Mature Connection A Catholic Herald special supplement Special supplement front page

MILWAUKEE -- "Why do catechists catechize?" asked Fr. John Hurley, director of the Office for Evangelization at the U.S. bishops' national headquarters in Washington, D.C., at the Religious Education Congress in Milwaukee in August.

"It is not just to transfer knowledge and teachings. It is to call others to be witnesses and disciples of Jesus Christ. Of course this requires that our catechists be witnesses and disciples .... If catechists have not experienced an encounter with Jesus, then how can they 'talk the talk' with other people? If they have encountered the Lord personally, then they can't keep that a secret."

Volunteering seniors

Throughout the archdiocese, senior citizens step forward to volunteer their wisdom and life experiences to the school and religious education classes in their parishes.

"They love to see me because I remind them of their grandparents," said Ruth Gannon, a retired reading teacher who has served as an aide in the classroom for more than 12 years. Gannon returns to her former parish, St. Margaret Mary in Milwaukee, each Wednesday from her home in Mequon to help students with math and reading.

	CLASS VOLUNTEER -- Volunteer Sharon Davis works with Nicklaus Kruesel, a first-grade student at St. Joan of Arc School in Nashotah. "I believe it's an obligation of older people to share their experiences," said Davis. (Photo by Allen Fredrickson)

"I just love the children in Sr. Mary Lou Schroeder's second grade class and can really work with them and help them develop skills. After the first marking period, there are special needs apparent to work on. It's rewarding watching them learn and grow," Gannon stated. "I also enjoy the rapport with the teachers and school secretary."

St. Margaret Mary School appreciates the tutors who work with the sixth to eighth grades, according to principal Susan Nelson, and those seniors who work in their 10,000-volume library and tape TV shows of interest to teachers.

Small school volunteers

Just as important in a small school are volunteers who not only aid the teachers but also help to boost self esteem of the students. At St. Joan of Arc near Nashotah, retired teacher Sharon Davis gives reading help once a week to kindergarten through third grade.

Davis volunteered four years ago at the new school facility because "I enjoy being with children."

"As a widow, volunteering is a part of my life," she said. "I think it's important to make children feel confident about themselves -- just as important as learning to read. It's fun, a positive experience.

"It's rewarding to them and to me to have the feeling that they have accomplished just one little story; to feel like they're advancing," she added.

Davis sees a broader purpose to her volunteer work. "I believe it's an obligation of older people to share their experiences and in a Catholic school, we can say 'What Would Jesus Do?'"

Davis is a former member of St. Jerome Parish in Oconomowoc, where she volunteered in education and where she and her late husband established the St. Gall meal program that is still being served.

As a member of Pro-Life Wisconsin, Davis also believes adults have to teach children to respect life and respect each other.

Confirmation class volunteer

Three grandparents work with the confirmation class at St. Clare Parish in North Lake. The class format provides for two main teachers who work with the entire group and six small group table leaders. Larry Geldermann has been with the St. Clare program for 11 years, first as a table leader and for the past five years as one of the leaders. Still in the work field as a structural engineer, Geldermann often draws on his life experiences and Catholic school education, including Marquette University, to illustrate a point.

"It's a good way to share your faith," states Geldermann. "It's fun being with the kids. The best way to learn is to teach."

Geldermann previously worked with the sophomore and junior religion classes at St. Dominic Parish in Brookfield for 24 years, beginning when "my wife started doing it and she got pregnant so I took over her class. I (continued) in order to find out what made our kids tick as they became teens."