Creative Activity on “Full, Active, Conscious” Participation in the Liturgy

Here is a wonderful idea from Rocio M. for an activity to teach about “full, active, and conscious” participation in the Liturgy (as per the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 14). Thanks for sharing Rocio! Hi Joe, First, I want to thank you for all the support and materials you have shared with us. I teach Confirmation (8th grade) and I want to share with you an activity I recently did with my class. My […]

Under the Influence in El Paso

Thanks to the good folks of  El Paso, TX, for an extraordinary day at their catechetical conference today! I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address on my new book, Under the Influence of Jesus: The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ. I was so moved by the joy of the enthusiastic crowd (check out the video) and I can’t thank them enough for inspiring me and for touching my heart. Special thanks to Veronica […]

Loyola Press to publish English translation of Pope Francis book

I guess I’ll have to share the Loyola Press author spot light with some upstart author! 🙂 (Check out the story in the Chicago Tribune) Seriously, this is such exciting news! Loyola Press has beat out the nation’s top publishing houses for the rights to produce the North American English translation of the first collection of Pope Francis’ words since he became pope. Congrats to Joe Durepos, our Acquisitions Editor, for discovering this “new talent” […]

Under the Influence in San Antonio, TX!

A great big THANK YOU to  all the good folks who participated in the Mid Winter Gathering for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX! I get a kick out of that title: mid-winter! It was about 80 degrees today! Anyway, I had the privilege of doing the keynote presentation on my new book, Under the Influence of Jesus: The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ, as well as a workshop on my earlier book, 7 Keys […]

Tonight’s Session: 3 R’s – Recognizing, Respecting, and Revealing God’s Presence

My lesson for this evening picks up where we left off last week as we learned about God’s presence in Solomon’s Temple, in the Eucharist, and in ourselves. Tonight, we focus on how we recognize God’s presence in the Sacraments, respect God’s presence in others (this is part of our safe environment program) and reveal God’s presence to others through works of mercy. Session 21: The 3 R’s Big Idea: We are called to Recognize, […]

Webinar Recording Now Available: Under the Influence of Jesus

Thanks to the speedy work of my colleagues Nick Yonto and Rosemary Lane, the recording of my Under the Influence of Jesus Webinar is now available! If you missed the live event, want to share it with a friend, or want to experience it again(!), just click here or below. Also, here is a form you can use to record your participating in an archived Webinar: CATECHIST’S SUMMARY OF PARTICIPATION IN A RECORDED-ARCHIVED WEBINAR

Final Installment of Comments and Questions from Under the Influence Webinar

Here is the final installment of some more wonderful comments and questions from last evening’s Webinar on my new book, Under the Influence of Jesus: The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ. I find that when I am not at peace all the others become more difficult to demonstrate, easier when I am at peace, trusting God. (Ron W.) I wonder how to say “sourpuss” in Latin. I’m picturing the translators debating whether to use “sourpuss” or […]

More Comments and Questions from Under the Influence Webinar

Here are some more wonderful comments and questions from last evening’s Webinar on my new book, Under the Influence of Jesus: The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ. Love your reference to the lightness of being in children.   I teach first graders and they remind me of this everyday when we stop our day to teach Religion and kearn about the love of the Trinity. (Kathleen K.) The idea of simplicity in how we approach others […]

THANK YOU! – Under the Influence Webinar

A great big THANK YOU for all those who participated in last evening’s very successful Webinar on my new book, Under the Influence of Jesus: The Transforming Experience of Encountering Christ! Congratulations to our trivia contest winner, Betty Kuvinka! She was selected at random from a pool of participants who answered the following question correctly: On Pentecost, what time of day did Peter say it was when he denied that the Apostles had been drinking? […]

God’s Presence – Solomon’s Temple and the Temple of the Holy Spirit

Here is my lesson plan for this evening! Session 19 God’s Presence – Solomon’s Temple and the Temple of the Holy Spirit Big Idea: God is present to us at all times and especially in the Eucharist Preliminaries (10 mins) Collect Psalms from last week and read them anonymously as part of opening prayer. Opening procession and prayer ritual Engage (15 mins) Show clip of Mr. Magoo Christmas Carol “Alone in the World” (2:44), in […]

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