In the last newsletter I shared with you the talented and giving people of our parish who have so willingly volunteered to share their faith with the children and youth of our parish who attend the Wadsworth public schools.

Equally important for you to know is our catechists are more than sharing their faith with the children. Many of our catechists are now certified through the diocese of Cleveland and continue to be updated through diocesan workshops and local in-service training programs throughout the year. The Basic certificate requires 50 hours and includes 20 hours of Theology, 20 hours of Methodology and 10 hours of Faith Formation. There are several opportunities for retreat as well as continuing education during the school year.

For those who are not certified, they are working on a monthly basis towards certification. Those who have their basic certification are now working toward an Advanced as well as those who have an Advanced certificate are working on a Masters certificate. Those of us who have a Masters are continuing our education as well. Each level requires an additional 40 hours of theology, faith formation, and methodology.

Because of these workshops and courses, our Catechists have provided many wonderful and creative projects and ideas for our students. In January the Junior High students spent an evening studying Vocations: Religious, Priesthood, Single, and Married. The students worked at various learning stations developing God's call to a vocation recognizing that each of us has been called to a vocation and that God allows our free will to recognize and accept God's will for our life's endeavor.

Our third graders have been studying the Saints and have prepared excellent presentations and posters about their favorite saints.

All of our students will have an opportunity to participate in a service project here in the Wadsworth area this school year; visiting nursing homes, the senior citizen center, are taking the Eucharist with their parents to members of our parish community, and the little ones provide cards for the Eucharistic Ministers to take on the visit to the homebound.

Currently we are looking for moms and dads who would be willing to work with a group of seventh and eighth graders in the summer on a project for those in our community who are not able to do some of the home repair projects themselves.

This Lent on March 26th, our Junior High grades 5 through 8 will be working in collaboration with the Sacred Heart day school students on a presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross. A light meal of soup and bread prior to the stations will be shared with our parishioners, students and their families as we build our community of faith believers. The meal will be supported with the help of our Parish Council and the Liturgy Commission.