Mary, My Mother.
I never really got it! I thought I understood, but I didn’t. It wasn’t until my son played Jesus, on Good Friday, that it really hit me. I didn’t just cause Christ to suffer with my sinfulness, I caused Mary to suffer too. It was so hard to see my son in silhouette suffering (even [...]
Evangelization, Discipleship, and the Work of the Catechist
I'm guilty of a woeful consistency: When someone tells me that Child XYZ has bad attendance at religious ed, my response is a persistent, "So what's going on with the family?" There's always a story behind the missing child. There's a whole family … [Read More...]
Greek Tents
not too shabby . About 30 years ago I read the Norman Mailer novel, Tough Guys Don't Dance. It's about a son, Tim Madden, who simply will never be as tough a guy as his father Dougy. Tim must be about 40, but still feels he's a wimpy disappointment … [Read More...]
Post Pentecost – Recalling the Effects of Confirmation
There’s a timely reminder in the Catechism of the Catholic Church for this “time” in the liturgical calendar – smack dab between Pentecost and Ordinary Time. And it is this: Pentecost should remind us of our Confirmation! CCC 1302 … [Read More...]
Creating Encounters: Your Role as a Catechist
I love seeing former RCIA students at Mass. One, because it's good to know that they're still active in the Church and haven't left. Two, because they’re like my spiritual children. You don't want your kids to leave the … [Read More...]
Don’t be a Whiner!
The title of this post must seem a bit strange. It becomes a bit stranger still when you consider the one telling you not to be a whiner is not me, but Pope Francis! He said it (basically) during his homily on Tuesday, May 7th, while reflecting … [Read More...]
Catechist’s Choice
While sitting down with a cup of tea to write this post, I noticed a message on the tea bag label: "Your choices will change the world." In his mission to the ends of the earth, St. Paul frequently made choices that changed the world around him … [Read More...]
Pitchers 16: Revelations
Partial whiteboard from April 17, the second of three classes on the Mass: Bits I read (not all at once!) while I draw and we discuss the continuity between the worship in Heaven and on Earth: "At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, … [Read More...]
This Little Light of Mine: Living the Beatitudes Review
The forward of Kathleen Basi’s new book, This Little Light of Mine says, “No one can teach well what he or she doesn’t know well. The best way to ensure that religious formation “takes” is for parents to live their faith, to be seekers … [Read More...]
