I was baptized as a baby and made my First Communion when I
was nine. I’ve always considered myself Catholic. I didn’t receive any
religious education growing up (except for the year I made my communion), and
my parents only went to church when it was convenient (which wasn’t often), but
I considered myself Catholic nonetheless.
On my 21st birthday, my boyfriend (now husband)
proposed. We wanted to get married in a church, so I knew I had to make my Confirmation.
I contacted the local church and made arrangements to take the necessary
classes. That year I was confirmed, and we completed Pre-Cana classes and
Engaged Encounter. Now I was a "full-fledged" Catholic and we started going to
church every Sunday (when it was convenient, of course!) That’s all there is to
this being Catholic thing, right?
Well, about four years ago, I was asked to be a catechist
and the idea terrified me. What did I know about being a catechist!?! What if some
kid asked me a question I couldn’t answer? People would know that I was a
fraud; that I didn’t know the first thing about our faith! After much prodding,
I finally agreed on the condition that I assist with the preschoolers. I
figured being an assistant would take me out of the spotlight, and the kids
were too young to realize how little I knew. I managed to get through three
years without being “found out” (and even learned a bit along the way!)
Last summer, we moved here to Naples, Italy and I was once
again presented with the opportunity to be a catechist. I was still a little
unsettled after the move and didn’t want to make any commitments, so I said no.
Lo and behold, once the school year started, the preschool teacher got sick and
was having personal problems. I started subbing in fairly regularly, and by
Thanksgiving I was asked to take over the class permanently. God is sneaky like
that. He lets you think you’re in control, but he’s in the driver’s seat :)
