by Sr Brenda McCole
The enthusiasm and joy present in the young people when they are introduced to the sacred Scriptures through role-play are so refreshing and encouraging. One family recently said to me, “We are sorry the programme has ended, as our twins bounced out of these sessions every Saturday morning!”
The enthusiasm and joy present in the young people are so refreshing and encouraging
Working through role-play and drama encourages the young people to enter into the setting, to become the various characters and to understand the text in a dynamic situation.
I also work with the parents of these young people at adult level. What has been their experience of their faith and their belief? For many it is a refresher course, an introduction to exploring the bible in a very different way from how they were taught: being able to ask questions, to think differently and to live the Gospel today in their present reality.
Looking at the Bible as something greater than a book
And then there is the joy of planning Formation Days for the teachers in our schools. This is done through group work and exploration, starting at adult level and working together to link their faith stories to the experience of the children they work with. They are encouraged to think beyond their own experience, looking at the Bible as something greater than a book.
I am so enthused by the desire, and I receive as much as I give
My own experience has grown and developed throughout the years. Having taught religious education in schools, I realised how structured a syllabus can be, and the joy of being able help people discover the Bible in a different way as a sister of Sion is indeed a ministry. Every year, there is more and more desire in the parish and schools to learn in an alternative way, to live the Gospel that we are so familiar with and make it a part of our lives.
I am so enthused by the desire, and I receive as much as I give.