Engaging Faith

As summer approaches, your students will be attempting to secure a job. Certainly, an interview will be part of the hiring process. Review these suggestions to help your students prepare for a job interview. Be knowledgeable about the company and the industry. Read the company website, reports, news articles, and any other literature about the company. Read about the company’s history, services or products, growth pattern, divisions and subsidiaries, size and competitors. Practice answering questions about yourself, your accomplishments, and your intended career objectives. Find out from other people what their job interviews were like. Be prepared to talk about your talents, experience, values, and goals. Focus on what you can bring to the job rather than what the job can do for you. Be able to state your weaknesses, too, along with your strengths. Prepare questions to ask your interviewer based on what you learned about the company. As to the actual interview itself, keep the following points in mind: Arrive a few minutes early. Do not bring anyone with you. Dress appropriately. Wear conservative clothing and little jewelry. Appear well-groomed with a recent haircut, clipped nails, polished shoes, and pressed clothing. Do not chew gum. Bring a pen and notebook and use them. Be courteous, friendly, and enthusiastic. Keep in mind the interviewer is looking for someone who can fit in well with the rest of the staff. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Pay attention to your own body language. Sit naturally. Do not fold your arms. Do not discuss salary unless the interviewer initiates the topic. Put a positive spin on yourself. For example, if you are asked if you have a certain skill that you lack, reply, “No, but I am a quick learner.” Before you leave, make sure to find out the next step. Will the interviewer contact you? When? Should you contact the interviewer? When? Thank the interviewer. The next day, send a written thank-you note. This is a must. Exercise Assign the students to complete a resume, that is, a written overview of their background, experience, and skills. A resume should include: Your name. Your mailing address. Your phone number. Your email address. An objective stating the kind of work you want to do. Your educational background. Your work experience beginning with the most recent job and/or volunteer experience. Your honors and activities.

Prepare a lesson or part of a lesson that focuses on the theme of pastoral leadership and priesthood today, especially as it connects between teachings from the Pastoral Letters of the New Testament. Some qualities which make up a good priest are drawn from the Letter to Titus. Overview First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus are called “Pastoral Letters” because they were written by one pastor (shepherd) to two other pastors, Timothy and Titus. The differ from other New Testament letters—both those written by St. Paul and those attributed to him—in that they were addressed to individuals and give great advice on Church leadership. The Pastoral Letters assert that in order for one to be a priest or bishop, he must be a moral exemplar, other-centered, and be willing to undergo any kind of trial for the sake of the Gospel. First Timothy gives guidelines for those chosen to be bishops. Second Timothy describes the end of St. Paul’s ministry and is a reflection on his impending death. The Letter to Titus, the focus here, discusses the qualities necessary for being a good presbyter (priest). Lesson 1. Define pastor as “shepherd.” Ask the students to identify images from the Gospels of Christ acting as a shepherd. Ask: Why would “shepherd” be an appropriate name for a leader of the early Church? (Jesus used the metaphor of a shepherd and the flock to describe the relationship to the Apostles and the Apostles’ relationship to the faithful.) 2. Ask the students to write a brief reflection on a priest in their life who has had a positive influence on them. What qualities did that person possess that made him a good religious leader? Allow about five to seven minutes for writing. Then call on volunteers to share their reflections with the class. 3. Refer the students to Titus 1:5-9. Relate this description of presbyters to the student’s reflections and to an understanding of a priest’s mission and ministry today. Assignment There are nine references from the Letter of Titus in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Write them on the board. Ask the students to work individually or with a partner to look up the references from Titus and from the Catechism and explain how each supports a particular teaching about priesthood. Teaching Reference from Titus Reference from the Catechism Eligibility for Holy Orders Titus 1:5-9 CCC, 1577 Instructions for the appointment of presbyters Titus 1:5 CCC, 1590 Self-mastery and renewal Titus 2:1-6 CCC, 2342 Temperance Titus 2:12 CCC, 1809 The return of Christ Titus 2:13 CCC, 449, 1041, 1130, 1404, 2276, 2818 Christ’s work of Redemption Titus 2:14 CCC, 802 Baptism as a requirement for God’s kingdom Titus 3:5 CCC, 1215 Hope Titus 3:6-7 CCC, 1817

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