“My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” John 7:16
BETHLEHEM- As we prepare ourselves for the new scholastic year the Catechetical Office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has invited the catechists in the Christian schools to a workshop that took place at Bethlehem University on Saturday, August 17, 2019. The main purpose of this workshop was to help the catechists start a healthy and fruitful scholastic year as they deliver the Word of God to the students all over the country.
Our day started with the welcoming of the catechists who came from all over the Palestinian Territories and Jerusalem. With the presence of Fr. Jamal Khader, the General Director of the Latin Patriarchate Schools and Sr. Virginie Habib, the director of the Catechetical Office of the Latin Patriarchate; 65 catechists participated in this workshop in hopes to have a blessed and fruitful year for the good of the students and the Kingdom of God.
The first session was prepared and presented by Ms. Nadine Bitar from the Catechetical Office; under the title of “The Teaching that Makes a Difference”. The main purpose of this session was to work together as catechists who are called to change the lives of the students to the better, through delivering the Word of God to them having Jesus as the perfect example for people. The catechists were given the change to reflect on their calling as Christian educators and to identify the importance of their role in the lives of their students.
The second session was prepared and presented by Ms. Mariana Kanzoua from the Catechetical Office; under the title “Steps Towards Religious meeting and Role Model in Catechism”. The main purpose of this session was to introduce new teaching technique that would help the catechists deliver the Word of God to their students between the first to the fifth grades. During this session catechists were given the chance to talk about their own role model in catechism as they grow up.
The third session was prepared and presented by Mrs. Suad Kattan under the title of “Music in Catechism”. The main purpose of this session was to help the catechists choose the right hymns according to the age of their students. Based on the lyrics and melody of the hymns the catechists should have learned to differentiate the age level that this hymn belongs to. Music is one of the most effective ways to deliver the message of Salvation in an effective way that would touch the soul.
The forth session was prepared and presented by Mr. Nabil Masou and Mr. Adel Moughrabi under the title “Correcting the Tawjihi Exam”. Both Mr. Masou and Moughrabi were among the catechists who were chosen by the Ministry of Education to correct the Tawjihi exam; out of their experience, they shared with the group how the process was done and how to help the students improve their grades.
The final session was prepared and presented by Sr. Virginie Habib; the main purpose of this session was to give a general idea of the upcoming events of the Catechetical Office in the first semester of the scholastic year 2019-2020.
The workshop was concluded with the mandate prayer that was presided by Fr. Jamal Khader. The prayer was held at the university’s Church; the purpose of this prayer was to remind the catechists that they are being sent in the name of the church to preach and deliver the Word of God to their students in order to glorify the name of God.
