Religious Education teachers throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles assembled Sept. 15 for the first-ever Religious Studies Teacher Conference Day held on the campus of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower.

Sponsored by the archdiocesan office of Religious Education, the conference was attended by representatives from every high school in the archdiocese, as well as educators from the Orange Diocese. Attendees were able to network, sharing teaching methods and refreshing their learning skills and tools in preparation for the new school year's challenges.

In particular, the teachers were challenged "to be men and women of faith, wisdom and enthusiasm, so that by our lived example the faith of the students is nourished and strengthened," said Holy Faith Sister Angela Hallahan, high schools religion certification director for the Department of Catholic Schools.

Opening speaker, Dr. Michael Horan, encouraged attendees to always keep in mind what should be the guiding question when instructing students: "Who are our students and what are we doing to serve their faith growth?"

Horan, associate professor of theological studies at Loyola Marymount University, reminded the educators that they are on the front lines of their student's formation, saying that the school environment is a place where the "Gospel is caught as well as taught. Catholic school is the sole provider of an academic program of studies that is aimed at the intellectual development of the whole person, including the intellectual development of the person around religious issues."

Our Lady of the Angels Region Auxiliary Bishop Edward Clark further addressed this theme of intellectual evangelization at the day's closing liturgy.

"Evangelization is what we are about," he said. "Not just communicating facts but touching the hearts of our students with the evangelization message to convert and change them. Anybody can teach religious studies, but not everyone can be an evangelist."

Kristina Ortega, campus minister at St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood, said the day's message was particularly important to her. "High school years are when students really begin to think for themselves," she noted. "This is the time when they become Christian because they believe," not because it's what they are told to do, she added.

Ortega, 24, who teaches sophomore students, was there with her religious education staff, all new teachers under the age of 25. Their enthusiasm was infectious and, as young teachers, they hope to pass their strong faith onto their students.

"It was good we talked about challenging ourselves and our students, and not just repeating fourth grade stuff," said Cat Whetham, 22, who teaches freshmen and sophomores at St. Mary's. "This is a good day to feed ourselves and take it back to the classroom."

"I'm young so my process of determining vocation is continuously being shaped and helped by this conference and by challenges I face in the classroom," noted Janelle Paregoy, 22.

It was a day of learning and meeting colleagues for most, but for some it was also a day of reunions.

Maggie Averill, who has been teaching religious studies in the archdiocese for nearly 18 years, said she experienced "unspeakable joy" to see her past student, Susan Brennan, from St. Joseph High School in Lakewood in attendance as a newly minted religious studies teacher.

Since she began teaching, Brennan said she has a new appreciation of how difficult it is to do what Averill does so well. "I'm just in awe of what Maggie does," said Brennan, a first-year teacher at Pomona Catholic High School.

Averill, who currently teaches at Ramona Convent Secondary School in Alhambra, said there is a great need for a conference like this in the archdiocese, and she is glad young teachers like Brennan are able to benefit from it early in their careers.

"Today is really renewing my energy and giving me a better understanding of my students," said Averill. I've learned that as a teacher you have to accept high school students where they are and gently try to lead them. More often than not, they come."