Parish calls for more volunteer religion teachers

The St. Joseph Parish in Santa Cruz has successfully reached out to 3 of the secondary schools to receive weekly teachings, recollections and monthly celebration of holy masses. These schools include Bato National High School, Manuel Francisco National High School in Tuban and Federico Yap National High School (Coronon Annex).

The volunteer – teachers include Mrs. Elizabeth Tan, Mrs. Teresita Cajegas, Mrs. Juditha Diaz, Mrs. Regina Dizon, and Mr. Francisco Balahim, a CETRE graduate and in charge of the Campus ministry. They use the Module from the St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) Christian Living Program, thus making these students avail of the lessons and values taught in the catholic schools.

They come to the schools to give an hour of lecture to different classes as pre-selected by the school’s guidance office.

However, non-catholic students are not required to join in but most of these students voluntarily stay in the class to participate, listen and interact with their classmates.

The teachers feel a great sense of accomplishment having reached out to kids regardless of their religion or group, said Mr. Balahim. “While it is not our objective to bring Catholicism to these schools, the sessions turn out to be an interfaith dialogue among the students which make the ministry more meaningful.” They look forward to have more volunteers to join them in this cause especially that the school heads, this early, have already signify their interest to welcome this campus ministry for the next school year. The parish still welcomes fresh education graduates, retired teachers and anyone in the passion of teaching to join them. (Blaze Cantaros | SJP SoCCom)