Students enrich faith of religious educators

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 14, 2006

ROYAL/HUMBOLDT - Many of the catechists, DREs, youth ministers and others who work or volunteer for parishes throughout the Diocese of Sioux City have given of their time for numerous years.

Lois McCarty, DRE at St. Louis Parish in Royal, became a catechist in 1981. She served as a coordinator of religious education with Sister Margaret Galm beginning in 1986 and took the position of DRE at St. Louis Parish in 1992. She became a member of the Diocesan Religious Education Advisory Committee in 2000.

"I tease prospective catechists and tell them it is 'eternal life insurance,'" said McCarty. "Seriously, whenever I think it is time to let someone else do this job, I see new students coming up and I think, 'I want to be a part of their faith lives.' I love watching them journey through the years. I get especially excited working with the groups preparing for the sacraments."

She continued that being a DRE helps her keep focus on her own faith life.

"It sounds so cliché, but I feel so blessed with what God has given me, that I want to give back," said McCarty.

She attends several meetings and gatherings in the diocese such as Religious Ed Advisory Board meetings, DRE Fall Gatherings, AMORE meetings and Excellence in Catechesis to ensure for her own continued faith formation. She pointed out that that she gets her "biggest inspiration from meetings with other DREs and catechists."

"We have had some fantastic faith formation leadership in the diocesan office," said McCarty. "They continue to inspire me with the work they do and the showers of affirmation they send my way."

McCarty believes that it is important to teach children about faith because "God is such a rock. With families taking on so many different looks, the children really need a center of gravity."

John Weisbrich, a ninth grade catechist at St. Mary Parish in Humboldt, has been a catechist since 1991 and has been in Humboldt for four years.

"It gives me a good feeling. It allows me to give back to the church and to the kids," said Weisbrich. "I like the kids. I feel it is the least that I can do."

He noted that each year there is less preparation for him since he stays with the same grade every year, but it is something that he can do for an hour or more a week for the church.

Weisbrich explained that his inspiration comes from "seeing the kids and getting a spark out of them every once in a while."

"I try to keep it interesting and fun learning along with the serious learning," said Weisbrich. "I've had a lot of compliments on the way that I teach. The kids come back after they have graduated and always comment on the way that I taught. That is gratifying and encouraging."

He hopes to get through to the ninth graders to make a difference in their lives.

"I've learned, too. They've taught me in the four past years," said Weisbrich. "Just last week, I saw one of my students from last year that is teaching third and fourth graders this year. Just seeing that is a good feeling."