Religion teacher goes a step further – as role model, resource, missionary disciple

A lot has changed in the 33 years that Tim Mueting has taught high school religion and philosophy classes for students at Roncalli Catholic High School in Omaha.

But one thing has remained constant: “I’m here to help them move a little closer to Jesus,” Mueting said.

There are, of course, names and places to know, but the longtime educator said opening the students’ eyes and hearts is the goal.

“What I try to do is try to help them see they’re children of God and thus have a special relationship with God – and they need to be aware of that,” said Mueting, who received an archdiocese Secondary Teacher of the Year Award in 2011, and is also an author, radio personality, college instructor and seminar speaker.

Students at Roncalli Catholic are required to take a religion class every semester – for a total of 16 credit hours, the same as the English requirement and two more credit hours than math, science and social studies. 

There are required courses for most semesters, but seniors are allowed some options. Besides a required class on Catholic social teaching, they can choose from a number of electives, such as vocations, Church history, world religions and Scripture.

Since 2011, Catholic high schools in the archdiocese have followed a framework set up by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as the archdiocese’s own religion standards.

At Roncalli Catholic, though, one of the most important tools used in and out of the classroom might be Mueting’s own life of faith as a member of St. Bernard Parish in Omaha, where he serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, lector and choir member.

“I’m here to be a role model, a teacher, a resource,” he said. “I try to live my life as a faithful, loving, caring, hopeful Catholic. They can see that.”

Tim Mueting makes a point to his students at Roncalli Catholic High School in Omaha.

Mueting himself is a product of a Catholic education. He attended Norfolk Catholic High School then earned undergraduate and master’s degrees from College (now University) of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In 2017, the National Catholic Educational Association published his book, “The Religion Teacher’s Handbook: A Primer on the Vocation of Teaching Catholic High School Religion.”

Mueting taught at the former Humphrey St. Francis High School for six years, from 1982 to 1988. He arrived at Roncalli Catholic in 1991 after attending St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he earned a master’s degree in theology.

The instructor teaches five religion classes for sophomores and juniors every day of the school year. His task, he said, is to meet students wherever they are in their faith journey.

“My job as a teacher is as a missionary disciple,” he said. “I’m here to teach the kids at whatever level they’re willing to accept.

“For example, if we have students who don’t know anything about Jesus – and I have had that happen – it’s pretty much pre-evangelization. If it’s kids from different religions, it’s comparative religions.

“If they’re students just trying to get through, I’m trying to do evangelization as well, trying to get them to know who Jesus is, what He wants.

“The students who do have a strong, living faith I give catechesis, which means I’m teaching them the faith.”

Over the course of his tenure at Roncalli Catholic, much has changed in the world students live, including the Catholic community at large where, Mueting said, Mass attendance has declined significantly the last 50 years.

“Our kids are no different than anybody else with those statistics,” he said.

Mueting said his students know his mission is to bring them closer to salvation.

“I’m here to help them move a little closer to Jesus. That’s why I say I’m a missionary disciple,” he said. “I’m part of a whole community of believers, and I have the benefit of being able to share my faith with them so they can see there are people for whom faith is important.

“To use Thomas Aquinas’ definition of love, it’s the giving of oneself to another for the good of the other, and that’s what we’re all about.”

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