Day 15

A lot of people have been asking me where I get my curriculum and ideas.  Most of the activities are original- things I wish my high school religion teachers would have done, some from my amazing friends that are SO smart, others from my summer teaching with Totus Tuus.  Most of my information is what I was taught up until now, and especially from the Bible and Catechism.   About 10% is from the actual textbook I was given.  My students don't have their own copy of a textbook therefore I present what I find to be the BEST information, tapping into a number of resources.  I also follow the USCCB's standards and objectives.  So yea, I'm a freebird but make sure I'm covering the objectives required.  It's great that my personal objectives are matching the USCCB's!  They recently reformed them and really emphasize how evangelization and catechizing go hand in hand.

Today we talked about what it means to be a Confirmed Catholic and the potential of what the Holy Spirit can do through us.  I even mentioned a bit on the charismatic gifts.  Oh boy!

If we only knew our potential with the aid of the Holy Spirit.  We have no reason to be afraid or to doubt our desires for a better world.  The Holy Spirit can do SO much through us.  Take Blessed Mother Teresa for example.  1 AMAZING lady.  Who doesn't know about Mother Teresa?  I explained to my students how we need to pray for God's will to be done through us.  Just 1 person can make such a positive change in our world.  Even after her death!  

We then started talking about the martyrs and how they must have really possessed the gift of fortitude. I mean, being beheaded or dying on a crucifix upside down to defend our faith?!  That takes a lot of courage!  Our challenges aren't always that extreme, but still, the gifts are available when our hearts and minds are willing!  It falls on our willingness and our commitment to a certain extent, and then the Holy Spirit takes control. My students were blown away by some of the saint stories I told.  They then had a million questions on the canonization process and then the afterlife.  All around it was a great day and even if they forget all of the technical things about the Sacrament of Confirmation, I know they will always remember that the Holy Spirit is living and working right now, waiting for our "Yes" every single day!  One of my students asked, "Miss Sexton, How could anyone NOT believe in God?!?"  I couldn't have asked a better question myself.  I told her that we need to continue to be witnesses so that more people will come to know the goodness of our Lord-His love, mercy, and justice for all people.

Please, answer the call to greatness!  Remind yourself that you were made for that, and that the Holy Spirit will take you where you're at and give you more than you could ever imagine.

Thank you Blessed Mother Teresa, St. Peter, St. Cecelia, all you angels and saints for your "Yes."

Holy Spirit, inspire us!