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Newsworthy

Teaching During a Year of Faith – Free Webinar!

Facilitator: Joe Paprocki, DMin Brought to you by Loyola Press, A Jesuit Ministry Tuesday, August 28, 2012 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (CDT) Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed a Year of Faith beginning this October and extending through November of 2013. He hopes that the Year of Faith will foster an encounter with Christ through authentic witnesses to faith and a deeper understanding of the truths of our faith that Jesus revealed. In this Webinar, Joe […]

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Growing as a Catechist

Year of Faith Retreat – Week 1, Day 1: God’s Revealing Moments

Welcome to our online summer retreat, Preparing for a Year of Faith! Take  a few minutes each day at your convenience to “gather” here on my blog as we seek to add some flavor to our faith lives by deepening our understanding of the truths of our faith as given to us in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Learn more about the Year of Faith. Watch a brief video explaining what this online retreat is […]

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Approaches/Techniques

Preparing for a Year of Faith – Online Retreat and Webinar!

As you know by now, we will be celebrating a Year of Faith beginning this October, 2012, through November, 2013. I’m happy to announce that I will be offering 2 very important opportunities to prepare for the Year of Faith in the coming months. Online Summer Retreat: Preparing for a Year of Faith – Beginning Monday, July 30, 2012 (on the eve of the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola!), I will be offering an […]

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Newsworthy

Catechetical Sunday – September 16, 2012

I see that the theme for Catechetical Sunday this year is “Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization.” While not exactly one of the more poetically-phrased themes, it nonetheless touches on a crucial aspect of catechesis: the relationship between catechesis and evangelization. Be sure to take a look at the various resources available at USCCB.com.

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Newsworthy

Searchable Online Version of the Catechism – Every Catechist Should Add This to Your Favorites!

At long last, the U.S. bishops have introduced a searchable online version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the USCCB Website. Thanks to my friend Joyce Donahue for “breaking the story” and sharing it on Facebook so that we can spread the word. Every catechist should add this to your “Favorites” in your browser for quick reference when you are looking for clarification on a Church teaching.

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Catechetical Leaders

What is the Year of Faith?

As many of you know, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the Church will celebrate a Year of Faith beginning this October, 2012, through November, 2013. Recently, I had a little time to wrap my head around the guidelines for this upcoming event and I’ve written a very brief summary of what the Year of Faith is all about. I thought this might be helpful to you in the months to come. Enjoy. What is the […]

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Catechetical Leaders

Catechist Formation and Certification – Rochester (NY) Style

On my recent trip to the Diocese of Rochester, NY, to do a couple of presentations, I had the pleasure of sharing a couple of long car rides with  Jonathan Schott, the Coordinator of Adult, Family, and Catechist Formation. Our conversations were wide-ranging: sports, movies, TV, and, of course, catechesis! In particular, we talked about catechist formation and I was particularly impressed with the online approach that the Diocese of Rochester takes for catechist formation. Their […]

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Comings & Goings

The Jesus Approach to Evangelization

While at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, I had the pleasure of listening to a keynote delivered by Rev. Anthony Gittins, CSSp on the Urgency of Discipleship and Evangelization. In his talk, Fr. Gittins made some excellent points about evangelization. First, he identified 4 requirements for evangelization: Proclamation Witness (which he says is “proclamation with our mouths shut!” – I love it!) Dialogue (with an emphasis on listening) Liberation He also went on to explain […]

Books

They’re Here! 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent AND My New Book!

Just in time for Lent! I’m happy to once again provide my very popular 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent – a resource that provides catechists and families with 40 practical, creative, and inspiring catechetical activities for the Lenten season, many of them placed specifically on days/dates to which they connect in the Lenten liturgical calendar. This year, to keep things fresh, I have included 7 brand new ideas, one for each week of Lent. […]

Lent

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Good Deeds Bracelets for Lent

This activity is called Good Deeds Bracelets for Lent and it comes to us from Arma Dei. They describe it this way: Inspired by St. Therese, this bracelet works similar to other good deed bead bracelets, as the beads slide and stay in place, recording each good deed, extra prayer (foregone opportunity to complain) or sacrifice. Arma Dei sells a craft kit that contains everything you need to create these bracelets. Be sure to take […]