Models in Our Midst
By Kate Ristow

Many parishes and schools celebrate November 1st with a “Parade of Saints” in which children dress up as a favorite saint and process through the neighborhood or parish grounds. It’s a fun way for kids to learn about the many ways those who have gone before us in faith have lived out their belief in Jesus Christ. In order to prepare appropriate costumes, students and their parents research their chosen saints to discover what set them apart from others and what makes these holy men and women role models for us.

Yet, the saints are not the only models we can find who give witness to our faith. Every parish and school community is filled with individuals who use their God-given gifts and talents to serve the Lord and others. Some of these people’s ministries are quite visible—lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, catechists, coaches, altar servers, and deacons to name a few “public” ministries. Yet, there are also many ways people live their faith in less obvious, but other important roles: serving meals at a soup kitchen; counseling pregnant teens; visiting and praying with sick or dying parishioners; cleaning the church; stocking the shelves in the parish pantry; collecting money to send to missions around the world; helping unemployed parishioners find work; or planting the parish flower beds each Spring.

Lent is all about the renewal of our baptismal commitment. Through our Baptism, we are incorporated into the Body of Christ. We are called to “participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1270). This is our vocation, our calling. Perhaps St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) said it best in the following prayer:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours.

Hear are some ways to encourage students to be Christ for others during this season of Lent:

• Read and discuss the Scripture story “The Light of the World” (Matthew 5:14-16) with your class. Then have students complete this worksheet to identify ways to reach out to others.
• Distribute a list of parish ministries to older students. Invite volunteers to describe the work of those who volunteer for these organizations. Encourage the students to appreciate the many different ways your parish or school carries on Christ’s work in the community.
• See how you can emphasize the connection between vocations and Catholic Social Teachings during your weekly lessons by following this link.    
• Ask the students to name one specific ministry they would like to participate in on a regular basis as adults. Invite them to explain how this ministry continues Christ’s mission and why they want to be involved in it.

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