prayer Archives - Catechist's Journey

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Jean Heaton

I firmly believe that 12-step practices can teach us much about spirituality and, specifically, prayer. In this episode of Pop-Up Prayer, I ask Jean Heaton, author of Helping Families Recover from Addiction: Coping, Growing, and Healing through 12-Step Practices and Ignatian Spirituality, to share some insights about how each of us can find strength in prayer when we find ourselves at “the end of our rope” and experiencing powerlessness. For more information about 12-step practices […]

Living the Mass the Other Six Days of the Week: The Prayer of the Faithful

Joe Paprocki

As we continue to journey through the National Eucharistic Revival, we are reflecting on the parts of the Mass and what each part is calling us to do and be the other six days of the week. In this episode, we look at the Prayer of the Faithful and reflect on how it helps us to begin the work of entrusting to God the needs of ourselves, others, the Church, and the world. The Prayer […]

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Fr. Dominic Grassi

Joe Paprocki

In this episode of Pop-Up Prayer, we hear some wisdom from my long-time friend, Fr. Dominic Grassi. Fr. Dom was my Department Chairman for my first job as a religion teacher back in 1981! He and I are co-authors of Living the Mass: How One Hour a Week Can Change Your Life. A lifelong Chicagoan, Fr. Dom was ordained in 1973 and has been a pastor, a teacher, a counselor, a coach, a retreat and […]

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Fr. Andy Alexander, SJ

Joe Paprocki

With the season of Lent upon us, the question looms: “Do we pray differently during Lent?” To answer that question, I turned to Fr. Andy Alexander, SJ, the Director of the Collaborative Ministries Office and Online Ministries at Creighton University and co-author (with Maureen McCann Waldron), of Praying Lent: Renewing Our Lives on the Lenten Journey. For more information about praying during the Lenten season, check out the following links: Praying Lent: Renewing Our Lives […]

Praying Through Pain: A Webinar with Barbara Lee (pictured)

Praying Through Pain Webinar with Barbara Lee

Joe Paprocki

Pain is an unavoidable part of life, and the Gospel does not promise avoidance of pain but rather, a way through it. As catechists, we are inviting those we teach to enter into the Paschal Mystery, which is a journey through the pain, suffering, and Death of Jesus Christ that leads to new life in his Resurrection. It is a journey through pain to new life! With that in mind, I invite you to join […]

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Todd Williamson

Joe Paprocki

We continue our series, Pop-Up Prayer—brief interviews on the topic of prayer with prominent people in pastoral ministry and spiritual authors. In this episode, Todd Williamson talks about understanding the nature of communal prayer. Todd is the Director of the Office for Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of Chicago (a position he has held for 22 years!). He is also a speaker, author, and liturgist whose ministerial experience includes teaching and parish pastoral ministry. Be sure […]

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Bob Burnham

Joe Paprocki

In this episode of Pop-Up Prayer, Bob Burnham talks about there being no right way or wrong way to pray, just “your” way. Bob is a Secular Franciscan, spiritual director, catechist, popular speaker, Loyola Press editor, and the author of two wonderful books, Little Lessons from the Saints and Little Lessons from the Mystics.

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Vinita Hampton Wright

Joe Paprocki

In this episode of Pop-Up Prayer, Vinita Hampton Wright talks about the role of emotions in prayer. Vinita is a spiritual director, retreat leader, author, and an editor for over 32 years. Her books include Small Simple Ways, Days of Deepening Friendship, and Simple Acts of Moving Forward.

Pop-Up Prayer: Guest Tom Quinlan

Joe Paprocki

We continue our summer series, Pop-Up Prayer—brief interviews on the topic of prayer with prominent people in pastoral ministry from all over the country! In this episode, Tom Quinlan talks about the need to create a disposition of receptivity when it comes to our personal prayer. Tom is Ministry Director at the St. Joseph Educational Center for the Diocese of Des Moines, IA, and the author of Excellence in Ministry. Be sure to check out the many […]

Trinity - art © Loyola Press. All Rights Reserved.

Praying with the Trinity

Darcy Osby

The Trinity is a beautiful mystery that cannot be fully explained or understood through human language, which makes it a challenge to communicate to children when we rely on words in our catechesis. The early Christians came to know God as trinitarian through their lived experiences of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We can help children to identify their own experiences of the Persons of the Trinity and therefore come to a […]