Advent is a busy time of year for Alison Wertzler, a
parishioner of St. Agnes Church in Arlington. Besides all the
errands, holiday shopping and do-it-yourself projects that
need to get done, Wertzler also serves as a religious
education teacher. On Sunday mornings, the hustle and bustle
of the week comes to a halt as she walks into Room 210 where
more than a dozen energetic first-graders wait to learn the
theological intricacies of the faith, like how Baby Jesus and
Santa Claus are related.
For volunteers like Wertzler, Advent is a beautiful time to
share the spirit of the season with the church’s youngest
members. It is one of the few times during the week that
students who attend public school will experience the faith
outside of their homes.
“We are competing with a culture of sales and shopping,” said
Father Paul F. deLadurantaye, secretary for religious
education and sacred liturgy. “Teachers do a good job of
keeping Christ in Christmas.”
For Wertzler, it is important to help children understand
that the weeks leading up to Christmas are a time of
preparation. She finds it helpful to introduce activities and
crafts.
“First grade is important because it’s a foundation year as
they grow in their faith,” said Wertzler. “We are here to
talk about Jesus’ birth as opposed to Santa.”
New this year is Advent Bingo, which will help them identify
the symbols of the season, according to Wertzler.
As the years pass, some of the children’s natural interests
begin to fade as their attention is drawn toward toys and
Christmas commercials that appear well before the first
candle is lit on the Advent wreath. Jean Morrow is just as
excited as everyone for Christmas but she appreciates the
richness of the Advent season and wants to share that with
her fourth-graders.
“Our goal is to have them learn about the season before
Christmas and how they can be more Christ-like,” said Morrow.
She hopes the crafts and Advent spiritual reflections will
engage the students and plant seeds of faith that will stay
with them as they continue on their spiritual journey.
By the time students are confirmed in eighth grade, they are
old enough to begin taking on responsibility for their own
faith formation.
“It’s ‘game on,'” said Katie Lundstrom, who has taught
eighth-graders for the past five years. In past years,
Lundstrom has shown her students the 2006 film “The Nativity
Story” as a way for them to connect with the season.
“They really get into it because there is a lot of drama,”
said Lundstrom. “They understand the sacrifice of Joseph, the
slaughter of the holy innocents.”
This year Lundstrom is taking a slightly different approach.
She is putting the lessons into the hands of the students who
will give reports about the features of the liturgical year
such as Advent, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and
the Epiphany.
“It came as a result of thinking they were just confirmed a
month and a half ago, and it seems good for them to stop
listening to someone talk to them and start evangelizing
themselves,” said Lundstrom. She hopes that the lessons will
give them a sense of conviction and help them see the meaning
of the liturgical season.
Contact your parish Director of Religious Education for
information on volunteering as an aid or teacher.
Buyers can be reached at [email protected]
