Teachers who are witnesses carry weight with students

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Rallying Catholic teachers to be role models of faith and preparing them and their students to understand the true meaning of Christ in the Mass begins with education.

That’s where Todd Amick, as director of the archdiocesan Office of Eucharistic Renewal, comes in.

“God is in love with each and every one of us and has shown us that love by giving us his only begotten son in Christ Jesus,” Amick told a room full of teachers from Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Marrero during a recent presentation of “The Mass: Christ and the Catholic Educator,” one of four talks he gives throughout the archdiocese to explain the beauty of the Catholic faith. 

A former paramedic with a law degree, a master’s in theology, an adjunct professor at Our Lady of Holy Cross College and now a husband and father of two, Amick shared his passion for Catholicism by uncovering the mysteries of Catholic identity through the parts of the Mass. He said Christ invites us in as his sons and daughters and gives us himself in the Eucharist. 

Teachers have influence

He emphasized that Catholic schoolteachers have a unique position to lead youth to Christ. As Christian role models, they must strive to be Christ-like in their words and actions, considering it may be the only connection some students have with the Catholic faith.

“This is the encounter we have to invite students into,” he said. “The dignity of Catholic education forms minds and hearts of children.” 

Amick sees school as an extension of the domestic church, which is the home. In that vein, he knows the difficulty that teachers, like parents, have combating current culture and what students are exposed to through television, movies, music and advertising.

“I don’t see a lot that shows the dignity and value of the human person,” Amick said. “If this is the culture in which students live, how do we reach them where they are?”

“Catholic teachers have the answers for students in the Catholic faith,” Amick said. “As we lead them to the answers, they are ready for true answers. Students look to teachers for answers to God saying, ‘Who am I?’ Does the world offer answers? No.”

Christ is love

Amick said teachers could break the negative influences society has on children – just as God did by sending his son – by being “living encounters” of grace, truth and love to students. Once students understand the unconditional love of Christ, they won’t search in the wrong places.

“Sometimes we might be the only ones that plant that love,” Amick said. “Your job is to be an expression of Christ’s love to others – to be saints to students.”

Amick encouraged them to embrace the central mystery of the Christian faith that is the Holy Trinity and to commit to personal prayer.

“Todd is speaking from conviction,” said Salesian Sister Maria Colombo, Immaculate Conception principal, about the presentation to her 60-member faculty and staff.  “Even if they don’t get the theology, they will experience the witness. His witness touches the heart.”

The presentation also offered strategies on how departments can work together to spread the Gospel to students, and Amick invited teachers to open their hearts to the grace that Christ gives through the Eucharist and encouraged a commitment to more personal prayer.

Music adds meaning 

Another of Amick’s presentations is an abbreviated, one-hour talk, “The Mass: A Personal Invitation from Jesus, Himself,” which he and songwriter, musician and vocalist Lorraine Hess gave recently to attentive eighth graders at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette. Students answered questions and learned responsorial psalms that they then used at a Mass that followed the presentation.

(Through the Eucharist) “You will be the saints that God has called us to be,” Amick told the students.

Eighth grader Love Williams said the presentation gave her a better understanding of Jesus and the Mass.

Amick also offers “The Mass: A How-To Guide to Who We Are” in full-day or half-day segments for high school students, and “The Mass: A Personal Invitation to the Vocation of Parent,” a one-hour presentation for parents.

Amick can be reached at 482-8010 or [email protected].

Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarion herald.org.