Catechumenate in the Classroom: St. Patrick's Day

Amy Florian

I grew up in a small rural town inhabited largely by Germans. Yet on March 17, the entire populace would wear green, paint shamrocks on their faces and celebrate the feast of Saint Patrick. While I suspect my town's sudden conversion of nationality had as much to do with the Irish tradition of alcoholic excess as with religious fervor, celebrating the feast of St. Patrick in your classroom can be meaningful and instructive.

It is appropriate, too, that we celebrate the feast of a saint in the midst of Lent. During this season, we concentrate on repentance, on removing any obstacles that block our path to God. In this endeavor, saints provide examples of faithfulness worthy of imitation. Remind your students that saints were not perfect people. They made mistakes, they doubted, they sinned and they sometimes had serious shortcomings. Yet, they tried their best to follow God and to live a life worthy of their calling as Christian disciples, just as we are called to do.

Tell your students the story of St. Patrick's life. He was born around 385 in Scotland. At the age of 14, Patrick was captured as a slave and taken to Ireland to herd sheep. The people around him were pagan, but he remained faithful to God. He came to care deeply for the people of the country, and dreamed of a day when he would be able to preach the Gospel to them.

When he was 20, Patrick escaped from Ireland and made it to Britain, where he rejoined his family. He entered the seminary and was ordained a priest. After he became a bishop he went back to Ireland, realizing his dream. Patrick worked in Ireland for 40 years, building churches, preaching and converting thousands of people. He died there in 461. Because of his hard work in Ireland, St. Patrick has become the patron saint of all things Irish.

There are several legends and stories about Patrick. For instance, one legend says he was responsible for driving all the snakes off the island. While that one is doubtful, the story of the shamrock is true. Patrick struggled for a way to explain the Trinity to the Irish. One day he picked up a shamrock and noticed how the three leaves came from the same stem to form the one plant. From that day on, he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity as three-in-one.

On St. Patrick's Day, have your students cut green shamrocks from felt or construction paper. Place the shamrocks all around the prayer table, although the candle and/or fabric on the table should remain the Lenten purple. Have a box of pins nearby. If possible, make some green punch for the children to enjoy after the ritual. If sugar and/or expense are concerns, simply add green food color to a pitcher of water.

Gather around the prayer table in a circle as you end the class.
 

Catechist:	We stand in the presence of God, who calls us to proclaim the good news to all people. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Response:	Amen.
Catechist:	Let us pray. Faithful God, you give us your bishop Patrick as a model of missionary service, as one who dedicated his life to spreading the faith to all who would listen. As we gather to celebrate the feast of this devoted saint, let this candle remind us of your burning love for each of us.  Light the candle. May it also inspire us during this Lenten season to spread the flame of your life and truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Response:	Amen.
Catechist:	St. Patrick was a missionary and a gifted teacher. He explained God to them using things found in their everyday life. He taught that just as the shamrock has three distinct leaves yet is all one plant on one stem, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are separate parts of our one God. Receive this shamrock today as a reminder of your responsibility to imitate Patrick by sharing the good news of Christ with your classmates, your families and your friends.
	Pin a shamrock on the shirt of each child. If they are old enough, the students may pin the shamrock on themselves.
Catechist:	Let us pray. Gracious God, you have given us the gift of faith, a gift so wonderful that we want to share it. Help us to live in a way that makes your love shine out to the world.  I invite you now to extend your hands toward each other in the circle for a traditional Irish blessing.
	Children extend one or both hands toward each other.
Catechist:	May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall softly upon your fields,  And until we meet again,  May God hold you in the hollow of his hand. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Response:	Amen.
Catechist:	Before we go out to spread God's word, we offer each other a sign of peace, and then enjoy a cold green drink.