Catechetical Sunday 2023: Come to Me All You Who Labor and Are Burdened

The theme for Catechetical Sunday 2023 is “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened.” (Matthew 11:28) The following articles explore topics related to that theme.

Catechetical Sunday
Being a Catechist

Catechetical Sunday 2023: The Role of Invitation in Evangelizing Catechesis

Joe Paprocki

Think of the invitations that you have received in your lifetime—invitations that have made a difference and perhaps even changed your life. It’s possible that an invitation led to a friendship, a new hobby, your present job or career, your significant other, or choosing to live in the part of the world you do. As a catechist, you are most likely serving because of the invitation of another, whether the catechetical leader, the pastor, or […]

Labor and Rest in the Bible Activities
Scripture

Labor and Rest in the Bible Activities

Denise Gorss

What does the Bible say about work and rest? Explore Scripture passages related to labor and God’s command and promises of rest. The downloadable activities invite young people to look up Scripture verses and then express what they learn in creative ways. This activity is inspired by the 2023 Catechetical Sunday theme of “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened.” (Matthew 11:28) In our driven and often anxious world, let’s remember to […]

8 Steps to Energize Your Faith video series
Spiritual Growth

8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, Step Eight: Be Still

Joe Paprocki

God knew the importance of taking a rest after six days of hard work creating the cosmos! We can participate in the divine life and tap into divine energy by observing the Third Commandment that insists we take a day off from work to remind ourselves that we are human beings, not human doings. As we conclude our reflections on the steps from my book, 8 Steps to Energize Your Faith, I invite you to […]

girl in stillness - photo by Jaren Jai Wicklund/Shutterstock.com
Prayer/Guided Reflections

Cultivating Stillness

Julianne Stanz

In the First Book of Kings, we read an interesting story about how God makes himself known to us. The prophet Elijah is told to go out on a mountain and wait for the Lord to pass by. A mighty wind passes by, “but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was […]

A Prayer to Listen to the Holy Spirit - text surrounded by birds on light blue clouds
Prayer/Guided Reflections

A Prayer to Listen to the Holy Spirit

Joe Paprocki

The Scriptures remind us that the voice of God often comes in a still, small voice (1 Kings 19:11–13). Practice listening for God’s voice, and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to your group of Confirmation candidates, catechists, or other adults through a prayer service composed by Julianne Stanz. The prayer is inspired by Shhh…God Is in the Silence by Fiona Basile. A copy of the book is needed for the prayer service readings.