#Inspiring and #Creative: Catechist Christian LeBlanc

I have an awesome new video for you that will whisk you on a fascinating journey from Genesis through Revelation into the deeper meaning of God’s great gift of marriage. It’s a 30-minute, totally-Catholic Bible talk by one of the smartest, funniest catechists I have ever known.

Christian LeBlanc is a Catholic husband and father, an architect and author, and a dynamic presenter increasingly in demand in the Catholic world. And rightly so.

I profiled Christian when his catechetical book, The Bible Tells Me So, first came out, a few years ago. I started with a scene from his weekly religious education class in his home parish and then segued into an interview I think you’ll enjoy. Enjoy the video and the interview!

Here’s his latest video:

“Love and Marriage from Genesis to Revelation”

Here’s the interview, starting with a peek into his classroom:

Architect and catechist Christian Le Blanc is wearing a suit and tie and standing in front of a group of 15 sixth graders at St. Mary’s parochial school in Greenville, South Carolina. It’s the beginning of the catechetical year on a warm Wednesday evening in September, and a noisy crowd of raw recruits has just shuffled in and slumped into chairs, worn out from a long day at school.

Before they can droop any further, he engages.

“Hey y’all, welcome to 6th grade Wednesday Night Sunday School. This is your textbook. I don’t want to see it again.”

“WHAT?”

“Take it home, there’s no time in class to be reading from the textbook; I’ll let you know each week what you ought to read for next week’s class, as in: read it at home.”

An outburst of objection to this flouting of rules is quieted with the cool-eyed reassurance: “This year is the opposite of last year. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

Now they’re sitting up a little straighter.

“Now, who likes parties and crafts and games?”

“I do! Me, too!” they chorus, eyes brightening.

“Okay,” he says, quickly, “you are going to be miserable this year. We won’t have any time for that stuff, there’s too much to learn. Yes?”

“No parties?” they gasp.

“Nope. Look here’s what I want y’all to do this year [on the board]: SUFFER.”

Nervous giggles.

“Suffer?”

“Yes, suffering is good, and I’m the meanest teacher in Sunday School. Yes?”

“My brother says he really didn’t suffer last year and he had fun.”

“Oh. Well, he was supposed to suffer. If you do have fun in here it’ll be a miracle, but keep it to yourself. Don’t spoil the suffering of others. Hey there, daughter, stop smiling!”

It’s only 6:35 and he has them laughing, engaged, arguing with him, and yes, paying attention. The learning quickly follows with Chapter One of Genesis, in a flurry of storytelling, scriptural references, explorations of deeper meanings via English, Spanish, Latin, Hebrew, Greek, classic art reproductions, cartoon drawings, practical and moral applications, personal witness, creative dramatics, and lots of comedy. They’ve been guided into guessing right so many times they think they’re Bible geniuses. (CONTINUE READING)