Religious education programs provide Lenten activities

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 15, 2007

Parish religious education programs throughout the Diocese of Sioux City are participating in activities during Lent to prepare for Easter.

The Holy Family religious education program including Cathedral, St. Joseph and St. Boniface Parishes in Sioux City has recently moved its classes to the former St. Boniface School. During Lent, families involved in the religious education program are taking time to assist in cleaning the former school building.

Mary Kay Daniels, DRE for the Holy Family Cluster, noted that families are being offered the opportunity to help out on four Wednesdays. Each of the classrooms is being cleaned including vacuuming, wiping off desks, cleaning chalkboards and dry erase boards, etc. Daniels noted that the building had been vacant for a few years, so the building needed some "love and care."

"We are trying to accomplish together as a faith community, in a practical way, to enrich our students here and now - to create a lovely environment for them," said Daniels. "I have called it our restoration project."

She has asked each family to come at least one Wednesday evening to help. Her philosophy is that "many hands make light work. We can teach our children to work with us in a good way."

"It is important to involve everyone to create community. We have lovely families here," said Daniels. "The more I get to know them, the happier I am to see the giftedness among all of us here."

According to Kerry Noethe, DRE for Our Lady of Good Counsel in Fonda and a St. Columbkille in Varina, during Lent the Faith Formation Program is getting back to basics by focusing on the Mass. This includes studying the church year, colors, vestments, articles used during Mass, terminology, parts of the Mass and using the missals.

"Catechists have been provided materials to review with their students. All grades are spending one class in the church with Father (Thomas) Hart where he provides a more in depth lesson using the vestments and articles the students are familiar with and answers any questions," said Noethe.

The high school students viewed the video How Jesus Died: The Final 18 Hours, which presents medical, forensic and historical facts of the crucifixion of Jesus.

"It has helped them understand exactly what Jesus suffered for us," said Noethe.

During the Sundays in Lent Father Hart is also focusing on the Mass in his homilies.

"Just like the real meaning of Christmas can get lost in consumerism, so, too, can Easter," said Noethe. "By focusing on special projects and activities the students are reminded of the true meaning of Easter and the enormous sacrifice Jesus made for our redemption."

Noethe pointed out that the Peace and Justice Committee has a non-perishable food and paper product drive for Upper Des Moines Opportunity, an organization that provides services to the needy during Lent.

"In keeping with Jesus' teaching to help others, especially during Lent, our program is participating by donating baby items," said Noethe. "Each class has been assigned a product including all sizes of disposable diapers, baby lotion, baby wash and baby powder."

Coming up on March 28 the religious education program for St. Columbkille in Churdan, St. Brigid in Grand Junction, St. Joseph in Jefferson and St. Paul in Scranton will hold an intergenerational faith festival focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus and the Pascal mystery. The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the St. Joseph Parish Center in Jefferson.

Shannon Duffy, DRE for the four parishes, mentioned that the middle school students will talk about the Lenten readings and act them out in a skit for their peers.

"The high school students and adults will be in our parish hall. They are going to do some journaling and listen to a speaker," said Duffy. "That person is going to share a little bit from their life on a dying and rising experience they have had in their life."

The evening will begin with a soup supper and an opening prayer, welcome and icebreaker. Then the group will be split into the different age groups. The evening will conclude with a closing prayer experience.

"It provides us with a time of reflection to take a look at our own lives and ways that we maybe have missed the mark when it comes to our faith journey," said Duffy. "This gives us a wonderful reflection time for the rest of the story - the resurrection, the joy of Easter."

Duffy noted that the religious education program is also providing other opportunities for the students including Stations of the Cross, reconciliation and classroom activities.

Edna Miller, DRE at Sacred Heart in Early and St. Joseph in Schaller, commented that the religious education classes are all ending with the Stations of the Cross. The first through fifth grade students participate in a short version and the older students participate in the teenager's version of the stations.

They are also taking time to zero in on the missions more.

The religious education students at St. Mary's in Rock Valley will be able to participate in special reconciliation services on Wednesday nights during their class time.

Linn Gacke, DRE at St. Mary's, mentioned that they are doing a service project, a bake sale, to raise money for Kids Against Hunger.

"Gehlen has been pre-packaging meals to send to Africa. We are raising money to send to them," said Gacke.

She noted that the high school students would be doing the passion reading for Good Friday services on April 6 - 12:15 p.m. at Sacred Heart in Alvord and 7 p.m. at Christ the King in Sioux Center (bilingual).

At Rock Valley they are also participating in Operation Rice Bowl.

"I think it is a wonderful time for the kids to reflect on their relationship with Christ," said Gacke.