I tend to be a “word” person: writing blog posts, articles, and books. Thus, it stands to reason that, for all the years that I kept a prayer journal, I filled it with words. It never occurred to me to express myself in other ways beyond words. In this episode of Pop-Up Prayer, my guest is Jaqueline Romo, campus minister at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. She talks about creative journaling, which invites […]
I think that holiness is one of the most misunderstood concepts in spirituality. That’s unfortunate, because holiness is something that we are all called to! Too often, holiness is equated with being pious. While I have nothing against piety, it is mostly thought of as being “devoutly religious,” which usually translates into “someone involved in a lot of church activities.” The problem with that is it confines holiness to the church campus and makes it […]
We sometimes think of coloring as “child’s play,” and while children especially enjoy coloring, today we know that coloring is being enjoyed by people of all ages. They recognize that it can help to reduce stress, spark creativity, stimulate the brain, promote mindfulness, and just be fun! We can add to that list that people are discovering that coloring can be a form of prayer. Sometimes, when it comes to teaching others to pray, they […]
As the National Eucharistic Revival continues, we reflect on the parts of the Mass and what each part is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. Our inspiration is my book, Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life, co-authored by Fr. Dominic Grassi. Today, we look at the Rite of Peace and reflect on how it helps us to begin the work of living […]
In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we join in communion with the family of the Church. Help children deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and the Mass with a fun matching game, People and Things at Mass. The game—with images from God’s Gift: Eucharist—will help children identify the liturgical roles and sacred objects common to all churches. The game can be […]
For many people, journaling is a key component of their prayer lives. I journaled on and off for more than 30 years (until, like Forrest Gump’s cross-country running, one day I just stopped). Journaling can help a person express feelings more concretely and also provides an archive of prayer that can be returned to from time to time. In today’s episode of Pop-Up Prayer, my guest is Jude Huntz, a chaplain at the University of […]
We continue to journey through the National Eucharistic Revival and reflect on the parts of the Mass and what each part is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. Our inspiration is my book, Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life, co-authored by Fr. Dominic Grassi. This time, we look at the Lord’s Prayer and reflect on how it helps us to begin the work of letting […]
Isn’t it funny how, when you’ve known someone for a long time, you can tell by the look on his or her face what she or he is trying to say to you? We don’t always need words to communicate with someone. By the same token, it can be difficult to know how someone truly feels unless one puts it into words! When it comes to our prayer lives, at times we can rely on […]
Grab the crayons, and complete a color-by-number activity with children to find that Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends. While designed for use with primary grades, the sheet can also provide a relaxing coloring break for older students. Explain that Jesus is present in the consecrated Bread and Wine at Mass. Extend this activity in the classroom using some of these ideas. Read aloud Luke 22:14–20, the Last Supper. For the story adapted […]
As we journey deeper into our Eucharistic Revival, let’s be mindful of our responsibility to call all of God’s people to the Table of the Lord, especially those with disabilities! Recently, the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) hosted an online conference that focused on inclusive catechesis that engages learners of differing abilities. One session in that conference featured the work of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) and was presented by the Executive […]
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