religious education Archives - Amazing Catechists

Classroom Management and Teaching Effectiveness for Catechists

“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.

Encountering Signs of Faith – The Miraculous Medal

By Allison Gingras

Sacramentals Defined

First, let’s clarify what a sacramental is:

Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man. In accordance with bishops’ pastoral decisions, they can also respond to the needs, culture, and special history of the Christian people of a particular region or time (Catechism Catholic Church, 1668).

Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church’s prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. (CCC, 1670).

The Draw of the Miraculous Medal

During a particularly difficult time in my life, a friend introduced me to the Miraculous Medal, originally called the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, especially the promise that comes with wearing it, which really helped restore peace to my heart. During Mary’s apparition with St. Catherine Laboure, she explained, “Those who wear [this medal] will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee,” with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”

Miraculous Medal Activities

Each element of this medal came directly from the Blessed Mother—the image on both the front and the back, the words; even how it should be worn. That is remarkable in itself, but then coupled with the countless blessings and, yes, even miracles attributed to it, makes this sacramental worth investigating further. Click here to learn more about the medal.
A fun Miraculous Medal craft for families. This craft is made from aluminum foil with no drawing skills needed—a traceable template of the Miraculous Medal is available as a free download. Learn more on CatholicIcing.com.
Seeking creative ways to build a child’s devotion to the Blessed Mother? The Miraculous Medal Shrine offers a plethora of resources, including ten very creative ways to help your family deepen your devotion to Mary while having fun. Click here to get started!

Growing in Grace

Do you own a Miraculous Medal? Do you wear it daily around your neck? Do you have experiences or examples from your own life with the promised outpouring of graces Mary promised? If you don’t wear one, what holds you back? Have your learned anything from your Miraculous Medal investigation that might inspire you to adopt this devotion?

Learn more about the traditions and devotions of the Catholic Church (including sacramentals) as well as my incredible God-driven adoption story in my new book, Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God (Ave Maria Press, 2022).

Feature Image Credit: Allison Gingras/CanvaPro

This article was originally published on Jan 13, 2023 on www.amazingcatechists.com.

Being Present in the Advent Season Through Mary and Elizabeth

By Helen Secreti

In this article I would like to offer material for Advent to be used for faith formation classes, retreat days, and/or prayer services. The first two Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary provide a beautiful framework to dive deeper into the meaning and experience of Advent. There is some material that lends itself into the Christmas season too.

The Annunciation

The Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that she had been chosen by God to conceive and bear His Son, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Refer to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 26-38.

Reflections

God is reaching down to humanity to become one of us. The Incarnation brings us right into the meaning of Christmas in which heaven and earth, Creator and creatures, are united through the pure love of the Father.
Through Mary’s “Yes” we have the Incarnation by the means of the Son of God taking on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Mary is carrying the Temple of the Word. This divine event sets the world on fire! The Incarnation was not fully understood by the people of the Old Testament but it was proclaimed by the prophets, most especially by the prophet Isaiah.
Faith comes from hearing Christ preached (Romans 10:17) and the Angel Gabriel is the first messenger to preach Christ for the angel proclaims: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus”. (Luke 1:31) The angel spoke God’s Word to Mary.
As we meditate on this mystery, the writings that will become the New Testament, are unfolding here.
Though our first parents turned their back on God, God did not leave us abandoned to perish but rather has sent his Son to redeem us. We have been chosen. Jesus Christ is our Redeemer!
Mary is a model of humility and trust for us. Every day God gives us many opportunities to say “Yes”. Our responses can be little steps over and over again. These can become holy moments and each day we can look forward to seize them!
How pure and without blemish is the womb of Mary, full of grace, that God chose it for the first home on earth of his dearly beloved Son. Our Lord chose to take on human form in the womb of the holiest of woman; a woman conceived without sin. In the most fundamental stage of the human life cycle God chose to become one with us. The beloved womb is a sacred dwelling for life; it is a most holy place.
This mystery encourages us to be bearer of good news, especially that of Jesus Christ. Like the lights on the Christmas tree, we need to be bearers of light joined together to spread the joy and peace of the Christmas message of hope and redemption.

Biblical Prophecies of Jesus Christ Fulfilled

Old Testament: Isaiah 7:14; 40:3, Zechariah 9:9, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 23:5-6
New Testament: Luke 1:35, John 1:22-23, Matthew 2:2, Hebrews 1:6

Icons of Mary as Mother of the Son of God

The Pieta by Michelangelo
Descent from the Cross by Peter Check Van Aelst
The Jerusalem Icon of the Mother by holy Evangelist Luke

Reflection Questions for Catechists Before a Lesson

When did someone give you important, life changing, or surprising news? How did you react? Did you welcome it? Can you relate to Mary’s experience?
Who do you trust most in your life? What are his/her qualities that lead you to this trust? Do you recognize these qualities as special gifts to you from others?
When have you been the bearer of good or encouraging news that has helped someone on their faith journey?
Have any of the saints been bearers of good news to you?
When have you trusted God in a time of great uncertainty?

Questions for Students

What do you think the scene of the Annunciation looked like?
What do you think was on Mary’s mind when the Angel left her?
How was Mary feeling the next few days after the angel appeared to her? What would you say to Mary?
What did Mary’s “Yes” mean? What does a “Yes” to God sound like?
What does it mean that Mary was “full of grace”?
Do you think Mary had any friends? What were they like? Do you seek out certain types of friends?

Activities for Children

Draw/write/discuss this scene of the Annunciation. Think of Mary and where she lived and the appearance of the beautiful angel, Gabriel. Share.
Design an Advent Good News poster on construction paper (or cardstock) and/or an Advent bookmark. Advent themes: hope, peace, joy, love and Advent symbols: candles, wreath, holly, prayer, Advent calendar, Jesse Tree, creche
Write a prayer of devotion to your Guardian Angel.
Visit a church(es) and notice the Advent wreath and any statues, pictures or other religious items that remind you of the seasons of Advent and Christmas? Light a candle with a prayer for someone.
Discuss what the Hail Mary prayer means for this season of Advent.
Look at different religious Christmas scenes on Christmas cards that come into the house (catechist can bring some into the class for a lesson) and observe and discuss what you see in each one and how they speak to the season. Religious art can be emphasized here.
Paste a nativity scene from a card onto construction paper or cardstock and then draw a stained glass window design around it. You can do this by tracing lines with a marker using a ruler and then color in the spaces with crayon or colored pencils. Watercolor painting is beautiful too.
As a family or a group, work on a Nativity Scene puzzle (search Hobby Lobby and Amazon).

The Visitation

The Virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is carrying in her womb John the Baptist. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:39-42) Refer to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, verses 39-56.

Reflections

John the Baptist and his mother Elizabeth are in the presence of the first tabernacle, Mary’s womb. The Word of Christ is in the Womb. There is rejoicing in the womb!
How beautiful a visit is! How delighted Elizabeth must have been to see her cousin at her door, especially in this special time of need. We are called like Mary, to bring Jesus to others.
In this mystery we see the young and the old uniting in an embrace. This sends a message of the importance of unity between the young and the old as we are all one Church.
In this visit there is a deep spiritual communion between Mary and Elizabeth. This communion we desire deeply within our souls. Christ comes to us every day in our ordinary lives through the faces of ordinary people.
This is not a visit to the public but rather a private one. It reminds us of the good of doing things for the glory of God.
With this mystery we can think of what this holy visit is challenging and inviting us to do. Joseph sacrifices his time with Mary for someone in greater need. With Mary gone, Joseph is a little out of his comfort zone but he trusts in God and the message of the Angel Gabriel.
God sends us out in different ways. We can all think of times we have been sent out on a mission to help another. Do we seize the holiness in it? We are the hands and feet of Christ. We are called to do holy work. We are called out of the darkness into the light. May we all be bearers of light!

Biblical References for the Birth of John the Baptist

Old Testament: Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1
New Testament: Luke 1:5-25; 76 Matthew 11:9-10

Icons of the Visitation

The Visitation by Mariotto Albertini
The Visitation of the Theotokos and St. Elizabeth by Roman and Anna Davidoskiy
The Visitation by Brother Simeon Davis
Carmignano Visitation by Pontormo

Questions for Catechists Before a Lesson

Who in your life do you enjoy a visit with?
God calls us to visit and be with others in many settings. Which settings have been most meaningful to you?
Recall a time God sent you out to visit someone who needed you. What were the fruits of this visit for you and the other?
Think about your family tree and your place in it. Spend some time thinking of the relatives who came before you. When did you sense God in the midst of your family?
How do you like to support others?
How can we lessen the challenges of the generation gap in our Church and homes?
Do you allow Jesus to visit with you often?

Questions for Students

When has someone special visited you? How did you feel?
Have you visited someone special? What made the visit special?
How can you let Jesus visit you and keep you company?
How can you turn to Mary in your life? Can you be friends?
Discuss how we don’t live alone but in a community.
What special role did St. John the Baptist have for the future of all generations?
Who do the missionaries visit?
Can you invite a saint into your prayers and to join you in your day?
What are two God-given gifts of yours you can share with others?

Activities for Students

Recognize a special gift in a classmate/family member and write a thank you note or a prayer for him/her. Hand it to the person as if it were a visitor.
Create a small poster on the importance of SHARING your time and talents.
Share your faith with someone this week. Some suggestions are talking about what you learned in class, offering to say a prayer for a person and let the person know that. Offer encouraging words during Advent such as: “God bless you, I am glad God gave you to me, God loves you, How can I help?” Brainstorm for more ideas.
Look at an image of the Visitation and then on a piece of paper folded in half label one side MARY and one side ELIZABETH. Write a list of words to describe the visit for each one.
When we visit, we often use our legs and feet to get there and our arms and hands to hug and help out. Discuss what it means to be the “the hands and feet of Christ”.
Pray the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). What image comes to mind? A copy of this hymn of praise can be copied, pasted on paper, and decorated.

“The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior,

Who will rejoice with gladness, and renew you in his love,

Who will sing joyfully because of you.” Zephaniah 3:17

Saint Padre Pio

By Denise Mercado

Several years ago I received my first prayer book on Padre Pio. People in my parish love this guy. I knew very little about him except that he was given the stigmata. I struggled with this idea and as I prayed the prayers in the book, I kept thinking that if he lived during my time, I would ask to see his feet, hands, and side. I know I sound like Thomas, but this isn’t Jesus we are talking about. This is a Franciscan friar.

Why are we in competition?

One Sunday afternoon, I decided that I would watch the Padre Pio movie on the Formed channel. But before getting settled with popcorn and PJs, I decided to call my sister. We had a great conversation, as always. Then she told me about an old friend that was seeking God. My brother-in-law was raised in a Pentecostal church. My sister, like me, was raised Catholic. But also like me, she drifted. About five years ago she decided to go back to church but instead of the Catholic Church, she decided to go to the Assembly of God church where her husband grew up. She boasts about the fact that there are so many former Catholics that go to her church. Even the pastor, who is my brother-in-law’s cousin, was a cradle Catholic, but then around age 12, his entire family switched to the Assembly of God church. I listened as she complained about the rules of the Catholic Church and how she didn’t really understand what was going on in Mass. She is now convinced that if it is not in the bible, it is not truth, but doesn’t mention anything about which interpretation should be followed. On and on she talked about how welcoming her church was to everyone and how she felt like she had an extended family. Because of her strong feelings for her church, she invited her seeking friend to a church service. Her friend is now so blown away by the love and openness of her newfound church community.

As I listened to my sister, I found myself getting very offended. Yes, I too drifted and learned so much from my Protestant brothers and sisters, but there came a time when I realized something was missing. It was the Eucharist. When I shared this with my sister, she said that because her pastor was a former Catholic that he insists on Communion once a month. But when I told her it wasn’t the same Communion, she was silent. Is it possible that she has forgotten her Catholic school teaching?

Don’t be Afraid to Dig for Answers

When I returned to my Catholic faith, I didn’t understand much about the Mass, so I rolled up my sleeves and started researching about the Mass, about the sacraments, about the Blessed Mother, and all things Catholic. I walked away early in adulthood, not to go to another church, but to be free. I hated the rules of Mass every Sunday and holy days. I hated the obligation. But the Catholic Church doesn’t teach obligation. We do that to ourselves. The Church teaches relationships, with each other and most importantly with the Trinity. I am now in a Catholic church that has the same loving family environment that my sister talks about. But it is approached differently. In my sister’s church, there are greeters at each door that acknowledge you as you enter the church. At our church, we also have greeters. Most importantly, the Catholic Church has a tabernacle where the presence of God resides in a very intimate way. We go to church to worship God and our Mass is a sacrifice to God through Jesus. From the moment we enter church, we are focused on our Lord. We bless ourselves with holy water to remind us of our Baptism. We genuflect or bow before entering the pew as recognition for who is present in the tabernacle. We then kneel and pray to the One who is present. Our connection with others in our church family happens outside the church before Mass or immediately after Mass. A women’s retreat was posted in our bulletin shortly after I began attending my parish. I signed up for the retreat and a bible study and several other programs. It was during these events that connections with fellow Catholics were being made.

The Stigmata brings Controversy

What does all this have to do with Saint Padre Pio? The movie on the Formed channel, shared Saint Pio’s story beginning with his childhood. He was called by God as a child and experienced things that led him to the priesthood. The stigmata was one of many things about Padre Pio that intrigued so many. He had a huge following that concerned his superiors. The movie also showed how people exploited him by selling prayer cards and statutes of him which he adamantly frowned upon.

Toward the end of his life, a monsignor was given the assignment to visit Padre Pio to get him to tell the truth about the stigmata. It seems that Padre Pio was told by God not to show the stigmata to anyone and that the stigmata would be with him for 50 years. Padre Pio’s stigmata was seen by a small inner circle including his physician; however, it was the belief of this monsignor that Padre Pio was a hoax and he was determined to get the Padre to confess.

Here we have two priests in the Catholic Church arguing about what God is doing. This monsignor has a little more rank than a regular friar so it seems quite intimidating at times. The monsignor states throughout the movie that God is not in Padre Pio’s charade and yet Padre Pio insists that there is no one else but God in control of his life. As it turns out, the monsignor comes full circle as Padre Pio reveals to him an incident in his life known only to him.

We really are on the same team!

Why do we argue with each other about Christianity? I’m happy that my sister found a place to worship God. She is closer to God now then she ever has been. But I resent the inclination that her church is better than the Catholic Church because so many former Catholics now worship there. I remember the movie in the early 1970’s titled, The Poseidon Adventure. It wasn’t a true story, but I recall a moment in the movie after the ship encountered a tsunami and was capsized when a small group of characters were heading in one direction while the remaining survivors were convinced that they needed to go the opposite way. Of course, the small group at the end of the movie was the only survivors. I wonder if this will happen to us as we choose our church of preference. We are all Christians and, therefore, God is in this. Why try and prove ourselves? The monsignor was so determined to prove Padre Pio’s masquerade while Padre Pio was speaking truth about his experience with God. I believe our role is to encourage each other. And I further believe that it is each of our responsibility to do our homework, to research, to seek God in all ways. Choosing where we are to be should not be decided solely on feelings. Truth sometimes does not feel good.

I’m grateful to know a little more about Saint Padre Pio. My skepticism is somewhat calmed. I find this to be no different than the Marian apparitions of St. Bernadette and the children at Fatima. I believe that God will do whatever is necessary to get our attention. I pray that I will cooperate with Him in all things.

Byzantine Catholics – An Interesting Discovery

By Denise Mercado

What does it mean to be in Full Communion with the Catholic Church? The bonds of communion through faith, sacraments, and pastoral governance determine Full Communion with the Catholic Church. Through these bonds, believers receive the life of grace within the Church. However, the Catholic Church also recognizes Partial Communion with many Protestant denominations where elements of Christian faith are held in common.

Churches in Full Communion

As I continue to research for future writing projects, I discovered an interesting fact about the variety of churches in Full Communion with the Catholic Church. These churches include the Coptic Catholic Church of the Alexandrian liturgical tradition.

The Maronite Church, the Syrian Catholic Church, and the Armenian Catholic Church are also in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. A quick google search identified several Byzantine Catholic Churches near my home. The Byzantine Church is also in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. This was an interesting discovery that led me to visit Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church in New Port Richey, Florida.

A Special Visit

As I entered this beautiful church, I was reminded of the Russian Orthodox Church I visited in Alaska. But this was not an Orthodox Church. This was a Catholic Church in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. As I researched for a clearer understanding, I learned new facts about the history of Christianity.

Byzantine History

Around the year 600 AD, there were five major archbishops within the Catholic Church that led five large dioceses. The cities where these patriarchs resided included Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Rome.

The Roman Empire in the year 300 AD was split into the Western and Eastern Empires. The capitol of the Eastern Roman Empire was the city of Byzantium, which the emperor Constantine renamed Constantinople. This city is presently known as Istanbul in Turkey. The capitol of the Western Roman Empire was Rome. The language of the Eastern Empire was Greek, while the language of the Western Empire was Latin.

The Muslim Arabs in 600 AD conquered large parts of the Middle East and North Africa thereby reducing the influence of the Patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. However, the two remaining Patriarchs in Rome and Constantinople thrived and spread Christianity far and wide. The churches established by the Eastern Empire from its capitol, Byzantium, were referred to as “Byzantine” or “Greek” Catholic. Byzantine Catholics in America are the spiritual descendants of Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East who trace their spiritual heritage to the Great Church of Constantinople, known as Hagia Sophia – The Church of Holy Wisdom.

Distinct Differences

Although in Full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church, the Byzantine rite retains distinctive features which are evident beginning with the onion-like dome on the outside of the church. This history helped me to understand why I saw so many similar domes throughout my train trip through Austria. I knew Austria was predominantly Catholic but couldn’t understand why so many churches had what I assumed were Greek Orthodox domes. At the time, I didn’t know the rich history of the Byzantine rite and its connection to the Greek culture.

Upon entering the Byzantine church, the differences are even more distinct. The sanctuary is separated from the congregation by a beautiful screen covered in icons.

Behind this beautiful screen of icons is the altar and tabernacle.

Saint John Chrysostom

As I looked through the books and pamphlets located at my pew, I noticed a prayer book titled, “The Divine Liturgy of Our Holy Father John Chrysostom.” After further research, I learned that Saint John Chrysostom was an important early Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople. After his death, he earned the title, “Golden Mouth” because of his eloquent preaching and public speaking.

Other Differences

One of the women I met when first entering this church was raised Roman Catholic from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She loves coming to the Byzantine Church but said it took her a while to get used to the differences. In addition to the iconic screen separating the altar from the congregation, I also read that Communion is received under both species (Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine) and administered by the priest from a spoon.

The church was filling up quickly when I learned that a baptism would take place during the service. In the Roman Catholic Church, we call the service the “Mass.” In the Eastern Rite, the Mass is known as the “Liturgy.” Infant baptism is part of the Eastern Rite; however, baptism in the Eastern Rite includes Chrismation, which is another term for the sacrament of Confirmation. Infant baptism in the Eastern Rite also includes the Eucharist.

The child to be baptized was an infant – perhaps no more than one month of age. I was curious to see how they would administer the Eucharist to an infant. Unfortunately, there were so many family members surrounding the child that it was difficult to see all that was occurring. However, I had an opportunity after the Liturgy to speak with Father Oleksiy.

Father Oleksiy is a Catholic priest from Ukraine and the Administrator of Saint Anne Byzantine Catholic Church. He came to the United States with his wife and three daughters six years ago. When he mentioned his family, I was so focused on my other questions that I didn’t think to ask if Byzantine priests were allowed to be married. As I was preparing this writing, I researched this further and found that Eastern Catholic churches allow married men to be ordained, however, they do not allow marriage after ordination.

The Sign of the Cross

One of my first questions for Father Oleksiy was the difference in making the sign of the cross. Throughout the service, people in the congregation blessed themselves with the sign of the cross. Most crossed themselves from right to left. A few – like me – crossed themselves as do all Roman Catholics from left to right. I asked Father Oleksiy, “Why the difference?” He smiled and said that there are many different responses to this question. Some say it has to do with the importance and significance of the “right hand.” He shared the obvious that Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father. He also shared a custom in the Byzantine rite when the bride and groom place their right hands on the Bible during the wedding ceremony. But then, Father Oleksiy shrugged his shoulders with a smile and said that there are so many different answers to this question – like the reasons for driving on the right or left side of the road. We both laughed and moved on to my next question.

Infant Baptism and the Eucharist

“So, how do you give an infant the Eucharist?” Father Oleksiy explained that a very small drop of the Blood of Christ is placed on the lips of the infant during the baptism ceremony.

Communion is also different in the Eastern rite. The bread is a cube soaked in the wine and given by the priest with a spoon. I received Communion at this church and was amazed at the difference in presentation.

As I spoke with Father Oleksiy after the Liturgy service, we talked about the tabernacle behind the screen on the altar. Father Oleksiy confirmed that Jesus in the form of the Eucharist is kept in the tabernacle on the altar. However, he also shared a lengthy process that he must go through before placing the Eucharist in the tabernacle. This is because the Eastern rite uses leavened bread rather than unleavened bread as is done in the Roman Catholic Church.

I truly enjoyed the Liturgy service. It reminded me of a High Mass from the old Latin days. Every part of the Liturgy service was chanted including the readings from the Old and New Testament. I was particularly impressed with the following prayer recited by all in the congregation before processing to the front of the church to receive Holy Communion.

Special Prayer

Prayer Before Holy Communion

O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ, the Son of the Living God, who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the first.

Accept me today as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Son of God, for I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies, nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, but like the thief I profess you:

Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.

Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.

Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.

May the partaking of your holy mysteries, O Lord, be not for my judgement or condemnation but for the healing of soul and body.

O Lord, I also believe and profess that this, which I am about to receive, is truly your most precious body and your life-giving blood, which I pray, make me worthy to receive for the remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen.

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

O God, cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

O Lord, forgive me for I have sinned without number.

A Special Challenge

This was such a beautiful experience that I challenge each of you to look for a Byzantine Catholic Church in your area. I would love to know your thoughts on the Liturgy and the beauty of the icons.

One Simple Prayer

By Denise Mercado

Not so fast!

The Catholic Catechism teaches that “all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (CCC1030). This place of purification is known as Purgatory. We pray for the souls in Purgatory to assist them in this process of purification. Our goal is heaven where God resides. If there is sin in our lives at the time of our death that we have not dealt with while here on earth, then we must undergo purification so we can sustain the glory of God’s presence.

Below is a beautiful, simple prayer given to us by Saint Gertrude the Great that assists souls in Purgatory.

Eternal Father, I offer you the most Precious Blood of your Divine Son, Jesus, in union with all the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, for those in my own home, and within my family. Amen.

Tradition states that when reciting this prayer, 1,000 souls are released from Purgatory.

Where did this number come from?

Saint Gertrude the Great was born in Germany in 1256 in the same town as Martin Luther, although two centuries earlier. She is considered one of the great mystics of the 13^th century. Upon entering the Benedictine order, Saint Gertrude received an education in many different subjects. She was fluent in Latin and very familiar with scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. She wrote extensively about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and helped spread the devotion throughout the world. At the age of 25, she experienced her first series of visions. She wrote about her experiences in several documents, one of which is titled – Herald of Divine Love.

Saint Gertrude had a great devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Through her visions and writings, she shared how the Lord assured her that the reciting of her prayer in a pious manner would ease the suffering of the holy souls in Purgatory. However, nowhere in her writings does she speak of a specific number of souls that would be helped through this prayer.

False Promises and Indulgences

In the 19^th century, the Holy See, under the authority of Pope Leo XIII issued a rule that prohibited prayers, holy cards, and other religious items that promised the release of a specific number of souls from Purgatory. There are many ways approved by the Church to assist the souls in Purgatory. Some of those ways include the Mass, fasting, penance, almsgiving, and a variety of prayers including the Rosary. Saint Gertrude’s prayer is one of the prayers approved to assist the Holy Souls. However, the Church does not allow us to specify how many souls will be saved by what we offer to God. That is God’s decision, not ours!

It is unknown how the specific number of 1,000 souls released from Purgatory became attached to the Saint Gertrude’s prayer, especially since it is not mentioned in any of her writings. The prayer is a beautiful, simple prayer that eases the suffering of the holy souls in Purgatory when we say the prayer with devotion and love.

More on Saint Gertrude the GREAT

Saint Gertrude was never formally canonized. However, 300 years after her death, Rome approved a liturgical office of prayer and readings in her honor. The abbess during her time as a Benedictine nun, was also named Gertrude. To differentiate the two women, Pope Benedict XIV gave Saint Gertrude the title, “the Great.” She is the only woman saint with this title.

Saint Gertrude the Great is the patroness of the West Indies. Her feast day is November 16. Peru celebrates her feast with great splendor and a town in Mexico was built in her honor and bears her name.

The Lesson Learned

It is important to help the souls in Purgatory. The Saint Gertrude prayer is one of those prayers that can assist the holy souls. What I have learned in researching this prayer is to continue to pray the Saint Gertrude prayer everyday and to let God do what He does best in deciding who and how many will be released from Purgatory. Let God, be God! Amen!

Saint Gertrude the Great, pray for us!

This article was originally published on June 30, 2023 on www.amazingcatechists.com.

1 Quick Way to Get Your Lesson Started

By Deanna Bartalini

This is a quick way to get your group thinking about the topic of the day you are presenting. It can be used for any age group, kids to adults, and includes a way to turn the activity into something that can be sent home as a reminder of the topic.

Since Lent is approaching, let’s choose that as our topic and put ourselves in front of a middle school group. As they enter your room, ask them this question: When I say Lent, what words come to mind? If possible, have it written out where it can be seen.

What comes to mind?

After you have started your class in the usual manner, ask for answers to the question and write a list of all the answers. Using Lent as the topic, here’s a list: fasting, no meat, pizza, fish, stations of the cross, forty, suffering, death, pray, share, poor. Now, you can make a Word Cloud with the list of words and have it as a visual reminder of what Lent means to the group.

This idea does two important things for your group: they see that they do know something about the topic; as others give their thoughts, more come to mind – showing them the power of listening and working together.

If you make a word cloud for Lent or other topics, share it on our Facebook page! I’d love to see it.

Pray without ceasing?

By Deanna Bartalini

Prayer is necessary

I think most of us will agree that a prayer life is a good and necessary part of our spiritual life. St. Paul tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and that can be difficult for many of us to understand, let alone do in the intense world many of us occupy these days. As catechists and parents, we want to instill a love of prayer in those we teach, so they can see the beauty of it themselves.

There’s a book for that!

How Our Family Prays Each Day: A Read-Aloud Story for Catholic Families by Gregory K. Popcak; Illustrated by Jacob Flores-Popcak, published by Ave Maria Press is a read-aloud picture book. In it, Marty and his family talk about all the ways they pray each day. It shows typical family situations – siblings not getting along, mealtimes, going to Church, sports practice – and how to incorporate prayer into them.

The book makes the point that prayer is not reserved for Sunday Mass, but can take place all the time.

I read this book to my pre-school grandchildren, and they loved it. (The suggested age range is 4-8.) The illustrations are bold, there is the right amount of text on each page and following the pelican added to the fun of reading and talking about the book.

How can you use this book?

Read it to your class, making sure you hold it up so they can see the pictures. Then, talk about ways they can pray every day in their own life. There is a note for parents in the book as well to give you some tips and pointers. It also reveals why a pelican is the family pet!

Puppet Script: Jesus, the Greatest Gift of All!

By Lisa Mladinich

This week, I offer you another Advent-themed script about a grumpy kid frustrated with all the busyness and distraction of the adults during Advent.

Jesus the Greatest Gift of All-Advent

Feel free to change the names, add or subtract from the content, and share my free script in any way that helps you catechize and enjoy the season with your family, your students, or your parish. I recommend it be used as a puppet show for little ones or a skit to be performed by your confident readers!

NOTE: The only thing I ask is that you not sell the scripts. I own the copyrights and I’d like to keep them free for everyone. If you charge for performances, that’s fine. I know your ministries can use all the help they can get!

p.s.

Some of my scripts, you will notice, were inspired (many years ago) by a Christian script writer by the name of Louise Ferry. I believe this is where you can currently find her wonderful work: https://puppetscripts.tripod.com/puppet.htm

Advent Puppet Script

By Lisa Mladinich

My Friends!

Today, to mark the beginning of this holy Advent season, I’m sharing a sweet Advent puppet script, which I wrote years ago. It can be performed easily by any adult or teen. In fact, any child who reads well can perform them!

I have dozens of such scripts, some connected with the liturgical year, others with articles of our faith, others with virtues (which I created for our local YMCA nursery school), some created for VBS programs (for free, by request), and so on. I’ll be sharing them here at AmazingCatechists.com, in the coming weeks and months, and may eventually create an ebook, so you can acquire the whole “collection.”

How to perform the show

Simply sit with the script pages laid out on a desk or story rug and gather the children around you, or hand out copies and use it as a skit for older students to act out together in front of the class.

Use a different “voice” for each of the two characters, moving the one that is speaking, to make it clear for the children.

Some of them are wacky and silly, while others are more reverent. Be sensitive to mood, and have fun!

Please read my “Note on Reverence” before using any of my scripts. It’s important, truly.

A note from the author about reverence

And, without further ado, here is The Empty Manger, to start off your Advent season with the children:

The Empty Manger

A little history, if you have a minute more…

Between 2003 and 2008, I wrote dozens of puppet scripts for use in a YMCA nursery-school (virtue) program, then for Catholic and Christian children’s events, library programs, parties, scout troops, and finally my own religious education classroom. I was a volunteer mom teaching elementary-aged kids, but I was also a writer and a former actress, so–along with the Holy Rosary and our parish curriculum–I incorporated singing and creative dramatics, every week.

I almost always capped my lessons with a puppet show (hastily created beforehand), and the children adored them. It was a reward for good behavior, I told the children, but it was also a way to emphasize a point from that day’s lesson, break open a difficult concept, or make a dry subject fun and intriguing. If we had time and the children were clamoring to see it again, I would do an encore performance. Each lasts only a few minutes, and I figured, “Hey, they’re asking for another lesson in their faith. How can I say no?” They wanted to touch and talk with the puppets, so I often held a brief, extremely silly, improvised Q&A with the characters, after the show.

My religious education credo

To ignite their imaginations is extremely important to me, and I sincerely believe that it is a crying shame, if not actually sinful because it’s so dishonest, to make our amazing, transformative Catholic faith a dull and ordinary business. So I gave it my all, each week, begging the Holy Spirit to “light me up” and make the lessons impactful. He never let me down.

A little more about how to use them…

At the end of the day’s teaching, using whatever hand puppets I had at the time, I sat on the story rug, placed the scripts on the floor in front of me, and gathered the eager children around me. I started out using some old, neglected puppets they had at the YMCA, when I volunteered for a summer program with nursery-school-aged children. I also incorporated sock puppets, which were a scream and easy to make (and I am the least crafty person I know). But eventually, I bought an adorable, racially-diverse collection of “kid” puppets that Oriental Trading used to sell cheap. I added some animal puppets my daughter had been given (and never used), and a few oddball ones I borrowed from some enthusiastic neighbor kids (who were not using their’s, either).

A couple of important insights

As I branched out into children’s parties and library programs, I noticed a couple of amazing things:

all kids enjoyed the shows–even kids as old as 14 wanted to try them on after the show and make up their own stories,
and special needs children who normally could not attend long to a regular lesson were spell-bound by the puppets.

The puppets excited them like nothing else–like animated characters sprung into 3-D before their eyes!

CatholicMom.com…

Then, in 2007 (or thereabouts), I was on a Catholic writers’ email group, and offered to share my scripts for free to anyone who wanted them. Another member, the lovely Lisa Hendey, invited me to share them with the world at her popular site, CatholicMom.com. They had a home there, as a “puppet ministry” until 2019, when the site went through an overhaul and all PDF content was lost. (I just found out about it because someone tracked me down, asking for the scripts, and I made inquiries.)

The upshot is that I’m now sharing them here, so stay tuned!

Next up will be a Christmas show about a disgruntled kid feeling lost in the busyness of the season, who learns a lesson about service and sacrifice. Coming soon!

I pray these little lessons bless you and the children you care about, pray for, and teach. I would love to hear from you about how you use them, and I pray they will inspire you to create and share scripts of your own! I’d be happy to post them, here.

Feel free to write to me: lisa@wonderfullymade139.com

A very sweet and holy Advent to you and yours!

Lisa