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.

Pop-Up Catechesis: A Walk Through the Mass—The Eucharistic Prayer

Joe Paprocki

These days, it is common to ask if an event will be in-person or virtual. While most people appreciate the convenience of virtual meetings, there is something to be said for in-person experiences. This is especially true the more intimate the relationship is. When children ask their parents to be present at one of their sporting events, a recital, or some other form of competition, they no doubt hope that presence will be real and […]

9-11 Tribute in Light - photo by Jesse Mills on Unsplash

9/11 Twenty Years Later: The Importance of Remembering Even When It Hurts

Joe Paprocki

The notion of “forgive and forget” sounds nice, but the forgetting part is not realistic and, more importantly, it’s not healthy. Remembering is an important part of our spirituality. Presently, as a country, we are remembering the events of September 11, 2001, as we mark the 20th anniversary of this tragedy. We remember, not in order to hold on to anger and hatred, but as a way of honoring those who died and as a […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: A Walk Through the Mass—Presentation of the Gifts and Preparation of the Altar

Joe Paprocki

It is customary and considered polite, when asked to come to someone’s home for dinner, to ask, “What can I bring?” Even if our host tells us we don’t have to bring anything, we still usually bring a bottle of wine, a cheese tray, a dessert, flowers, or some other small token of our appreciation for the other person’s generosity. We do this as a way of showing our investment in the occasion. It’s a […]

A Healing Journal

Joe Paprocki

In honor of this year’s Catechetical Sunday theme of “Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed,” we offer a spiritual journaling exercise to help teachers, catechists, and parents reflect on the tensions of life and identify places in need of healing. The journal prompts are excerpted from Writing to Be Whole: A Healing Journal by Eddie Ensley and Robert Herrmann. As we continue to emerge from the isolation the pandemic forced upon us, […]

Catechetical Sunday 2021: Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed

Joe Paprocki

Every year, on the third Sunday of September, the Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday, an opportunity to highlight the ministry of catechesis and to call forth and affirm the many people called to serve in this ministry. This year, Catechetical Sunday takes place on September 19, 2021, with the theme of “Say the Word and My Soul Shall Be Healed”—words drawn from the prayer we say just before coming forward to receive the Eucharist that are, […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: A Walk Through the Mass—The Prayer of the Faithful

Joe Paprocki

We continue our Pop-Up Catechesis series, A Walk Through the Mass, as we explore the Prayer of the Faithful. When my kids were little, one of their favorite movies was Ghostbusters. Of course, the movie spawned a hit song of the same name with the famous line: “Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!” The question implies that there is one and only one answer; of course you’re gonna call the Ghostbusters “if there’s something weird and it don’t look […]

Five Hints to Setting Up a Good Classroom

Joe Paprocki

Deacon Larry Sutton, author of Teaching Students with Autism in a Catholic Setting, shares five of his tips for setting up a good classroom. Watch the below video for a preview of the hints, and then read the full article that inspired the video: Hints to Setting Up a Good Classroom. Looking to build your classroom library? Enter to win the Harwood Mysteries trilogy from Loyola Press. Three winners will be selected at the end […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: A Walk Through the Mass—The Profession of Faith

Joe Paprocki

We continue our Pop-Up Catechesis series, A Walk Through the Mass, with an exploration of the Profession of Faith (the Creed). “Trust me!” Those are two of the most frightening words in the English language! To trust someone is to put your life into that person’s hands. If that trust is betrayed, it is very difficult to re-establish. Think for a moment about the people you trust most in this world. They are, no doubt, […]

four children giving group high-five -photo by Robert Kneschke/EyeEm/Getty Images

What Does Discipleship Look Like for Children?

Joe Paprocki

When we talk about discipleship, we tend to have adults in mind—and rightly so, since all of our efforts at forming disciples should be oriented toward adult discipleship. At the same time, all of the children who have been baptized and have been welcomed to the Table of the Lord (the Eucharist) must be considered fellow disciples. But what does discipleship look like for children? Let’s explore this! I’d like to begin by borrowing from […]