Questions For Professional Catechists

[tinytherese]

Do you ever get burned out from all of the work and if so how do you handle it?


How do you handle say a volunteer CCD teacher who refuses to teach what the Church does in a classroom setting, even to the point of doing something openly dissenting like having a same sex partner?


How do you get volunteers? I know that a common problem is that you are trying to get something going, but no one is willing to do it, then it gets placed in your hands constantly. You can't do everything. "Hmm, we can't find anyone to do this? Well, why don't we just have the youth minister or campus minister or DRE do it?"

How do you do a feasible workload without taking on too much, especially if you're raising a family? My mom isn't a catechist, but she has to work an average of 60 hours a week, which takes a toll on our family life. (She isn't a workaholic. The stuff that she has to do is mandatory in particular because she is the boss of a section of her law firm.) Does it have to come to working long hours like that?

[Brother Adam]

[quote]Do you ever get burned out from all of the work and if so how do you handle it?[/quote]

Burn out is very common among lay church employees. We serve the servants of the servant of God and as such have less resources at our disposal. It is critical for lay workers to get rest on a regular basis, have spiritual direction, and go on retreats and other times for us to be spiritually built up in the faith. Since we are often the ones running retreats and helping pastors care for their flocks, we are not often thought of as needing the care of the church ourselves, but we do, often more so than others. If you do burn out, it is time to take time off and get away, and when you come back to re-evaluate priorities and time spent on the job. For lay ministers, this is a job, not a vocation, and we must not become work-a-holics.

[quote]How do you handle say a volunteer CCD teacher who refuses to teach what the Church does in a classroom setting, even to the point of doing something openly dissenting like having a same sex partner?[/quote]

For the salvation of souls, both theirs and the students they teach, you remove them from the classroom after informing the pastor.

[quote]How do you get volunteers? I know that a common problem is that you are trying to get something going, but no one is willing to do it, then it gets placed in your hands constantly. You can't do everything. "Hmm, we can't find anyone to do this? Well, why don't we just have the youth minister or campus minister or DRE do it?" [/quote]

Since the DRE/CYM is responsible for planning most events events usually start in our hands and it is our responsibility to coordinate volunteers and delegate responsibility and authority. The best way to get volunteers is through personal relationships with parishioners - a new DRE should take a long time in his or her first year to get to know the families that they are serving. Relational ministry is among the most important task. When families know you, they are more likely to volunteer for you. It remains a constant battle to get enough volunteers though. If a minister is overwhelmed they need to learn boundaries and how to say no. There is always work to do in the church, and as you said, one person cannot do it all. If parishioners are trying to leave something in your hands that you cannot take on, just be clear about it and most people understand.

[quote]How do you do a feasible workload without taking on too much, especially if you're raising a family? My mom isn't a catechist, but she has to work an average of 60 hours a week, which takes a toll on our family life. (She isn't a workaholic. The stuff that she has to do is mandatory in particular because she is the boss of a section of her law firm.) Does it have to come to working long hours like that?
[/quote]

Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. The work of the church is a calling. If you are not called to it, you will not make it as a lay worker. You will be miserable. Likewise if you are called to it, you will be miserable doing anything else. 60 hours is a reasonable guess as to how much time most lay workers put in when they are full time. Part timers (usually salaried for 24-30 hours) usually work about 40 hours. That is part of being a salaried employee. Boundaries are important, and spending time with your family and on your spiritual life are priorities that you have to have. Does it have to come to hours like that? I suppose not, but you burn through those hours without realizing it. When you are called to this work, as difficult as it is, it is a lot of fun at times too, and a real joy at other times.

[Lil Red]

know when to say no.

[angieAugustina]

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Regularly spend time with Jesus, on your knees if you can,
and you will realize (again) that [u][/u]we[u][/u] do not do the
work, HE DOES. we are just instruments of His love.
Pray for your mom and all the children, volunteers and families
in the parish--ask other folks to pray for them--remind the
pastor & deacons & parish council to pray for the children's
programs...ask the older people and shut-ins to pray for
this intention. unify your parish in prayer.
i have seen miracles. God wants our hearts, all of 'em!

[CatherineM]

Prayer. Retreats. Occasionally letting something go undone. Our pastor did that around Christmas. He couldn't get a volunteer for something, so he said we just wouldn't do it. He got a volunteer within a week. It's hard to say that you are overworked, if everything runs smooth, at least to outside eyes.

[Cam42]

[quote name='tinytherese' timestamp='1294214058' post='2196915']
Do you ever get burned out from all of the work and if so how do you handle it?


How do you handle say a volunteer CCD teacher who refuses to teach what the Church does in a classroom setting, even to the point of doing something openly dissenting like having a same sex partner?


How do you get volunteers? I know that a common problem is that you are trying to get something going, but no one is willing to do it, then it gets placed in your hands constantly. You can't do everything. "Hmm, we can't find anyone to do this? Well, why don't we just have the youth minister or campus minister or DRE do it?"

How do you do a feasible workload without taking on too much, especially if you're raising a family? My mom isn't a catechist, but she has to work an average of 60 hours a week, which takes a toll on our family life. (She isn't a workaholic. The stuff that she has to do is mandatory in particular because she is the boss of a section of her law firm.) Does it have to come to working long hours like that?
[/quote]

Nope, I never get burned out from being a Catechist. I got burned out from this site for awhile, but I'm back now....

The way I handle someone who refuses to teach the Church's position is threefold.
1. I catechize them again. To see if they accept the teachings. If that doesn't work...
2. I present to the pastor. If that doesn't work...
3. I present to the bishop. That usually works.

I get volunteers in two ways.
1. Promotion. I am very visible and make my position known to all
2. Recruit. If there is someone I know of who is good I approach them. We can't be shy.

Workload is no different than any job. Do what is necessary to make sure that you are being effective and productive. Don't overload and remember work-life balance. This is individual. I can probably handle more that most, but I also know that I can handle less than others. It isn't a competition nor is it a race. You've got time. Do what you can in the time that you can. Use a plan and stick to it. Does it mean long hours? Sometimes, but when one loves what one does, the time flies....

I hope this helps.