‘Folks in Glenmary missions want to educate themselves
so they can educate others about what being Catholic means.’

Religious Education: Catechists who lead religious education classes in our Glenmary missions play a vital role in preparing children to receive the sacraments. These classes are the only opportunity the children have for formal religious formation.

When September rolls around and the days of summer begin to get shorter, my thoughts turn to the start of another school year—even though it’s been many years since I’ve been part of the autumn ritual! But the young people in our Glenmary missions are beginning a new school year as well as religious education classes.

Religious education takes on a different look—and approach—in our missions, depending on the needs of and the size of the Catholic community. When I served a Glenmary mission in Oklahoma, we held religious education classes once a week for the 11 school-age children in the mission. While the children were in class, the parents would visit with each other. Eventually the parents decided that their time could be spent more productively—they wanted to start an adult religious education class!

They asked me if I would teach a class on the Bible to help them use the Bible in their prayer and to help them better understand Catholic interpretation. In their everyday lives, these Catholics were surrounded by those of other faith traditions who went to Sunday School every week and could quote chapter and verse from the Bible. These Oklahoma Catholics wanted to study the Bible so they could bring a well-informed Catholic biblical interpretation to their conversations with the non-Catholics in their lives. For two years, we learned and explored; first the Old Testament, then the New Testament.

I was so proud of those parents! Not only did they recognize the importance of religious formation for their children, they recognized its importance in their own faith life as well!

While formation is important in the life of any child, religious formation takes on an even greater importance when a child is one of only a handful of Catholics in a community. What they are taught helps them connect to the larger Church through the universality of the sacraments. As these children grow in faith and maturity, they will learn what those adults in Oklahoma and all our missions know: Knowledge of Catholicism takes on even more importance when they have to discuss—and possibly defend!—their faith with non-Catholic neighbors, friends and sometimes family members!

The adult Catholics in our missions put their faith into action everyday as they live and work in environments that sometimes make being Catholic difficult. For example, there was a recent story in a local newspaper in Winfield, Ala., that quoted a man who said Catholics weren’t Christian! So, like the adults in the Oklahoma Bible study, the folks in our missions want to educate themselves for personal growth and to better educate others about what being Catholic means.

Our mission children put their faith into action by participating in local outreach activities or in structured programs like Camp Glenmary in Mississippi. During the June camp, Catholic children have the opportunity to interact with their Catholic peers during the two weeks of Catholic Camp. During camp, these campers get a chance to explore their faith while enjoying all the fun of a summer camp. They also enjoy a respite from always being in the minority in their everyday lives.

Adam Troutman was one of those campers. At camp Adam learned lessons of service that supplemented what he was learning in religious education classes at Glenmary’s former mission in Amory, Miss. Through his camp experiences, he developed an appreciation for being part of a larger Catholic community. He liked that sense of community so much he chose to become part of a Catholic college community—St. Louis University.

To inspire adults like those in my Bible study class in Oklahoma or in RCIA classes throughout our missions or to form children like Adam in the teachings and traditions of their Catholic faith and then help them find ways to put that faith into action, we’re fortunate to have dedicated catechists in our missions. These catechists make do when the budget won’t allow for much beyond the basics—and still create excellent programs! It takes resources to maintain these programs, resources that are made possible through the generosity of donors like you.

In Greek, “catechist” means “echo,” therefore, a catechist is one who echoes God’s word. Can you help us continue creating that “echo” for those living in our home missions?

In addition to sending a gift to help support this important ministry, I hope you will remember in your prayers all those throughout Mission Land, USA—young and old—beginning religious formation programs this fall and the catechists who are echoing God’s word to them!

Your brother in mission,

Father Dominic Duggins
Director of Development