spiritual wellness Archives - Catechist's Journey

Webinars

A Webinar for Head and Heart with Anne Kertz Kernion

One of my favorite Loyola Press books over the past few years is Spiritual Practices for the Brain by Anne Kertz Kernion, so you know that I am super-excited about hosting a webinar with Anne inspired by her wonderful book! I love how she relies on the most current research to link spiritual practices to improved physical, mental, and emotional health. Join us for: Spiritual Practices for the Brain: Caring for Mind, Body, and Soul […]

Spiritual Wellness Virtual Retreats

Joe Paprocki

During the pandemic, when most of us were isolated in our homes, we struggled to maintain our emotional and spiritual wellness. Even now that we are emerging from the pandemic, many of us continue to struggle to maintain our balance as we seek to find our footing and meet the challenges of a world that seems to grow more complex by the day. In response to this reality, I partnered with the good folks at […]

Four Small Changes to Revitalize Parish Life

Julianne Stanz

Editor’s note: This week we’re thinking about small changes we can make for a big year in ministry. When I first came to the United States, I was eager to sample the rich food that was new and unfamiliar to me. And so I indulged and over-indulged. To my surprise I found that, one day, I could no longer button my jeans comfortably! “How had this happened?” I thought. Certainly it didn’t happen overnight; it […]

Pause Without Pausing

Bob Burnham

My wife and I recently took our spiritual pulse, using a brief assessment derived from Terry Hershey’s book, The Power of Pause: Becoming More by Doing Less. I was happy with my results: I am “a powerful pauser” and know how to balance my priorities. Of course, finding this balance has required me to make some difficult decisions. For example, earlier this year I recognized that I had overcommitted myself. Teaching a ninth-grade class full-time […]

Finding Balance as a Religion Teacher

Barb Gilman

Finding balance is a very important part of every catechist’s life. We are pulled in so many directions; giving of ourselves to our students requires that we keep our eyes on the Lord, our students, and ourselves too. How do I keep myself balanced and nourished? When I was a college student, I looked forward to the camaraderie and time spent away from the busyness of college at our semester retreats. These three-day retreats were […]

Take a Deep Breath in May

Kathy Henry

The month of May might just be one of my favorite times of the catechetical year. May provides an opportunity for DREs to take a deep breath, a momentary pause between the conclusion of the school year and the beginning of the summer. We delight in empty classrooms and suddenly open calendars. We return supplies to their places, clean out the clutter, and organize the paperwork. After all the Easter celebrations, May Crownings, First Communions, […]

7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness: What Are You Doing to Maintain Your Spiritual Wellness?

Joe Paprocki

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? […]

7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness: What Gives You Heartburn?

Kathleen Butler

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. […]

7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness: Where Is Your Dream Vacation Spot?

F. DeKarlos Blackmon

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. Where is your dream vacation spot? Is it the stunning alpine valleys of New Zealand? The natural beauty and ancient history […]

7 Keys to Spiritual Wellness: What Scratches Your Itch?

Cindy Coleman

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 scratches your itch? On a spiritual level, we all have an itch. It’s that chronic, gnawing sense of discomfort that […]