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Catechist brings Catholic faith to fourth graders

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
(Email Katie)

LARCHWOOD – Long-time catechist continues to teach to pass on faith to youth.

Bea Bruggeman has been a catechist at St. Mary’s in Larchwood for more than 30 years and has always taught fourth grade.

When the Catholic school closed in the mid-1970s, volunteers were asked to step forward to teach religious education classes.

“I remember distinctly our deacon said, ‘Give it five years.’ I laughed and said, ‘No way.’ And here I am still teaching,” said Bruggeman. “It grows on you. When it comes to be Wednesday night, it is a night for religion.”

She said she admires that the children keep coming. As the years have gone by she has noticed that the students have more interest in their religion.

Bruggeman teaches students prayers, the commandments and the beatitudes.

“They find out they can make people happy by doing little things they never thought of as a beatitude before,” said the catechist.

Over the years, the number of students in her class has decreased. When she first started she had about 19 or 20 students and now the class size is about seven or eight students.

As the students from her classes get older, she mentioned that when she sees them around town, they recognize her and it makes her feel good.

“I have the time and I enjoy it (teaching). My religion always meant a lot to me. They look up to me and ask a lot of questions about what has happened in previous years,” she said.

Father Jeff Schliesmann, pastor at St. Mary’s, said she is like a grandmother figure to her students and the students look up to her.

“The students are very receptive of how she teaches and what she teaches,” said the priest.

He added that when the students go to Bruggeman’s class they listen.

“She is really diligent and never misses a class,” said Father Schliesmann. “She is always there and very accountable. She is very solid in her catechesis and training.”

He appreciates her perseverance and desire to hand on her faith to the children.

“I see her living out her faith by attending weekday morning Masses and eucharistic adoration when we have it,” said the priest. “She wants to hand on the faith and you can tell that is the reason why the students are so receptive of her. She lives her faith.”

Sometimes the religious education program has a hard time keeping teachers, Father Schliesmann pointed out.

“It is admiring to have someone who has been teaching over 30 years. She loves it. I think she would teach until she physically couldn’t teach anymore,” he said.