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 40 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.

Update from Dr. Joe Bound – International Conference for Catechists

Joe Paprocki

Our “roving reporter,” Dr. Joe Bound, sent in this superb summary of the first full day of the International Conference for Catechists taking place at the Vatican (he’s REALLY there!). Take it away, Dr. Joe! Hi Joe, Here is what happened today, Saturday, September 27, 2013: This morning after breakfast, the four of us hopped on the bus to the Vatican for a full day of talks on catechesis. After going through security, we entered […]

VIRTUAL Pilgrimage to Italy, Day 5: Getting Down to Business

Joe Paprocki

Up to this point, our VIRTUAL Pilgrimage to Italy has been filled with lots of sight-seeing which has been wonderful. Today, things get a little different as we jump headlong into the International Conference for Catechesis, the centerpiece of this whole experience to mark the Year of Faith with an emphasis on catechesis. Here’s our itinerary for the day (be sure to bring a notebook and pen with you…looks like lots of opportunities to take […]

More Updates from Italy Pilgrimage: Dr. Joe Bound

Joe Paprocki

Here are more updates from Dr. Joe Bound, who has been kind enough to send along reports of his participation in the pilgrimage to Italy over the course of this week. Thanks, Dr. Joe! Wednesday, September 26 This morning right after breakfast at our hotel we took a cab to the Vatican Museum. We had made arrangements for a 3 hour tour of the Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Bascilica which started at 9am. […]

Updates from a REAL Pilgrim: Dr. Joe Bound

Joe Paprocki

I mentioned how some folks had been confused, thinking that I was truly on the pilgrimage to Italy when, in fact, I am home in Chicago, leading a VIRTUAL pilgrimage here on my blog! To confuse matters more, now I’m happy to pass along reports from a Joe who is ACTUALLY on the pilgrimage in Italy! His name is Dr. Joe Bound, and he is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Green […]

Pics from Bible Basics Learning Stations

Joe Paprocki

Here are some pics from Monday’s Bible Basics Learning Stations (notice how there’s one boy in each group: divide and conquer!). Also, as much as possible, I avoid having kids sit at desks so it doesn’t feel like school. They are still carpet-crawlers at heart!

VIRTUAL Pilgrimage, Day 4: Vatican City and the International Conference for Catechists

Joe Paprocki

Ciao! As we move into Day 4 of our VIRTUAL Pilgrimage to Italy, we focus our attention on the symbolic center of the Church: VATICAN CITY and, in particular, the following sites, before beginning our participation in the International Conference of Catechesis and returning in the evening to our hotel for dinner and overnight. The Vatican Museum httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3-qdFXxRQ0 Michelangelo’s Restored Frescoes in the Sistine Chapel httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nA2gui7DdE St. Peter’s Basilica httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7pS7kRtsU The “Pieta” httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOCfryMkfEM Share your thoughts […]

Summary of Session Two (9/24/13) – Mass and Bible Basics

Joe Paprocki

First of all, thanks to those folks who were concerned because they thought I actually flew home from Italy to teach my class and then fly back! I guess a few folks missed my emphasis on the word VIRTUAL in reference to the pilgrimage to Italy! I’m not on the actual pilgrimage but am conducting a VIRTUAL pilgrimage so that we can, in some small way, share in the experience of those pilgrims who actually […]

VIRTUAL Pilgrimage, Day 3: Siena

Joe Paprocki

Hope you’re ready for another full day of traveling as we continue our VIRTUAL pilgrimage of Italy! This morning, we journey north through the Italian countryside arriving in the magnificent city of Siena, which invites us to stroll through its Gothic streets. After we celebrate Mass (if available) at the Dominican Church commemorating St. Catherine, we take the escalator down to the famous Piazza del Campo, the public palace, which dates back to 1250. We […]

Session Two – September 24, 2013: Mass and Bible Basics

Joe Paprocki

Wow! I had to rush home from my VIRTUAL Pilgrimage to Italy to get ready for my class tonight! Thankfully, cyberspace was pretty clear so I made good time! This evening will be my 2nd class with the 6th graders at St. Cajetan. One new feature that the parish is trying this year is to bring the young people to church once per month for Mass. This is a wonderful way to initiate young people […]

VIRTUAL Pilgrimage to Italy, Day 2: Rome

Joe Paprocki

I can tell that some of you are dealing either with jet lag from the long flight yesterday or with a hangover from too much vino last night! Rise and shine! Today, as we continue our VIRTUAL pilgrimage to Italy, we arrive in Rome where we tour her sites, including the following for which I have provided brief video clips: The Roman Fora (3:20) httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfW551dxpVU&list=PL1YibWnqVd1wUbRAIfYr52GyZxcJ_DbjZ&index=18 The Coliseum (3:30) httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnUG09CjfWQ The Arch of Constantine (3:19) httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joR1LfQlduQ The […]