RELIGION TEACHERS JOURNAL MAGAZINE
October, 2007
In the spotlight
________________________________________________________________________Kathleen Burton, SSJ
WHO
Kathleen Burton, SSJ, is the director of faith
formation for children and families at Holy Trinity Parish in Westfield, New Jersey.
She is a recipient of the Religious Education Excellence Award from the National Catholic Educational Association.
FAST FACTS
There are 1,884 families registered at Holy Trinity,
and there are 800 people in Sr. Kathy’s program. She’s been a laborer
in the vineyard for a while now – 14 year at Holy Trinity and 27 years in ministry!
CHANGE AGENT
Under Sr. Kathy’s guidance, Holy Trinity
has moved from the traditional classroom model, meeting weekly, to offering families a variety of models from which to choose. Some of the models they provide include:
- a
summer program,
- small
groups meeting in the home during the school year,
- family
cluster groups who have chosen an intergenerational model,
- families
who have opted to “home school” their children,
- weekly
catechesis for those parents who choose the traditional model.
Holy Trinity also had a policy to suspend classes
during Advent and Lent. They invite the families to complete season kits in preparation
for Christmas and Easter. Five Sundays throughout the liturgical year are designated
as family Sundays. Families are invited to attend these sessions and learn together
about the church year.
“I am most proud of the options of formation
that we offer our families,” says Sr. Kathy, “and how all options invite the families to take an active role in
faith formation.”
GOALS FOR THE FUTURE
“It is my hope,” says Sr. Kathy, “that
eventually we will be able to move our parish into total intergenerational catechesis.
INFLUENCES
Maria Harris and Tom Groome have had a profound
impact on Sr. Kathy’s work.
BOOKS READ THIS
YEAR
- Being
Catholic in a Culture of Choice by Thomas Rausch (Michael Glazier Books)
- Here
Comes Everybody Whole Community Catechesis in the Church by Leisa Anslinger (Twenty-Third Publications)
- Heritage
of Faith: A Framework for Whole Community Catechesis by JoMcClure Rotunno (Twenty-Third Publications)
- Madam
Secretary: A Memoir by Madeline Albright (Hyperion)
BIGGEST ENCOURAGEMENT
The strong movement toward whole community catechesis.
BIGGEST DISCOURAGEMENTS
- The
lack of professional parish directors of faith formation.
- The
lack of imagination in creative ways to meet the needs of our families. I do
hope and pray that soon, every parish will be able to have a professional Director of Faith Formation to guide the transition.
- The
lack of Catholic identity among many of our families.
