Amazing Catechists

Teaching and learning the faith together

The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

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The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

by Fr. Charles P. Connor, S.T.L, Ph.D.

Published by EWTN Publishing

 

The beatification of Ven. Fulton J. Sheen is coming up on September 24th! It is so exciting that we get to witness such a momentous event for an American Saint.  I have seen many of the Archbishop’s old videos, but I will admit that I have never read any of his books or writings. Fr. Charles Connor’s book, The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, was the perfect introduction to many of the Archbishop’s writings and teachings, and it was an inspirational spiritual read for me. If you are an OCIA or adult education leader, I think that this book is especially relevant for you to read since it accounts many of the Archbishop’s encounters with converts to the Catholic Faith as he prepared them to be received into the Church.

Learning About Ven. Fulton J. Sheen

Ven. Fulton J. Sheen was an Archbishop, writer, and TV personality. He is kind of like the Fr. Mike Schmitz of the 20th century, but maybe even more famous! Millions of Americans tuned in weekly to watch his TV shows on Sunday and Tuesday nights, and he also won a Primetime Emmy for Most Outstanding Television Personality.

Fr. Connor’s book does include many facts such as these about Ven. Futlton Sheen’s life, but it focuses much more on how the Archbishop evangelized and taught. This book was very inspiring to me as a catechist because he worked with many converts to Catholicism. Many of these stories are covered in this book.

The Layout of This Book

Fr. Connor chose 10 topics to include in this book:

  • The Life of All Living (based on one of Ven. Fulton Sheen’s most well-known books)
  • The Incarnate Son of God
  • Temptation and Sin
  • Conversion
  • Confession
  • The Mystery of Suffering
  • Prayer
  • The Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Marriage
  • The Eucharist and Priesthood

Fr. Connor specifically writes about lots of powerful excerpts from Ven. Fulton Sheen’s works throughout the book. He then provides his own commentary and explanation of the Archbishop’s ideas. Venerable Fulton Sheen was an extremely learned scholar, and his ideas were deep and profound. The Archbishop had a gift for taking a complex idea (such as atheism or the Incarnation) and explaining it in a simple, concrete, and impactful way. Fr. Connor provides fufther insight into and connection between all of the Archbishop’s teachings and ideas.

If you are curious about Ven. Fulton Sheen’s writings and teachings, this book is the perfect place to start.

Conversions and Teachings

My favorite parts of the book were reading about the many conversion stories that directly involved Ven. Fulton Sheen and his clear, truthful, and powerful teachings. The Archbishop never compromised the truth, and treated each individual that he met with love. Fr. Connor wove together the 10 ideas mentioned above in an enjoyable and inspiring way in this book.

Get Excited for the Beatification of a Modern-Day Saint!

If you do not know a lot about Ven. Fulton Sheen, this is a great book to start with – especially if you are curious about his writings and teachings, or if you find his writings to be a bit scholarly to understand. Dr. Connor helps break them down and make the Archbishop’s ideas and words very accessible. Most of all, this book is getting me so excited to tune in for his heatification of this modern-day saint on September 26th!

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, pray for us!

You can find The Spiritual Legacy of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at Sophia Institute Press.

Celebrate Catechetical Sunday (Third Sunday in September)

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The start of a new school year can be hectic with the rush to put children in the appropriate class, handle late registrations, and maybe even find catechists. In all this activity, the Church reminds us how important catechesis is with Catechetical Sunday, which began in 1935. In the United States, the Bishops set the third Sunday of September as Catechetical Sunday. This year Catechetical Sunday falls on September 20 (in 2026) with the theme of “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to bring good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1).

How to Celebrate Catechetical Sunday

Since we are a people of prayer, begin your parish celebration at Mass. Let people know about the day with this poster. Choose one Mass and ask all the catechists to come to it. Don’t forget to include those who serve in youth ministry, RCIA/OCIA, and other adult programs. During Mass, the celebrant can bless and commission the catechists. After the blessing, if time permits, have children from the religious education program give a prayer card to each catechist. It is a great witness to the parish if the catechists come forward from wherever they are sitting and stand where they can be seen.

You may want to give a certificate of thanks already formatted for you from the USCCB.

After Mass, continue the celebration with a breakfast in their honor. This is your opportunity to let the catechists know how much you appreciate, need, and admire them. Does your parish have a Knights of Columbus or Council of Catholic Women’s group? Ask them to prepare and serve breakfast. If your parish is a potluck type of place, ask parents to bring food. Or keep it simple with bagels, donuts, juice, and coffee. Whatever you choose, have something to gather all the catechists and their families together to thank them.

Tokens of Appreciation

It is always nice to give something to the catechists that remind them of the parish’s gratitude. A notebook (for women or men) and a new pen are both practical and fun. Another gift idea is a scripture jar or bag. Pick verses that pertain to children, teaching, conversion, and perseverance. Attach a note from the pastor as the tag, and you are all set.

One year, I asked the parishioners to pray for a catechist. I put each catechist’s name, first name only, on a card and asked parishioners to take one as they left Mass on Catechetical Sunday. Don’t forget to add your name! You could also add each class or group to the cards. This reinforces the idea that everyone in the parish has a part in catechesis. And, you have covered your work in prayer.

No matter how you choose to celebrate and acknowledge those who serve as catechists, do so with joy as you witness to the Gospel.

This was originally published on July 25, 2023 on Amazing Catechists.

Sunday Gospel Lesson Plan Ideas: Two or Three are Gathered Together in My Name

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Whenever I hear this Gospel passage, I think about praying together as a family or with friends. Isn’t prayer so powerful and enjoyable with others? When someone asks me to pray for them, I try to pray right then – praying with them, if possible. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be a Hail Mary or a spontaneous prayer on the spot. Why not focus on teaching your children or class about prayer for today’s Gospel?
Matthew 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples:
“If your brother sins against you,
go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.
If he listens to you, you have won over your brother.
If he does not listen,
take one or two others along with you,
so that ‘every fact may be established
on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.
If he refuses to listen even to the church,
then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.
Amen, I say to you,
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Again, amen, I say to you,
if two of you agree on earth
about anything for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.”

Lesson Plan Ideas

Scripture Verse Memorization

Choose a part of the Gospel to have your students memorize and discuss.  Give a reward to the children who memorize it by your next class.

The Power of Prayer

Read aloud from this awesome book. Choose a new prayer or two to learn as a family or class.

Prayer Lesson Plans and Free Infographics

Here are some free lesson plans on prayer with talking points, scripture, and free downloadable infographics for each type of prayer.

Free Gospel Resources Online

Here is a list of more free Sunday Gospel resources online.

 

 

 

 

The Baby Catechist’s Guide—A Crash Course to Sharing Your Faith with Confidence

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There is a running joke that newly ordained priests are “baby priests.” In this same vein of humor, new catechists are “baby catechists.” This can be an apt comparison. Are you struggling to find your footing and learn to walk? Do you sometimes want to sit down and throw a tantrum? G. K. Chesterton said, “What was wonderful about childhood is that anything in it was a wonder.

It was not merely a world full of miracles—it was a miraculous world.” Teaching catechism is a miraculous world. As a baby catechist, you don’t need to feel anxious or overwhelmed. Instead, you should be aware of the wonderful, miraculous world of sharing your Faith and be able to do so confidently.

The goal of this crash course is to save you from crashing and burning so you can spread your wings and fly. Here are 10 tips that will help you be the best teacher you can be.

Communicate

G. K. Chesterton said, “The only people who seem to have nothing to do with the education of the children are the parents.” If it was true in his time, it is certainly true now. One of the most important things you can do as a teacher is interact with the parents. It is what we see at home that guides who we become, and this is especially true of our Faith. Ensure the parents are aware of this. Without their cooperation, you can only do so much. Gather the parents on orientation day or after the first day of class and explain to them in person the significance of the role they play. Communication with the students is important as well. Ask them how their week was and show them you care. We are children of God, not names on a roster. Ensure the children know you are looking out for their wellbeing and want them to succeed. Sometimes what they need most is a mere word of encouragement or sign that someone cares.

Make Expectations Clear

Make your expectations clear from the start. Tell the parents you expect them to take their children to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. Explain how they will receive updates and can communicate with you. Make it clear that their children will have homework
and be expected to memorize prayers, that there will be a midterm, final exam, and individualprayer assessments.

Establish Classroom Routines

Begin with a routine so the students know what to do. Implement the schedule from day one. When they walk in the door, have them turn in their homework books at the same desk, find their assigned seat, and begin every day with a prayer. Routine is important. It shows you are serious and helps strengthen the students’ memory, experience, and focus. When I teach, we begin each class with a quiz from the previous week’s reading, read the current week’s chapter, and then I discuss the chapter using my lecture notes and take questions. Every week we follow the same schedule, yet each week is new.

Set Your Expectations

Set expectations and do not relax them. If upon reevaluation you see room for improvement, make changes, but do not allow excuses to lower your standards. “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently” (Proverbs 13:24).

Plan

While it may seem obvious, make sure you take the time to plan ahead. It helps you tie the weeks together and provides breathing room if you get sick or unexpected things eat into your preparation time. This prevents scrambling to get material ready, helping you avoid stress and mediocre teaching. Make sure you have wiggle room in case class activities take longer than you expect and have extra material prepared in case everything is accomplished sooner. Know what activity sheets you will need, which weeks have heavier workloads, whether you will need supplies, and when the students need to know certain prayers so you can prepare them. This will give you time to research as well. If you know you are learning about the Eucharist in the coming weeks, look up some Eucharistic miracles to share. If a class day will align with a favorite saint’s feast day, put aside time to talk about that saint and how they carried out the
values you are teaching that day.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Stand on the shoulders of giants. There are many great resources out there. Don’t reinvent the wheel. See what others have done and reuse it with your own spin. Read books, listen to podcasts, and talk to other teachers. They can give you valuable advice that might otherwise take years to unlock yourself. I recommend reading 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator by Jared Dees. I also highly recommend taking trainings such as VIRTUS, as well participating in fire and lockdown drills. These trainings will help you protect the children under your care. You cannot teach your Faith if you do not know it. Keep learning! J. R. R. Tolkien said, “True
education is a kind of never-ending story—a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness.” A great student makes a great teacher.

Prepare a Proper Workload

Make sure you assign homework. Assigning homework shows the students and parents that you are serious and reinforces what the students learned in class. It also helps you identify who is struggling and with what. This enables you to tailor your teaching to your students’ needs and narrows down which topics you may need to explain further in future classes. C. S. Lewis accurately said, “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” The problem is not that children have too much material to work with; the real issue is they are not supported in learning more. Often, we assume they cannot take as much as we have to offer, or we are afraid of failure. Never trying means you will never fail, but it also means you will never succeed. When we remove the restrictions that fear places in the way of learning, we are often surprised by how much children accomplish.

Assign Prayers and Assess Periodically

Assign prayers they should know and have prayer assessments periodically. Prayer is talking to God; it is a relationship with God. This is extremely important. In the world of technology, we are so surrounded by noise that we rarely take the time to unplug and sit in silence. Give the students that chance. Maybe you could have the class spend five minutes in contemplative silence, allowing the children speak to God in their hearts and hear His voice. If you could accomplish only one thing, it should be prayer. Help the children understand that prayer is talking to God and teach them how to pray. We are human and will inevitably fail. With a strong connection to God in prayer, the children will be led by Him on roads we never could have navigated ourselves.

Make Time

Be patient and kind but firm. This can be easy to forget when stress sinks in or issues arise. Maybe you run out of class time, there’s a misbehaved child, or homework is submitted incomplete. It is important to address these issues but remember also that your example is more powerful than your words. If you rush through the material just to get it all done and do not answer questions, you are exhibiting a lack of care for the Faith and the students. If you snap at the students, they will not trust you.

Addressing Behavior Issues

It is important to address issues with misbehaved children. Keep in mind as you do so that we do not know what their home environment is like. Sometimes what a child needs most is a listening ear and kind support. Be patient and kind, but not flaky. Laxity will help no one. Often the child who is out of hand has not learned that “no” means “no” and that instructions are not for negotiating. Do not give in where you are right. Be patient and kind but firm.

Leave Time for Questions

Leave room for questions. Children want to know more. Questions show engagement and a desire to learn. Do not quell that. Questions help clear up misconceptions, clarify the lesson, and provide insight into your students and their grasp on the material. I have heard some very insightful questions from second graders that I didn’t always know the answer to. Don’t be afraid to admit if you don’t know! Tell them you’ll find out and make sure you do it.

Do Not Underestimate Your Value

Unfortunately, for many students you will be the only example of a practicing Catholic that theyhave. Be one they will remember as a ray of joy in the darkness. Be a shining light and example. G. K. Chesterton said, “The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world.” This is the same for teachers. Children in our world today are faced with many difficult issues from divorce to abuse to harmful ideologies in school. Be a haven of hope, goodness, truth, and beauty. Be someone they feel they can turn to if they need help.

Ask God for Guidance

Remember to pray. Apart from God, we can do nothing. Don’t stress. Don’t worry about convincing people. All you need to do is plant the seed and God will take care of the rest. Remember the words of St. Padre Pio: “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” St. Vincent Ferrer was known for moving many people with his preaching. One day, he knew an important man was coming to hear him preach. He worked so hard on his sermon, that he didn’t have time to pray.

The nobleman left unimpressed. Sometime later, the nobleman came back to hear him speak. This time, St. Vincent didn’t know and prayed before preaching as usual. After hearing the sermon, the nobleman was greatly touched. When St. Vincent heard this, he said that in the first sermon it was Vincent who spoke—in the second, it was Jesus Christ. The moral of the story? Apart from God we can do nothing. Remember to pray.

Teaching CCD is an extraordinary gift. While it can be difficult, it is also very rewarding and is one of the spiritual works of mercy. I will be praying for you and so will your fellow catechists. You are on the front lines now, soldier. Stand strong! Do not be afraid—you were born to do this.

St. Hildegard Feast Day Science Lesson for Kids

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Today, I am sharing a fun St. Hildegard feast day science activity to do with your children. This would be great to complete for her feast day on September 17th or at an All Saints Day celebration. The lesson can be done with the entire family. You will learn about this powerful Doctor of the Church along with chemical properties of some common spices! I also have some yummy recipe suggestions.

Be sure to check out this free e-book with the entire lesson as well as the printables.

St. Hildegard, pray for us!

Facts about St. Hildegard:

  • She is a Doctor of the Church
  • She lived in medieval times
  • Patron saint of musicians and writers
  • Feast day is September 17th
  • She was a Benedictine nun
  • She had visions from God since she was a little girl
  • She was a musician and composed beautiful music
  • She also had many recipes and natural remedies to help people stay healthy and to heal

“If a person eats nutmeg, it will open up his heart, make his judgment free from obstruction, and give him a good disposition. Take some nutmeg and an equal weight of cinnamon and a bit of cloves, and pulverize them. Then make small cakes with this and fine whole wheat flour and water. Eat them often. It will calm all bitterness of the heart and mind, open, your heart and impaired senses, and make your mind cheerful.”

From Natural Sciences

St. Hildegard Science Lesson

Objectives:

  • Learn about the life of St. Hildegard.
  • Learn about the physical and chemical properties of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
  • Use the senses of smell, sight, and touch to explore these spices.
  • Explore the medicinal properties of these compounds.
  • Optional Extensions:
    • Recreate a recipe similar to one that St. Hildegard used.
    • Introduce basic Organic Chemistry by learning about the functional groups of each compound.

Materials:

  • Whole and ground cloves
  • Whole and ground nutmeg
  • Whole and ground cinnamon
  • Spice Date Sheet printed for notebooking
  • Suggested text and/or other St. Hildegard stories and books.
  • Optional Extensions: Ingredients and supplies to make St. Hildegard’s Nutmeg Cookies (pg. 53 in suggested text or find one online or in a St. Hildegard-inspired cookbook), molecule printables. The printables with large images of the molecules can be printed, laminated, and used as playdoh mats or with dry erase markers. Print them on regular paper to color with crayons, pencils, or markers.

Printables and free e-book available here.

Instructions:

  • Read the St. Hildegard facts (above). If time allows, read the suggested text as a family leading up to the day of this study or read a story about St. Hildegard during, before, or after the study.
  • Read “Spice Facts and Hands On Activity” and complete the spice exploration. Have all spices set out in small bowls or cups for easy exploring.

Spice Facts and Hands On Activity

Have each of these spices available for the children to smell and feel. Play a guessing Game: Have the children close their eyes and smell each spice and guess which is which. Whole spices are great for exploring by smell and touch and ground spices are great for smelling*. Print out the Spice Data Sheet and have the child write down adjectives for how each spice looks, feels, and smells, and any other facts that interest them. Have younger children narrate the information for you to record.

*WARNING: Do not allow children to taste the spices. The spices are toxic in large quantities.

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum

  • This is from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree
  • makes your mouth feel hot
  • face, nose, and mouth feel sensations too
  • anti-inflammatory (reduces inflammation in the body)
  • Gets its smell and properties from the chemical compound cinnemalhedyde (si·nuh·mal·duh·hide)

Nutmeg

Myristica fragrans

  • This is a seed
  • has a citrus flavor
  • antioxidant – protects cells from being damaged

Cloves

Syzygium aromaticum

  • This is a dried flower bud
  • sweet, bitter, and spicy flavor
  • Contains a natural anesthetic (numbing agent) called eugenol (you-jen-all)

Suggested St. Hildegard books:

Hildegard of Bingen: Woman of Vision by Carol Reed-Jones

This is a wonderful read aloud book about the life of St. Hildegard. This book portrays St. Hildegard’s life accurately and in an engaging way for the entire family. The book contains 12 chapters. Most of the chapters are only a couple of pages. Reading one chapter a day (and splitting the longer chapters over 2 days) is restful and enjoyable for the entire family. We highly recommend adding this little gem of a book to your library!

This book also has a delicious and nutritious spice cake recipe that we recommend making with your children.

St. Hildegard’s Garden by Paul Ferris

Feel free to substitute and use any books that include St. Hildegard. You may also wish to explore one of the many cookbooks that have been written based on her recipes such as this new one that just came out by Paul Ferris!

This extremely well-research book is both a valuable reference book and cookbook. It contains an abundant amount of information on St. Hildegard’s life. Even though St. Hildegard lived during medieval times, many of the medicinal properties of plants that she discovered have been confirmed by modern science!

The pictures in this book are also stunning. My kids and I love looking through the section on common herbs that St. Hildegard used and that can still be found and easily grown today. The book even contains instructions for laying out your own medicinal garden.

There are medicinal wine, herbal tea, porridge, compote, soup recipes, and a medieval chicken recipe as well! (Be sure to consult with a doctor before trying the medicinal or herbal recipes.) The Laurel and Almond Cookies are a fancier version of the spice cake recipe found in the chapter book by Carol Reed-Jones mentioned above.

Be sure to find more September feast days to celebrate in your home and parish here!

This article originally appeared on Amazing Catechists on June 23, 2025.

Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II

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Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating Places in the Life of St. Francis of Assisi

by Teresa Tomeo

Published by EWTN

It’s the year of St. Francis! 2026 marks 800 years since this remarkable saint’s death. The Catholic Church is celebrating with a special jubilee year and plenary indulgences available for the faithful. You can read all about it in this document.

While it is possible for me to make a local pilgrimage to obtain an indulgence, I won’t be able to make a pilgrimage to the saint’s home in Italy this year. Thankfully, Teresa Tomeo has written a book that makes me able to imagine and learn about going on pilgrimage to all of the incredible places where St. Francis prayed, preached, evangelized, and lived. I could *almost* taste the pasta and smell the fresh air of the Spoleto countryside while I read Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating places in the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

Planning Your Italian Pilgrimage

The book actually serves two purposes: 1. to help travelers plan an unforgettable and prayerful trip in the steps of St. Francis, and 2. to let those who are unable to travel live vicariously through the pages and images.

If I ever do plan a trip to Italy, I will definitely consult this book. Mrs. Tomeo is truly an expert on all of the important and powerful sights connected to St. Francis that one must visit.

How the Book is Organized

The book is organized and color-coded very nicely. I can tell that a lot of thought and attention went towards its layout.

When you look at the pages of the book from the outside (on the part opposite from the spine), you can see color-coding in red, green, purple, blue, and yellow. The red is for cities and towns in Italy, the green is for a special section called “A Pilgrim’s Perspective,” purple is for the Afterward (with some links to find more of the author’s travel content), blue is for more resources, and yellow is for the index.

The red section is the biggest, and it is split into 11 spots in Italy that are connected to St. Francis. The main takeaway that I learned from this part is that St. Francis is connected to way more holy places than Assisi!

Each chapter (or, location) also includes tidbits and sections such as:

  • T’s Ultimate Must Sees and Must Do’s – Teresa Tomeo’s special list of the Italian sites and activities that cannot be missed
  • Other beloved Italian Saints to visit and learn about
  • Highlights
  • Fascinating Places
  • Maps
  • Sacred Spaces
  • Prayers and Scripture

A Guidebook and a Biography

While this is the ultimate guidebook for pilgrims traveling to Italy, this was a really fun and informative biography of St. Francis. Teresa Tomeo’s writing is conversational and entertaining, and she is a wonderful teacher. She made this great saint come alive on the pages with her words and the beautiful accompanying photos.

I learned numerous fascinating facts about St. Francis, and my favorite was learning the story behind the photo of the statue on the cover of the book.

A Great Book to Learn About St. Francis

This was a super enjoyable read about one of the greatest saints of all time. It’s perfect for reflecting on his life and meditating on how we can meditate on his holy ways in today’s world. This would be a great book to read if you are planning a trip to Italy, but it also extrememly enjoyable just for the sake of reading and learning about St. Francis.

You can find Italy’s Shrines and Wonders Volume II: Discovering Sacred Spaces and Fascinating places in the life of St. Francis of Assisi by Teresa Tomeo at Sophia Insitute Press.

Back to School with Holy Heroes!

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It’s such as awesome time to be Catholic because of all of the beautiful resources available to us – in and out of the classroom! Today, we are going back to school with Holy Heroes resources.
I recently got to ask Clara Davison, Brand Manager of Holy Heroes, about all of the fun and new resources they have for heading back to school. Read on to see what they have available for families, catechists, and Catholic school teachers!
Be sure to use code ALEXANDRA at check out for 10% off your entire order!

Family Prayer Time

AC: Please tell us about any resources to help families pray more this school year.
HH: We have an entire Back to School collection to help families prepare for the school year! Specifically, our Prayer for Priests & Prayer for Students card is a must-have for Catholic students this year. We know how hard our parish priests work to provide us with the Sacraments and spiritual support. We need to support them with our PRAYERS. Now you can begin every school day with a St. John Vianney’s Prayer for your parish priest, then flip the card over to pray St. Thomas Aquinas’ prayer for students (especially powerful before tests)!
If you are a parent looking to install good habits this school year, the Only for Today prayer card is another fantastic resource! Begin each day with Pope Saint John XXIII Daily Decalogue, where you go through 10 statements to focus on for the day. Watch your school days transform with these 10 “only for today” habits!

AC: We are still celebrating our new Pope in our house! Do you have any resources for learning about the Papacy or praying for our new Pope?
HH: We are so excited to encourage kids to pray for our new Pope Leo XIV! With original artwork, this Pope Leo XIV prayer card has been wildly popular! Please get this prayer card (or this Catholic phone case!) and remember to keep our Holy Father in your prayers.
If kids have questions about how Pope Leo XIV was chosen, We Have a Pope is a perfect picture book to answer questions in an engaging way! See inside the walls of the Sistine Chapel and see how the cardinals elect a new Pope! Read this book and then celebrate our new Pope with our FREE Pope Party decorations!
AC: We know there is the much anticipated canonization of Carlo Acutis coming up this summer! Do you have any books or activities about this amazing saint? Maybe anything for a canonization party to celebrate?
HH: We are so excited for the canonization of Carlo Acutis! In honor of his upcoming canonization, we have released a large bilingual Carlo Acutis coloring book to help the littlest Catholics celebrate this new saint! We offer up to 35% off bulk orders of this 32-page coloring book so consider purchasing copies for all the children in your school or parish (or send this article to your DRE)!

Organization and Planning

AC: Please tell us about any resources or products that can help students, teachers, and/or parents stay organized this year.
HH: We sell out every year so you don’t want to miss this Catholic Daily Planner! Applicable for parents, teachers, AND students, this planner includes special feast days and Sundays for both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Church Calendar! You can read dozens of reviews from excited Catholic families here.

Resources for Parish Catechists and Catholic School Teachers

AC: What resources do you have for parish catechists or Catholic school teachers as we enter this school year? Please tell us about them!
HH: We offer a 30% discount on Holy Heroes resources to parishes and Catholic schools! You can browse our Parishes and Schools Collection for unique resources and email customerservice@holyheroes.com to get set up with a 30% discount.

Teaching the Faith at Home

AC: What recommendations or resources do you have for parents to teach their kids the faith in their homes this school year? Anything specific for different age categories (toddler, elementary, middle, high school) or for whole family learning?
HH: A great way to teach prayers to your littlest children is our Prayers in Sacred Art collection! Paired with stunning Sacred Art, these hardcover books walk children through The Apostles’ Creed, Hail Holy Queen, Guardian Angel prayer, and St. Michael the Archangel prayer!
For late elementary and early middle school, the Very Young Catholic Project is a must for sharing the joy of the universal Church through the eyes of children around the world! With 17 books currently available (and more coming every year!), visit Dubai, Australia, Thailand, Argentina, Togo, Iceland, and MORE to discover what it is like to be Catholic in every time zone. These 90+ page volumes include beautiful photographs and insights alongside engaging stories that can be enjoyed by kids ages 8-13 years old. This series makes a great supplement to your theology, geography, or social studies curriculum. 

Coming soon from Holy Heroes this Fall!

AC: Is there anything new coming to Holy Heroes this fall that we can look out for? Or, anything else you would like to share with our readers?
HH: We have a new Glory Story coming this fall…you won’t want to miss it! Make sure you check back regularly for it to be announced!
Thank you so much, Clara! We are so excited for all of these resources and cannot wait to find out who the New Glory story will be!
Be sure to share this article with a friend or DRE, and check out our past Holy Heroes post for Advent and Christmas to save for later. Also, be sure to use code ALEXANDRA at check out for 10% off your entire order!
This article originally appeared on Amazing Catechists on July 16, 2025. 

Sunday Gospel Lesson Plan Ideas: Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

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The Gospel we will hear on Sunday is rich and powerful. One of the main themes is Jesus instructing us to take up our own crosses to follow Him. This is a hard but necessary teaching. Life will not always be easy, and we will all be called to suffer in different ways. Our consolation is that Jesus will be with us in our suffering.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

Lesson Plan Ideas

Scripture Verse Memorization

Choose a part of the Gospel to have your students memorize and discuss.  Give a reward to the children who memorize it by your next class.

Puppet Script

Here is a free puppet script about embracing the Cross.

Embrace the Cross

Here is an article about thinking of our crosses as ladders to heaven.

Free Gospel Resources Online

Here is a list of more free Sunday Gospel resources online.

 

 

 

 

Classroom Management and Teaching Effectiveness for Catechists

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“Do not be afraid to go out on the streets and into public places, like the first Apostles who preached Christ and the Good News of salvation…”

Hello fellow Catechists! These powerful words were spoken by Saint Pope John Paul II to an estimated 1,000,000 worshippers during his closing Mass for the World Youth Day in Denver on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, 1993!

As a Catechist, you have answered this great Saint’s call to make God visible to those around you by volunteering to be a Catechist!! You no doubt noticed that he said “…like the first Apostles…”. As a Catechist, you are – through your service to our young Catholics – walking in the footsteps of the Apostles!!

Those “first Apostles”, inspired and driven by the Holy Spirit…
1) taught about the Good News of Jesus Christ;
2) were driven to save souls;
3) faced “students” who ranged from motivated, to somewhat interested, to (at times) recalcitrant; 4) persevered, and courageously so, in spite of the culture of their times.

They are certainly worthy of emulation…and, as Catechists, we all are blessed with the opportunities to do just that!!

Classroom Management Tips for New and Veteran Catechists

You may be a new Catechist very much looking forward to greeting your students for the first time…yet wondering what awaits you when you begin teaching young Catholics about Jesus and His Church. You may, on the other hand, be a “veteran” Catechist of the past few years, simply looking for helpful hints to enhance your effectiveness in both teaching your students and managing your class and your classroom.

I can say from personal experience – and hopefully you veterans will agree – that being a Catechist is remarkably motivating, illuminating, and rewarding! Yes, being a Catechist can be difficult and challenging at times, but isn’t meeting and surmounting those difficulties and challenges in itself rewarding…especially when, as a Catechist, you are bringing your students – through your words, actions, and very presence – to a knowledge and understanding of, and a relationship, with Jesus Christ?!

Simply yet profoundly stated: Being a Catechist is a remarkably important and powerful vocation, that can and, hopefully, will have a life-changing impact on both you and your students!!

Advice from an Experienced Catechist…and the Power of Networking!

I gladly share that belief with you from personal experience during my 38 years as a Catechist. That said, my growth and development as a Catechist over the years – especially in classroom management and teaching techniques – was driven by experiential knowledge (i.e. trial and error!), accumulated learning (thanks to mentors and remarkable Directors of Religious Education!), and some good old-fashioned (said with all humility…) common sense.

I would like to share those classroom management and teaching techniques with you.

After reviewing them as a new Catechist, I very much look forward to your own comments and questions. If you are a “veteran” Catechist, please also feel free to share your own experiences and “best practices”…that is, what worked for you and, yes, even what did not.

Networking among Catechists can and should be an integral and supportive part of both our vocation and our weekly or bi-weekly efforts in support of our students as young Catholics!

We are all in this together…yes, just “like the first Apostles”!!

 

Suggested Techniques for Effective Classroom Management and Catechist’s Teaching Effectiveness

Be Firm, Friendly, and Supportive!

1) At ALL times when working with your students…be FIRM, but FRIENDLY and SUPPORTIVE – but please remember that you are NOT their peer. That said, do not hesitate to tell them intermittently- especially during your first class – that you are there to teach them about
Jesus and his Church. In addition, share with them – again, especially during your first class – that your ultimate goal in doing what you are doing is to help them build and strengthen their relationship with God and help them achieve eternal salvation. In other words, you want them to get to Heaven (and, yes, tell them that…)!!

Assign Seats on the First Day of Classes…

2) I highly recommend that you give your students assigned seats from day one (whether you are in a classroom or at a table in a large room!), preferably in alphabetical order (front to back OR side by side), and I always avoid changing these seats throughout the year – except in cases of bad conduct. This is your unspoken yet effective indication to your students that YOU are in control of YOUR class and that YOU are the teacher in the room! Even more importantly, you’ll get to learn their names quicker and, in doing so, you’ll build a positive and fruitful working relationship by showing your respect for them!

It sure beats just pointing!

Have Fun While Staying in Control…and The Importance of Mutual Respect!

3) A minor yet important note: Smiling or laughing at something funny they say or do in relation to the material in class is always acceptable and good (in a way, this shows you are respecting them) BUT you must “switch that off” quickly or you will lose both the attention of your students and the control of your class.

4) If your students ask questions that are “off-topic”, answer ONLY the first one and then return to topic. Gently cut off the other off-topic questions – and tell them you would be happy to answer their similar questions after class (if this is possible given your dismissal protocols)! I have always enjoyed doing that when and if my students follow-up on my offer!

5) Emphasize from your very first class that mutual RESPECT (student to teacher / student to student / and teacher to student) governs ALL behavior in class at all times. Always be consistent in enforcing this rule! This builds a positive and affirming sense of community among the students and yourself! (More on this principle of “community’ later…)

Rules for Your Students!

6) Given #5 above, the following key rules apply in your class at all times – and these rules should be conveyed on day one…and re-emphasized whenever necessary:

a) ONLY one person speaks in class at all times. This is a sign or mutual respect among everyone in the class! Correct them as needed, and always be consistent in gently but firmly enforcing this rule!

b) The students MUST raise their hand and NOT shout out if they have an answer to your question OR if they have a question themselves. Correct them as needed, and always be consistent in gently but firmly enforcing this rule!

c) If two students sitting next to each other are exhibiting poor conduct, correct them with a warning that their assigned seats will be changed if their actions continue – while also emphasizing that it is NOT your desire to do that AND that you are confident they will correct their behavior in the future. If, after two warnings, their misconduct continues, you MUST then move one of the students to the other side of the room – without hesitation. Your definitive and authoritative action – especially while emphasizing that your actions are for their best interests  in helping them learn without distractions – will be noticed by your students!

Rules for the Catechist…

7) The three rules for success in real estate? Location…location…location!

The three rules for success in teaching? Preparation…preparation…preparation!!

8) Fully preparing for your lesson is an integral component of a successful class!! When preparing for each upcoming class (and it is recommended you start doing so at least 2-3 days before your class date – if not sooner), plan as if your class is at least 15-30 minutes longer than it actually is! Doing that will ensure that you will never run short of material to teach for that class! ALSO, writing down an outline of your lesson plan for you to use and refer to during class will help you immensely!

9) When planning your lesson as you plan for your class, always be fully cognizant of the main theme (or topic) for that particular class*. By identifying the main theme/topic for yourself (during lesson planning) AND for your students (during class) you are essentially
establishing your goal & objective for that class (i.e. what you want them to learn and understand).

*Note: Your Director or Coordinator will almost always present you with the theme/topic listing (a syllabus) for each class at the start of each academic year, as either driven by the contents of a related grade-level textbook or a curriculum formulated by the Director or Coordinator of Religious Education or Faith Formation.

Writing the main theme/topic up on your blackboard or whiteboard (or on handouts if you have neither available) at the start of class will help your students – as visual learners – to focus on the subject matter being presented…providing you “stay on track” to your theme/topic.

An In-Class Tool to Help You…

10) Here’s a tool to help you “stay on track” with your theme/topic…

BELOW the main theme/topic you’ve written on the blackboard or whiteboard (or handouts) at the start of class for your students – again, since they are visual learners – I highly recommend you write a sub-heading entitled “KEY WORDS”. You would then list your actual key words below that sub-heading which will essentially be your talking points that you’ll be presenting throughout that particular class to illustrate the overall message of your theme/topic for that class.

For example, if the theme/topic is the Holy Eucharist, these could be your “key words” you would list below your sub-heading…

Bread
Wine
Last Supper
Jesus
Priest
Mass
Consecration
In memory of…
Real Presence

I have found the use of key words to be a highly effective teaching tool…not to mention a great resource to review – at the start of the next week’s class – the theme/topic I had presented during the prior class!!

11) Each time you do your “class prep”, always prepare for how the main theme/topic should and can connect to, support, and enhance your students’ spiritual lives as Catholics! Be prepared to offer the students ‘real life’ examples – BOTH hypothetical AND including those
experiences from your own life…as long as they are not too personal! Always listen to the students if they have their own RELATED experiences as well – within time limits.

Encouraging Class Participation!

12) Class participation should always be an integral component of all your classes, whenever appropriate to your theme/topic and your “key words”, as you identified during your lesson planning and as presented in class!! From time to time, ask your students if they have any questions about what you just presented. This enhances their learning, helps to keep their attention, AND – at times – will help you expand on the subject matter you just taught them (which I always enjoy doing!).

ALSO, I highly recommend that you consistently remind them that “THE ONLY DUMB QUESTION IS THE ONE NOT ASKED!”. If a student raises his/her hand (AND, again, they must NEVER shout out in class!!), and you didn’t ask the class a question, call on them right
away! (Yes, it could be a bathroom trip, but I’m always optimistic that it’s not…and many times my students’ questions have been amazing!!)

The Teaching Guide – A Help in Lesson Planning!

13) In the event your parish program gives you a Teaching Guide related to the curriculum and the syllabus, use their suggestions that you are comfortable using…because if you use a suggestion with which you are NOT comfortable your students will recognize your
uneasiness immediately – especially with the older grades. Nevertheless, I have found many of the suggestions in Teaching Guides to be very helpful and creative!

Being Consistent…Especially When Beginning Your Class!

14) Consistency in how you start – and conduct yourself in each class – is important!! For example, since prayer should always be an integral component of your class, I highly recommend that you begin each class by asking the students if they have anyone to PRAY for…i.e. their prayer intention. (It is suggested you limit their prayer intentions to one each student for time management purposes, but if a student says he/she has a second intention that is absolutely OK!)

By doing this, you give yourself the opportunity to show the students that their faith is at work (if they had no faith, they would not pray!) AND you are showing the students your respect for them as fellow Catholics…for in their presenting their prayer intention you are
showing them that you and the rest of the class are praying for their intention also! This builds a sense of Christ-like fellowship in the class – which, in essence, becomes a community of faith (and not just a class!) thanks to this communal prayer!!

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A Final Thought…

Hello, again! I realize this is a substantial amount of information…but I wanted to share all this with you at this early date so you would have an opportunity to review it all over the next few weeks before your classes begin.

Again, I will look forward to your comments, questions, observations, and best practices… AND if you already have your curriculum and your schedule syllabus from your Director and Coordinator and you would like a suggestion for handling a particular theme/topic, please do not hesitate to let me know!

I’ll be back in touch with additional ideas that will hopefully help you throughout the year.

God bless!

Mark

This article originally appeard on Amazing Catechists on September 16, 2024.

Discovering the Latin Mass

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Discovering the Latin Mass: A Travel Guide for the Curious

By Eduard Habsburg

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Also available as an ebook and audiobook on the Saintifi App

I still remember going to my first Latin Mass 5 years ago on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. I wrapped a black scarf over my head because I had heard that it is traditional for women to veil in the TLM (to this day, I have continued to veil when I go to our Novus Ordo parish).

It was late at night, and the sanctuary, althoug full, was completely silent. The next hour and a half was filled with bells, incense, Gregorian Chant, Latin prayers, and beautiful vestements. I received the Eucharist kneeling and at the altar rails. It was familiar yet unlike anything I had ever experienced, and I loved it. We do not frequent the Latin Mass as often these days, but we always enjoy the peace, quiet, and beauty when we do.

Maybe you have never been to the Latin Mass. Or, maybe you have been and did not enjoy your experience like I did. I think a reason that I enjoyed it was that I had friends who regularly attended the Latin Mass to help me know what to expect. I also later went on a women’s retreat where the priest lovingly and patiently explained how to follow the Latin Mass, how to receive on the tongue, and how to follow along in the missal.

If you don’t have a good friend or priest to guide you through the Latin Mass (also known as the TLM – or Traditional Latin Mass), and you are curious about this form of the Roman Rite, Discovering the Latin Mass: A Travel Guide for the Curious by Eduard Habsburg is the perfect guide to read so that you can, hopefully, love it as much as I did.

A Helpful Guide to the Latin Mass

This short little guide is only 56 pages and can be read in an afternoon. Even though it is short, it includes all of the necessary information for someone who is new to the Latin Mass. It explains why the author started attending and why he continues to attend often. The book gives a history of both the Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo Mass and how they are similar and different, and how both forms can help a person grow in holiness and deepen his or her faith.

The author gives helpful advice about how to follow along during the Mass if you wish, and he suggests different missals and resources you can find for free and for purchase to guide you through the Mass.

The author’s writing style is friendly, casual, thorough, and helpful – making this little guide an enjoyable and informative read. Even though I have been to the Latin Mass many times, I learned even more about the significance of the gestures and movements of the priest during Mass. I found the parts about why TLM priests do not concelebrate fascinating, as well as the purpose of side altars that can be seen in older churches.

Who Would Enjoy This Book

As the subtitle implies, this book is perfect for anyone who is curious about the TLM. The author especially explains how the TLM and the New Mass (which all Catholics are familiar with) are similar and different. He does not try to sway or convince you to attend one or the other. His own experiences that he shares are also very helpful.

I think this guide would also be helpful if you attend the TLM and you have family or friends who may be skeptical or critical about you attending. It’s a laid back and approachable explanation to all of the facets and reasons why people may attend, and what it’s all about. It may help with any tough conversations you may have with family members who do not agree with your choice to attend.

Attending the Latin Mass helped me actually understand the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass better, and I get even more out of Mass now – no matter what form I attend. I highly recommend giving the Latin Mass a try if you ever have the chance to attend. This guide will help you get the most out of it when you do.

Discovering the Latin Mass: A Travel Guide for the Curious is an informative, practical, and enjoyable book, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about this important part of the Catholic Church’s history and tradition.

 

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