In this stage we introduce the concept of changing the way we behave as with Matthew the Tax Collector (Yr 4, Lesson 24: Called to Follow Jesus). In their prayers, the children begin to ask Jesus to “Open their Eyes” to help follow him. The children also begin to see prayers being answered through intercession as in the Wedding Feast (Yr 4, Lesson 23). As catechists, we hold a precious role: helping children discover that Jesus is someone they can speak to, trust, and love. Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) Let them Lead! For older students, it would be a standard practice to ask one or two children to choose and lead the class in prayer. In this stage the children learn how to unite their prayers more broadly to the sufferings of Jesus and so acquire a new value (Yr 6, Lesson 18: We Gather to Worship). Senior students in most schools have reached a level of maturity which enables them to understand the power of prayer, recognising its value and giving testimony to others. I recently observed one catechist begin prayer time by asking if the children had any special intentions. One child immediately recalled a personal situation with a family member that was healed which he attributed to his prayers! I have seen this age group lead the whole school with intercessory prayer during Christmas and Easter assemblies and major community memorial events. The use of scripts is essential in these cases. Let them lead, but be organised! Final Tip Teach your students simple prayers that they can use at set times, like a morning offering, grace before meals, a prayer before bedtime. By doing this, you are giving them a gift that they will take into their whole life’s journey. T he Catholic Conference of Religious Educators in State Schools (CCRESS) brings together representatives from every diocese in NSW and ACT to collaborate on matters relating to Special Religious Education (SRE). The group meets twice annually to ensure coordinated practice, professional learning, and strategic planning across dioceses. The first CCRESS gathering for 2025 was held in May and hosted by the Diocese of Parramatta. It included professional development sessions, planning discussions, the Annual General Meeting, and other business matters. The second gathering, hosted by the Diocese of Bathurst in November, comprised a retreat day followed by the final business meeting of the year. These gatherings offer valuable opportunities to share the work of CCD Wollongong—our training, procedures, online resources, and publications—which are consistently well received by other diocesan leaders, particularly from rural dioceses such as Wagga Wagga, Lismore, and Armidale. We also benefit from the insights and experience of colleagues, as well as from our representatives serving on Inter-Church Commission On Religious Education In Schools (ICCOREIS), National Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (NCCD), Department of Education Consultative Committee, and All Faiths bodies. CCRESS Conferences 2025 The retreat day was held at the Shalom House of Prayer in Carcoar, a peaceful and historically significant site featuring a small church, stunning gardens, and a former boarding house now used for retreats. Shalom was established following a prayerful insight received in 1974 by cofounder Neville Bowers, who, with his wife Helen, discerned the call to reopen the former Mount St Joseph Convent as a place for spiritual renewal. The House of Prayer continues this mission today under the stewardship of Nick and Fran Hansen. During our time in Carcoar, we had the privilege of learning from iconographer Mary Clancy who led a session in which each participant created a coloured icon of Jesus. Mary encouraged participants to engage in prayer throughout the creative process—directed both to Christ, whose face we contemplated closely, and for those who will encounter the icon in the future. Her work is featured in various churches and educational institutions, including Our Lady of the Central West, located in the Cathedral of Sts Michael and John, Bathurst. More recently, Mary was commissioned to create an icon of St Carlo Acutis and a young St Ambrose for Ambrose Early Learning Centres, Diocese of Parramatta. Further information on Shalom House of Prayer is available at shalomcarcoar.com CATECHI STNET • DECEMBER 2025 | 21
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