Catechists, DREs, youth ministers take part in spreading the word

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
September 14, 2006

LE MARS/HUMBOLDT - Catechists, DREs and youth ministers in the Diocese of Sioux City are adjusting to new or relatively new positions and setting goals for the religious education programs at their parishes.

Sister Jeanette Homan, OSF, is the new director of faith formation for the Le Mars Area Cluster. She just recently started her position.

"I have been a sister for over 40 years. This was a chance for me to move back to my home area and help develop the faith that was here when I was born," said Sister Jeanette. "I taught at Gehlen in the late 1970s. I am now working with some catechists and the spiritual life director at Gehlen, who are my former students or people I knew when I was working in the diocese either at Le Mars or Emmetsburg. It is a chance to get another generation involved in handing on the faith."

She pointed out that spreading and passing on the word is important because "if nobody tells them, they don't know. If nobody shows them, they don't find out."

A goal that Sister Jeanette has as director of faith formation is "to involve more people in handing on the faith, in knowing the faith, in developing a spiritual life and in developing a family spiritual life."

Darcie Kramer, DRE at St. Cecelia Parish in Algona, is entering her third year as a DRE. She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She had a position teaching half-time at Seton Grade School in Algona and the DRE position was half-time when she first applied.

"I kind of fell into the position. God wanted me here, I guess," said Kramer. "I have really felt like I belong in this position. There is a lot that I can do. I am learning so much about my own faith and what it is to truly be Catholic. I really enjoy it."

She mentioned that through passing along the word of God she hopes "everyone feels the same joy."

"I want all of the kids to gain that experience of knowing God," said Kramer.

She added that the religious education program classes at St. Cecelia Parish was switched to Sunday last year, so they are trying to carry out the change and "work out the kinks."

"We are trying to make our program as good as we can possibly make it," said Kramer. "One of our goals to do that was to switch to Sundays, so we have met that goal."

A new component this year is that the religious education students will be doing a service project at the end of the year. A day of class time will be set aside for the children to do a service project.

"Also this year, we will be setting up a buddy system," said Kramer. "The older kids buddy with a younger grade and they meet up with them every so often - once a month. The older ones teach the younger ones and the younger ones get to show off to the older ones."

These activities and programs are among many religious education programs throughout the diocese that are gearing up to start classes and activities for this school year.