By Thea Jarvis

Children have an affinity for prayer, Sister Loretta McCarthy, SBS, told participants in her "Prayer is for Children" workshop offered at the annual archdiocesan Catechetical Institute September 18.

"Children are natural pray-ers," she said, addressing listeners at Holy Cross Church in Atlanta, where the two-day institute was held. "Children know how to pray."

Over 1,000 catechists, Catholic school teachers, clergy and Religious attended the institute, "Proclaiming Lasting Wealth," sponsored by the archdiocesan Department of Catholic Education. The event is held each fall to prepare, update and renew those who share their faith in parish and school settings.

Sister McCarthy, co-director of Maisha House of Prayer in midtown Atlanta, said prayer comes naturally to children, but it can be heavily influenced by parents, teachers and a society struggling with dysfunction.

"We need to look at our own attitude," she pointed out. "What is it about praying that we want to believe so we can teach children? What is our attitude toward God?"

Often, she said, children see God as Santa Claus, answering every wish, or an army tank, rolling over things in their way. Children also view God as an ambulance coming to the rescue when trouble threatens.

"Sometimes we need to take them beyond where they are" in ways they image God, Sister McCarthy said, thus helping children understand prayer as authentic communication expressed through mind, heart and body.

Providing opportunities for children to share personal faith stories expands their prayer life, she indicated, since it allows them to reflect on the activity of God in their lives. Scripture stories, read in choral groupings or used as antiphonal responses, are a rich prayer form, as are contemporary storybooks that offer a spiritual dimension.

"Read (these stories) to your own inner child," Sister McCarthy suggested, since they are a good source of spiritual nourishment for those whose example is primary in sharing faith.

"We have an obligation to expose children to every kind of prayer," she said, including prayer learned by heart, centering prayer and prayer that uses the body as well as the mind.

Sister McCarthy's workshop was one of over 70 offered at the institute. Others covered adult, family and adolescent catechesis, sacramental theology, African-American communities, liturgy and special education.

Attendance at the institute showed "a wonderful response of dedication and celebration by all parishes," said Annette Kulasa, archdiocesan Consultant for Children's Catechesis who coordinated the institute with help from the Secretary of Education, Sister Roberta Schmidt, CSJ, Consultant for Adult Formation, Carol Hamill, and Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Maureen Kane.

"It is a sign of their own commitment to ongoing formation from early childhood through adulthood," Ms. Kulasa said. "People (have been) energized, motivated, empowered" by their presence at the institute.

"This is like a shot in the arm," said Laura Ward-Bogle, a seventh- and eighth-grade religion teacher at St. Joseph's School in Marietta. "I want to try harder, do more, be a Christian witness."

Adela Cuel, who begins teaching religion to kindergartners at St. Catherine of Siena parish in Kennesaw this year, said the institute "fired me up. I'm, ready." Her daughter, Natalie, will be in her class with 19 other youngsters. "I wanted to be able to answer her questions intelligently," she said. "I'm hoping this will help."

In another workshop, Patti Jugenheimer, high school youth minister at St. John Neumann parish in Lilburn, focused on the "Life Teen" program introduced at St. John's, St. Ann's in Marietta and St. Theresa's in Douglasville this fall.

Life Teen was begun in 1986 at St. Timothy's parish in Mesa, Arizona by Father Dale Fushek, a recipient of the Pope Paul VI Award for Evangelization. St. Timothy's has seen its program grow into a total youth ministry involving over 600 teenagers.

Mrs. Jugenheimer had "felt for years that we've been a little off-center" in drawing young people into parish life. She believes Life Teen, which encourages a personal relationship with Christ and strong community ties, is an effective approach.

"This is the model for youth ministry," she told archdiocesan youth ministers gathered for her workshop.

At the heart of the program is a youth Mass that enables young people to connect with Christ in Eucharist. Contemporary music, youth-oriented homilies and teen participation are featured. Following Mass, celebrated on Sunday evenings, youth-related issues are discussed in "rap sessions." Wednesday night get-togethers focus on deepening faith through small group prayer and Bible study.

"I have always believed that successful youth ministry is fun-filled and equally as social as spiritual," Mrs. Jugenheimer said. To that end, St. John Neumann will offer dances, Six Flags outings, white water rafting trips, and sporting events for its young people.

Teens will also be encouraged to reach out to others within and outside the parish, "not only receiving blessings, but also being a blessing to others," Mrs. Jugenheimer explained.

Father Richard Fragomeni, a priest from the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., who teaches at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, welcomed teachers with his keynote talk on the sacramentality of the Christian community.

"We have an infinite depth of desire for wonder and mystery," he said. "All of us have the possibility of a depth beyond all imaginings given to us in creation."

Father Fragomeni drew laughter and applause for his upbeat, high-energy presentation. "Do the best you can" to be a sacrament for the world, he said to eager listeners. "The community of Christ fully alive is the living praise of God."

Father Edward Branch, homilist for the opening liturgy led by Father David Stachurski, OFM, Conv., preached on the parable of the sower and the seed: the seed is the Word of God, the soil the bearers of that Word.

"We are in the business of soil preparation today," Father Branch told participants. "God is present and all the world is good," he said. "We believe it."

(Cathy Weaver also contributed to this article.)