Dear Potential Volunteer,

Please consider volunteering during this upcoming 2008-2009 school year as a catechist or aide. The only prerequisite is to be a practicing Catholic in good standing, with a desire to pass on the faith to the children of the parish. Those who do volunteer will have the option to register their children first, enabling them to choose the specific sessions that fit their schedule.

To volunteer, simply print, complete, and return to the Religious Education Office the  Volunteer Form 2008-2009.

Before volunteering, consider the different styles of teaching that provide flexibility in scheduling:

• as a Catechist with an Aide
• as a Catechist with multiple Aides in a large class
• as Team Catechists, who take turns teaching every other week
• as Team Catechists, who attend each week but serve one week as the Catechist and the next week as the Aide

This latter Team Catechists style is especially effective in providing continuity for the students, and at the same time only requiring each Catechist to prepare the lesson every other week. And you can certainly request your Team Catechist partner or aide.

Experience is the best teacher - therefore, please consider signing up for a grade or age group (such as middle school vs. early elementary) that you have previously taught. Keep in mind, too, that both the second and eighth grades require special catechesis and a little extra work due to the fact that these are years of sacramental preparation. Specifically, these catechists for these two years will have extra involvement in the Communion and Confirmation Liturgies and retreats as well as more contact with the students' parents.

On your volunteer form please list any teaching experience you may have so that if, for example, we have extra volunteers for first grade and too few for sixth grade, and though you volunteered for first grade, you have experience with sixth grade, we could ask you to switch. Also list a desired class size (large or small) to enable us to schedule students accordingly. If you are unable to commit as a Catechist or Aide for next year, please consider volunteering as a substitute catechist. Please make sure to print and return the volunteer form by July 15th.

Thank you again for considering volunteering,

In Christ,

Cathy Plummer
Director of Religious Education

Rev. William P. Saunders
Pastor