pope Archives - Catechist's Journey

For Those Who Can’t Get Enough of Pope Francis!

For those of you who can’t get enough of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Loyola Press is proud to offer Pope Francis: Life and Revolution, a biography of Jorge Bergoglio, written by his good friend and internationally respected journalist, Elisabetta Piqué. Over 75 individuals were interviewed for Pope Francis: Life and Revolution, including lay people, priests, bishops, and cardinals who have known or worked with Francis at various times in his life. Insights from these […]

The Canonizations of John XXIII and John Paul II

Joe Paprocki

This year, on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014, the Catholic Church will celebrate the canonizations of 2 of our recent popes: John XXIII and John Paul II. To celebrate this upcoming event, Loyola Press is offering resources on the lives of both of these great men and their contributions to the Catholic Church. Click on their pictures below to link to these resources. Here are some other […]

Help Spread Pope Francis’ Message of Mercy!

Joe Paprocki

Let’s help spread Pope Francis’s message of mercy by getting 100,000 people to order The Church of Mercy by April 25 so that it qualifies as a bestseller! To make that happen, order a copy (and get as many individuals to do the same) through Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, or your local bookseller. Pope Francis has captured the world’s attention with his seemingly counterintuitive approach to leadership. In The Church of Mercy, readers get a first-hand look […]

Save the Date: April 27, 2014 for the Canonization of JPII and JohnXXIII

Joe Paprocki

The BIG day has been set: Pope Francis will canonize (raise to sainthood) two of his predecessors: Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII on April 27, 2014! Here are the details from Deacon Greg Kendra at The Deacon’s Bench. This will be a great opportunity for catechists to teach about sainthood, the canonization process, the papacy, and the many issues that both of these great men stood for, fought for, and spoke about. […]

The Sights and Sounds of Pope Francis’ Election – A Primer on Catholic Identity

Joe Paprocki

The election of Pope Francis last month provided the world with what can be called a “primer” on Catholic identity. The images from St. Peter’s Square leading up to and including the introduction of Pope Francis were rich but often subtle…too subtle for the media to catch and articulate. In my book, Practice Makes Catholic, I identify 5 characteristics of Catholic identity: A Sense of Sacramentality – making the intangible, tangible; the invisible, visible (signs, […]

A Jesuit Pope, Heroic Leadership, and the “Splendid Mission” of Catechesis

Joe Paprocki

We have a new chief catechist! Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, brings with him to the papacy an approach to catechesis as a “splendid mission” that is a “pillar of the Church.” These are words that the former Cardinal Bergoglio used to celebrate a Day of the Catechist in Buenos Aries in 2010. What else did he say about catechesis and catechists? Here’s a sample: He expressed gratitude for the “silent and committed dedication” of […]

Welcome Pope Francis!!!

Joe Paprocki

We rejoice at the announcement of the papacy of Francis I, a Jesuit Pope! The former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenes Aires becomes our 266th pope and we join him in praying for unity and peace. I’m excited about him being a Jesuit since I work for a Jesuit ministry, Loyola Press, and attended Jesuit schools for 12 years! Ignatian spirituality resonates with so many people and it’s wonderful to have a pope who understands […]

A “Crash Course” on Papal Conclaves!

Joe Paprocki

Last evening, I had only about 10 minutes with my 6th graders (after we attended a presentation in the gym) so I used the time to talk to them a little bit about the papal conclave. First, I asked if anyone knew what important event was happening in Rome beginning Tuesday and most of them knew that a new pope was being elected. Then, I asked if anyone knew the correct term for this event […]

How a Pope is Elected

Joe Paprocki

Here is a very clever animation that explains how a pope is elected at a conclave – from Vatican Insider. Click the title below.

Prayer for the Election of a New Pope

Joe Paprocki

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has provided some resources for prayer during this time of papal transition. In particular, here is a Prayer for Pope Benedict XVI as he approaches his retirement and here is a Prayer for the Election of a New Pope. Likewise, here is a bulletin insert on How a New Pope is Chosen. All 3 of these resources are available in Spanish and are available for purchase in quantities. […]