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40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: The Passion and Resurrection Activity Centers

Today’s Lenten activity may be of more interest to DREs than to catechists, however, knowing catechists, they will be able to find ways to adapt some of the activity centers to their classes. Following is an Intergenerational Event which is designed to conclude with a Good Friday prayer service. Activity Centers for Intergenerational Event: The Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord This entire intergenerational event is available on the Loyola Press Web site. Here is […]

A "Typical" Year in the Life of the DRE

Joe Paprocki

I realize that a lot of DREs regularly visit Catechist’s Journey, so I thought I would ask for some help. I’m piecing together a chart of what a DRE is thinking about/doing at various times throughout the year in a traditional religious education program (realizing that today there are numerous catechetical models being employed throughout our parishes). Please note that I am NOT including seasonal liturgical celebrations such as Advent prayer service, Lenten Stations of […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: An Examination of Conscience

Joe Paprocki

Today’s Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to help prepare young people to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Lent, of course, is a season of repentance. For Catholics, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is an intimate encounter with the Lord’s mercy and forgiving grace. A good confession should always be preceded by an examination of conscience. An Examination of Conscience Fill a glass bowl or a tall drinking glass halfway with […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: HCA Mission Stations of the Cross

Joe Paprocki

This Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to combine prayer and almsgiving and to help those they teach to develop an appreciation for the Missions, specifically through the Holy Childhood Association (children helping children). UPDATE: This resource is no longer available from HCA, now Missionary Childhood Association. Founded in 1843, the Holy Childhood Association is an international organization whose membership is made up of students in Catholic elementary schools and religious education programs; it is […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Silence Is Golden (In Honor of St. Joseph)

Joe Paprocki

March 19 is the Feast of Saint Joseph, and he serves as the inspiration for our next Lenten activity. One aspect of St. Joseph’s life is especially fitting for Lent, and that is his quiet nature. The Gospels reveal Joseph as a man of few words and he is revered for his “silence”—his quiet dedication to his family and to hard work. Here’s what Pope Benedict XVI said about Joseph back in 2005: The silence of Saint Joseph […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: A Spiritual St. Patrick’s Day Activity

Joe Paprocki

St. Patrick’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of Lent and, for many, is seen as a “day off” from Lent. A quick search for St. Patrick’s Day activities reveals mainly opportunities to color shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold; very little of spiritual value is offered. As catechists, we can still have fun with our young people on St. Patrick’s Day while also teaching something of spiritual value. Here are a few […]

40/40 – Lenten Activities: A Lenten Practices Jar

Joe Paprocki

This Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to help young people focus on concrete, practical examples of practicing the Lenten disciplines. A Lenten Practices Jar Sometimes, kids need help in coming up with concrete suggestions for practicing the Lenten disciplines. They also need reminders! A Lenten Practices Jar is a way to do just this: provide suggestions and remind young people to practice the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and giving alms. Find a […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days—Lenten Activities: Sacred Art/Budding Artists

Joe Paprocki

This Lenten activity is designed to help catechists engage those young people who are more visual and perhaps even artistically inclined. Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University, developed the theory of multiple intelligences in 1983. Dr. Gardner proposes eight different intelligences or ways of learning: linguistic (word smart) logical/mathematical (number smart) visual/spatial (picture smart) bodily-kinestheticl (body smart) musical (music smart) interpersonal (people smart) intrapersonal (self smart) naturalist (nature smart) Quite often, our […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: Praying the Daily Examen

Joe Paprocki

Today’s Lenten activity is one that some catechists are already familiar with and that is the notion of praying the Daily Examen, an Ignatian form of prayer. Praying the Daily Examen Arrange to have a TV/DVD player in your room. Insert any DVD, and press PLAY. (Keep the sound off.) Invite the young people to imagine that they are demonstrating how to use this equipment to someone who has never done so. Say, “I’d like […]

40 Ideas for 40 Days – Lenten Activities: A Group Fast

Joe Paprocki

As a way of helping catechists bring Lent to life for their learners, I am sharing 40 Lenten activities in 40 days. Here’s your next activity… A Group Fast Have a volunteer read aloud Mark 1:12-13 (Jesus in the Wilderness). Point out that during Jesus’ 40 days in the desert he fasted and prayed. Talk about what it means to fast: to do without food. Explain that, during Lent, Catholics practice fasting in order to […]