For a year and a half, our seminary formation was restricted because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, we can fully resume formation as it was before the pandemic. Although much of our formation is done within the seminary walls, it is woefully incomplete without any pastoral ministry assignments. We are fortunate to be able to continue them again this year. It is with joy that we say "yes" to our assignments and to those we are ministering to. My ministry assignment this year is assisting with the catechesis program at Saint Monica in Indianapolis by teaching a 7th grade class preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation with two other catechists.

It is important when a person is preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, that they make the Catholic faith their own. This is done by striving to learn more about the Catholic faith and tradition and seeking to live out the tenants of the Gospel through their words, thoughts, and actions aided by the graces received through this holy sacrament. Unfortunately, many of them do not know how to integrate Catholic teachings into their lives.

Knowing this, we are working to instill in our students the basic tenants of the Catholic faith. We start each class by reading the Gospel from Sunday and pulling a theme that is related to what we want to talk about that day. This helps our students to gain a basic familiarity with the Bible and to learn something about our beautiful and profound Catholic faith. So far, this academic year, we have taught about the structure of the bible, sin, the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven & Hell), and the importance of daily prayer. As laborers in God’s vineyard, we pray that our labor may bear abundant fruit in the students we are teaching.