and those to whom you minister.

The work of CCD is integral to the Church Mission of Evangelisaton and Bishop Anthony’s pastoral priorities, which we place at the center of mission for the Diocese. The work that each of you do in your ministry, fosters the faith life of thousands of students throughout the Diocese of Broken Bay and opens young lives not only to the richness of our Catholic faith but those treasures as they have come to real life, in our dedicated catechists, who give so generously of their time in faithful service of the Gospel.

In this, a World Youth Day year, I invite you to keep our young people in your prayers, as they continue their preparations for the World Youth Day Pilgrimage to Portugal this July. May the Holy Spirit be with them, as they continue planning and preparing for the life-changing experience they will encounter, with Pope Francis, amongst and with hundreds of thousands of other young adults from around the world.

The Gospel of Mark both invites and reminds us to ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all Creation’ (Mk 16:15). As we begin this new year, may we be united in faith, hope, and love as we embark on this new year together! May our ears be open to hearing the Good News. As teachers of faith, I pray that you continue to spread the Good News with your family, community, and the students that you teach. I pray, and hope, that the experience of sharing this Good News enriches your own spiritual pilgrimage with Jesus as we approach the self-giving love of the Cross, and the cause of eternal hope revealed to us in the empty tomb.

I wish each of you a joyful, and safe start to the new school year, and once again, thank you for giving of your time, your expertise, and your willingness to share your gifts with those that you visit within schools and classrooms across our Diocese. I look forward to meeting with you throughout the year and hearing of the ways that you spread the story of the Good News to those you journey with, and alongside!

Continued blessings to each of you!

Patti Beattie

Director of Evangelisation Broken Bay

Two of our CCD Broken Bay Regional Coordinators have been recognised for their contribution to Special Religious Education during the pandemic at the Celebration of SRE held at Parliament House on Monday, 28 November 2022.

Michael Tebbutt, Regional Coordinator Central Coast Deanery, was awarded for outstanding service to SRE and student wellbeing during the pandemic.

He developed multi-media learning-from-home lessons that were accessed by children and their parents across NSW via the Department of Education portal for SRE providers. Lessons were provided during both COVID-19 lockdown periods in 2020 and 2021.

Kristy Komadina, Regional Coordinator North Shore Deanery, was awarded for outstanding service to SRE and student wellbeing during the pandemic.

She developed a multi-media Advent and Christmas resource which was shared with families of Catholic students in public schools across NSW, via local parish and public-school newsletters, the purpose being to connect families with their parish community following the long second COVID lockdown in 2021 and to wish families every blessing for the Advent/Christmas season. Special Religious Education in public schools is enshrined in the NSW Education Act and is supported by both major political parties as a choice for parents/carers so that their children can be educated in the faith tradition of their families.

For the past 10 years, the ministry of SRE has been celebrated biennially at Parliament House in Sydney and awards of excellence have been presented to SRE catechists and coordinators for their role in this vital work in our schools.

The past three years have been challenging for the education sector. Schools have been locked down due to COVID and disruptions to schooling due to illness have created further difficulties for teachers, families, and volunteers alike. However, these disruptions led to innovative new ways to spread the Good News to Catholic students who attend the public schools of our parishes. We thank Michael and Kristy for their innovative work in the service of Catholic students who attend public schools and their families

Michael Tebbutt with Sarah Mitchell, Minister for Education and Early Learning 11 | CCD NEWSLETTER TERM 1 2023 | VOL 28, ISSUE 1

FOR THE CLASSROOM SAFEGUARDING

Caritas Lessons For Lent Available Now! Each year we present the good work of Caritas to the students in our classes.

This year we are suggesting a single lesson using the story of Tereesa. https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/a-day-with-tereesa/ Tereesa, a proud Gamilaroi woman, is now an artist, studying at TAFE and working at Baabayan Aboriginal Corporation. Tereesa grew up in Western Sydney, born and raised on Darug land. A mother of four young children, she found it hard to find a stable home and provide for them on her own. Seeking a better future for her children, Tereesa found the support she was looking for when she joined the Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation’s Young Mums and Bubs Group, supported by Caritas Australia. Baabayn (which means ‘Ancestral Woman’ in Gumbaynggirr language) was founded by five Elders who wanted to create a community and welcoming environment for First Nations Australian families and individuals.

As always Caritas has produced a number of great resources suitable for our SRE classes. These included booklets, photo stories, videos and learning activities. We have selected a few of these and designed a simple lesson plan for Catechists to follow. You can find this on the Resources Page on our website.

There are three different lessons – one for Stage 1, one for Stages 2 & 3, and one for Stages 4 & 5. They each include the story, opportunity for students to process the information and respond appropriately as disciples.

They all conclude with a prayer for Tereesa.

Lent is a good time to remind students of the work of Caritas Australia perhaps you could show the video Compassion in Action to highschool students and encourage them to support this charity. We could also invite all students to pray, fast or give alms.

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FOR THE CLASSROOM

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding is Everyone's Responsibility As volunteers who work closely with children in the school environment, each and every Catechist is required to receive mandatory training in safeguarding on a continuous basis. CCD Broken Bay provides initial and ongoing training to all our Catechists every 3 years as the legislation is constantly evolving and the responsibility of keeping children safe belongs to everybody.

Click on the poster to download a bigger version

In our diocese we have a dedicated Safeguarding team who are there to develop a culture and practice of safeguarding amongst staff, volunteers, the clergy and parishes to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults.

They work with CCD to develop our training resources based upon the most up-to-date information. The Safeguarding team also develop excellent resources for the wider community to access via their website and Youtube channel. We encourage you to explore their excellent resources!

Please check out the Safeguarding page here: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/about/diocesan-safeguarding

Click on the video to learn why safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

Click on the video to view Bishop Anthony's Safeguarding message.

Click on the video to view information about the new Child Safe Standards

'Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable'. Proverbs 31:8 14 | CCD NEWSLETTER TERM 1 2023 | VOL 28, ISSUE 1

TRAINING AND FORMATION

Latest in Training and Formation We are currently taking registrations for CCD Ministry Induction for new Catechists, for people on yellow cards who need to complete missing units in order to get their Green Card or for any Catechist who would like a refresher.

We have two times available: Mondays at 10am or Tuesdays at 6:30pm.

CCDMI is compulsory training that must be completed within 12 months of authorisation. We will be offering CCDMI again in the second half of the year so if you can't make every session this time, you will be able to make them up within the 12 months.

All the sessions are on Zoom which we have found to be the most convenient way for most people to fit training in their busy lives. There are different presenters each week so you will not be bored!

To register for CCDMI please email Alicia at the registrations desk: registrations@bbcatholic.org.au

WALKING WITH JESUS POWERPOINTS Did you know that we have prepared powerpoint presentations for every lesson in our Walking With Jesus curriculum?

Simply download your lesson from our website: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/ourfaith/evangelisation/ccd/curriculum/ walking-with-jesus-powerpoint

FAMILY SUPPLEMENTS Don't forget that for many of our lessons there is a family supplement available on our website: https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/ourfaith/evangelisation/ccd/curriculum/ classroom-family-resources Great for those kids who need a bit extra and a way to stay connected with our families.

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ANNUAL MASS FOR CATECHISTS

Catechists Celebrated and Acknowledged

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ANNUAL MASS FOR CATECHISTS

On Saturday 5th November, Catechists, friends and families from around our diocese gathered at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara to come together in celebration of the Eucharist and of the achievements of some very special people.

We honoured those Catechists who have passed away since our last Mass with a white rose, processed into the church by a loved-one.

After the Mass concluded, Bishop Anthony presented the awards to Catechists who achieved between 15 - 50 years service in the ministry.

Catechists receiving 5 and 10 year awards received those at their Parish Masses the following day.

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DONT MISS OUT ON YOUR CHANCE TO APPLY FOR A

Service Award What are Service Awards?

Service awards are presented to catechists, assistants and other persons in the Diocese of Broken Bay to acknowledge the contribution s made to the Ministry of Special Religious Education.

Why Apply for a Service Award?

An application may mark a significant milestone in your involv ement in the SRE ministry. It marks not only individual achievement, but also that of the support of your family and friends and members of your local parish communities.

When do you receive the Award?

Five- and ten-year service awards are to be presented at your local Parish Masses in Term 4 each year. Fifteen-year, Papal Blessings (20 years) and the other awards for longer service are presented at the Dioce san Mass held at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral at Waitara (usually) in November each year.

How do I apply for a Service Award?

Go to the resources page on our website and download the form titled 2023 Service Award Application Form.

Fill out the form and get it signed and email or scan to: ccdadmin@bbcatholic.org.au or mail to: Maricel Malapira, CCD Diocesan Office PO Box 340 Pennant Hills NSW 1715 APPLICATIONS DUE: 2 JUNE 2023