The 31 days of March account for the largest single block of time during Lent this year. March's almost 4 1/2 weeks remind us that the journey of faith and conversion is not short nor does it take place quickly. Instead we are called to engage in a journey that requires stamina, perseverance, and practice.
In the classroom, on the athletic field, and in the home, we preach the importance of practice—"practice makes perfect," "practice builds character," "practice, practice, practice." The long days of March provide ample opportunity to practice apologizing, forgiving, fasting, repenting, praying, and giving that characterize this season of penitence. The challenge to our practice is rarely the opportunities available to exercise. The challenge is often maintaining the energy and stamina to persevere through to the three glorious days of the Triduum in April.
This issue of To Teach explores ways in we can build up our stamina and creatively commit ourselves to a fruitful Lenten experience.
Encourage a deeper examination of our Catholic identity by highlighting one of the penitential practices of the Catholic Church with teachers and staff in meetings or a weekly note. Encourage them to find creative ways to model this practice with their students and incorporate information about and actual practice of each example in a lesson during the week.
Prepare and issue a press release to your local, city, and diocesan newspapers highlighting the works of penance, charity, and prayer that are taking place in the school during Lent. Include quotes from teachers and students who are leading or participating in these activities. Highlight how these works are an example of "practicing what we preach" about Lent.
Conduct an examination of conscience as part of prayer at the start of your monthly staff or school board meeting. Use the Ten Commandments or the Beatitudes as a model for writing reflection questions for this.
Conduct a reflective evaluation with staff, PTO/PTA members, and the school board on how well the school is fulfilling the three goals of evangelization as set forth in the bishops' statement Go and Make Disciples. Note especially goal one which focuses on nurturing enthusiasm for the faith and goal three on living out gospel values in society. Select from the various concrete strategies proposed for each goal one or two action steps that could be implemented immediately or in the coming year.
Incorporate the daily readings into your teaching or class prayer. Encourage your students to practice proclaiming the readings by subscribing to the podcast or reviewing the Scriptures online.
Create a set of stations of the cross that is age-appropriate for your students using construction paper, markers, cut-out words and pictures from newspapers and magazines. Divide the class into 14 pairs or small groups and assign them one station. Read or summarize the Scripture for each station and brainstorm with the whole group ideas on how to picture that station. Give the students time to create their station and present it to the whole class. Display the stations in your classroom, the rectory or school office, or in the parish, Church, or school hallway.
Have your students present a short skit (once a week) on the life and work of St. Katherine Drexel, St. Patrick, St. Joseph, and your parish's patron saint. Discuss what each saint teaches us about living as God commands and specific, concrete actions that your students can take during the coming week to practice that trait.
Plan a pilgrimage with your students through the school and/or church. (There is a brief description of a pilgrimage in Penitential Practices for Today's Catholics.) Identify three or four "stops" on your pilgrimage. "Stops" might include small shrines, a chapel, a stained glass window, the tabernacle, a memorial plaque, or other places where it would be appropriate to stop and pray. With older students, assign small groups the task of selecting an appropriate reading from Scripture and writing a prayer for one of the stops, and invite them to lead the prayer during your pilgrimage.
Receive the Sacrament of Penance as a family at least once during March. Review the rite of Penance before going, especially the prayers of the penitent.
Subscribe to the podcast of the daily readings using the family computer. Play the podcast as part of prayer in the morning, at bedtime, or before a meal. Discuss how God is challenging you to be a better Christian through this Scripture.
Make a weekly habit of praying the stations of the cross as a family each Friday during Lent. Use different reflections on the stations (like the Scriptural ones or the Way of the Cross) each week.
Practice acts of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Using pennies and a large empty jar, drop a penny in the jar each time someone initiates an act. Watch the jar fill during the month. Each Sunday or another suitable day of the week, share as a family the story of one act and how it reminded the doer of how Jesus treated others. At the end of Lent, donate the amount of the pennies to Catholic Relief Services or a local charity.
Adopt one new type or style of prayer as part of your family's Lenten practice like adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (check your parish weekly bulletin, call the parish office, or look in your diocesan newspaper for dates and times) or the Liturgy of the Hours.
"Forming Adult Faith" is a new feature of To Teach. It includes suggestions from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) on how to promote ongoing faith formation among the adults in your school community.
Chapter 8. The Saving Death and Resurrection of Christ
Chapter 15. Baptism: Becoming a Christian
Chapter 34. The Tenth Commandment: Embrace Poverty of Spirit
Both individuals and groups—a full staff or a grade level gathering—can use the following suggestions. Most suggestions can be completed in 10-15 minutes.
In a journal, write the three discussion questions on a separate page. During the week, read one section of one chapter each day, then reread and respond to the discussion questions each day, noting any new insights or reflections. At the end of the week, review your overall reflection. Share your insights with a colleague, your spouse, or a close friend.
Begin your reflection on Chapter 15 with the first prayer on pg. 199 from the Rite of Baptism. After reading one section of chapter, reflect on and jot down any new insights you have gained regarding the prayer and the Sacrament of Baptism.
Using Chapter 34 as your starting point, identify one or two ways in which you can embrace poverty of spirit and be a good Christian steward. At the end of the month, assess how well you lived up to the call of the tenth commandment and the bishops' pastoral on stewardship.
"Compendium Corner" is also a new feature of To Teach. It provides a list of questions and answers in the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that are related to this month’s topic. (The number before the question is the question number in the Compendium.)
Review the questions and answers in preparation for your class.
Consider how to use appropriate questions and answers as part of your lesson plan.
Develop learning activities that help youths and young adults learn this information by heart (memorization).
106. What do we learn frm the temptations of Jesus in the desert?
299. Do the baptized have need of conversion?
301. What forms does penance take in the Christian life?
428. Are all called to Christian holiness?
