Catechetical Issues & Topics Archives - Page 2 of 70

Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Virtue of Fortitude

Our brains are wired to take the path of least resistance. Now, that can be a good thing, since we all strive to avoid unnecessary conflicts and obstacles. However, there are some things in life that are worth fighting for, such as striving to end injustice and oppression. For situations like that, we need the virtue of fortitude—a virtue that helps us strengthen our resolve, resist temptations, and overcome obstacles in the moral life. In […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Virtue of Justice

Joe Paprocki

One of the most well-known and cherished Scripture passages is Micah 6:8: “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” But what exactly does it mean to “do justice”? Too often, justice is thought of in legal terms and is equated with punishment or even vengeance. However, justice is a positive thing and refers to holding up our end of the […]

Poll Question: Learning More About Catholic Teaching

Joe Paprocki

It’s time for me to pick your brain again! From time to time, I like to post a poll question just to see what’s going on in the heads of catechists. This time around, I’d like to know what you are most interested in learning about when it comes to Catholic teaching. Please take a moment to answer the question below, and check back here for results. Thanks!

Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Virtue of Prudence

Joe Paprocki

“What were you thinking?” Many of us have been on the receiving end of this question, most likely when we were children and our parents asked us this question after we had done something stupid. The question assumes the answer: “You obviously were not thinking!” Prudence is the habit of thinking before acting. This flies in the face of today’s mentality of “Just do it!” While there is something to be said for spontaneity, some […]

Guided Reflection on the Celebration of Confirmation

Joe Paprocki

It’s helpful to take some time after a celebration of Confirmation to reflect on the actions of the Rite and to help the newly confirmed recognize the graces experienced in the sacrament. At a gathering sometime soon after the Confirmation Mass, lead young people in a guided reflection to process their experience of the sacrament. Prepare to share the reflection by reading it through ahead of time. During the session you may wish to use […]

Introducing Catholics to the Bible (Video)

Joe Paprocki

St. Jerome famously said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Unfortunately, for many Catholics, the Bible still remains a bit of a stranger and becomes an untapped source for deepening our relationship with Jesus. Too many of us still feel ill-equipped when it comes to navigating the Bible and interpreting what we read. With that in mind, I have put together a video introduction to the Bible that catechists can use with adults and young […]

Prayer/Guided Reflections

2024: A Year of Prayer in Preparation for Jubilee 2025

Joe Paprocki

As I’ve shared previously, Pope Francis has announced a Jubilee Year for 2025 with the theme of “Pilgrims of Hope.” In preparation for the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis asked Catholics to prepare by dedicating time in 2023 to studying the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Francis has called for 2024 to be a Year of Prayer. The Jubilee website suggests the following: In preparation for the Jubilee, dioceses are invited to promote initiatives […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Virtue of Charity

Joe Paprocki

In a previous episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we looked at virtues as good habits that we practice in order to walk the path of holiness. Traditionally, the virtues have been identified as the Theological Virtues (faith, hope, and love) and the Cardinal Virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance). In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore the third of the Theological Virtues: charity (aka, love). For more information about virtues and charity, check out the following links: The […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Virtue of Hope

Joe Paprocki

In a previous episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we looked at virtues as good habits that we practice in order to walk the path of holiness. Traditionally, the virtues have been identified as the Theological Virtues (faith, hope, and love) and the Cardinal Virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance). In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore the second of the Theological Virtues: hope. For more information about the virtues and, in particular, the virtue of hope, check out […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Practicing the Virtue of Faith

Joe Paprocki

In a previous episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we looked at virtues as good habits that we practice to walk the path of holiness. Traditionally, the virtues have been identified as the Theological Virtues (faith, hope, and love) and the Cardinal Virtues (prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance). In this episode of Pop-Up Catechesis, we explore the first of the Theological Virtues, faith, and talk about what it means to practice faith. For more information about […]