Newspaper assists in teaching religion

For eighth-graders at Catholic Central High School in Troy, religion class starts with The Evangelist.

Every Friday, Sister Marilyn Feehan, CSJ, has her students read aloud the Old and New Testament readings that will be used at weekend Masses. The class also reads The Evangelist's "Good News for Kids" (page 27) and "Word of Faith" Scripture columns (page 18) together.

Then Sister Marilyn starts a discussion based on what they've just learned.

Expanding ideas

The students usually grasp the most obvious meaning of the Bible readings right away, the teacher said, but the explanations in the newspaper "give them an opportunity to reach out a little bit."

For instance, recent readings on forgiveness sparked the group to talk about times they couldn't forgive someone at first, but later found the strength to do so.

Another time, Sister Marilyn remembered, one student responded to a passage about Jesus with, "God seems so human." In return, she challenged the class to think about whether God is like people, or God's actions seem familiar because we're made in God's image.

"We're most like God when we forgive, and sometimes that's hard to do," she noted.

Key age

The teacher believes eighth grade is a good time to talk with students about the Bible, because they are "still pliable to that kind of thing. They're great believers at that age."

Even students who are reticent to talk usually contribute to the conversation when the more outgoing ones toss out their ideas, she said.

As a teacher, Sister Marilyn finds The Evangelist's Scripture columns go hand-in-hand with the eighth-grade theology curriculum, which focuses on the history of the Church.

"It's a nice correlation to the material that I give [the class], a hands-on kind of thing," she said. "It makes it easier for me, because it gives me ideas I wouldn't have otherwise."

Using The Evangelist in class may also have a hidden bonus. The Sunday readings at Mass may go over students' heads if only heard once, said Sister Marilyn, but if they hear them before the liturgy and again that weekend, "they may get the meaning."

(Using The Evangelist in class isn't unique to CCHS. Students all over the Albany Diocese receive copies each week as part of The Evangelist's "Newspapers in Education" program. Teachers also get questions to ask students and discussion topics that are based on news stories, features and columns.)

(2/4/04)