Summer Time Fun!

Dear Readers,

Amazing Catechists^TM will be a great place for inspiration all summer long, even while its founder is off finishing her novel.

As some of you already know, I will be taking time away from website work during the months of June and July to finish my novel and start a new project for my publisher, but I’ll be posting regularly again, here and at Patheos.com, beginning in August.

But Don’t Miss Summer Postings!
Several of our columnists here at Amazing Catechists will continue posting new work throughout the summer months, so don’t miss them! You’ll be able to track their new postings via our Facebook fan page, or by scrolling through our “Columnists” page. The newest ones as of today are:

Christian Le Blanc: A Proper Introduction
Monsignor Robert Batule: Persevering Through Prayer
Alex Basile: The Body Beautiful
Marc Cardaronella: Fulton Sheen on the Love/Knowledge Feedback Loop
William O’Leary: The Third Task of Catechesis
Steve McVey: Wanted: Good Story Tellers

And don’t miss our great blogs:

Marc Cardaronella 
Pat Gohn
Ellen Gable Hrkach
Christian LeBlanc 
William O’Leary
Mary Lou Rosien 

We’re Celebrating!
We are also proudly celebrating the upcoming releases of some great new books by two of our staff members. I have had the privilege of reviewing advanced copies of each, and they are SO GOOD!

Catholic Courtship Stories
Ellen Gable Hrkach, who writes our NFP/Chastity column, is an award-winning novelist and a frequent speaker on marriage, natural family planning and chastity issues.

Her new anthology, “Come My Beloved: Inspiring Stories of Catholic Courtship”  is a Song of Songs, a book of praise, a treasure-house of faith and romance par excellence! I dare you to try and put it down once you open its grace-filled, enchanting pages. For me, reading this book was a lot like falling in love! The presence of God in the lives of the contributors came through so powerfully to me that as I read the stories, I found myself stopping from time to time to pray and give glory to God. This truly beautiful collection of Catholic courtship stories is a must-read for anyone discerning a vocation, especially the call to marriage; and for those courting, engaged, already married, or widowed. What a great gift to Holy Mother Church, and a powerful witness that God does make marriages in heaven.

Training Your Family in Virtue
Mary Lou Rosien writes our Special Needs column and has been a regular contributor to Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic Exchange and other top online publications for many years. She is also the author of, “Managing Stress With the Help of Your Catholic Faith.”

Mary Lou has recently created a real jewel of a family resource. “Catholic Family Boot Camp” is a refreshing, funny and often poignant look at ways ordinary families like yours and mine can work as a team to grow in holiness through the practice of the Seven Virtues. Sharing both expert advice and personal witness, this veteran author and Master Catechist provides a truly workable and insightful 30-day plan with simple steps for bringing your family into a more joyful and cooperative union, informed by a love of Jesus Christ. As a wife and mother myself, I love the wisdom and quiet heroism expressed in the author’s willingness to find graces hidden in moments of potential discouragement. Imagine sending your husband an invisible kiss every time you picked up his discarded socks or closed his dresser drawers? Mrs. Rosien’s penchant for sharing the good, the bad and the ugly of family life had me laughing and crying in recognition both of my own foibles and the surprising ways of God. Through her own humble admissions and lively true stories she encourages the reader to dump false expectations of perfection; helping us, instead, to see our flawed loved ones through the eyes of love. Practical and inspiring, this terrific little manual would be a great gift for any family (especially your own!) as well as engaged couples and the newly married.

Thanks so much to all of you who have become loyal readers of this website. Don’t forget that you can share your own stories and teaching methods in our Tips & Insights  section. Together, we can revolutionize the teaching of the Catholic faith.

Enjoy your summer! God bless you so much!

In Christ,

Lisa Mladinich
Founder, AmazingCatechists.com
Author, “Be An Amazing Catechist: Inspire the Faith of Children”