TEACHING TEACHERS
AND THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE TEACHERS

I looked round and thought to myself, “what a great bunch of people”! It was the final Saturday at the end of two long years, and we were tired, all of us. The CCRS or, as it used to be called, the Catholic Teachers’ Certificate is very demanding. Two years of juggling Home–Life, School and Assignment deadlines can wear out the toughest. But there we were on that final morning anointing each other to remind ourselves of our Baptism and to ask the Holy Spirit to be with us in our teaching.

A course is a time for learning and a time too for personal challenges. But it had also been a time of laughter. However weary they might have been, people always showed willing and were never slow to express opinions and to pray too.

For me, the paperwork is the hard bit, but it has to be done. But then on the other side, developing relationships with really good people who are committed to our schools, is just a joy. And another thing that was great to see; the sheer kindness of people to one another. I hope I meet lots of them at our Education Day Mass, next June. Great bunch!

SOUTH OF THE BORDER DOWN LIVERPOOL WAY

At the end of last year, during a quiet period, I rashly accepted 2 invitations from Newcastle and Liverpool to lead 2 conferences on children’s liturgy. As it turned out, they topped and tailed about the busiest week of my life – the sort of week when your children open the front door to you and say, ‘Mum, I think it’s the milkman.’

Over the two days, there were about 250 participants – lively, committed, energetic and 97% female. On the first day, I worked with my long-time co-conspirator, Margaret Huggon. She did the main input and I did the jokes. Both days were fruitful and energising. We were reminded of how much lay ministry is going on out there, often unheralded, yet absolutely vital.

On both days, participants were invited to work with Sunday Gospels that are coming up, creating visual tableaux that would help the children to experience the stories. The results were eye-catching – clever creations using everyday materials that would immediately stimulate the enquiring minds of children. What potential! It could be time for something similar in Lancaster – but just let me clear my desk first.