‘Ramming religion down their throats’ in the right way works, says Schoenstatt Sister.
By Anthony Barich
Sacrament-oriented programs written by Schoenstatt Sister Lisette are bringing children and families in Catholic schools back to Mass.
Over 3500 students a year from up to 50 schools have visited the Schoenstatt Shrine in Armadale since 2000, when Sister Lisette returned from working in the Philippines and wanted to use the shrine to evangelise.
A State government change in kindergarten enrolment dates led to the closure of the Shrine as a venue for kindergarten, opening the door for Sister Lisette to run her programs.
The schools responded positively, sending students and parents for first Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation.
She said the programs encourage students and their families to go to church as well as educate them on the sacraments.
“I ram religion down their throats from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave; and they leave with a smile on their faces because of the way I present it,” she said.
For first Holy Communion preparation, Sister Lisette teaches them not just about the Eucharist but aspects of the liturgical celebration, including the significance of the various garments priests wear for particular sacraments and feasts, as well as acolytes’ and altar boys’ garments.
Boys are encouraged to try on the priests’ robes and the altar pieces are also explained.
Sister Lisette also uses imagery from pop culture references like the Hollywood animated movie Kung Fu Panda. Like the movie, she has the students open a treasure chest to find God’s greatest gift, revealing a mirror inside, similar to what happens in the film.
She tells the boys they are “dragon warriors”, like in the film, but for Jesus, tapping into the boys’ masculinity; and that they can renew their home and world with acts of generosity, kindness and Christian virtues.
The parents are encouraged to commit to helping their sons become altar servers for their local parish, which brings the parents to Mass.
She also has the children report back to her after the weekend retreat on ways that they worked around the house so their parents are freed up to take them to Mass.
In many cases, she said, it has gone to plan, with parents bringing their children to Mass with the students following Sister Lisette’s advice.
“This is one of my aims – to ensure the children do something themselves and not put their feet up,” she said.
Teachers also practise with the children how to receive Communion.
Confirmation preparation again involves finding deeper theological meanings in basic liturgical elements, explained in a dynamic way, relating to the students in a personal way.
The doors of the tabernacle at the Schoenstatt Shrine, for example, depicts the Annunciation, with Mary on one door and the Archangel Gabriel on the other, with the Eucharist in the middle.
Sister Lisette explains that this was Mary’s first encounter with the Eucharist – receiving Christ inside her by the power of the Holy Spirit, but only after she said “yes”.
As Amen is an ancient word for “yes”, Sister also explained that when the bishop or priest blesses Confirmation candidates with the Oil of Chrism, calling them by their Confirmation name and sealing them with the Holy Spirit, they too say “Yes” by saying “Amen”.
In this way, she says, the sacrament of Confirmation is a deepening of the Eucharistic experience.
She also encourages them to see themselves in a mirror at the shrine, as a mirror tilted towards them revealing the spotlight shining on them makes them appear to have a halo on their heads.
This reveals to the students how they are unique and loved in the eyes of God.
“Adults and children alike need to realise they’re unique in God’s eyes. Everyone can say ‘I’m God’s greatest treasure’, and help bring about good things (like Christ’s love) in the family,” she said.
Aquinas College Year 4 teacher Sylvia Robinson, 25, who took her students to the Schoenstatt Shrine on May 7, said that based on feedback, the boys generally find it enlightening, though some initially struggle with the concept of the Eucharist being the body and blood of Christ.
“I still think they’re coming to terms with that understanding of what the Eucharist is, though some have grasped it. I know some have told me they really enjoyed the experience, though some just took it as an excursion,” Miss Robinson told The Record.
Aquinas College Junior School, which has sent students to the Schoenstatt Shrine since 2000 on and off, follows this catechesis up with fortnightly visits by the college chaplain Fr Dat Ba Vuong, which “is important it come from a priest’s mouth”, Miss Robinson said.
The boys are prepared in the parish, and the school works with the same programs to reinforce the catechesis.
For more information on the Shrine for schools and parishes, contact 9399 2349 or email shrine@elink.net.au.