Do you ever feel like this? I’m so tired of people looking weary and glum wherever I go. Is everyone having that bad a day? Am I stuck forever in this atmosphere? You’ll be surprised at how people respond when you simply make the first move and say something nice. A courteous greeting will do, but a real compliment is even better. Most people try hard to do well. Sometimes their attempts are awkward and […]
The “director” part of a DRE’s job description is a taxing challenge. “Director” means “manager,” and managing people and programs is never easy. It means achieving lofty goals with limited resources. It means dealing with people who often don’t behave the way you want them to behave. It means compromise, tough decisions, and juggling conflicting interests. Managing means meetings. Lots of meetings. To complicate matters, most DREs are teachers at heart who love students much more than budgets and […]
If you’re feeling nervous about the approaching new catechetical year, you’re not alone. Read and pray with this excerpt from A Catholic Woman’s Book of Days by Amy Welborn. And let’s pray for each other as we prepare to meet our students. “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of […]
This year’s theme for Catechetical Sunday, September 17, 2017, is “Living as Missionary Disciples.” But just what does it mean to be a missionary disciple? My friend, Vickie Tufano, tells a story (which she attributes to her friend, William Willimon, a professor at Duke University) of a campus minister at a university who received a phone call from an irate parent who was calling to complain that his daughter had chosen to ignore her degree […]
This summer we’ve explored six characteristics of the Spirituality of the Catechist in our online retreat. Thank you for your participation and commitment to deepening your own spirituality. Some of you participated silently and others shared openly, and together we share a bond that has brought us here to strengthen one another on this catechetical journey. The retreat posts will remain available for your continued reflection. Feel free to invite others you know in faith […]
If you’ve been keeping count, you’ll know that we explored 7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness this summer. If you missed any of the reflections, catch up using the following links. Who’s Your Court Jester? What Do You Have That Cannot Be Taken Away? Is That Your Final Answer? What’s Your Security Blanket? What Scratches Your Itch? Where Is Your Dream Vacation Spot? What Gives You Heartburn? What are you doing to maintain your spiritual wellness? […]
This reflection is part of the Spirituality of the Catechist Online Retreat. The parish of Notre Dame in New Hyde Park, New York has a diverse Catholic community united in their strong devotion to the Virgin Mary. The original Italian community has organized two prayer groups devoted to Our Lady; the largest devotional group here is dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Peace. Our Lady of Guadalupe is certainly the most prominent cultural experience for […]
Welcome once more to our online retreat, the Spirituality of the Catechist. This week, we focus on the sixth aspect of a catechist’s spirituality: Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you’re just joining us, you can go back and catch up on earlier weeks at any time. If you haven’t already, share some thoughts about the retreat in the comments of any post in the series that inspires you in your vocation as a […]
Today, being the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, I thought it would be a good idea to talk about the benefits that Ignatian prayer can bring to young people. According to IgnatianSpirituality.com, Ignatian prayer is imaginative, reflective, and personal—three characteristics that are crucial aspects of the spirituality of children. Imaginative—Children are the masters of imagination! Left to their own devices, children find ways to entertain themselves using their limitless imaginations. But children today, more […]
Editor’s note: This post is one in a series inspired by Joe Paprocki’s book 7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness. In the book, Joe introduces each key with a fun or thought-provoking question. Each Friday we’ll share an excerpt from 7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness that poses a question, followed by a response by a catechist or catechetical leader. What gives you heartburn? I’m not talking about the bad kind of heartburn. I know all about that kind of heartburn. […]
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