Milford parish holds whole community catechesis gathering

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
November 3, 2005

MILFORD - Whole community catechesis is a new approach to faith formation that stresses the importance of educating people of all ages.

According to Karen Schwaller, DRE at St. Joseph Church in Milford, the parish held its first whole community catechesis event on Oct. 26.

"Our theme was Faith Harvest. The purpose of the theme was to celebrate the harvest - not only because of the harvest that is happening in the fields all around us this time of year but also because we are all called by God to be laborers in his harvest. We are called to be seeds of love and compassion to other people and to see God in the little things all around us," she said.

The gathering, which drew about 300 people, was held on a Wednesday evening during the time when religious education classes are normally held for students.

Schwaller pointed out that one parishioner volunteered to coordinate the overall evening. Kristyn Tjaden facilitated planning meetings for the event, secured volunteers to help with the gathering and organized other aspects of the whole community catechesis gathering.

"We were thrilled with the support we received from our parish, from all different groups that helped to make this such a success," said Tjaden. "Our priest was behind it from the absolute beginning."

She described it as a wonderful evening.

"We had a meal - a soup supper - for fellowship and then we went into a workshop," noted Schwaller. She planned and presented the workshop. The DRE noted that parishioner Pam Wickham assisted in this effort by suggesting some wonderful ideas to be included in the presentation.

The youngest participant was 5 years old and it went up to senior citizens. Infants and toddlers were on hand for the meal and then babysitting was provided for the 45-minute educational presentation.

During the educational portion, Schwaller started by laying a groundwork for the workshop. She encouraged people to think out of the box and explained how parables often had an underlying meaning.

One parishioner read the parable of the Sower and the Seed.

"We did an activity with the story. People had to be listening for certain words to be read in the story and as the words were said, they would hold up a sign that said the word and had a symbol of the word," said Schwaller. "This was done by one person at each table."

The religious education students had decorated the symbols on the signs.

Another activity consisted of participants filling canning jars with different items they see around them all of the time - rocks, dirt, corn, oats, acorns and more.

"We looked for the deeper meaning that those things represent in our spiritual lives," she explained. "Trying to find God in the small things that we see each day. The rocks may represent God as our foundation or making sure you have enough faith to get through the rocky times."

At each table, participants discussed what these items would represent in their spiritual lives.

The overall evening also included opening prayer and song as well as a closing prayer and song.

Msgr. Kenneth Seifried, pastor, helped with the event. He was pleased with the turnout.

"It really brought the families together. It gives permission for the parents to talk about their faith with the kids," he said.

Msgr. Seifried also liked the fact that it allowed others to share their faith with the children.

"When we baptize a child, we ask the whole congregation if they are willing to help rear the child as a good Catholic. Whether a person has children or not, everyone has the responsibility to help the younger generation. The younger generation are also teachers of the senior generation," he said. "From one generation to another, they motivate and inspire one another."

At Mass on Oct. 31, the theme was carried over to the liturgy. The jars and signs from the workshop were on display in church.

"We learned a lot from this first event - what will work and what will not for the next one," said Schwaller. "Overall, I think it was a success." The turnout as far as attendance was better than expected.

The parish plans to offer a second whole community catechesis event on March 22.