One of the most beautiful characteristics of the Catholic Church is its unique diversity, which has been present since the beginning of the Church on that first Pentecost. Today, there are between 1.2 and 1.3 billion Catholics in the world. In the Archdiocese of Chicago alone, where I live, Mass is celebrated every week in more than 50 languages. It is not enough for us, however, to simply recognize or tolerate this diversity; it is […]
When I go swimming at the health club, diving into the pool is always a bit of a shock to my system. Once my body adjusts to the water temperature, however, I gradually begin to enjoy the buoyancy that results in a “lightness of being” that is renewing. This Lent, I invite you to “dive into” the 40 days in much the same way. At first, the change in climate can be a bit of […]
For some time now, I have been sharing thoughts here on Catechist’s Journey about catechists as mystagogues—people who invite and lead others into the Paschal Mystery. Recently, I came across a metaphor from Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ, that I believe illustrates the difference between being solely a teacher and being a mystagogue when it comes to passing along a spiritual tradition: A wise Jesuit friend once told me that tradition should act more like a […]
As we journey through the National Eucharistic Revival, we are reflecting on the parts of the Mass and what each part is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. In this episode, we look at the Liturgy of the Word and how the Scripture readings invite us to reshape the narrative of our lives and of the world from one of loss, brokenness, and fear to one of rescue, restoration, […]
Invite children to demonstrate their understanding of the Eucharist by playing a themed game of tic-tac-toe. Use the game as a review during sacramental preparation sessions, or involve children in the Eucharistic Revival by playing this and reading Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt in a family session or First Eucharist retreat day. For more resources on preparation for First Eucharist, see God’s Gift.
Pope Francis has announced that the Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year in 2025, with the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.” In preparation for the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis is asking Catholics to prepare by dedicating time in the following manner: 2023: Study the documents of the Second Vatican Council. 2024: Focus on prayer. Now that 2023 is upon us, we would do well to turn our attention to the documents of the Second Vatican […]
In this episode of Pop-Up Prayer, educator and author Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ, talks about the need to “keep it real” when it comes to our prayer. Fr. O’Brien practiced law and taught high school before joining the Jesuits in 1996. He has taught theology and spirituality at Georgetown University, Santa Clara University, and Fairfield University, and is the author of the award-winning book, The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily […]
One of the things that we learned from the experience of the pandemic over the last few years was how to assist parents at home with the faith formation of their children. This help often took the form of providing parents with digital resources they could use at home with their children, utilizing them when their schedules allow quality time for faith formation. First Eucharist is one of the primary moments in the life of […]
When the Church teaches us that the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our lives, it reminds us that God alone, who is present in the Eucharist, is our source of fulfillment. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves seeking fulfillment “in all the wrong places.” For Catholics, receiving Communion is the ultimate acknowledgment that God is our source of fulfillment. In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore the notion of the Eucharist as the […]
Pain is an unavoidable part of life, and the Gospel does not promise avoidance of pain but rather, a way through it. As catechists, we are inviting those we teach to enter into the Paschal Mystery, which is a journey through the pain, suffering, and Death of Jesus Christ that leads to new life in his Resurrection. It is a journey through pain to new life! With that in mind, I invite you to join […]
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