EL DORADO — Parish religious education at Holy Redeemer Church received a makeover this school year and the results so far have been quite appealing.
Father Gregory Pilcher, OSB, pastor of Holy Redeemer, said one of the reasons for the overhaul was to bring more Hispanics into the process. A move from Sundays to Wednesdays made that leap possible.
“When we had PRE and adult Scripture study on Sunday after English-speaking Mass, Hispanics simply didn’t attend,” said Father Pilcher, who also serves as director of religious education for the parish.
The Hispanic attendance shot up with the decision to move religious education to Wednesdays, he said, and increasing numbers of families who are away at weekend activities also made a weekday choice the most practical alternative.
In addition, Catholics now have their own version of the mid-week spiritual boost that many Protestants have enjoyed for years, noted parish council president Louis LaBella.
The new format is designed to be a joint venture among all members of the family, starting with the celebration of Mass at 5:30 p.m. and followed by dinner in the parish hall.
Immediately after dinner, teams of husbands and wives congregate about 100 English- and Spanish-speaking youth and proceed to age-appropriate classrooms. LaBella and his wife Melinda are two of the teachers who say the changes are worth it.
“Research showed us the importance of a man’s influence on children and their decision to remain active in their Catholic faith as they became adults,” LaBella said. “So this format hopefully encourages that.”
The new format also accommodates the plan this fall to follow “The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd,” a religious education model based on Montessori principles. Teachers will have to be trained and certified before they may instruct youth using the new format, according to LaBella.
LaBella was quick to thank not only the instructors, but the other parish members who plan and prepare meals each week to help the process flow smoothly.
“We’ve had tremendous involvement from parents. It has been awesome,” he said.
The new program will continue until the end of the school year.