2010 - Page 19 of 24 - Catechist's Journey

Congratulations Kevin Cody!

Congratulations to my friend Kevin Cody, DRE at St. Alphonsus in Lemont, IL, on his installation as president of the National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors (NPCD) which is part of the NCEA (National Catholic Education Association). Here’s the story as reported in the current issue of The Sower, the newsletter of the Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago. New President of NPCD Kevin Cody – Catechetical Leader at St. […]

Alleluia! The Easter Vigil

Joe Paprocki

The Easter Vigil last night at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Tinley Park was exquisite! What a beautiful experience of celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord! Here are the catechumens and candidates gathered around the soon-to-be-lit fire. The Easter fire is lit in the darkened narthex of the church. The Deacon did a wonderful job of singing the Exsultet…the Easter Proclamation…in the darkened church lit now by the candles held by all the faithful. The […]

He is Risen!

Joe Paprocki

We already knew the ending to this story but isn’t it grand to finally reach the point in our liturgical calendar where we celebrate it with no restraint?! May the grace and peace of our Risen Lord be with you always! Alleluia!

Good Friday Graces

Joe Paprocki

The graces of the Triduum continue to flow as we marked the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion and the Veneration of the Cross on this Good Friday at St. Julie Billart Parish in Tinley Park (this is where my wife and I usually attend Mass on Sundays). The solemn beginning in which we prostrate ourselves (through the priest and deacon) before the Cross reminds us of the […]

Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Joe Paprocki

Last evening, my wife and I attended Holy Thursday Mass at Ascension Parish in Oak Park, IL. What a rich, beautiful, and moving experience! A profound beginning to the Triduum experience! The Washing of the Feet is particularly profound since all in the congregation are invited to come forward and wash one another’s feet. Families often come up together to wash one another’s feet. Joanne and I take advantage of this opportunity to wash each […]

Spy Wednesday

Joe Paprocki

On Monday night, I was telling my class about the Triduum and one of the boys asked, “what are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday called?” in light of the fact that we have Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. I told him that those 3 days don’t really have a name other than being part of Holy Week. I forgot that Wednesday of Holy Week is known as Spy Wednesday! As a kid, […]

The Story of the Cross

Joe Paprocki

Recently, I was asked by the folks at Loyola Press to share a “staff favorite” with regards to LP resources for families with young children. I chose to recommend The Story of the Cross. Here’s my little blurb about this excellent resource. Speaking of the Cross, last evening, the 8th graders put on the Living Stations and did a nice job. Three of my students had roles: the narrator, a Roman centurion, and crowd member. […]

Walk Away

Joe Paprocki

Anti-Catholic signs like these are of the type that could be found outside of the L.A. Congress last week – the efforts of a small group of anti-Catholic protesters who show up every year looking for a fight. Unfortunately, too many Catholics obliged. As I sat nearby, waiting for my shuttle to the airport, I watched with curiosity, frustration, amusement, and anger at the unfolding scene. It always begins with a Catholic deciding he or […]

Passport to the Holy Land

Joe Paprocki

Holy Week is a time in which we figuratively transport ourselves over time and space to the Holy Land to walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary. One Director of Religious Education, Victor Valdez, invites parishioners to walk this journey in a creative and unique way by having the children of the religious education program reconstruct a miniature Holy Land on the Parish Green! The site includes displays of the areas of Nazareth, Bethlehem, […]

Meet Me in Las Vegas (NCCL, that is)!

Joe Paprocki

If you’ve received the program for the NCCL (National Conference for Catechetical Leadership) conference in Las Vegas (April 18-22, 2010), please take note that there’s a learning session missing from the list: MINE! The same list that omits my learning sessions is also printed in the current issue of Catechetical Leadership magazine, so the folks at NCCL and I are taking steps to make sure that the word is out that I am indeed presenting […]