Holy Family Cluster opens religious education center

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted November 14, 2002

The Holy Family Cluster in Sioux City joined forces last year to offer a unified parish religious education program for its three parishes.

According to Kathryn Keane, director of religious education (DRE) and youth minister for the cluster, this year the cluster opened a new education center to enable the classes to be offered at a central location.

An open house will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 at the new Holy Family Religious Education and Youth Center, the former St. Joseph convent. All parishioners and visitors are welcome to attend.

Keane pointed out that last year classes were held at every parish.

"We had kindergarten through fifth at St. Boniface, sixth through ninth grade were at Epiphany and tenth and eleventh were at St. Joseph's. We were really spread out," explained Keane. "It was very difficult for parents to drop off kids on Wednesday nights."

Although they tried to stagger the time, many of the parents felt it was a lot of work, especially those having children at all three sites. The DRE even found the arrangement challenging.

"We couldn't get all age groups together and if I wanted to do something special for the catechists, I had to do it at each location," she recalled. "Last year when I was running to all three locations, I would drive up to my office at St. Joe's and I would look over at this building that was empty and thought wouldn't it be nice to have this building."

She approached the three pastors - Father Gary Snyder at St. Joseph, Father Paul-Louis Arts at Cathedral and Father Kevin Richter at St. Boniface - and they could see the value in using the building.

The Holy Family Religious Education and Youth Center houses fifth grade through high school classrooms. Kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms and one fifth grade class are held at Holy Family School's St. Joseph Center, which is located across the street from the new education center.

"Now they really feel like they have some ownership in their classrooms," noted Keane. "The teachers and the students are able to create the atmosphere in their rooms to relate to what they are teaching and what they are learning." For instance, some have opted to put posters up in their rooms.

Many of the bedrooms - dorm-room type size and style with built in cabinets and closets - in the spacious convent are big enough to comfortably accommodate a class of up to 15 students. Some of the smaller rooms are available for special classes. The program serves about 200 students.

"It has some homelike qualities to it - a full kitchen and a dining room. We are using the living room as a classroom," she said. Presently they are seeking the donation of a sectional or other living furniture that would provide a comfortable atmosphere for youth group meetings.

The convent is also equipped with a chapel that can seat about 15 people. Individual classes use it for prayer services or to provide an atmosphere that is conducive for reflection and meditation. The chapel contains wood pews and has Stations of the Cross on its walls that will come in handy especially during Lent.

"When you walk in the chapel, you feel the history and truly feel at peace," said Keane. "It is nice to have your own little space where you can pray." Many catechists pray there before classes start.

The DRE pointed out that several volunteers from all three of the parishes helped to clean and paint the former convent that had not been used for a few years. Many confirmation students used this as a service project. Several parishioners have donated items to the facility.

"I think that is the most beautiful part of this whole transition - we all worked together," she said.

The far majority of the people were very pleased to have the classes offered at one site. This has enabled the Holy Family cluster to hold large group services for students in all grades. Also older students have been able to help younger students.

In addition to the new education center, the Holy Family Cluster is presently working to establish a new youth group. A youth ministry core group consisting of youth and adult leaders have planned a kickoff meeting for Nov. 24.

"We plan to use the eight components of youth ministry," said Keane. They want it to be a combination of spiritual and social with areas to evangelize and possibly do service.

To tie into their mission the group will use a book by Lou Holtz titled "A Teen's Game Plan for Life" focused on the importance of getting to know oneself, making good decisions and not being afraid to dream.

Youth parishioners from the Holy Family Cluster parishes are invited to attend the meeting. Friends are welcome to join them. The group will meet on the second and fourth Sundays of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m.