Preparing to Journey Together Through Advent

Joe Paprocki Advent

Advent Resources from Loyola Press

Believe it or not, we are once again preparing to enter into the season of Advent in just a few short weeks! As always, it is a privilege to walk that journey with you here at Catechist’s Journey. This year, Advent begins on Sunday, December 2, 2018, and we enter into Year C of the Lectionary cycle, which means that we will primarily be hearing the Good News according to St. Luke. Here are the Sunday Scripture readings for each Sunday of Advent this year:

To help you get a better grasp on the themes of each Sunday’s Scripture readings, I will be offering a series of weekly posts beginning on Thursday, November 29 (through December 20), and I will be emphasizing the theme of “rescue.” As I read through and reflected on the Scripture readings for the Sundays of Advent this year, I thought of the image of a group of castaways shipwrecked on a deserted island, feeling hopeless and abandoned. The Scripture readings provide us with a four-step plan for being “rescued” from the perils of this life and the evils that swirl around us. I look forward to sharing these insights with you as you, in turn, prepare to journey with those you teach.

Join me, as together we reflect during the Advent season on how we have been, are being, and will continue to be rescued by our Savior, Jesus Christ!

As always, Loyola Press is making available a plethora of resources for the Advent season, which you can access here. These resources include background on the liturgical season, an Advent e-mail series, activities and prayers, Arts & Faith: Advent, Advent books, Advent calendars, and materials on the Jesse Tree.

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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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