Liturgical Seasons & Feasts Archives - Page 36 of 43

My Lenten Resources

Here are links to the various Lenten resources that I have to offer…I hope they are helpful to you as we journey together into this holy season! 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent, 2011 My Lenten Calendar 40-crosses-english-2011 My Lenten Calendar 40-crosses-spanish-2011 Lenten FAQs Video Recording of Joe’s 2010 Lenten Webinar Creative Lenten Ideas Shared by Webinar participants Other Resources Online Lenten Retreat from Loyola Press Lent Resources from Loyola Press Lenten Resources from […]

“Wailing Wall” Activity

Joe Paprocki

This great idea came to me from a catechist by the name of Connie…thanks Connie! Hi Joe, Thanks for the Lenten calendar–I’m always looking for something new! Here’s something I did last night with my sixth graders, who are studying the Old Testament. We made our own Wailing Wall–which we will use throughout Lent. Before class, I drew outlines of the bricks/stones in black marker on a piece of butcher paper. When the kids came in, […]

Looking for Lenten Activities?

Joe Paprocki

Thank goodness we had a little breathing room between Christmas and Lent this year! Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, one week from today, on March 9, 2011. With that in mind, I’m happy to once again offer this handy calendar with links to 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent! As always, if you have developed a Lenten activity that you’d like to share, send it along! 40 Ideas for 40 Days of Lent, 2011

40 Ideas for 40 Days—My Lenten Calendar: 40 Crosses

Joe Paprocki

Several years ago, my friend Victor Valdez provided us with Lenten Calendars (40 Crosses). Sadly, Victor passed away in 2013. In honor of his memory, we have updated his calendars in English and Spanish. Thank you again, Victor. Rest in peace, good friend! Hard to believe that Lent is just a few weeks away! Here are the links to the calendars: 40 Crosses 2024 (English) 40 Crosses 2024 (Spanish)

Leading Others to Epiphany

Joe Paprocki

Yesterday, we celebrated the wonderful Feast of the Epiphany, when Jesus is revealed to all the nations as the Son of God. This Feast contains so many messages and images that are apropos for catechists. Here are a few thoughts: The Magi do not travel alone… The Magi observe signs… The Magi seek direction… The Magi offer gifts… For the complete, updated post, see Leading Others to Epiphany.

Fresco of The Vision of Angel to St. Joseph in church Chiesa di Santa Croce by Giovanni Maria Conti della Camera - sedmak/iStock/Getty Images

Joseph Shows the Way in the Last Days of Advent

Joe Paprocki

Sometimes, our head is telling us one thing, but our heart and our gut are telling us something else. Matthew 1:18–25 tells us that St. Joseph was experiencing this inner turmoil. His betrothed, Mary, is pregnant—and he’s not the father. According to Jewish law, she should be stoned. Joseph decides instead to divorce Mary quietly; that would be the righteous thing to do. And yet, something within him continues to question this, interrupting his sleep. […]

happy baby with mother - © LawrenLu /Lawren/Moment RF/Getty Images

Show Me a Day When the World Wasn’t New

Joe Paprocki

I received an e-mail from a co-worker announcing that another co-worker had given birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy. The subject line of the message was, “Show me a day when the world wasn’t new.” This caught my attention. The quote is attributed to Sr. Barbara Hance (1928–1993), and I think it’s a wonderful Advent thought. In fact, this quote and the e-mail about the newborn baby made me think of my pastor’s homily this […]

Advent: Love is Coming!

Joe Paprocki

Back in the day, 1970 to be exact, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young released a song titled Carry On. In the refrain they sang, Carry on. Love is coming. Love is coming to us all. I thought of this song this past Sunday while at Mass for the First Sunday of Advent. No, my mind wasn t drifting! Actually, quite the reverse. The pastor was delivering a splendid homily about the Gospel’s call for us […]

Welcome Advent! A Prayer Service

Joe Paprocki

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know I did! 🙂 Here we are in the First Week of Advent! Hard to believe this great season of joyful anticipation is upon us already. Tonight, we’ll be celebrating an Advent Prayer service with the kids in church. I had the privilege of working with my DRE, Arlene, to put together the prayer service. Here it is: Advent 2010 Prayer Service After the prayer service, […]

The Ascension: Did Jesus Really Go Up?

Joe Paprocki

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, it might be good to look at an FAQ associated with this feast, namely, “Isn’t the Ascension of Jesus based on outdated science?” I have to admit that this question has popped into my mind, making me wonder just what it is that we are celebrating on this feast. If science has shown that “heaven” is not to be equated with “outer space,” then where […]