Interview
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Enjoying
God and Teaching Creatively
Insights and Ideas for More Effective Religion Classes
Greg Dues
192 pages
Twenty - Third Publications, 1999
Retail Price: $12.95
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www.twentythirdpublications.com
From the Book Jacket
Best - selling author Greg dues assures catechists that we can indeed
grow in intimacy with God - as God desires - and that we should look
forward to and enjoy such encounters.
The thrust of this books is that the more teachers come to know and
enjoy God, the more creatively and passionately they will teach about
God. Thus the author employs stories, reflections, questions, and catechetical
activities for the classroom to help catechists walk with their students
as they learn not only to know God but to enjoy God, too.
Each of the nineteen themes offers a reflective essay that unpacks some
feature of the human experience of God and its ramifications for catechists.
Here is a way to enjoy God and teach creatively, no matter what grade
level you teach.
Interview
1. Greg tell us a little about yourself. I understand that you have
been involved in a variety of ministries over the years.
True. My life and ministries have never been predictable. It's as if
I carry around a special tote bag. It's full of lots of experiences.
As the years go by I just dip in and pull out some experience, story,
or credential that meets a current need. Mostly it's full of 35 years
of parish pastoral and catechetical experiences. I've always tried to
keep a creative bent to what I do, at least a bit different from what
was done before and or how it has been done or said. This is also my
tendency in the writing, and in the retreats and workshops I do. If
I am merely repeating what people have already heard or read, what value
is my effort? I find that people sit up and take notice - and enjoy
- when they are surprised by an unusual way of talking about faith.
Incidentally, I'm still filling that tote bag. Recently I was certified
as a Master Gardener! I feel that if a person really wants to find God,
a good place to start is to dig in the soil and look out to the stars.
That's a good combination.
2. You have written about ten books,
all published by Twenty - Third Publications. What motivated you toward
such an extensive writing ministry?
Ever since I was a child I've had a knack for writing. When I first
taught college in my "ancient times," I was dissatisfied with
the texts available. Vatican II was in process. So, I discarded the
text and just wrote and mimeographed what I felt those students needed
to come to grips with in contemporary ways. A little later, when I got
involved in youth ministry, catechetical ministry, and migrant ministry,
I did the same. We are so spoiled today with the rich variety of wonderful
resources available for religion teachers that it's possible to forget
that very little was available in the decade following Vatican II. I
did a lot of programing to use in my own ministries during those years,
always using a creative approach. As I moved on to new material, I simply
offered to Twenty - Third Publications what I had in my files, editing
what had worked for me. These became resources still available today.
3. What motivated you to write Enjoying
God and Teaching Creatively?
I wanted to share with catechists and administrators some of the themes
that I had used effectively over the years, mostly in workshops and
mini-retreats. My hope is that these themes will contribute a healthy
dose of excitement and creativity to their own faith and teaching efforts.
A danger in teaching is that the topic or curriculum can become ordinary
and teachers tired of the effort. But the mystery of God is such an
exciting truth. If it is spoken of in boring, humdrum fashion, the hearers
will not get excited. Why put in so much time and effort if the results
are so ordinary? Or predictable?
4. Why did you choose the title? What's
the relationship between enjoying God and teaching creatively?
The mystery of God that was handed to me in my youth was not very appealing.
I feared more than enjoyed this mystery. This situation has not changed
all that much in these new times for many young people and their elders
- including their teachers. I just wanted to get across the truth that
our human experience of God - the only way we humans can experience
the mystery - that our human experience should be one of thoroughly
enjoying the mystery who is present at all times and in all places.
Our time and space are truly sacred. And more often than not God is
a surprise! And who doesn't like a surprise? We often miss the wonder
of God because we approach our faith or religion with preconceived notions.
Only when we're open to the surprise will it happen!
5. And how does this influence teaching?
Who we are rubs off on whom we teach. If we enjoy God this will rub
off on those we minister to, those we teach. And if we tend to enjoy
God in a variety of creative ways, we will just naturally share this
mystery in a variety of creative ways. And wonderful things will happen.
6. What advice can you offer those
who are volunteering as catechists for the first time this year?
Enjoy the experience. It's like no other! Teaching has been at the core
of church ministry since Jesus walked the land of his Hebrew ancestors
and was known by that wonderful title, "teacher." Learn from
him. He was down to earth and used the mysteries of earth to teach simple
important truths. He talked about seeds and weeds, sheep and goats,
birds and trees, light and dark, etc. People heard these simple lessons
and enjoyed the wonder of God - and salvation. Remember, you yourself
are the most important and effective tool in teaching. Let the lessons
from your resources flow through you.
7. What books would you recommend for
a catechist's library?
Other than mine? First of all, the parish or school should have a good
sampling of the best of contemporary resources. I feel there should
be a reading room available that catechists can spend some time in.
At most diocesan events publishers make their inventory available. Browse
through some of this. If a resource catches your eye, invest in it.
Ask other catechists for ideas. Or your administrator. Spend some time
in a good bookstore, the kind that has a representative sampling of
contemporary Catholic books. Most contemporary curricula suggest books.
For example, Silver Burdett Ginn has an excellent catalogue called Silver
Sources, a collection of the best of resources from a dozen or more
publishers. Also a web page like this is practical for today's teachers.
8. Is there anything else you would
like to say?
Enjoy God - and teach creatively!
Other Books by Greg Dues:
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