Columnists

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

"Joshua and the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho! Joshua and the battle of Jericho! And the walls came tumbling down!" Read more...

Christmastime is an especially joyous time to work with youth and others as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ. Here at our own school, St. Theresa, we are busy practicing for our annual “Evening With St. Nick” program. Read more...

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

It was 10 years ago, but it seems like it was just last year when I volunteered to teach a tenth grade catechism class. Read more...

With seven kids at home it can be difficult for me to concentrate on anything for longer than a few moments! Imagine then, what it is like for a child who suffers with attention problems, to pay attention in Faith Formation Class. Read more...

In today's secular culture, there are some common misconceptions (pun intended) regarding the Church's teachings on sex and marriage. Read more...

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

When I was in 7th grade my mother went through a phase of encouraging me to join the youth group at our local parish. Now I was no stranger to church. After all, my parents had been dragging me there every Sunday for as long as I could remember Read more...

Every one of us who is passionate about the treasure that is the Catholic Faith has encountered moments of difficulty when attempting to unlock the door to this treasure for another human soul. There are varying levels of difficulty depending on where any particular individual is on the path to their journey to God and to reality. I am referring here to each one or us, as well as the person God presents to us. Read more...

It is not an easy task for the teacher to unplug themselves from the classroom. But summer has endless benefits. Read more...

Many years ago, pornography was delivered to a house in a brown package. Now, it often makes its way into our homes through the internet and television. Many children younger than six or seven are being exposed to hardcore pornography. Some Catholic and Christians are becoming addicted to internet porn. Read more...

When spirits run low a catechist must retreat, not into the shadows but into the light of the Holy Spirit, only then can he/she pass on the faith effectively. Read more...

More on the unity of Body & Soul. Read more...

Connecting Scripture to things in church. Read more...

Lately, I have been finding myself on the receiving end of some serious form-filling-out…..insurance forms, medical forms, grocery store card savings forms. They just seem to be piling up. Read more...

Since NFP often involves abstaining from marital relations for a certain period of time, abstinence is sometimes considered a disadvantage of NFP. After all, shouldn’t a married couple be free to engage in marital relations as often as possible? Read more...

12 qualities for effective catechesis Read more...

Thinking sideways Read more...

The Ascension isn't just Jesus popping off to heaven. Read more...

Preparing for a sacrament can leave others searching for reasons to believe. Read more...

All Bible translations are not created equal. Read more...

This list shares 10 skills that are key to develop as a catechist. Read more...

I had to pull my daughter out of formal faith formation classes this year. It was a frustrating decision for me, because she understood the faith content of the class, but she is cognitively delayed and couldn’t manage the bookwork for the course... Read more...

Not long ago, my children and I were heading westward on the Long Island Express-way, hoping to see the statue of Our Lady of America during its historic visit to New York City... Read more...

Startling blue skies. Crisp, clear mornings and halcyon spring afternoons. An impromptu game of marbles. Discovering a family of ladybugs on the kitchen windowsill... Read more...

Coping with infertility is challenging, especially in this day and age where new reproductive procedures are making it easier to give birth to a biological child. However, it is important that a couple ensures that whatever assistance they receive be in accord with Catholic Church teaching. Read more...

When teaching teenagers one has to be ready for all sorts of questions. “Are there homosexual extraterrestrials?”, “Is everyone in heaven good looking?”, “Can a person see their soul?” and my favorite: “Why DID the chicken cross the road?” Here's a hint on how to prevent "catechist-shock" and go from silly to serious. Read more...

The Continuity of Liturgy Read more...

Learning more than one Big Picture Read more...

Connecting ideas through time. Read more...

Make Art do some of the work. Read more...

Graphic lesson plans can work as well as written ones. Read more...

Sometimes the classroom is not supposed to be a comfortable place. Read more...

I am the mom of several children with varying disabilities, from a mild form of autism, moderate cognitive delays, anxiety disorders and dyslexia. Working with children who have disabilities is a special passion of mine... Read more...

One of my favorite Irish ballads, “Dublin in the Rare Auld Times,” begins: “Raised on songs and stories, Heroes of renown, The passing tales and glories, That once was Dublin town... Read more...

Press suit. Check. Shine black dress shoes. Check. Purchase white satin tie and arm band. Check. Cut hair, charge camera batteries. Check and check. Read more...

This article shares three themes that should be a regular part of passing on the Faith. Read more...

Rules for the teacher Read more...

Natural Family Planning is a method of birth regulation whereby a couple charts the woman’s fertility cycle, determines when the woman is fertile, then abstains during that period of time if avoiding pregnancy. If the couple is planning a pregnancy... Read more...

Reverence Read more...

This article explores using various learning styles in the classroom. Read more...

Being that I am not only a citizen of the United States but Ireland as well, those who know me best may expect a column about good Saint Patrick during this week of the “wearing of the green.” Read more...

Based on the book “Seven Habits of Highly Successful People,” this article proposes seven habits that catechists can practice in order to be successful and effective in the classroom. Read more...

λειτουργία: do your work Read more...

Late Friday evening December 11th, in the bitter cold, a hundred parishioners of Sagrado Corazon in Windham processed through the streets of Willimantic in honor of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Read more...

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

Mass & the Bible Read more...

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

Alternatives to the textbook Read more...

Using current events Read more...

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

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

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

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

Natural Family Planning provides many benefits which not only promote healthy living, this remarkable method of birth regulation is also environmentally friendly and fosters authentic marital love. Here is a list of NFP’s many benefits: Read more...

Quick big picture of the Bible Read more...

When Jesus preached, He often used parables. The confused, illiterate and ignorant were instantly illuminated by everyday images and real life examples. He quietly questioned Himself when they yawned with boredom and felt the thrill of a true connection. He saw the same blank looks of the students in your class. Read more...

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

Teach & Draw Read more...

The contraceptive mentality is a prevailing attitude in our current society which says “I want control over my body and my fertility,” and “Sex is for fun, not babies.” Read more...

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

Mom, she’s cold….” So says my newly turned six year old in a concerned, anxious tone, as he caresses his Grandmother’s folded hands. Her make-up, beginning to wear thin and stain his white dress- shirt cuff is another mystery to him, but not bothersome. Read more...

I enter this time of year with trepidation. I prep my student for weeks before it begins. The subject of “death and dying” makes the hair on their necks curl. Read more...

All children learn differently! End of story. Each child has been programmed, by God, to respond uniquely to varied types of input. Read more...

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

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

Speaking with your children about sex may not always be a comfortable subject, but it is an essential topic, especially during the preteen and teen years when physical and emotional changes are taking place. Read more...

Look at this pic of the Jordan River. Wouldn't you like to jump in that muddy thing? Read more...

When my son, Nicholas, was about three he asked us why monks got married? We were completely confused, explaining that monks do not marry, they live a cloistered celibate life. Read more...

Another year has flown by and another Christmas has passed. The excitement that spread while we decorated, baked, entertained and shopped has vanished into the frigid wind. Read more...

“Me too.” Words simply stated by my nine year old and its response by his seven year old brother as we prepare for any of our family centered Advent/Christmas rituals. Read more...

Making a Lesson Plan Read more...