National Conference for Catechetical Leadership
Perhaps I will see some of you at the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership in Detroit?
April 2009
Ending on a Good Note – A Summary of Last Night's Class
Last evening was the last teaching session for this year with my 8th graders. Next week, we gather for Mass, some presentations, and then pizza. I enjoyed last night and overall, I feel it went very nicely, a fitting ending to a good year with a good group of kids. Here are the highlights: I met the young people at the door as they arrived. I was holding a tray with their little vigil candles […]
The Bible Blueprint: A Catholic’s Guide to Understanding and Embracing God’s Word
I am pleased and excited to announce my newest book: THE BIBLE BLUEPRINT: A Catholic’s Guide to Understanding and Embracing God’s Word Here’s the promotional copy on it: In The Bible Blueprint, best-selling author Joe Paprocki cleverly uses a blueprint metaphor to help Catholics gain a solid understanding of the structure and organization of the Bible, and to help them build confidence in navigating its pages. Among other topics, Paprocki covers the different genres of […]
Looking Back on the Year
Another element that I’ve developed for this coming Monday’s session is a look back on our year together, inviting the young people to select what their favorite session(s) was/were and what they learned from it/them. I put together a handout that summarizes briefly what we did in each session and asks them to rate the sessions on a scale of 1-10 (1=poor and 10=excellent). After we’ve read through the descriptions of the sessions and the […]
My "Last Lecture" (No, I’m Not Dying)
This coming Monday evening is the last session that I will be teaching this current 8th grade class (the following week is a closing Mass and awards ceremony). As part of my plan for this Monday, I’ve put together my own “last lecture.” By now, I’m sure you’re familiar with the YouTube phenomenon, Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture” that he gave to his class as the Carnegie Mellon University after he had been diagnosed with pancreatic […]
Today’s Catholic Teacher
I have an article appearing in the current issue of Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine! It is directed to religion teachers in Catholic schools however I’m sure that catechists in parish RE programs can benefit as well. Enjoy! (click on the link below) http://www.catholicteacher.com/archive/articles_view.php?article_id=2174
Easter Blessings!
I wish you a very Blessed Easter season!!! May the grace of the Risen Lord be with you always! Experiencing the Triduum was a blessing as always. Holy Thursday and Good Friday were at St. Julie Billiart parish in Tinley Park and the Easter Vigil was at St. Clement in Chicago. All were celebrated with great reverence, style, and grace, and the the richness of the sacramentality of these days filled all of my senses. […]
I Wish You A Blessed Holy Week
The other day, I drove past a Protestant church whose marquee read “He is Risen!” I joked with my wife that “they’re a week early!” And yet, of course, we know that Jesus is Risen. As we proceed through this Holy Week, we reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus through the lens of the Resurrection. We don’t pretend this week that we don’t know how the story ends. Good Friday is not a wake service for […]
Hosanna in the Highest!
Hosanna in the highest!!!
40/40 – Lenten Activities: A Holy Week Gift Box
Throughout Lent, a number of catechists weighed in with contributions of their own. I’m pleased to share the following activity with you from a catechist named Greg in my home state of Illinois! Thanks, Greg! A Holy Week Gift Box Hi Joe, I teach my last class before Easter this week on Palm Sunday afternoon (to my 7th graders). I would love to leave each of my students with something as both a “gift” and […]