Newsworthy
3-Minute Retreats Mobile App
There is now an iPhone app for Loyola Press’ popular 3-Minute Retreats! Take a look. http://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-mobile-apps.htm
Newsworthy
Newsworthy
Handbook for Catholics – Great New Resource
Just wanted to let you know about a great new resource that I had a hand in bringing to publication: Handbook for Catholics (Mary Kathleen Glavich, SND). Nearly 15 years ago, Sr. Glavich put together a Handbook for Catholics for Loyola Press that sold very well and was very popular. A few years back, the decision was made to update Sr. Glavich’s handbook and I had the privilege of being the catechetical editor for this […]
Catechetical Leaders
Caritas in Veritate – For the Average Joe (and Jane)
By now, I’m sure you are aware of the fact that Pope Benedict XVI has issued a new encyclical – Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) – which deals with the economic crisis and related social issues. Encyclicals are important to Catholics because we believe that God’s Revelation comes to us in Scripture and Tradition (the two being so closely related that we refer to them as a single deposit of faith). An encyclical is […]
Catechetical Leaders
Videos for Religious Education
Here is a resource that you’ll find very helpful: it is a correlation of catechetical video resources for grades 1-8. While it is specifically correlated for the Finding God program, I have no doubt that the resource list will prove handy for folks using any curriculum. The list provides publisher and ISBN information to assist you in tracking down resources through your diocesan media center or directly from publishers.
Catechetical Leaders
Arts Contest
Here’s an idea for engaging young people in grades 7 through 12 around the Church’s social teaching, helping them to recognize the root causes of poverty and injustice. It is the 2010 Catholic Campaign for Human Development Mulit-Media Arts Contest. Schools and parish religious education programs can participate in this as a tool to help young people engage in Catholic social action. The 2010 contest theme is “Empowering Neighborhoods, Uprooting Poverty.” The contest invites all […]
Newsworthy
Discussion Starters/Breaking the Ice
When we gather with our young people for religious education classes, it’s not always easy for them to make the transition from their day into “the sacred.” One strategy is to emply some discussion starters to break the ice: questions that are non-threatening, fun, and substantive. I recommend a product created by my friends Tom McGrath and Bret Nicholaus called The Meal Box. The Meal Box is a set of 52 cards featuring questions designed […]
Creative Moments
End-of-the Year Reflection
This evening is our end-of-the-year catechist meeting. I was asked by our DRE, Arlene, to lead the other catechists in a reflective prayer (meditation). I will be using a meditation that I wrote a couple of years ago for this very blog. You’re welcome to use this for your own reflection or with a group of catechists. We often tell our learners to use their imaginations. Now it’s your turn. Use your imagination to reflect […]
Creative Moments
Ending on a Good Note – A Summary of Last Night's Class
Last evening was the last teaching session for this year with my 8th graders. Next week, we gather for Mass, some presentations, and then pizza. I enjoyed last night and overall, I feel it went very nicely, a fitting ending to a good year with a good group of kids. Here are the highlights: I met the young people at the door as they arrived. I was holding a tray with their little vigil candles […]
Catechetical Leaders
Looking Back on the Year
Another element that I’ve developed for this coming Monday’s session is a look back on our year together, inviting the young people to select what their favorite session(s) was/were and what they learned from it/them. I put together a handout that summarizes briefly what we did in each session and asks them to rate the sessions on a scale of 1-10 (1=poor and 10=excellent). After we’ve read through the descriptions of the sessions and the […]
Newsworthy
Today’s Catholic Teacher
I have an article appearing in the current issue of Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine! It is directed to religion teachers in Catholic schools however I’m sure that catechists in parish RE programs can benefit as well. Enjoy! (click on the link below) http://www.catholicteacher.com/archive/articles_view.php?article_id=2174