Stories from the Field

Whether you work with little children, teenagers, or adults, you are not alone in catechetical ministry. These posts highlight stories from catechists and faith formation leaders in the field, sharing the ups and downs of their work.

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Growing as a Catechist

Getting Ready for My First Session with Sixth Graders

Joe Paprocki

Tonight’s the night! I begin teaching 6th graders (Old Testament)! I’ve put together a little video that shows you some of my catechist preparations not only for tonight but for the year…I hope you find it helpful.   In the video, I mention or show a number of resources. Here are links to all of them: My Session Outline – Session One 9/10/12 My Schedule for the Year PROCLAIMING THE WORD Bookmark in Word Prayer Intentions […]

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Intermediate Grades

Helping Young People to Proclaim God’s Word

Joe Paprocki

This year I am going to make a concerted effort to have a Scripture reading proclaimed from the Bible by one of the students during every class. I plan to have the Bible enthroned in the middle of the Prayer Center as always and, when it comes time to hear a Scripture passage, one of the young people will get up, bow before the Bible, and proclaim the reading from the Bible (I will have […]

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Being a Catechist

My Learning Space for This Year!

Joe Paprocki

Tonight, I got to take a peek at the room that I will be teaching in this year…it’s the school library! I’m so excited because the focus of 6th grade is the Old Testament and one of the images that I love to use to teach about the Bible is “God’s Library!” Also the room is carpeted which will be very conducive to guided reflections. I’ll have 14 students and I plan to move some […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Marge Concludes RCIA Session with Prayer

Joe Paprocki

In this final segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz leads her RCIA group in a concluding prayer and musical meditation. Watch for the following: Marge introduces the concluding prayer and connects it with the theme of human dignity. Marge  directs the participants to their parts in the prayer and goes over the flow of the prayer so that everyone knows what is happening, how, and when. Marge introduces the musical meditation, Love Never Fails […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – RCIA Participant Shares Moving Insight

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz prepares to move on to the next segment of the RCIA discussion on Human Dignity but pauses to invite a participant to share a thought. Watch for the following: Marge notices that one of the participants looks like he wanted to say something so she interrupts herself and invites him to do so. Mauricio, one of the RCIA candidates, shares his thoughts on the idea of […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Marge Continues RCIA Discussion on Human Dignity

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, we see Marge Garbacz continue to lead discussion with her RCIA group on the topic of Human Dignity. Watch for the following: Marge asks who some of the people are in our lives who tend to be “invisible” participants offer various examples of people who are too often ignored and forgotten by society examples include quieter people, children, the elderly, the disabled Marge offers affirmation and feedback on […]

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Catechists in Action

Catechists in Action – Marge Leads Discussion

Joe Paprocki

In this segment of Catechists in Action, Marge Garbacz leads her RCIA group in discussion about the Catholic approach to human dignity. Watch for the following: Marge offers comments on the “Mr. Cellophane” song that the group just viewed. The group offers their reactions and experiences of feeling “invisible” or treating others as though they were invisible. Notice how Marge pulls back and allows discussion to flow and how she asks if anyone else has […]