SAN DIEGO — Two long-time catechists in the Diocese of San Diego share how they came to teach the faith and the joys that have kept them returning year after year.
42 Years
Susan Ferraris, St. Mary (Escondido)
I became a parish catechist in 1974 because a teddy bear of a priest, Father Earl Ullman, approached me as I was teaching in San Diego Unified School District to “help out” with a First Communion class on Saturday mornings at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Vista.
I pushed back! I was raising my girls, had just had a baby and was trying to get my full teaching credentials by taking classes at SDSU. I gave him so many excuses! He was insistent that I was the perfect person for the task. I wasn’t so sure! I had no training as a catechist.
My daughter was in Catholic school, I taught in the public schools. Why was I needed? Father Ullman got me with, “How can you say you are living your faith to the fullest when you are receiving all of God’s graces but not giving back?” I thought about that for a week and couldn’t come up with an excuse. He had used the same reasoning with another public school teacher in Vista and so we were the first teachers to teach First Communion classes on a Saturday morning at the parish! No more excuses.
I continued as a catechist because I love a challenge and the needs were so obvious. I went from teaching a class for receiving the Eucharist to sweet second graders, to organizing and becoming the coordinator for all the First Communion classes, to being the coordinator for all elementary sessions.
I needed to be “schooled” in the faith as well as my students did. Each position made me learn more about the faith I had been fortunate enough to be born into but had never explored fully. I took classes at USD, at the diocese, and online. I gave workshops to other teachers. I became a certified catechist in 1981 and then a master catechist in 1984.
A sweet little Irish gnome of a priest, Msgr. Tom Byrne, encouraged me to take on more because he “needed me.” It was fun interacting, sharing and learning from others, as well as being a resource for others. There is so much richness in the faith we share and we oftentimes never explore below the surface. This was my chance to grow and learn and pass it on.
When I began teaching adults in the catechist certification course I truly had to dive into Catholic history and tradition. What a tremendous eye opener to the richness of our religion and its prophets, popes, doctors of the church and leadership! What a great way to serve and be served!
To anyone considering becoming a catechist, I would say, be ready to be challenged, questioned and informed. You will never learn as much about your faith as when a child, teenager or adult asks a question you cannot answer. Now you must respond truthfully, “I don’t have the answer but let’s find out together!” And you do. That stays with you and your students. Teachers always feel they must have all the answers to teach, but oftentimes it’s the excitement of finding out that deepens faith. So, accept the challenge and jump on in!
35 Years
Juliana Castille, St. Rita Parish
In the 1950s, my family moved from New Orleans to San Diego. Initially, we lived in Navy housing, then moved to a Southeast San Diego community.
Our family attended Sunday Mass at St. Rita Catholic Church. My brothers and I attended Religious Education classes on Saturday mornings. Sometimes we were picked up by bus and other times we walked.
When my parents were able to buy a house, we moved to the corner of Logan and West Streets. In that community, we were between St. Rita’s and St. Jude’s. I graduated from St. Jude Academy, attended Regina Coeli High (closed in 1966), then I attended Rosary High, and graduated from Morse High.
As a parent, I took my two sons to Religious Education at St. Rita’s. A dear family friend, Edwina Recasner, recruited me to teach Religious Education on Saturdays while my sons attended CCD.
Sister Margaret Castro became our director, and Sister Dina Garcia joined the staff. And, as they say, an endearing religious family developed throughout the years.
I have loved this ministry. I have met wonderfully devoted, faith-based people. Being a part of teaching children about our Catholic faith, to love God and to respect all people has been our mission.
As catechists we have been blessed to share our faith in a multicultural family community. Everyone has God-given gifts to share with people. Just allow your spiritual light to shine on all people you meet.
Our faith mission is simple: “Love God above all” and “love each other.”
Amen!
Gratitude for Decades of Teaching the Faith
More than 2,000 women and men serve as catechists across the San Diego-Imperial Valley region. The diocese celebrates the significant milestones of the following individuals.
40+ years
Susan Ferraris, St. Mary (Escondido)
35+ Years
Juliana Castille, St. Rita
Rosa Murguia, St. Jude
30+ Years
Linda Arreola, Corpus Christi
Felisa Hornecker, St. Charles (IB)
Vicky Jiménez, Our Lady of Refuge
Vicente Leal, St. James/St. Leo
Yvonne Trujillo, St. Charles (IB)
25+ Years
Alicia Gutierrez, St. Mary (National City)
Tammy Mansir, Guardian Angels
20+ Years
Christine Avella, St. Timothy
Carmen Burgos, 20, St. Charles (IB)
Irma Covarrubias-Lugo, St. Jude
Araceli Gonzalez, Mission San Luis Rey
Pilar Ignacio, St. Mary (National City)
Alicia Policarpio, St. Charles (San Diego)
Adriana Rodriguez, 20, Mission San Luis Rey
Charlotte Stewart, St. Rita
Mike Wickham, Corpus Christi
15+ Years
Margit Dornisch, St. Patrick (Carlsbad)
Trinidad Estoesta, 15, St. Charles (IB)
Lurdes Lua, St. Charles (IB)
Elena Platas, St. Didacus
Teresa Moya, Sacred Heart (Brawley)
10+ Years
Hilda Diaz, Our Lady of Guadalupe (CV)
Claudia Drachenberg, Sacred Heart (Coronado
Chris Franco, Our Lady of Grace
Maria Galace, Mater Dei
Carol Gamara, Mission San Diego
Susana Hernandez Figueroa, St. John the Evangelist (Encinitas)
Lissa Hutcheson, Mission San Diego
Patty Mann, St. Elizabeth Seton
Ascencion Medina, Our Lady of Angels
Elizabeth Pastrana, Holy Trinity
Blanca Rodriguez, Christ the King/St. James-St.Leo
María Valencia, Our Lady of Guadalupe (Chula Vista)
Cesar Varela, St. John the Evangelist (Encinitas)
