January 2016 - Page 2 of 2 - Catechist's Journey

Facilitating Small Faith Groups for Lent

Reflecting on the Lenten Scriptures Cycle C Video Options

Last year I offered handouts for Reflecting on the Lenten Scriptures, to be used in parish small faith groups. Year C materials for 2016 are now available. This year, I selected some options for online videos for further reflection on each week’s theme. Always remember to preview videos before showing to your group, to determine appropriateness for your setting and be sure things work as expected. First Sunday of Lent, Cycle C Temptation: What Is […]

Ministry Burnout vs. Ministry on Fire

Marian Bach

Several years ago, I read an article that truly hit the nail on the head regarding the ministry of directors of religious education. The article was titled, “Unsung (and Underpaid) Heroes of the Parish,” and included this paragraph: The U.S. bishops believe that the “single most critical factor in an effective parish catechetical program is the leadership of a professionally trained parish catechetical leader,” according to the National Directory for Catechesis. A director of religious education […]

Bibles at Home

Lisa Jones

Every year part of our third-grade curriculum includes teaching children how to look up a verse in the Bible. In the past I’ve used fortune cookies with a verse from Scripture as the “fortune” to make the learning fun. We started out this class by handing out a Bible to each child and showing them the list of books of the Bible in the table of contents and finding where the Old Testament ends and […]

Understanding Ordinary Time

Joe Paprocki

Today we once again find ourselves in Ordinary Time—at least for a month or so until Lent begins on February 10. Ordinary Time gets a bad rap, as though it is time that is easily ignored because it is so “ordinary.” First of all, we call it “ordinary” because it is “counted time,” as in “ordinal” numbers. We count time to remind ourselves that all time belongs to God. Thus, while today is January 11 […]

With You I Am Well-Pleased: The Art of Blessing

Joe Paprocki

This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. In Luke’s Gospel, we are told that the heavens opened and a voice was heard saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) In these words of blessing, we are being told beyond a shadow of a doubt that God our Father looks favorably upon his Son. What a blessing for a child to hear these words from a parent! Author […]

The Leader of Prayer: Five Skills for Lay Presiders

Joyce Donahue

This is the fourth article in a series about leading prayer. Have you ever noticed that some priests are really good at presiding over the Mass? When they get everything right, it simply feels good. When done well, the priest “disappears” and he presents himself in persona Christi: acting in the person of Christ, he unites the offerings and prayers of the people to Christ. A good presider is confident, clear, and “leans in” to […]

Faith, Knowledge, and Service: Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

Barb Gilman

The last Sunday in January always begins a special week that Catholic school teachers find both exhilarating and exhausting: Catholic Schools Week. This week is sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, and this year Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated from Sunday, January 31 to February 6. As a teacher who has spent her entire career teaching in Catholic schools, I know how much we can celebrate! Catholic Schools Week is unlike any other […]

Four Reasons Movement Is Important for Catechists

Denise Gorss

I wear a pedometer to track the number of steps I take daily. It’s a fitness reminder, but I was surprised to notice that in one recent class period I had added almost 2,000 steps to my count! I knew I moved around a lot during class, but this was near one mile, which was more than I would have guessed. Movement is important for catechists, not only for our own physical well-being, but for […]

Coming Soon: A Church on the Move (My New Book!)

Joe Paprocki

Welcome to the New Year, friends! I am excited to announce that in just a few short weeks, my newest book—A Church on the Move: 52 Ways to Get Mission and Mercy in Motion—will be available! If the New Evangelization is to have any hopes of success, our parishes must experience a radical revitalization. In order to accomplish this, however, we do not have to implode our parishes and rebuild them from scratch. In my new book, […]