The Catholic Educator


"Could you read from that Brown Book again?”
"You mean the bible?"
“Yes, but this time could you finish it?”
A conversation I had with my grade one student

Have you ever asked yourself what brought you to your role today as a Faith Educator? If you are a teacher employed by a Catholic School Board, what made you choose to work for a school board that is centered on Christ? For some, it could be simply a result of taking a job that was available.  For other teachers, they may feel it was a calling to instil faith in children.  Whatever your own reason was to enter your profession of Christ centered teaching, you have had bestowed upon you one of the greatest honours and privelages in the eyes of God.

Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19

For many of our students, the teacher is one of the primary influences for shaping their commitment and love for his or her faith in Christ.  Whether you embrace this honour or not, it exists and you may feel at times compelled to impart a love for God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ.

You may have experienced moments in your classroom when you share of your connection to Jesus.  These moments are blessed with a warm, glowing feeling in your heart that radiates to the students around you.  These moments may even be the reason you continue to wake up in the morning, returning to your classroom with a fresh outlook each day.  Despite the demands of some parents in your class, the frustration of not meeting each student’s needs, and perhaps the lack of support around you, you still come to work.  Aside from the necessity to pay the bills, you do what you do for this special connection you create with your students.

As every teacher can relate, challenges in my classroom can at times feel like a mountain to climb.  When I worry about burning out, I continue to allow those spiritual connections with my students fuel my fire for teaching. Feeling connected is bigger than just a mindset.  As a result of my strengthening relationship with God, I have committed to making Jesus’ teachings my primary focus in my classroom.  My classroom, although never perfect, is typically a place rich in discussion and appreciation for being part of learning environment that places Jesus at the forefront.  The students in my class, even at the tender age of 6, embrace the readings from the bible, the songs we sing together, and have involved themselves in mature discussions that I would never have imagined.  They go home sharing what they have learned about their faith with parents as well.  In essence, I feel I have sparked their love for their faith and they have begun seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus.

I feel, this journey in my faith teaching has just begun, having just scratched the surface.  Just when I thought I was doing enough in my classroom in terms of teaching my students about Jesus, I humbly accept I have a lot to learn.  I encourage you as a faith educator to continue down the path towards Jesus, a path that will have bumps along the way.  When faced with challenges and adversities, these are the times you need to continue with your heart.  Don’t be afraid to pray and ask for help--help with developing your patience, help with dealing with a parent, help with keeping you motivated.  Keep your relationship with God a top priority, praying and learning more about God’s messages in the bible.  Your growing relationship with Christ will manifest into living a way of life that will create joy in your calling as a Faith educator.  Your joy will be contagious as your students will look up to you as a model of their own faith in Christ.