A Summer Prayer and Blessing

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A Summer Prayer
Long warm days...
The pace of life slows...
A time for picnics and rest in the shade...
Lord, help me to rest awhile
in the cooling shade of your p...

The Need for Rituals

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 05:00:00 GMT

As I drive the highways, I sometimes notice a small cross with flowers by the side of the road. The homemade “shrine” tells me, “Someone was killed here.” And I say a prayer for them. The need to mark these ...

Exploring the Sunday gospels May 2012

Tue, 22 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

May 27
Pentecost Sunday
John 20:19-23

For your reflection
On this glorious day, Jesus said to his disciples...

Exploring the Sunday gospels April 2012

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

April 29
4th Sunday of Easter
John 10:11-18

For your reflection
“I am the good shepherd; I know m...

Children and Reconciliation

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

“I fought with my sister.” “I forgot to feed my dog.” “My brother picks on me.” “Um … um … I don’t remember.&rd...

The Sign of the Cross: Bookends for our day

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Sign of the Cross is a venerable ritual dating back to the earliest days of Christianity. The earliest form consisted of tracing a cross on the forehead with one’s thumb. So popular was the practice that Tertullian, writing in the th...

Exploring the Sunday gospels March 2012

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT

March 18
4^th Sunday of Lent
John 3:14-21

For your reflection

Exploring the Sunday gospels February 2012

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

February 19
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 2:1-12

For your reflection
What good friends the paralyzed man...

Praying and living the Lenten season

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

It's a common practice to "give things up" for Lent. But when we give up something we desire, we create an empty space in our minds and hearts that is ready to be filled by something else. We have an opportunity to replace something...

How can I help children understand Lent?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Q. How can I help those I teach understand that Lent can be a season of joy?
A. Durin...

Exploring the Sunday gospels December 2011

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

December 11
3^rd Sunday of Advent
John 1:6-8, 19-28

For your reflection&l...

Exploring the Sunday gospels

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

October 30
31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 23:1-12

For your reflection
Jesus te...

Liturgy: ever changing, ever new

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

I’m always intrigued by what impressions children take away from liturgy. When we sing a seasonal psalm or a song tied into the Sunday readings, they wonder why the children’s songs were more fun than upstairs. Some want to kno...

Nourishment for your lenten journey

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Lent is coming, that great liturgical season that invites us to pray more often, to serve others, especially those most in need, and to fast from our bad habits and behaviors. Lent offers quite a challenge and yet it still draws ...

New prayers, same Mass

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Changing the prayers of the Mass is not something Catholics take lightly. Parishes throughout the English-speaking world are now in the process of coming to grips with a new translation of those very prayers. In 2009, after se...

Class poster on forgiveness activity

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT

The “Our Father” prayer, Matthew 6:11-15, is probably the most common prayer in which children hear about forgiveness. First, read the bible passage, together. Highlight the phrase “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive ...

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:00:00 GMT

As a catechist, you are an important guide in helping children understand the sacraments as well as all the details and symbols that are part of the rituals. In the sacrament of reconciliation the whole experience is about God searching for the lo...

It's not just confession anymore

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Remember those dark confessionals and muffled voices? Remember how you felt when the priest slid back the door and it was your turn? Many adult Catholics feel uncomfortable with the sacrament of reconciliation because of these remembrances. Instea...

The sacrament of confirmation

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:00:00 GMT

The following is the prayer that accompanies "The call of confirmation" found on pages 12 and 13 of the January 2011 issue of RTJ's Creative Catechist.

Growing Faith

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT

“Catechesis for adults,” the General Directory for Catechesis tells us in article 59, “…must be considered the chief form of catechesis. All other forms, wh...

“Remembering” Advent and Christmas

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT

I was a little girl at Bible Camp, and I was sitting in the shade behind the public school listening to the young Protestant youth minister urging us to memorize our daily Bible passage. I don’t remember any of the passages exactly, but ...

Many ways to say thanks

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Thankfulness is a human trait. The moon and stars, roses, and robins cannot thank their creator or anyone else. Only we, who are conscious of the good done for us, have the power to acknowledge our indebtedness to others. The word "thank"...

Catechetical Sunday 2010

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:00:00 GMT

In honor of Catechetical Sunday and its theme: Marriage as a Sacrament of Enduring Love, we offer this reflection, prayer, and activity for catechists and those they teach.