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.

Video Contest!

Joe Paprocki

Where do you find God? Loyola Press is asking students, teachers, and catechists to showcase the inspiring and sometimes-surprising ways they experience God’s presence in their everyday lives through the Finding God Video Contest, an original multimedia project. Schools and parishes who submit videos are eligible to win the following prizes: First prize: School- or parish-wide adoption of the new edition of Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts(grades 1–6) Second prize:$1,000 Loyola Press product […]

Learning the New Nicene Creed By Heart

Joe Paprocki

One of my Lenten promises this year is to learn by heart (memorize) the new Nicene Creed. Of all the Roman Missal changes (people’s parts), the changes to the Nicene Creed (and the Gloria) are by far the most significant. I think it’s important to be able to recite the Creed from memory so I am attempting to learn it by heart this Lent. I spent time on the train this morning working on it […]

A More Robust Liturgy – My Article In Ministry & Liturgy Magazine

Joe Paprocki

Here’s an excerpt from an article (“7 Steps to a More Robust Liturgy”) I just had published in Ministry & Liturgy Magazine: On a recent trip to Hawaii, I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center and got a firsthand glimpse of the ritual expression of the Polynesian people: bold, dramatic, rich, deeply expressive, highly energizing. I found my imagination stirred, my heart moved, and my senses stimulated as young people explained and performed ancient rituals to the […]

What Are You Doing For Lent? For Yourself? For Your Class?

Joe Paprocki

Now that we are into our first full week of the Lenten season, I’d love to hear what you are up to this year. What are you doing for Lent for yourself and for the class(es) you teach? Share your thoughts below in the box under “Leave Your Reply.” I look forward to hearing from you.

Catechists in Action – Katie Elwood’s Class Tours the Church

Joe Paprocki

In these last segments of Catechists in Action with Katie Elwood’s 2nd grade class, we observe her pastor, Fr. Hyland, taking the kids on a tour of the sanctuary and sacristy. Watch for the following: Fr. Hyland shows the children the sacred oils and relates them to the sacraments One of the children blurts out “Oh yeah, we talked about that in class!” when Fr. Hyland mentions the Anointing of the Sick Fr. Hyland patiently […]

Lent, Ashes, Penance, and Mrs. Doubtfire – Catholic Blog Day

Joe Paprocki

(Jonathan Sullivan has invited all Catholic bloggers to write on a common theme today – penance – as a way to mark Catholic Blog Day. I’m happy to participate with my fellow Catholic bloggers!) There is a great scene in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire in which Robin Williams, dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire (a matronly British nanny), has had too much to drink. In his inebriated state, his eyes land on a sexy woman at the […]

Lent: A 40-Day Retreat/Learning to Throw a Change-up

Joe Paprocki

The beginning of Lent often coincides with the beginning of spring training and the reporting of pitchers and catchers, so I can’t help but dip into my bag of sports metaphors to talk about Lent. Lent is nothing more than a 40-day retreat and a retreat is basically an opportunity to step back from ordinary activities to connect with God in a special way. It’s the spiritual equivalent of throwing a change-up. For those of […]

Catechists in Action – Katie Elwood Takes Her Class to Church for a Tour

Joe Paprocki

In these segments of Catechists in Action, we watch as 2nd grade catechist Katie Elwood takes her children (along with the other 2nd grade classes) to the church for a tour led by the pastor, Fr. Hyland. In the first segment… Katie leads her 2nd graders into the church and has them bless themselves with holy water Fr. Hyland welcomes the children into the sanctuary Fr. Hyland explains the baptismal font to the children httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DaOnTT1o7I […]

Catechists in Action – Katie Elwood Teaches 2nd Graders About Their Parish Community

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, 2nd grade catechist Katie Elwood explains to her class what it means to be a member of a parish community. Watch as she… directs the children to fill out a page in their book about where they were baptized. talks about what a parish community is calls the kids back to attention when their attention wavers (she does so firmly but without losing her enthusiastic and friendly voice) […]

They’re Here! 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent AND My New Book!

Joe Paprocki

Just in time for Lent! I’m happy to once again provide my very popular 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent – a resource that provides catechists and families with 40 practical, creative, and inspiring catechetical activities for the Lenten season, many of them placed specifically on days/dates to which they connect in the Lenten liturgical calendar. This year, to keep things fresh, I have included 7 brand new ideas, one for each week of Lent. […]