music Archives - Catechist's Journey

New Songs for Name That Sin, Virtue, or Gift

Not too long ago, I shared a post here on Catechist’s Journey inviting folks to help me update the songs for an activity I call “Name That Sin, Virtue, or Gift”—an activity I created years ago when working with teens preparing for Confirmation. I received a number of helpful suggestions and then did some research of my own to find more contemporary songs and complete the chart. Let me share the following disclaimer: the inclusion […]

Looking for Song Suggestions: Name that Sin/Virtue/Gift

Joe Paprocki

Many years ago, when I was teaching a Confirmation class, I came up with an activity to teach about the Seven Deadly Sins, the Seven Virtues, and the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit using music. In essence, I identified “contemporary” songs that speak to each of these items—yes, 21 songs. The gist of the activity is for catechists to play segments of these songs and invite the young people to match them to the […]

Eucharistic Hymns Activity - text, music notes, and screenshot of activity sheet

What Eucharistic Hymns Teach

Joe Paprocki

Lead an activity about Eucharistic hymns to reach young people who are musically inclined, tapping into their musical/rhythmic intelligence. This activity is great for the National Eucharistic Revival or a sacraments review session for older children. Catechists may choose to make this an ongoing activity by recording findings on a chart throughout the year. Extend young people’s learning about Jesus as the Bread of Life by leading a Bible study with Six Weeks with the […]

Forgive Everyone Everything - book by Gregory Boyle, SJ (pictured)

Catechesis in the Urban Context: Using Urban Art to Reach Youth

Joe Paprocki

My inner child is an inner-city kid. I grew up and lived the first 23 years of my life on the near West Side of Chicago, just a few blocks from Cook County Jail. It was and still is a wonderfully gritty, blue-collar, ethnic (80% Hispanic) neighborhood. While the area did and continues to face many challenges, I have mostly wonderful memories of growing up there. One of my fondest memories is of the mural, […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Speaking God’s Language Through Music

Joe Paprocki

Throughout their history, the Jewish people have included music in every facet of living. Believing that humans are created in the image and likeness of God, the Jewish people easily concluded that God does indeed sing, since his creation is filled with music (Psalm 96:1, Isaiah 55:12), and our souls are compelled to give praise to God in song (Psalm 27:6). The prophet Zephaniah assures God’s people that God “will take great delight in you; […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: If I Were a Church Hymn

Joe Paprocki

One of my favorite musicals of all time is Fiddler on the Roof. Of all the wonderful songs in that musical, my favorite is “If I Were a Rich Man,” in which Tevye dreams about what it would be like if he were a wealthy man. Over the years, I have borrowed from that title to engage people in a fun activity I call, “If I Were a Church Hymn.” In this activity, participants think […]

Pop-Up Catechesis: Singing/Listening to Hymns

Joe Paprocki

I have long asserted that if some “Grinch” came along and stole all of our Catholic faith formation textbooks and copies of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and left us with only a hymnal, we would still be able to teach the Catholic faith! Catholic hymns are catechetical; in other words, they teach us about our faith. One great way to teach children about their Catholic faith is to introduce them to Catholic hymns—the […]

What Lenten Hymns Teach

Joe Paprocki

Editor’s Note: With Ash Wednesday fast approaching, today we highlight one of the activities from our popular 40 Ideas for 40 Days feature. While organized according to the calendar, the activities aren’t limited to just one day of Lent. Check out 40 Ideas for 40 Days here. Today’s Lenten activity is an opportunity for catechists to reach those young people who are more musically inclined, tapping into the musical/rhythmic intelligence of some of your students. What […]

Book Club Bonus - Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy and David and Mercedes Rizzo - Music in Family Prayer

Book Club Bonus: Music in Family Prayer

Special Contributor

Editor’s note: In our online book club, we’re reading Jane Knuth’s The Prayer List…and Other True Stories of How Families Pray. Each Tuesday through August 7, 2018, we’ll bring you Book Club Bonus Days—sharing additional stories of family prayer, continuing the weekly conversation, and more. Find all the book club posts here. My Uncle’s Song “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:30) In the midst of anguish and […]

There’s a Hymnal in My Bible!

Joe Paprocki

If you’ve ever questioned the significance of music when it comes to our faith, consider the fact that, right before the halfway point of our Bible, you will find a hymnal—the Book of Psalms! Although we do not have the original melodies of these song-prayers, we do know that they were put to music and used in Temple worship. In addition to the presence of a hymnal in our Bible, also know that music appears […]