Sixth Grade

For the past few years, co-teaching back-to-back classes (6^th and 10^th grades) has been a solution for Sherry Kellish and Diane Tedesco as they juggle the demands of parenting, working, and volunteering.  Sherry, a lifelong parishioner, has been sharing her faith with the youth of St. James for 19 years, and finds it hard to believe that she and Diane have only known each other since the Tedesco’s settled in Cazenovia in 2003 after careers in the military.

“I really can’t pinpoint when we officially met.  It feels like we’ve known each other our whole lives!” Sherry stated.  Diane offered that they have found each other to be an incredible source of support both inside and outside the classroom, especially as they both do battle with serious health concerns.  Both agreed that their teaching styles complement each other well;  Sherry being the more detailed-oriented of the two, Diane tending more toward spontaneity.  Diane’s recent BAGOH project is an example of their collaborative efforts to raise students’ awareness of those in need.  For more information,  click here.

Kara Connellan recently reached the milestone of a decade of service devoted to the release-time program.  Her experience includes grades 2, 6, and 7.  Kara shared, “Working with the second graders as they prepared for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion was particularly meaningful.”  In addition to her volunteer commitments, Kara works in the office of the family business, Johnson Lumber, and coaches soccer for Cazenovia Central School.

Tracie Cunningham is also committed to a family business, Cunningham Excavation, and finds time to teach during the Wednesday morning release time.  “It has been a great opportunity for me to meet the peers of my children,” she shared.  She has taught 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th grades.   Among the activities she enjoys are skiing and softball.

As in previous weeks, when you see these parishioners, please thank them for their commitment to being catechists and ask yourself how you might be called to join them in this unique ministry.

This week, we meet parishioners who have answered the call to share their faith with our middle school aged youth.

Fifth Grade

Karen Cheal’s  impetus for volunteering to be a     catechist came from a  desire to be actively     involved in the community.  When she learned of a need for 5^th grade catechists, she considered her 12 years of experience as a Catholic school student and thought, “Perhaps I could offer a less dogmatic, and therefore, more instructive and enjoyable approach to religion than that to which I was exposed.”

Karen’s most rewarding experience to date was the donation her class made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation this past Christmas.  She further explained by stating:  “Rather than purchasing a weekly snack for the students, I saved the money I would have spent and encouraged the children to donate it to the charity of their choice.”  Since January, Karen has resided in Australia with her family and is due to return to the US in July.  And how is this for a former career…biostatistician?!  Now that sounds like an intriguing conversation starter!

Serving as co-teacher with Karen this past year was Jessica Johnson.  Jessica has served as a catechist for 4 years, including one year at 1^st grade and two years at  4th  grade.  Having resigned from a career in marketing to devote time to full-time parenting of her sons (ages 2 and 4), she is also pursuing an MBA at LeMoyne.  With baby #3 due just after Thanksgiving, Jessica anticipates being able to begin the 2011-2010 school year as a catechist, but will be looking for a replacement and has generously offered to mentor someone interested in fulfilling this role.  She shared these words of encouragement from her experience:  “Each week I really look forward to seeing the students, having a dedicated time for prayer with them, and growing and learning with them as they continue on their journey of faith.”

During her 35-year career in education, Sr. Joan Killoran taught and administrated, and sometimes did both at the same time.  In fact, during 4 of her 16 years serving as principal, she also taught classes. Obviously no stranger to juggling many commitments, when the call for catechists came 2 years ago, she stepped up to fill the need.  Now ready to serve in other capacities, Sr. Joan offered these thoughts to those who’ve yet to experience this ministry:  “Share your faith- this is what it’s all about.  There is always help from your director, so you are never ‘out there on your own.’  Quite simply – be yourself!”

Clearly, the unlimited ways in which parishioners offer to fulfill the role of catechist is inspiring; from solo teaching to team teaching, from co-teaching to tag teaming.  Linda Hansen and Carrie Adolfi add one more option to the growing list with teaching multiple grade levels!  In addition to her roles as Religious Education Coordinator and 2^nd grade catechist, Carrie taught a 5^th grade class, while Linda covered back-to-back sessions with 5^th and 9^th grades.  Stay tuned to learn more about Linda during the 9^th grade column.

As in previous weeks, when you see these parishioners, please thank them for their commitment to being catechists and ask yourself how you might be called to join them in this unique ministry.

Next week:  More middle school catechists

This week, we meet four more parishioners who have answered the call to share their faith with the youngest members of the St. James community.

Fourth Grade

Following a 35-year career in elementary education (twenty-four of which were spent at Burton St. Elementary School), Patsy Hagan sought to make the transition to retirement by teaching 4^th graders in the release time program.  When asked what she has gained from her experiences as a catechist, Patsy stated:  “This age group can pose so many thoughtful questions.  For example, ‘If God made the Earth, then who made God?’  Their inhibition can be quite insightful for adults…not to mention somewhat challenging at times!”

Patsy also shared her students’ classtime snack sacrifice during Lent, a practice that has been particularly meaningful.  With 11 years of serving as catechist under belt, Patsy commented that while her goal was to meet Helen Ryan’s record of 17 years as catechist after a full teaching career, she is ready to devote time to other ministries at St. James, one of which includes food coordinator extraordinaire for funeral receptions, the Silent Auction, and Fr. Peter’s Farewell Party.  Her dedication has been most appreciated…we do hope we can count on her to be a “guest teacher” on occasion!

At the other end of the spectrum in terms of teaching background is Marjorie Tormey.  “My experience working with children on an individual level with horsemanship skills is completely different than that which is needed for classroom teaching,” Marjorie readily admitted.  So what convinced her to try being a catechist two years ago?  “I just felt like it was my time to give back to the program.  When my four children were younger, it was more challenging to find the time.  Now that they are older, it seemed like the right time to do so,” she shared.  Marjorie credits Carrie Adolfi for giving her the confidence to try different strategies for keeping the children engaged and is looking forward to more next year.

Solo teaching, team teaching, co-teaching…all options for fulfilling the role of catechist that have been outlined in previous weeks.  Ready for a new twist?  How about “tag teaming?”  That is how the husband-wife duo of Bryan Wendel and Wendy Scinta approached the responsibility of faith sharing with their fourth graders.  “Our schedules are very busy just like everybody else, but we wanted to be more involved and we were able to make it work by sharing the duties,” Bryan shared.  Bryan and Wendy each prepared lessons every other week and were able to make the Wednesday afternoon commitment fit their work and family schedules.  Is there any limit to the approaches St. James parishioners can create for managing time for the release time program?

As in previous weeks, when you see  these parishioners, please thank them for their commitment to being catechists and ask yourself how you might be called to join them in this unique ministry.

Next week:  The Wednesday morning crew…middle school catechists!

This week’s column features two more third grade catechists.

Third Grade – Part II

Although prior teaching experience is not a requirement for serving as a catechist, Sue Romagnoli and Maureen Phillips each bring years of experience in the classroom to the release time program.  Sue was previously employed as a special education teacher with the Chittenango Central School District and Maureen worked as an elementary educator in Massachusetts prior to relocating to Cazenovia.

As with many previously highlighted catechists, Sue appreciates the opportunity to meet the peers of her children, as well as interact with the adult catechists.  And for anyone seeking a bit of comic relief during a busy week, Sue cites elementary students as one of the best providers of said remedy, as illustrated by one anecdote she related:  “I’ll never forget posing the open-ended phrase, ‘And the day Jesus died is called…” to which the response “Black Friday!” was shouted by one student who shall remain nameless.”  When she is not busy  volunteering as a catechist, Sue can be found chauffeuring her children to various sporting events and, if she is lucky, squeezing in a tennis match for herself.

A personal invitation to consider being a catechist was the inspiration for Maureen to continue exercising her teaching skills in a new setting while devoting time to her young children.  “I found that a few moments of prayer spent with other catechists prior to the weekly classtime has been particularly helpful in centering me amidst the hustle of preparing for class and family responsibilities,” Maureen shared.  In addition to her catechist responsibilities, Maureen also volunteers sorting donations with The Mustard Seed and is a Board member for the Cazenovia Children’s House.

As in previous weeks, when you see these women, please thank them for their commitment to being catechists and ask yourself how you might be called to join them in this unique ministry.

Next week:  More unique approaches to fulfilling the role of catechist.

This week, we meet  two more parishioners who have answered the call to share their faith with the youngest members of the St. James community.

Third Grade

When Carrie Adolfi was initially approached to be a catechist, her response was, “I am NOT qualified.”  That was 14 years ago.  Carrie is now ending a four-year term as Coordinator of Religious Education in addition to continuing to teach where needed.  This past school year, those volunteer assignments included 3^rd and 5^th grade.

So how did someone so reluctant to assume the role of catechist end up coordinating the release time program?  As Carrie recalls, it was a very persuasive Tracy Latak, former Coordinator, who convinced her to give catechesis a try.  Co-teaching with another catechist gave her the confidence to eventually “go solo” and the rest, as they say, is history!

While Carrie assures St. James she will be returning solely as a catechist in her “retirement,” she does plan to devote time to getting her gardens in shape and currently has been training for a half-marathon.  In fact, by the time this column is in the hands of parishioners, she will have completed the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon in Vermont!

Assisting Carrie throughout this school year in grade three has been Deborah Wester.  A St. James parishioner for the past 10 years,    Deborah decided to explore the role of       catechist and has found it to be an opportunity not only to get to know more of her own      children’s peers, but also as an important   avenue for instilling Christian values.  “As an artist, I look forward to being able to plan    activities that allow children various forms of expression,” she states.  In addition to her roles as a substitute and assistant with the release time program, Deborah also serves as a  Neighborhood Leader for Parish Council.   (And be sure to check out her website, www.deborahdoughertywester.com, for scenes from the Cazenovia area.)

As in previous weeks, when you see these women, please thank them for their commitment to being catechists and ask yourself how you might be called to join them in this unique ministry.

Next week:  Third Grade Part II continues….

This week, we meet three more parishioners who have answered the call to share their faith with the youngest members of the St. James community.

Second Grade

Cindy Decker on her dock in Erieville

Cindy Decker’s commitment to catechesis began in High School when she assisted her mother with her young charges through a religious education program.  “Witnessing my mother’s gifts as a catechist was a unique opportunity for me to see her as something other than a mother of four daughters,”  Cindy shared.  Given this model for volunteerism, Cindy has continued to find ways of participating in the life of each parish of which she has been a member, from singing in the choir, teaching Kindergarten religious education in Florida and Elmira, or serving on the St. James Parish Council.  Most recently, she has enjoyed teaching  second graders.

So what is Cindy up to when she is not busy planning engaging lessons for her students?  Serving as principal flutist and personnel manager for the newly-formed,  Symphony Syracuse! for starters.  She can also be found enjoying numerous water sports, from waterskiing to fishing.

“Giving back to the community that has given my family so much,” was the motivation for   Laurie Hopsicker as she began her years of  service as a catechist at St. James.  Initially Laurie served as a teacher of the Sunday preschool  program, a role in which she participated for 9 years.  After an out-of-state move and subsequent return to Cazenovia, Laurie took up where she left off with Sunday preschool, followed by a transition to the release-time religious education program.  “Following my fourth (and youngest) child as she has progressed through the program has given me the opportunity to spend time with her that is unique and separate from her older siblings,” Laurie shared.

Aside from being the primary “taxi driver” of the Hopsicker household, Laurie enjoys   skiing, boating, knitting and reading.  She is also passionate about volunteering at Burton Street Elementary and working for her daughters’ dance teams.

Rounding out the second grade catechists for the 2010-11 school year is Anastasia Mahany, proof positive that the Lord does work in mysterious ways!  As Anastasia recalls, she had recently moved to the area in 2008 when she happened upon St. James and serendipitously was introduced to Carrie Adolfi, who happened to be in need of a second grade catechist.  With 10 years of serving the St. Jude’s  parish in Alfred (both as a catechist and as sacramental coordinator for Reconciliation and First Communion) already under her belt, it seemed to be a match made in Heaven.  “Working with 6-7 year olds  never ceases to amaze me.  They have such an innate sense of honesty and integrity.   If you want to know what’s fair, ask a 7 year old!” Anastasia shared as she related  her faith-sharing experiences.

While she has held the dubious distinction of being the catechist with the longest commute (she hails from Georgetown), it is unlikely that Anastasia will continue to make the trek to St. James for her weekly volunteer gig when her family relocates to Missouri this summer.  With characteristic faithfulness, Anastasia related the story of how her family has been given the opportunity to start anew following a devastating fire at their family farm,  Ti-Creek, this past December.  It is without question that a parish in the    Midwest will be blessed with her presence and we ask for the St. James community to pray for her and her family as they begin a new phase of life’s journey.

Once again, when you see these women, please thank them for their commitment to being catechists and ask yourself how you might be called to join them in this unique ministry.

Next week:  Third grade catechists weigh in on their experiences as catechists.