How Do Things Look from Your Vantage Point?

I kid my wife, on occasion, that the best weather report can be found by looking out the window and seeing for ourselves. While it can be helpful to get detailed satellite images and computer-generated forecasts from professional meteorologists, it’s hard to argue with what we see with our own eyes when we look out the window and gaze at the heavens! In a similar way, it can be helpful to read professional research about […]

For Catechetical Leaders

Here are some quality resources for catechetical leaders from my friend Tom Quinlan designed to help explore important aspects of catechetical ministry through the lens of evangelization. Equipping Catechetical Leaders to Deliver Evangelizing Faith Formation  

Attracting Adults By Telling Them They Are Needed

A popular idea for engaging adults in faith formation is to invite parents of children in RE to some type of enrichment at the same time that their children are in class – another way to combat the “drop-off” mentality. These efforts are often met with mixed results. Some parishes have had success with this approach while others get only a handful of parents to stay. Part of the problem is that we are often […]

YouTube Videos as Supplemental Resources for Jr Hi and HS Faith Formation

The General Directory for Catechesis states clearly that NO resource, no matter how well-tested or glitzy, “can dispense with the person of the catechist in every phase of the catechetical process.” (156) Some faith formation programs would have you believe that their resources, whether a textbook or a series of DVDs, will do all the work and that all a catechist needs to do is to facilitate the turning of pages in a book or […]

Energize, Evangelize, Catechize: NCCL 2014 in St. Louis

I had a very enriching experience at the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership in St. Louis this past week, mainly because of the fantastic opportunities for networking with so many talented catechetical professionals! I had the privilege of delivering 2 workshops: one on my latest book, Under the Influence of Jesus, and one on my earlier book, 7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness. Thanks to all who attended my workshops and for the great interaction and […]

For My New Jersey and East Coast Friends

Here’s an opportunity for those of you on the East Coast, especially New Jersey: an evening of gratitude, hope, and expanding horizons of mind and heart with my friend, colleague, and fellow-blogger, Vinita Hampton Wright.   You are cordially invited to join us for an evening of faith enrichment. Vinita Hampton Wright, author of Praying Freedom: A Book of Lenten Meditations, will facilitate the retreat. Join Loyola Press for an evening of gratitude, hope, and […]

Check Out a New Online Course on Bible Basics!

I was honored to write a new course for the University of Dayton Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF). It is called Bible Basics and the required text for the course is my book, The Bible Blueprint: A Catholic’s Guide to Understanding and Embracing God’s Word. Thanks to Richard Drabick, the Assistant Director of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives for inviting me to write the course and to Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, MHSH, the Director […]

Preparing for Advent. Really? In October?

Preparing for Advent during October? Really? Really! This is the perfect time to begin thinking about Advent which is just 6 weeks away! Beginning Monday, October 22, a new resource will be available that you’ll find especially helpful: How are you preparing your faith community for Advent? How are you preparing yourself? Faith formation leaders across the country answered these questions in anticipation of the joyful season of Advent. All next week, Catholic Faith Formation’s Facebook […]

Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership

As I’m updating my speaking schedule for 2012, I thought I’d share some details with you about one conference in particular that is getting a lot of people excited.  The Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership in Baltimore, Maryland will take place from March 8­–10, 2012 and will host clergy, pastoral life directors, principals of Catholic schools, DREs, faith formation personnel, and many other pastoral leaders. Join the conference and participate in workshops on adult catechesis, […]

Des Moines DREs Do it Best!

Thanks to all the good folks – catechetical leaders, youth ministers, RCIA and AFF coordinators, etc – who invited me to spend the day with them in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, March 3. We enjoyed a great experience of exploring ways to provide formation for our catechists. Thanks especially to John Gaffney, the Director of the Department of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Des Moines, for making this event possible. Thanks folks…I […]

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