Seeing Jesus in new ways through catechist formation
The Archdiocese recently hosted Kathy Menzies and Julie Zaar to provide catechist formation for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). Five participants were awarded certificates for completion of the 14-day formation course.
“I’d like to do it all again, just to enjoy it!” said Cathy Moore, a catechist in the Huon Valley.
Dr Christine Wood, Director of the Office of Evangelisation & Catechesis, hosted the formation leaders in the Lindisfarne atrium. Dr Wood was grateful for all 15 participants in the course, which has been run over the last two years.
“It’s so pleasing that we now have three atria for the CGS, which are doing the great work of catechising and accompanying 3–9-year-old children and their families in the Christian life,” Dr Wood said. “Over the last eight years we’ve been building this ministry in Tasmania.”
“The catechists have learned so much for their own faith journeys too,” she added. “Jesus said, ‘Unless you become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ Through the eyes of the child, these catechists have seen Jesus in new ways and responded to his call to follow him.”
Letty Nerri assists in the Lindisfarne atrium and completed most of the formation. She said, “It’s been really good to prepare me to assist the children in the atrium sessions. It’s helped me personally to realise Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist. I want to work with the children because they are precious. It’s amazing that we can talk about Jesus to the children, to pray and work with the children.”
Raymund Pabon from the Bridgewater Parish said, “We’ve learned so much! It’s helped me a lot. It’s taught me that sometimes I need to be like a little kid. To stop and slow down. It’s changed the way I act in daily life and interact with my own kids. I’m more patient and silent with them.”
Formation leader, Julie Zaar, was grateful for the gift of being with our Tasmanian catechists: “Who would have thought that doing something like this for the 3-6-year-old child would impact us so much. What we receive is more than we could imagine.”
Lead catechists of the Kingston atrium, Catherine Sandric and Christine Wood, recently completed their catechist formation for 6–9-year-old children. This enables them to continue to build the Kingston and Lindisfarne atria to journey with children into their adolescent years.
If you are interested in sending your children to a CGS atrium or volunteering as an assistant in an atrium, please contact christine.wood@aohtas.org.au or Kingston or Huon Valley parishes directly. Check out this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/hfg9RfBk-fY?si=sBYWoPA8Pak5IN3O