Cocoa with Christ

It's Tuesday morning, do you know where your children are?

For the parents of some Jamesville-DeWitt High School students, the answer to this may be religious education at Holy Cross Church in DeWitt. Here, the students spend 35 minutes learning about their religion, preparing for confirmation, and of course, eating breakfast. Although it is only a small window of time one day a week, students find it valuable.

Students enjoy spending time with their friends as well as learning about Catholicism. "I go to church school because I feel good when I talk about my religion and God," says J-DHS senior Nina Hylen, "going makes me feel a part of something important."

Throughout the four years of religious education, students learn what they might not know about their religion by reading from the Bible, having discussions and doing some projects. In addition, students learn the basics of Catholicism, and for some that means how to utilize the Bible properly. "Sadly, but it's true. I learned how to read from the Bible." says Stella Min, a J-DHS senior. For J-DHS junior Mary Pinkes, religious education has definitely been a learning experience. "I've learned the most about Jesus, I think. I've gotten a better sense of what exactly his sacrifices and sufferings entailed."

A major reason why most students attend this early class is to prepare for their confirmation, which takes place in November of their junior year. However, students still continue to attend even after their confirmation. "For the longest time I was so sure that after I got confirmed I would be done." says Hylen. "But then I began to realize that by being confirmed I was an adult member of the church, so I really should be more involved." Min agrees with Hylen. "I chose to continue going to church school, but I also had some influence from my parents."

For those who used religious education as preparation for confirmation, it proved to be a worthwhile process. During the year before their confirmation, students partake in numerous volunteer opportunities and projects. "When I made my confirmation, I participated in a lot of projects, like serving dinner at the Samaritan Center, helping the first Holy Communion classes, and a lot of other activities," says Sean Behan, a J-DHS junior. Pinkes was involved as well, "Since I was confirmed very recently, I was doing a lot of stuff at Holy Cross. I participated in a car wash, Pancake Day at Shoppingtown, a first Holy Communion workshop, and retreats, among other things."

In previous years, classes at religious education work together to help the community. Even before the year of preparation for confirmation, classes take part in projects to help others in need. "Sophomore year, every class we brought in canned and non-perishable goods and collected them until we had an enormous pile," says Min. These goods were donated to local Syracuse area food banks such as the Food Bank of Central New York.

As volunteers, adults, parents, and even some priests, of the community take time out of their day to help teach J-DHS students religious education. Though for the most part these teachers are insightful and fun to be around, some students could say otherwise. "I loved all my teachers except for the teacher during junior year," says Min. "That year I just went to class to watch the teacher and Kevin (Schafer) have a face off. The teacher told us that science was not right and that religion was. Kevin was furious." Pinkes can relate, "I've had some good teachers and some not-so-good teachers. With some teachers, I haven't had a lot of respect because they didn't know their materials or spent a lot of time on things that were irrelevant."

When the Bibles shut, and the classrooms empty out, the time has come for the students to scrounge their bags for the coveted blue religious ed. pass. Complete with name, school year, and approval stamp from J-DHS Principal Paul Gasparini, this pass is not only blue, but also gold. It is the key to late arrival on Tuesdays, and without it, you're in trouble. "One time I didn't have my pass so I used a piece of blue paper," says Hylen, "because usually no one checks it too closely. But then Mr. Benedict called me out and made me go get one from the attendance lady. After I got it, he was so surprised I hadn't tried to sneak back without it. He actually smiled."

Drama will ensue if students are without a pass, causing early morning frustration for students and administration alike. "The first day of church school was pretty bad when no one had passes," says Pinkes, "There had to be a hundred kids in line for attendance."

No matter what occurs in or out of the religious education classrooms, students can agree that it's very beneficial in the end. At first, it may seem the reason students attend is to learn more about Catholicism. But, is it worth waking up early for the education or the doughnuts, bagels, and juice? Hylen admits, "I can't lie, the orange juice is pretty awesome."