The current issue of RTJ’s Creative Catechist Magazine features an article that I wrote titled “How We Speak in the Kingdom of God” and describes how First Eucharist is an ideal time to introduce what I call a “language of mystery” to those we teach. Here’s a PDF of the article:
How We Speak in the Kingdom of God – Joe Paprocki article in RTJ’s Creative Catechist Magazine
One of the strange realities of the experience of First Holy Communion is the fact that relatives and friends shower the First Communicant with gifts of cash. While it is done with the best of intentions, it is simply a strange notion to give someone money for receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. The unintended result of this gesture is that the child is encouraged to think of what he or she can buy with this […]
As we journey deeper into our Eucharistic Revival, let’s be mindful of our responsibility to call all of God’s people to the Table of the Lord, especially those with disabilities! Recently, the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) hosted an online conference that focused on inclusive catechesis that engages learners of differing abilities. One session in that conference featured the work of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) and was presented by the Executive […]
I have long been an advocate of using engaging videos to enhance faith formation, as long as they are never used to replace the catechist. In other words, videos should always be seen as a supplement to the faith formation experience—a way of reinforcing important content visually and/or a way of telling a story that invites the viewer into a deeper experience of the theme being explored. In my years at Loyola Press, I have been […]
Copyright © 2006-2024 Loyola Press. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Loyola Press is expressly prohibited.
Hi Joe love the article!
It is so true that God’s language that He speaks to us is silence.
The suggestion of bringing the children to Adoration has been one of mine as well.
What do we do when our catechist teachers for first communion do not know what Adoration is? and this is true.(not a criticism to the amazing things they do).
How do we implement Adoration into a uniform curriculum so that all children in our faith get to experience the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and don’t have to wait til age 34 like me. I bring my whole family to Eucharistic adoration and the calming effects on myself and my family are amazing. I call it our Spiritual Massage.
Pope Benendict has been having brief moments of Eucharistic adoration after his masses so that the whole congregation gets to experience God’s Real Presence. (spending time in the Eucharist for a second really convert and deepen our relationship with God in ways that no priest or man can do.)
thanks for all you do!