In this segment of Catechists in Action, we see 7th grade catechist Dan Ward leading his class in a brief opening prayer. Watch for the following: Me settling my camera down! 🙂 Dan gently inquiring with one of his students about a special prayer intention. What I’ve been referring to as Dan’s “coach approach” – he talks to the kids as though he’s preparing them to “get into the game.” Dan expounds a bit on […]
It’s time to get back to our Catechists in Action series where we get to be a fly on the wall, observing everyday catechists performing their ministry. I’d like you to meet Dan Ward, a 7th grade catechist at Most Holy Redeemer parish in Evergreen Park, IL. Dan is a high school teacher and coach in the Chicago Public School system. I’ve been talking recently about the image of the catechist as coach and Dan personifies […]
As we hear the Gospel of Mark proclaimed during this Year B of the Lectionary cycle, I’d like to point out a few resources that are available for your own enrichment or for use in a group. First, a new resource offered by the Archdiocese of Chicago is a website called The Word Made Clear featuring a course study on the Gospel of Mark led by Fr. James McIlhone, the Director of Biblical Formation for […]
Here’s a good example of how times have changed and how catechists need to be aware of how kids will respond to something. As I was observing a second grade class last evening, the catechist was asking the kids to name the 7 Sacraments and giving them clues to help them recall each of them. When it came to the Sacrament of Matrimony, the catechist offered a clue inviting the kids to complete the sentence […]
Sports is HUGE with kids, so no doubt, kids are interested in the success of Tim Tebow and all the talk about the “miracles” associated with his success, including yesterday’s stunning overtime victory in the NFL playoffs. In case you’re not up-to-date on the whole Tebow phenomenon, here’s a quick summary. For kids, the question that the whole Tim Tebow experience raises is whether or not God answers our prayers when it comes to things […]
I commented a few days ago about the fact that many of us commit to getting physically fit in the New Year and, while there is certainly nothing wrong with that, perhaps it would be even more important to get spiritually fit! My new book, 7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness will help you to do just that. To be spiritual is to recognize that, in life, there is more than meets the eye. Spiritual wellness enables […]
The other day, I posted on the parallels between coaching and serving as a catechist. That stirred up the following conversation between a DRE and one of her catechists who is indeed also a coach. Enjoy! Hi Joe! In response to your latest Catechist’s Journey email, I asked one of my catechists if he saw a connection between coaching and being a catechist. Scott coaches basketball and then “cleans up” and comes to teach […]
I’m saddened this morning by the loss of my Uncle Joe, my Dad’s younger brother, and my last living uncle. Next to my Dad, he was one of the men I admired most in life and I am proud to have been named after him. He attended the same high school I did – St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago – and had a long and fruitful association with the Jesuits. He was always very […]
I’m always amazed at how many men I see coaching their kids’ soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and even lacrosse teams! And yet, so few men feel called to serve as a catechist when, in my mind, it is another form of coaching. Perhaps too many men view being a catechist as a feminine/nurturing role that they are not comfortable with. Fortunately, a growing number of men are discovering how to serve as catechists in […]
The General Directory for Catechesis (#85) tells us that the most effective catechesis takes place within a climate of prayer. With that in mind, I constantly urge catechists to do all they can to make their sessions resemble going to church more than going to school. We do this by incorporating the language of liturgy—a language of mystery that includes sign, symbol, and ritual—into our catechetical sessions. Following is a template that I offer to […]
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