The Catechist Mass is a great opportunity for priests, parishioners, families and friends to celebrate the ministry of Special Religious Education (SRE), Sacraments of Initiation (SOI), Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and Children’s Liturgy. The theme this year is In The Light, from Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine out, for your light has come.”
The Mass asks a blessing on the work of catechists and honours those who have reached a milestone in their service of the Lord Jesus and the church. Recognition of Service awards are given to those who have served 15 years and over. These awards will be presented at Mass. Those who have served five and 10 years as catechists will receive certificates presented in parishes.
These awards celebrate that catechists have a long term commitment to students while teaching from an approved curriculum. Those who have just completed training to become catechists are also presented with a certificate at Mass.
Much has been discussed about the need for catechists in public schools by the media recently.
Paul Green MLC said in the Catholic Weekly, “Keeping SRE in schools is about giving choice to parents and students. The majority of parents and school communities support SRE, with over 70 per cent of parents of primary students across NSW opting into the program.
“Keeping SRE in our schools will continue to support the whole development and wellbeing of our young. It agrees with the commitment of the Wellbeing Framework for Schools of the NSW Department of Education, which aims: “ … to create quality learning opportunities for children and young people. This includes strengthening their cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development.”
ARTD (a public policy consulting firm) did an Independent Review of SRE in 2017 and found that “SRE builds tolerance in schools around diverse communities and promotes multiculturalism through joint celebrations of different faith groups and the recognition of different cultural heritages.”
5 years:
|
NAME |
MINISTRY |
PARISH |
|
Irene Gover |
SRE |
Raymond Terrace |
|
Jenny Blyth |
SRE |
Kurri Kurri |
|
Margaret Blyth |
SRE |
Kurri Kurri |
|
Nona Gardiner |
SRE |
Kurri Kurri |
|
Henry Sowa |
SRE |
Taree |
|
Frances Fischer |
SRE |
Wingham |
|
Pauline Williams |
SRE |
Wingham |
|
Clare Walsh |
SRE |
Newcastle |
10 years:
|
NAME |
MINISTRY |
PARISH |
|
Ursula Lynch |
SOI |
Toronto |
|
Petrina Massey |
SOI/CLOW/RCIA |
Toronto |
|
Diana Dolan |
SRE |
Blackbutt North |
15 years:
|
NAME |
MINISTRY |
PARISH |
|
Kathy Weir |
SRE |
Raymond Terrace |
|
Heather Sertori |
SRE |
Nelson Bay |
|
Lorna Vidler |
SRE |
Forster Tuncurry |
|
Yvonne Dixon |
SRE |
Forster Tuncurry |
30 Years:
|
NAME |
MINISTRY |
PARISH |
|
Patricia Simpson |
SRE |
Raymond Terrace |
35 Years:
|
NAME |
MINISTRY |
PARISH |
|
Helen Gibson |
SRE |
Raymond Terrace |
|
Judy West |
SRE |
Kurri Kurri |
|
Kay Fox |
SRE |
Forster Tuncurry |
Renew
|
NAME |
MINISTRY |
PARISH |
|
Mary Horsburgh |
SRE |
Forster |