Parish catechesis is a very messy enterprise. The catechist knows the wonder and joy of those who hear and believe; but also the sorrow of watching those who are lukewarm drift away. There is often a daily encounter with stressed and over-committed parents, disinterested teens, and poorly written texts. In the midst of jostling for parish space, answering questions about first communion veils, or explaining why a Buddhist best friend cannot be counted as a Christian witness for baptism, the idealism that accompanied that first catechetical ‘call’ can begin to lessen! The question begins to seep into the corner of the catechist’s consciousness: “what was I thinking…?”