About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

7 Comments

    • Greg, this is a great summary of your class. Thanks for sharing in such detail. It really sounds like a solid lesson that kept the young people engaged and set the tone for the year. It was indeed a very ambitious lesson plan and that’s good…always best to overplan than to underplan. Don’t be discouraged by the giggling with the guided reflection…it is quite normal and creates a challenge but you need to be determined to win them over and teach them mature behavior. Last week in my class, I had to omit the sacred space and when I told them that, they groaned and one of them said, “that’s my favorite part.” So, know that they will come around. Thanks again, Greg…you share many effective and creative ideas here that we call can learn from.

  1. Joe – I have received the Holy Trinity of blessings this year with my class. First, my group of 13 students really seem to respond well to the material so far and we have had some really good class discussions. Second, our RE program switched to Loyola Press’ Finding God program this year so I have full access to Loyola Press’ wonderful website filled with ideas. I especially like using Loyola Press’ Sunday Connection to help my class think about how the following Sunday’s Gospel applies to their lives. Lastly, our seventh grade lesson plan so far has trailed about a week behind your eighth grade lesson plan so I have the benefit of directly applying some of your terrific ideas within my class. For instance, last night our topic was the Holy Trinity and while I didn’t bring in examples of water in all its forms to help explain this idea, I did have my class imagine and discuss their favorite forms of H2O and how that concept applies to the three different persons in our one God. Thanks for all you do to make this ministry so approachable to all of us.

    • Thanks, Bernie, for this udpate. It sounds like you’re off to a good start with your 13 students…hooray! Glad to hear that you’re incorporating the Sunday Connection….that’s a very valuable resource. We look forward to hearing more from you as the year unfolds.

  2. My 6th graders are starting to get the hang of being ready to participate in answering a steady flow of questions as part of the learning process. Why didn’t Jesus just decide nobody would be hungry? That’d be easier than going to all that trouble with loaves’n’fish. C’mon, c’mon, be fearless, give me an answer! I’ll take a bad answer! Give it up, I’m too old to hold my breath!

  3. was at ocea convention and sttended your session. it was great. i have your book on the mass and would love receiving your powerpoint you discussed at the conference.
    thank you.
    rose

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