A guest reflection by parishioner and catechist, Janet Van Pelt.
Have you ever had a hobby or an activity that was so
exciting and interesting that it encompassed most of your free time and then
you wanted to continue to commit and develop yourself?
To be honest, my answer up until this past year was “No, not
really.” Who even has free time these days? What would I even do in my leisure
time? Do I even have free time to commit to an activity? When you have a busy
schedule with two young girls, a husband, a massive extended family, and
work…life gets kind of crazy. Sadly, my short-term casual leisure activities
had been going to the gym for a quick run or work out, going to the grocery
store by myself or even taking that quick 5 minute shower. Yes, I would
volunteer my time for different activities when I could but they were never
weekly commitments that directly impacted my family or really fulfilled me.
My oldest attended School of Mary Montessori last year and the
offering of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) was one of the main reasons
why my husband and I enrolled her. I have had a lot of experience with Catholic
Religious education. I went through grades K-8th at a Catholic
school, taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) to kindergartners
while in high school, and I was my husband’s Rite of Initiation of Adults
(RCIA) sponsor and accompanied him to his classes while I was a graduate
student; however, none of these Catholic programs seemed to offer the amazing
gifts like my daughter at age two experienced in CGS; it was incredible!
I finally decided this year I wanted to volunteer in any
capacity with CGS at All Saints since my oldest was of age to be enrolled. To
my excitement, they were offering a Toddler Environment for volunteer
catechists and their children. This was a huge bonus since my youngest could participate, too, and I was assigned to assist with the Infants-Toddlers! I had not yet been able to take any CGS
formation courses, but this past March, I was totally blessed to participate in
the seminal Infant-Toddler Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Training course. It
was a completely enriching experience and pretty life changing to say the least!
The Infant-Toddler Training course unwrapped so many gifts
for my family but it benefited me more than I could have ever
expected. It was a beautiful experience and much needed! I took this course
anticipating being a better catechist but throughout the course I was helped to
define my pursuit as a catechist and what all that encompasses. This experience as a catechist would directly
influence my family life, but it also helped me find what I have been seeking for
myself. As a catechist, I was finally experiencing serious leisure again!
Serious Leisure
Serious leisure was a topic I researched as a graduate
student, and I had the privilege to interview Dr. Robert Stebbins who developed
this sociological theory and leisure perspective. In 2008, Stebbins continued
his 30-years-plus work on serious leisure and wrote a book entitled Serious Leisure: A Perspective of Our Time.
The definition of serious leisure on page 5 is:
The systematic pursuit of an
amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer core activity that people find so substantial,
interesting, and fulfilling, that in the typical case they launch themselves on
a (leisure) career centered on acquiring and expressing a combination of its
special skills, knowledge and experience.
There are 6 qualities associated
with serious leisure: persevere, career, personal effort, durable benefits,
identification, and unique ethos. As a catechist, I would definitely agree to
experiencing all of these.
1). Persevere- As it was my first
year in a Toddler Atrium as a CGS catechist, I was unfamiliar with the
environment and processes. There were many times in the beginning where the
Atrium was working towards normalization, but I had to push through, stick it
out, and have faith that things would get better.
2). Career- The stages in which a
person develops and achieves a practice or skill. I know after this toddler
training and being trained in other levels, I am going to be a better
catechist. It takes a lot of time and as catechists we are continuing to
develop ourselves to meet the needs of the children in our Atria by taking
formation courses and other trainings.
3). Personal effort- Taking the
knowledge I learn from trainings and applying it in the Atrium as a catechist.
4). Durable benefits- A sense of
accomplishment of a skill. As a
catechist, I have a sense of self-development and renewal after a really great
session.
5). Identification- I can now associate
myself as a catechist.
6). Unique Ethos- There is a spirit
of a community of participants with shared practices and values or beliefs. I am a part of a CGS catechist community at
All Saints, and in our diocese, and the CGS USA organization.
Serious leisure also has 7 personal rewards: personal
enrichment, self-actualization, self-expression, self-image, re-recreation, and
financial return.
1.)
Personal enrichment- Cherishing the moments in
the Atrium or with other catechists.
2.)
Self-Actualization- Developing skills,
abilities, and knowledge as a catechist in the Atrium or continuing to take
formation courses.
3.)
Self-expression- Expressing skills, abilities,
and knowledge already developed.
4.)
Self-Image- Again, identifying as a catechist.
5.)
Re-recreation- Revisiting a moment or
presentation and recreating it for each child.
6.)
Financial Return- Although catechists do not get
paid, we do receive discounts and tuition waivers for our children since we are
volunteering our time.
Serious leisure also has social rewards:
1). Social
Attraction that is associated with other fellow catechists, the parish family
or church community coming together. Hosting catechist teas or meetings and
other CGS events provides means social interaction.
2). Group accomplishment
with catechist activities or presentations.
3).
Contribution to the maintenance of carrying on CGS and developing sense of
being needed in the parish community and contributing altruistically to the
program.
It never occurred to me that serious leisure was
something that I could experience weekly, with my children, my church
community, and my Catholic faith. How awesome is it to be able to experience all
of these for myself as a catechist? It’s been a humbling experience to
volunteer and commit fully to my Christian duty as Paul describes in Romans 12:2
“Do
not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing
and perfect.”
(Photos are from catechist formations, catechist teas, certificate ceremonies, materials-making events, retreats, in-services, and other adult formation opportunities connected with being a CGS catechist).
