Hello friends, do you know what Saint Mary Ways is? For those who haven't heard of it, Saint Mary Ways (SMW) is a special program at SMP Santa Maria Bandung. This program is designed to help us as students fulfill our co-curricular requirements while simultaneously practicing the values taught by Mother Mary in our daily lives. Through this activity, we are encouraged to learn not only through theory in the classroom but also through direct experience in the field. This is expected to foster students' sense of caring, empathy, and a willingness to serve others.
In this SMW program, all ninth-grade students are divided into groups and placed in various service locations. Some are placed at the Nazareyt Nursing Home, an orphanage, serving as altar servers, daycare, and even teaching in Sunday school. These groups are divided based on the church they attend, their area of residence, and the type of activity they will be involved in. The size of each group also varies. Some groups are very large, with up to 21 members, others are medium-sized, with 3 or 4 members, and some even consist of just 1 or 2 members.
I was assigned to teach Sunday School at Santa Odilia Parish, Cinunuk Station, and my group consisted of three people: myself, Angel, and Mel. We were both enthusiastic and a little nervous, as teaching Sunday School was a new experience for us. Nevertheless, we were determined to carry out this assignment to the best of our ability.
Before we began teaching, we had to make several preparations. First, we created a permit proposal to submit to the station to obtain permission to teach there. This proposal outlined the activity's objectives, implementation schedule, and the format of the lessons to be taught. We also compiled a report for the school, listing the activities we would undertake during the SMW program. Once all permit preparations were complete, we were scheduled to teach.
The SMW program lasted for approximately two weeks. During that time, my group taught three meetings. On the first day, I felt quite nervous because I had never met the Sunday School children at that station before. I was worried they wouldn't understand our explanations or would be bored. However, they were very happy to have us there. The children were very friendly, cheerful, and easy to work with. I felt calmer and more able to enjoy the teaching process.
During the second and third meetings, the atmosphere became much more intimate. I began to learn their names, their habits, and even started chatting frequently when we met at church. I learned a lot about their communication styles, which made it easier for them to understand the material. From them, I also learned a lot about simplicity, openness, and how children show a sincere heart when participating in spiritual activities. Although there were some challenges, such as managing the children's concentration, preparing engaging materials, and adjusting teaching times to my group members' schedules, we still tried to provide the best experience for them.
From this entire experience, I felt incredibly happy and grateful. I was able to meet amazing children, play and learn with them, and experience a warm sense of community. Furthermore, I realized that as Catholic teenagers, we need to actively participate in church activities. Church activities can take place not only inside the church building but also outside the church through services such as teaching Sunday School, community prayer, social activities, and so on.
Therefore, our group chose to teach Sunday School. During these activities, we invited the children to create "fruit of the spirit"-themed pendants, introduced them to the meaning of the rosary, and had them color together. All of these activities provided valuable experiences for both us and the children we serve.
This SMW experience not only increased our knowledge but also shaped our character, making us more caring, patient, and willing to serve. I feel this program is truly meaningful and deserves to be an unforgettable experience..
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