December 12 is the 3rd anniversary of my blog, Catechist’s Journey! We’ve come a long way in those 3 years. Take a look at the post that started it all! December 12, 2006
Over these past 3 years, we have covered a lot of ground! During that time, I have completed 670 posts and you have sent in 2269 comments! (Keep those comments coming…I’m thinking about a nice prize for the 3000th comment!) We have experienced together some major events such as an online retreat for catechists, a free webinar for beginning catechists, a free Advent webinar, and various video segments made available through YouTube. However, the meat and potatoes of this blog have been the daily posts and comments about teaching the Catholic faith to kids and adults of all ages. I have taken great joy in sharing my ups and downs with you and I am so grateful for the heartfelt sharing that so many of you have offered here – ideas, comments, questions, life-stories, ideas, strategies, and so on. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
To celebrate this blogiversary, I invite you to drop a quick comment on this post (just click on Comments at the bottom left of this post). Come Monday, I’ll gather the names of all the folks who sent in a comment and will draw one lucky winner to whom I will send an autographed set of my Loyola Press books: The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Well-Built Faith, The Bible Blueprint, and Living the Mass.
Thanks again! “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow…”
I only recently discovered this blog and I think is fantastic. Thank you very much and congratulations
I enjoy the creative ideas for the next class you are to give and then even more
enjoy what went right and what went astray. I had a fire drill on my first class this year too. Blessings and congratulations.
What a happy anniversary it is for me to read about! Congratulations on 3 years of really helping us to help each other become stronger Catechists.
Happy Anniversary Joe! I met you a couple of years ago in White Plains, NY at our annual Catechetical convention, and I found your log last year. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate all the insight and wisdom you so generously share with all of us! God Bless you! May you continue to instruct and inspire for many years to come!
I’m in for the drawing although I already have a couple of your books, but none that are autographed.
Congratulations, Joe. Your website has been a blessing to me. I am a semi-retired Religious sister who is now teaching Religious Enrichment to Catholic
Elementary school students. I love my work but do not use a specific book and therefore need ideas for all my classes each week. Your blog gives me so many
ideas that I put into practice and I don’t know what I would do without you. The links included are also a help to me. Keep up the good work. I know God
has called you to this vocation to help the rest of us spread his word and love.
Thanks for sharing! The world of ministry can be pretty lonely and I have been encouraged and inspired by your posts!
Thanks, Joe, for your wonderful work. We encourage all the catechists in our Archdiocese here in Canada to “keep in touch” with your blog. God Bless.
Joe,
thanks for all that you are doing for catechesis. I have enjoyed your blog and my Parish Catechetical Leaders and catechists found the webinars to be very valuable. Blessings on your ministry.
Hi, Joe
Congratulations on 3 years of great work! I love how you are using modern technology to share your expertise with people. As a DRE serving schools in seven different communites it is always a challenge to get people together for workshops and sharing. I find myself forwarding your ideas to all my teachers and have encouraged all of them to subscribe to your blog. It is a way to do PD from the comfort of your own office in an economical and timely manner.
Your creativity on presenting the gospel to young people is inspiring.
God bless.
Congratulations!
Joe & had the pleasure of meeting you this last October in Salem Oregon. I want to thank you for showing me a new way of looking at catechesis and the youth in our church have reaped the benefits! I’ll be praying for your continued success!
Congrats Joe! Thanks for blazing the trail for more catechists and teachers to use social media to share their ideas. Keep up the great work!
Joe – I started my catechetical journey three years ago also as a “Rookie Catechist”. Reading your posts these past three years has enriched my life and given me a lot of courage to try new ideas in mentoring my class of 7th graders. Continued blessings to you for all that you have done for so many.
Hi Joe,
I found your blog last year and have been hook ever since. I have learned so many things that I have applied in my own teaching. You inspire us to bring out the best that we can offer and how to present the word of God to the youth in ways they can related to. Such as, the music you suggest, sacred space, and how to walk through their door. You have also taken time to answer some of my own personal concerns. You are truly an example of what a catechist should be.
May God continue to bless you with many more years of success and happiness.
Hello Joe, I have enjoyed reading your blogs and have missed talking to you. I am back at St. Mary’s and am back at doing religious Ed Liturgy of the Word. Keep up the good work and would love to hear from you. The ideas that you and others have shared really help.
“Well done,my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and faith with all of us. I check your blog daily and have used many ideas and hints with my high school Confirmation class. You have enriched our faith life as well as the many youth that we teach! Gratitude and blessings are sent your way!
Hi Joe,
I started in Sepember of this year teaching sixth graders. Sometimes it’s wonderful and at others it’s chaos. I leave every time amazed at how much I am enjoying this new experience and determined to become a better catechist. I look forward to following your blog and learning all that I can to hoelp my students loearn to love Christ.
God Bless You.
I really enjoy your blog. It is a fantastic resource for me. I find it affirming, inspiring and sometimes hilarious. Thanks for reaching out to us. I really feel a tremendous support from you in what I am striving to do with my high school kids. Thanks Joe. I almost feel like I know you. I really hope to meet you in person some day.
Congratulations, Joe, on achieving this feat of continuous–and helpful–blogging. Keep up the good work for all of your fellow catechists and readers!