Written by Dr. Michelle Kramer, director, Office of Schools, Diocese of New Ulm, MN, [email protected]
Have a master’s degree in theology? If yes, good for you! That degree will serve you well in your ministry. If not, do not allow the lack of a credential to prevent you from being a vibrant, authentic witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As you seek to share your faith and profoundly impact the faith journey of your students, you need not be an expert, but I would suggest that there are other things you might BE.
Be convicted. Those who love deeply wear their hearts on their sleeves. Do that with your faith. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta reminded us of our call to simply be faithful, not necessarily successful. Just be a learner who is willing to continue to grow in faith and share the journey. Most assuredly God will do the rest.
Be visible. The intent is not for you to be a sage on the stage, but rather a witness. Do you have special sacramentals on your desk, around your neck or in your pocket? How can you demonstrate without words that you love Jesus and your Catholic faith? Think of Saint Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel unceasingly, and when necessary use words.”
Be ready. “Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within you.” (1 Peter 3:15) Know your faith story and be ready to share how this story gives you hope. While your personal stories might be filled with more shadows than sunshine, we should always be ready to share the message of good news that lies within our story and how it connects to the good news of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. Sometimes we even have our own personal “Good Friday” and “Easter Sunday Resurrection.” This is an important form of witness to a suffering world.
Be vulnerable. In our stories, we connect to the mystery that is the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. Our willingness to be vulnerable can create a gateway for others to share their own story. This in itself provides a pathway from the human heart right to the heart of Jesus.
Be intentional. Few prescribed curriculum resources naturally draw in your story of faith, so you will need be intentional about making faith a priority in every subject area. Sit with the curriculum, pray on it and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to make the connections between your personal stories, the Good News of the Gospel and the curriculum materials.
Be dynamic. God has given you a lifetime of stories and experiences. Don’t limit yourself to just sharing your conversion story. Consider the ways influential people in your life have touched you and share their messages too. Look to the scriptures and the saints. Choose one each day to guide you in your personal prayer and to highlight in the classroom.
Be consistent. You might develop a practice of sharing a scriptural or saintly quote of the week along with your story. Come back to it throughout the week and allow the students to also make connections and share how the words are meaningful to them. Develop routines of prayer and reflection that both you and the students enjoy and look forward to throughout the weeks of the academic year.
Be generous. Teachers have a way of being stingy with their time, knowing they have a good deal of material to cover in a short amount of time. But I urge you to be generous in allotting time for evangelization. A captivating story told with a genuine heart is one of the best forms of classroom management. You will save time and draw in your audience so that they are ready to hear the teachings you have prepared.
Be curious. Ask questions of your students about what they believe and why. Use this as a springboard for teaching truth. Model your curiosity about the faith and the ways you find answers to your challenging questions.
Be a learner. Your story, your witness, is just the beginning of the process of forming students’ hearts. While you may not be an expert, you must be a learner who is committed to your own personal development so you can bring it into the classroom. It IS important for you to catechize, and that means building your own foundation of faith. Look to your parish and diocesan communities for programs, find a reputable podcast, tune in to Catholic radio, join (or lead) a Bible study and read everything you can get your hands on—starting with the scriptures and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Be relational. Jesus was a master in relational ministry, calling His students with love and compassion and then waiting for the right opportunity to share the Word. You are also called to prepare the soil by letting your students know that you care and then sowing the seeds when He presents you with just the right moment—likely when you least expect it.
Finally, you are called to simply BELIEVE. Believe that you are called, believe that you have a profound message to share and believe that He will give you the words and the skills to share His Good News on His timeline. You do not need to be an expert to do big things. Just walk with the Master Teacher and follow His lead.
