A Well-Built Faith – in Chinese!
My book, A Well-Built Faith, has been translated into Chinese! How cool is that?! 🙂
November 2010
Resources for Leading Guided Reflections/Meditations
One of my favorite topics to do presentations on is leading guided reflections (meditations). Inevitably, I get many questions about resources available for leading guided reflections. Permit me to share a few resources. I’m familiar with the first five. I have not yet personally had a chance to review the remaining resource. I invite anyone who has used these resources to offer their comments and critiques. Guided Reflections for Children, Vol. I: Praying with Scripture (Loyola […]
Chatting, Cutting, Chatting, Cutting
My goodness, 4th graders can be chatty! 🙂 Last evening, as they worked on their Works of Mercy project, cutting and pasting pictures of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy in the correct frames, my young apprentices were extremely chatty! Several of them were singing (or rapping) outloud to themselves as they worked while most of them chatted unceasingly with one another as they diligently performed surgery with their scissors and glue. It was […]
A Gift from Jesus
At the end of my workshop In Hartford, CT, on Saturday (speaking on leading guided reflections), a priest came up to chat with me. I hesitate to call him an elderly priest because, although he was obviously up there in years, he had such a youthful attitude that it made him seem quite young. Anyway, the priest was telling me how he’s been doing guided reflections in catechesis for many years and that one thing […]
Christmas, er, CATECHESIS in Connecticut
I had the most wonderful day yesterday at the Religious Education Congress in Hartford, Connecticut! First, I was priveleged to do the keynote presentation. My topic was: “Do I Look Fat in This? Putting on Christ: A Perfect Fit” in which I explored the six tasks of catechesis (as outlined in the General Directory for Catechesis) that help us to put on Christ. I had the honor of meeting Archbishop Henry Mansell who attended my […]
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Here’s my lesson plan for Monday, November 8, 2010 Theme: Jesus Sends the Holy Spirit Big Idea: The Holy Spirit guides us to serve others (through works of mercy) in Jesus’ name Engage As kids arrive, have them draw a picture of themselves acting as a GUIDE at some location of their choosing (provide crayons/markers). Invite them to share where they chose to be a GUIDE Explain that we rely on GUIDES to show us […]
Sweet Home Chicago!
I had the honor and privilege of doing the keynote presentation today with my friend Fr. Dom Grassi at the Chicago Catechetical Conference held at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont! Our topic was “Living the Mass: How We Go Forth Rejoicing FROM the House of the Lord.” Of course, Fr. Dom and I drew heavily from our book, Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life. It was wonderful […]
From the Mouths of Babes
The following is from 5th grade catechist, Bob, from Lemont, IL. Enjoy! 🙂 During class last evening, we were gathered around our prayer table practicing our required prayers for 5th grade. I asked the class what other prayer they would like to practice that we have not done as a class yet. One of the students blurted out, “lets practice the prayer we use when we go to confession.” Then another student raised his hand […]
A Tour of the Church Student Worksheet
One activity that many catechists include in their repertoire is taking the students on a tour of the Church. This is an excellent way to provide a hands-on experience for kids, introducing them to the sacred spaces and objects that are a part of our Catholic worship and inviting them to develop their Catholic vocabulary. I’m a firm believer in always putting the responsibility on the students to show comprehension. I rarely show a video […]
“Can We Do That Again?”
To begin Monday’s session, we did an All Saints Day procession. I talked a little bit about what a procession is, comparing it to a parade and how parades usually celebrate victory and the hoisting of a trophy – such as the Stanley Cup here in Chicago! 🙂 We talked about how the Cross of Jesus is a symbol of victory: God’s victory over sin and death. I had my aide, Daneen, lead the procession, […]