Consider this story:

A girl asked her DRE "What Sacrament will I be preparing for this year? I mean, I've received First Communion and it'll be years before I'm confirmed."

I said "Yes. But Sacramental prep is part of a bigger thing. We're all disciples of Christ and we're always learning how to be true to God and neighbor. All of the classes help us learn how to respond to God's offer."

"I'm a disciple," she mused.

"Yes," I paused and continued, "and so we study, pray, worship, practice. Sacramental preparation is part of it. But there are other parts, too. This year you'll be learning about God's Law. That's one of the big ways we know God and stay in right relationship."

She looked over her class description for the year. We talked about the way we proceed in REY: using books and handouts with parents to learn lessons; testing and trying out understanding in class by review, games and activities, song and dance; coming together for meals and fun a few times in the year; and choosing to do Christ-like actions like the Thanksgiving Food Drive.

"First there were twelve," she asserted, "and now there is me."

"Yes."

"I think I'll like this."

Update: 08/19/09 mcc

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