Love For God = Love For Neighbor
Last Sunday’s Gospel Mark 12:28-34, is a challenge for us to examine what it means to love the other and also what it means to love our God. In 2018, we have many opportunities to love[Read More…]
Latest Stories
Recent Stories
Interview With Catholic Speaker, Hudson Byblow
“There are a few specific linguistic nuances that I think are more important than ever: first, speaking about attractions as something people experience instead of something people “have.” The reason is that the word “experience” embeds the nuance of non-permanence. For many people, becoming aware of that nuance is life-changing.” –Hudson Byblow
Courageous Choices; Conversations about Same Sex Attraction
I recently had the opportunity to hear a speaker at a youth event from Courage International. Courage is a Roman Catholic Apostolate, “whose members are men and women who experience same-sex attractions and who have[Read More…]
Classroom Management with Eager Children
We have all been there. We, the Catechist, ask a question in the classroom. Several eager students raise their hands in a manner that sounds like a miniature version of the clamoring shoppers on Black[Read More…]
Gaze Upon Jesus – Book Review
A review of the newest book edited by Kelly M. Wahlquist of WINE. Deanna Bartalini thinks it would be great for Advent reading.
The 4 Key Questions for Lesson Plans
I. Introduction: Planning It has been my experience that the two most common pitfalls for Catechists, for myself and others, are prayer and planning. I will only speak briefly on prayer since this article is[Read More…]
A Case for the Restoration of Catechetical Recitation
Over the last fifteen years I have heard numerous individuals share about their experiences as the “last real Baltimore Catechism Generation.” Some express that the formal catechism recitation, comprised of a question and answer dialogue,[Read More…]
The Joy of Expectant Waiting
There are so many beautiful words to describe active waiting: expectancy, joy, pregnancy, anticipation. It’s what we tend to experience during the Advent season. Active waiting (also called Advent or expectant waiting) evokes incredible hope[Read More…]
Sacred Art and Assessments for Small Children
Whether it’s a weekly catechetical class or catechesis delivered within a daily Catholic education environment, it can be a challenge to know what new students know and what they don’t. Knowing their status is crucial[Read More…]
BREAKTHROUGH: Small-Group Online Coaching for Creatives Starts This Week!
God places holy desires in each of our hearts that are meant to lead us to our most beautiful and impactful lives. Those desires show us how we are irrevocably gifted and called, for God’s greater glory (Romans 11:29). We have the opportunity, through Breakthrough coaching techniques, to gain clarity on our gifts and our calling. With a clearer vision, we can then create momentum and progress toward achieving our goals–and knocking down barriers to success.
Five Steps for Mentoring Kids in Prayer
It is important to teach kids how to pray the Rosary, the Angelus, and other common Catholic Prayers. These should be taught in the home, but sometimes the Catechist is called to help. One of[Read More…]
Ask This Saint for Help and Gather Roses All Your Life
As I spoke about on Relevant Radio’s Morning Air Show, today (at the 25-minute mark, Monday, September 24), this is a great day to begin the very simple and joyful novena to one of our[Read More…]
HOT TOPIC: Same-Sex Attraction (SSA)
I’d like to introduce this topic by saying that I believe, personally, that there are many possible roads leading to the experience of SSA. For some, it is emotional/physical deprivation or abuse that creates the[Read More…]
Breakthrough Resources
Dear Readers, These are the resources I shared in my recent webinar for Catholic creatives, utilizing coaching techniques to break through in life and art. Please feel free to email me with questions or to[Read More…]
Understanding the Spirituality of Waiting
I’m willing to bet that everyone reading this hates to wait. We live in a society that lauds “bigger, better, faster,” and we by and large get what we want, when we want it. Thanks[Read More…]
Jesus’ Missionary Healers
A few years ago, as I was ushering my 3rd grade Sunday School class to our annual Advent confession day, I reminded them that Jesus was present in the Tabernacle. One of the girls repeated the[Read More…]
Resources: Faithful Priests, Bishops, and Lay People Rally the Church in the Midst of Crisis
UPDATED Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I will add to this round-up of resources, as new and important videos, articles, and letters come across my desk, so our readers have a central place to[Read More…]
Fasting 101: My Experience Over the Last Six Weeks
A reader, referring back to a post from a couple of months ago, asked me if I had actually done anything to implement a weekday fast so that Sunday could be a feast day without[Read More…]
Our Lady is Coming to Clean House!
Dear Friends, My heart goes out to all of you, as you suffer the wounds inflicted on our beloved Church from within. I rarely tell people what they should or should not do, but this[Read More…]
Outrage and Grief: The Nuncio’s Letter and My Response
“In an extraordinary 11-page written statement…Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 77, claims that Pope Francis knew about strict canonical sanctions imposed on McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI but chose to repeal them.” LifeSite News I have[Read More…]