Every two weeks, the Patriot will randomly pick a student from the directory, find out more about his or her life, and prove that every student has a story.
Senior Allison Sanphillipo has been enrolled in religion classes since she was a child. Now she has gone back to her parish and elementary and middle school, St. Joan of Arc, to teach her faith to the next generation.
Sanphillipo has been a member of St. Joan of Arc Church for 13 years. Last August, her youth minister decided to start religious education classes outside of school for all children in eighth grade and under. “He asked my friend and me to teach. We had some experience because we had helped out with bible school before, so we agreed to do it,” Sanphillipo said.
To become a catechist, Sanphillipo had to take STAND training, an archdiocesan program that teaches about the protection of children, and attend meetings before classes began. However, no specific training for how to teach was required. “I had already taken the STAND training when I was confirmed, so I just had to go to a meeting or two where they explained when I’d teach and the gist of what I’d be doing,” Sanphillipo said.
On Sundays before Mass and during the Liturgy of the Word, Sanphillipo teaches children from first grade and below with her friend. “It’s not a formal teaching setting. The kids sit on carpet squares and we talk to them about simple readings and concepts or do activities with them,” Sanphillipo said.
According to Sanphillipo, teaching can be a challenge because the children are too young to understand most of the readings and the deeper meanings behind them. “We have booklets and packets, but we don’t always use them because sometimes they’re over the kids’ heads, so we’ll do crafts instead. For example, if there’s a holiday coming up, such as Christmas, we’ll explain that it’s Jesus’s birthday and then we’ll do a craft that goes along with that,” Sanphillipo said.
Although teaching has its challenges, Sanphillipo enjoys it. “Sometimes these little kids who can’t even talk will show up, but they’re adorable and fun to work with. I love to see them enjoying themselves and learning new things,” Sanphillipo said.
Sanphillipo recommends that others become catechists as well. “I think it’s a good thing to be involved in because it’s a great way to spread your faith to younger generations. The classes are mostly for people who don’t have religious education taught to them in school, so it’s good that we can help them out,” Sanphillipo said.
Mary Luft is a A&E Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.