Catechism and growth

Every now and then I find some young boys quietly creeping away from the parish after Sunday school, trying to bunk Mass.

I guess it is part of the growing up thing! So I try to keep calm, look stern, and send them packing for Mass.

Patience. And faith in the power of the relationship: that is what, people like Michael Warren and John Powell assure us, will remain, long after what we teach in catechism has become vague. At some moment in later life, someone will remember, there was this teacher, this brother, this sister, this priest, who was kind to us and who we loved.... That is how the faith passes on. That is how God works.

So all you Sunday School teachers, do your best, but don't get discouraged!