Articles by Joe Paprocki

About Joe Paprocki

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.

Webinars

A Webinar for Head and Heart with Anne Kertz Kernion

Joe Paprocki

One of my favorite Loyola Press books over the past few years is Spiritual Practices for the Brain by Anne Kertz Kernion, so you know that I am super-excited about hosting a webinar with Anne inspired by her wonderful book! I love how she relies on the most current research to link spiritual practices to improved physical, mental, and emotional health. Join us for: Spiritual Practices for the Brain: Caring for Mind, Body, and Soul […]

Forming Disciples: Remaining with Jesus

Joe Paprocki

As catechists, we work with the Holy Spirit to form disciples of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, let’s devote some attention to the concept of discipleship. I can think of no one better to turn to than Fr. Brice Higginbotham, author of Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John. Fr. Higginbotham recorded short videos while he is pursuing a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. In this […]

Coloring as Prayer

Joe Paprocki

We sometimes think of coloring as “child’s play,” and while children especially enjoy coloring, today we know that coloring is being enjoyed by people of all ages. They recognize that it can help to reduce stress, spark creativity, stimulate the brain, promote mindfulness, and just be fun! We can add to that list that people are discovering that coloring can be a form of prayer. Sometimes, when it comes to teaching others to pray, they […]

teens planting a tree - KidStock/Blend Images/Veer

World Youth Day: What Your Parish Can Do

Joe Paprocki

World Youth Day (WYD) is a gathering of millions of young adults, along with the pope, that takes place over the course of a week every two to four years, each time in a different country. It celebrates youth, demonstrates the universality of the Church, and is a moment of evangelization for the Church. This year, WYD is taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, August 1–6, 2023. WYD presents a great opportunity for your parish to […]

Living the Mass the Other Six Days of the Week: The Rite of Peace

Joe Paprocki

As the National Eucharistic Revival continues, we reflect on the parts of the Mass and what each part is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. Our inspiration is my book, Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life, co-authored by Fr. Dominic Grassi. Today, we look at the Rite of Peace and reflect on how it helps us to begin the work of living […]

People and Things at Mass Matching Game

Joe Paprocki

In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we join in communion with the family of the Church. Help children deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and the Mass with a fun matching game, People and Things at Mass. The game—with images from God’s Gift: Eucharist—will help children identify the liturgical roles and sacred objects common to all churches. The game can be […]

Stories on the Journey: Not Bad, If I May Say So Myself

Joe Paprocki

We’re spending time this summer sharing stories from our own experiences as catechists. This week’s topic is, “Not Bad, If I May Say So Myself.” Let’s hear your stories about a time when you felt that a session you led went particularly well. In all humility, sometimes you just gotta give yourself a pat on the back—and a word of thanks to the Holy Spirit! Share your story here on Catechist’s Journey by typing in the comments section […]

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Jude Huntz

Joe Paprocki

For many people, journaling is a key component of their prayer lives. I journaled on and off for more than 30 years (until, like Forrest Gump’s cross-country running, one day I just stopped). Journaling can help a person express feelings more concretely and also provides an archive of prayer that can be returned to from time to time. In today’s episode of Pop-Up Prayer, my guest is Jude Huntz, a chaplain at the University of […]

Stories on the Journey: Well, That Didn’t Go as Planned

Joe Paprocki

We’re continuing to share stories from our experiences as catechists. This week’s topic is, “Well, That Didn’t Go as Planned.” Let’s hear your stories about a time when your lesson plan didn’t quite work out as you planned and what you learned from the experience. Share your story here on Catechist’s Journey by typing in the comments section at the end of this post. Keep your story brief; one or two paragraphs is fine. Return each day […]

Forming Disciples: What Is a Disciple?

Joe Paprocki

As catechists, we “conspire” with the Holy Spirit to form disciples of Jesus Christ. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to devote some attention to the concept of discipleship, and I can think of no one better to turn to than Fr. Brice Higginbotham, author of Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John. Fr. Higginbotham recorded short videos while he is pursuing a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture […]