Unique and Effective Catechetical Lessons with the
Five Step Illustrated Method
The Method evolved from our historical background, [from World War II, Hungary to] our situation under the communist occupation. We had little hope of reaching our children in their later high school or college years: families were being torn apart; parents could suddenly be transferred by the state, or taken into concentration camps, or lose their jobs or be severely persecuted for sending their children to religion classes. We faced the reality of short-term instruction. We had the sense of urgency that it was now that our students had to understand, be motivated to practice and live their faith! There is a sense of urgency today, too: we want to reach our students now and help them to be committed and convinced followers of Jesus Christ today!
Devotion to the Sacred Heart transforms our teaching, since we focus our attention on the divine love. If you love someone, you love those who belong to him and you want everyone to know the person whom you love. This is what led me to teaching religion. My first call and first desire was that more and more people would know Our Lord on a deeply personal level, with an interior knowledge.
The origin of the Method was the realization that God is personally involved in my life, He knows me by my name, He loves me as a person, I am unique and special to Him. This is the vision and conviction that I wanted to convey to others, children and adults alike. The Spirit of God was generous with practical inspiration…I was able to develop the Five-Steps that carry through every catechetical lesson and truly capture the whole person. —
Servant of God Sister Ida Peterfy, SDSH Foundress
Five Step Illustrated Method
Each Step of the catechetical method Relates to God-given gifts of each human Person
1. Attracting of Attention relates to our Imagination
2. Illustrated Explanation relates to our Intellect
3. Correlation with Life relates to our Emotions
4. Weekly Practice relates to our Will Power
5. Review and Conclusion relates to our Memory
Illustrated Explanations presented in the Five Steps help students and catechists to follow and focus on a lesson. The goal is to reinforce and revitalize their convictions and enable them to put these into concrete practices in daily life. The Five Steps are a way to convey what one believes while allowing room for the personal talents, inventiveness and ingenuity of the catechists; and allow for dialogue with students for a dynamic exchange. At the heart of each lesson there is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God. Because our faith is not in things but in God who loves each of us personally; the goal of religious education is to help them understand what they are doing in faith and why.
Sister Ida teaching a catechist formation class, 1957