I have not only read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I’ve written the book on it:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Catholic-Catechism-Guides/dp/1592577075

And I’m guessing that unless you’re a mind reader, you don’t know the last time I prayed for my students.
But thanks for commenting.

When was the last time we truly prayed for our students so that they hearts could open up to Gods plans?

Regarding the Yoga mix – that is not Jesus teachings. Please read the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Peace.

It looks like it is true with the latest report stating that for every new catholic coming into the church, 6.5 are leaving. The Archdiocese of New York has closed or, to use the corporate world parlance, “consolidated” little more than half of the church parishes in the archdiocese within the past year. Yes, the trend is staggering.

The great danger is that the older kids have become so spiritually jaded and mired in the illusion of “real world” materialism (aka Maya) that one must shatter and breakthrough that illusion they surround themselves with to spiritually revive and awaken them. Burying and drowning them with dogma and doctrine will not work but make it worse. You have to take them on a more spiritual (and dare say mystical) path to get the kids to see the divine light…

Why should I believe you when you say 75% of current kids will leave? We’ve already had 75% leave over the last couple of generations. Now you’re saying 75% of what remains, will also leave?

You’ve been teaching these kids since 4th grade, by your own admission. Where are you screwing up?

thank you for your post and my sympathies for what you are facing in your classes. What you are facing is not really a lack foundational catechesis in the kids backgrounds but being truly blinded in an illusionary reality of the “real” materialistic world (this holds true for their parents as well). Shoveling doctrine and dogma will not crack and shatter this illusion. At best, it will create a ticket punching religiosity lacking any spiritual depth at all, as you mentioned. At worst they will be drowned by it. Usually (and some may say unfortunately) it takes a cathartic experience to wake a person up spiritually. The key is to connect spiritually to them and rouse them up for them to actually spiritually see. Let the catechesis fall into place further on as otherwise there will not be anything for it to take root in. Remember, Jesus was speaking and touching people’s spirits, not peddling doctrine and dogma. That is what the Pharisees where doing…… . As The Buddha stated, one must use spiritual skillful means tailored to the listeners for the teaching to take root, not only to be appreciated but be effective. Gimmicks and tricks will not cut the mustard seed (of both the Christian and Buddhist flavor) to get the kids on the spiritual path. Make then spiritual first and then tailor them with catechesis.

As for the kids in your classroom issue, you need to transcend out of the “in the box” doctrine & dogma thinking and approach it from a spiritual/mystical dimension. Leverage Teresa of Ávila if you have to. As you are a yogi of many years, how would your yoga teacher (quasi Guru) approach this?? You’re a yogi. You know the Way….