Columnists

My mind was racing after she asked the question. I had successfully dodged the question lo these many years, and suddenly there I was. Read more...

Our tea kettle has stood mute since Ash Wednesday, its cheery hum hushed as if in contemplation of the season. When the girls decided to give up drinks other than water during the forty days of Lent, I am not sure if they quite realized that this would mean parting with the most cherished moment of their day, Afternoon Tea... Read more...

Archive for family culture

• Sowing a Seed

“It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet, I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.” Read more...

Archive for guest

• Literature for Life

On December 16, 1998 I became something I never expected to be. I became the mother of a disabled child. On that day, in a dreary hospital office of a “leading” children’s neurologist, my then, three year old son Ryan was formerly diagnosed with autism. Read more...

It seems burnout is an inevitable side effect of catechizing. Some parishes can go through catechists every year, every four years, yet some have the same catechists for ages, despite tiredness and lack of zeal. Read more...

Archive for confirmation

• The Adventure of Teaching High School Catechism

When educating students with disabilities it is important to recognize that they may not absorb and understand information in the traditional way. With this in mind, there are a few ways to maximize their learning experience... Read more...

Archive for special needs

• Multi-Sensory Approach
• Literal Language
• Removing Distractions

The Benefits of NFP Read more...

Archive for theology of the body

• NFP: The Antidote
• Sex Lines and Videotape
• Common "Mis-Conceptions"

The immigration of many Hispanics to this country has created a unique opportunity in the history of the Catholic Church in the USA. Read more...

One of the biggest logistical challenges I face when coordinating youth ministry events and programs is deciding on the right time to hold such affairs. Read more...

Archive for youth ministry

• The Death of the Youth Group

A critical ingredient for the optimal effectiveness of any catechetical endeavor is conviction. I can tell you that with every beat of my heart and every breath that I take, I am radically and immeasurably convinced that the Catholic Faith is the fullness of Reality; the fullness of objective Truth. Read more...

Archive for RCIA

• The Truth Works

Catechists are more than a volunteer because to be a catechist is a “calling”. The Church sees the ministry of a catechist as an apostolate (the dictionary defines this word in two ways: 1. The office, or responsibilities of an apostle. And 2. A group of people that exists for the spreading of religious doctrine.). This is significant when we consider the importance of passing on the Catholic faith to our students. Read more...

Lent is a time to walk with Christ. Alex Basile shares his spiritual thoughts for the sacred season. Read more...

Archive for high school

• The Perfect Story
• The Most Hated Subject
• In The Darkness

“‘A lowly donkey was given to Jesus to ride into Jerusalem just before His death and resurrection…’” Read more...

Archive for home education

• Honoring the Memories
• “I Like Being Catholic.”

Using Spanish as a catechetical tool. Read more...

Archive for middle school

• Samson & Eucharistic Prayer #1
• Textbook Fatigue
• Off the Reservation
• Two-Minute Cadre
• Eikonographia
• Bibliophilia
• Preparation H

We live in a culture that constantly begs for attention. Our mass media churns out the sensational to grab our attention and our money, using reality shows, bizarre advertisements, shocking fashions, and celebrity gossip to vie for our attention... Read more...

Archive for site news

• Haiti and Suffering
• Global Warming
• We Need You!