Catechist's Journey

Activity Types That Require No Materials for Participants - text on colorful abstract background

Seven Activity Types That Require No Materials for Participants

For those returning to classroom settings this fall, sharing supplies or handing out materials may not be options due to safety regulations. To help catechists facing this challenge, here are some ideas for activities that don’t require any special materials for participants. Prayer—Every session, no matter the format, should include prayer time. Guided reflections, lectio divina, traditional prayers, and intercessory prayer are just a few options catechists can lead for fruitful time with the Lord. […]

Catechetical Formation Series by Loyola Press

Making Catechist Formation a Priority (And Accessible!)

Joe Paprocki

The new Directory for Catechesis once again (as did the previous General Directory for Catechesis) emphasizes the importance and priority of catechist formation. I’m a firm believer in the saying, “You can’t give what you don’t have.” Through catechist formation, we deepen our own relationship with Jesus Christ so that we, in turn, can invite others into relationship with him. One of the difficulties that catechists often face when it comes to catechist formation is […]

Overview of the New Directory for Catechesis

Julianne Stanz

This is part one of a four-part series on the new Directory for Catechesis. Anyone who has read Pope Francis’s 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, will be familiar with many of the themes in the new Directory for Catechesis. Let’s begin our exploration of the 2020 Directory for Catechesis with an overview. What is the new Directory for Catechesis? The new Directory for Catechesis was publicly released on June 25, 2020, against the backdrop of […]

Catechetical Sunday 2020: Commissioning Our COVID-Era Catechists

Joe Paprocki

This year, like any other year, we celebrate Catechetical Sunday on the third Sunday of September. This year, however, is unlike any other year as we will be commissioning catechists to teach during the COVID-19 pandemic and to cope with all of the complexities that go with it. Some will be teaching in person, others will be teaching remotely, some will be doing a mix of both, and others may be assisting parents in teaching […]

Tips for Catechists Doing Faith Formation Remotely (Video)

Joe Paprocki

As a catechist, it’s possible you’re being asked to teach faith formation lessons online this fall due to the ongoing pandemic or as a new approach to doing faith formation in your parish or diocese. Either way, if you’re new to this concept of facilitating remote lessons, I am pleased to share the following free video with you. It offers some basic tips to get you started proclaiming the Good News of Jesus in the […]

Register Now for a Presentation by Julianne Stanz and Joe Paprocki on the New Directory for Catechesis

Joe Paprocki

The new Directory for Catechesis is here, and it’s time to unpack the wealth of information and inspiration this document offers to all of us in the catechetical ministry. I’d like to help with that and can think of no better catechetical expert to join me than Julianne Stanz, author, speaker, and Director of New Evangelization for the Diocese of Green Bay, WI. Please join us for this exciting experience: How the New Directory for […]

The New Directory for Catechesis: How It Will Change the Way We Think About, Talk About, and Go About Doing Catechesis

Joe Paprocki

When it comes to catechesis, we not only pay attention to what we are proclaiming (so that it is faithful), but also how we are proclaiming (so that it is effective). When it comes to what we are proclaiming, the Church has gifted us with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. When it comes to how we are to proclaim the Good News most effectively, the Church has gifted us with the Directory for Catechesis. The […]

Finding God in the Digital World: Introducing Wanderlight!

Joe Paprocki

St. Ignatius taught that a life of faith leads us to find God in all things, whether it be nature, experiences, relationships, or even technology. It is no surprise, then, that Ignatius did not hesitate to use cutting-edge technology—the printing press—to proclaim the Gospel to the world in the 16th century. In that same spirit, Loyola Press is proud and excited to introduce Wanderlight: A Pilgrim’s Adventure™ —an immersive digital game to help young people learn […]

Facilitating a Small Group Online: St. Andrew Parish in Chicago

Joe Paprocki

For years, it seemed as though faith formation at the parish level tended to lag behind the rest of the world when it came to taking advantage of technology. That all changed with the pandemic, didn’t it? Suddenly, we realized that, if we wanted to reach people, we would have to enter the online world. One successful example could be found just a few blocks away from Loyola Press at St. Andrew Parish, where Pastoral Associate and Director […]

Connecting with Middle Schoolers on Zoom

Darcy Osby

In the past few months, I learned that middle-school students know what is going on in the world and are deeply affected by it. I learned that they understand the power of prayer, especially in interceding for others. I learned that they turn to God when they are scared. I learned that they love their families intensely. How did I learn this? I learned it during our weekly Zoom calls, during which I offered them […]