GREENSBORO — Middle school religion classes at St. Pius X School have been busy.
Not only have students been learning so many critical points about their Christian and Catholic faith, but they have also been learning to become teachers of their faith.
On Fridays, religion teacher Bill Parker encourages students to step away from their textbooks and note taking to put stewardship in action.
He likes to call these classes “Friday Retreats.” During these retreats, middle school students get to prepare a project to share with younger classes about what they are learning.
For example, eighth-grade students presented a lesson on St. Francis Oct. 4 to preschool students. Eighth-graders used their previous Friday Retreat days to create games, songs and crafts that would help younger students learn all about this beloved saint on his feast day.
The encounter was a huge success. Middle schoolers learned the value and reward of being able to share their faith in a meaningful way. Parker hopes to involve more of his classes in these real-world stewardship opportunities as the year progresses.
— April Parker