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Arby’s + Wonder Woman + Ph.D
Avoiding “Black Friday,” I ventured out with friends shopping on Saturday. Not much better, I think.
During lunch at Arby’s, I put together this “kid’s toy” that said age 3+. Probably the worst kid’s toy EVER! Even with 2 bachelor’s degrees, I had difficult putting this 15 piece paper-cutout of a “bobble head Wonder Woman.” She didn’t last long after her completion either.
Thanksgiving “Attitude of Gratitude” prayer
I hope everyone had as great a Thanksgiving as I did, with family & friends!
Attitude of Gratitude (prayer)
Dear Lord, we come to You today
With a humble attitude.
For all you give, our hearts are full
Of love and gratitude.Thank you for this special time
To offer our Thanksgiving.
Thank you for this food, and for
The blessed lives we’re living.
In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen
—By Joanna Fuchs
catechists … prepare for Advent
I found a great blog called Catechist’s Journey.com by an 8th grade catechist named Joe who “knows his stuff” and provides resources and discussion about catechesis. He’s been in ministry for 30+ years and does online seminars called “webinars.” Check it out … especially if you’re a catechist.
In the above video, I especially like the following (I’ll use it in class next week)
Jesus’ Three Comings: In …
- History — when Jesus came Man (incarnation)
- Mystery –as Jesus comes to us today in many ways, especially in the Eucharist
- Majesty — as we look forward to His triumphant return at the end of time
Lots more on his site. Check it out!
P.E.A.K. for priests
In this Year for Priests, Father David Toups creates an acronym (something he beat me to) about what every Catholic can do for priests, this year especially. (P)ray for priests. (E)ncourage those interested in discerning the priesthood. (A)ffirm priests for their vocation and service. (K)nowledge — increase your knowledge of priesthood.
There’s also more videos related to the Year for Priests, including more from Father Toups.
NY ordination 2009 video
As we are in the Year for Priests, the USCCB website posted this You Tube video of the priest ordination of New York. It’s done really well … by the same people (Grassroots Films) that made the Fishers of Men video.
The USCCB website also has a listing of all the new priests that were ordained this year with pictures, backgrounds and quotes.
nativity display at a mall ?
I was shopping with family & friends at the Town Center in Boca Raton and saw this beautiful nativity display inside. There was also a Hanukkah display on the other side of the mall.
In Neiman Marcus, there was a creative display over the escalator of butterflies and small mirrors that looked impressive. The picture doesn’t do it justice.
CCD 7th: Review ALL classes (day 9)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we REVIEWED all our previous classes to date.
Here are links to previous classes:
- (day 8 — Nov 8) Jeopardy Questions + Heaven + Hell + Purgatory
- (day 7 — Nov 1) Like Jesus + Holy + All Saints
- (day 6 — Oct 25) Incarnation + Chapter 1 + God Proofs
- (day 5 — Oct 18) Hats + 3 Birthdays + Vocations
- (day 4 — Oct 11) Prayer Quiz + Lies + Prayerful Heart
- (day 3 — Oct 4) Prayer Share + A.R.R.R.
- (day 2 — Sept 27) P.R.A.Y.S. + Angels + Yom Kippur
- (day 1 — Sept 20) 4 Winds Blow + Doxology + Sweet Spots
All these links are indexed on my Uth + CCD tab (at the top of this blog) for all classes.
HOMEWORK:
- bring parents next class,
- bring Bible, if you have one already,
- review notes with parents in preparation for playing Jeopardy!
sister’s bridal shower
Virtus training re-cert.
Tonight I was at Pace High School for re-certification training of my Virtus Facilitator status. I was trained back in 2003 when the Virtus (Protecting God’s Children) Program was begun here in the Archdiocese of Miami. There have been some changes since and I haven’t facilitated a class in years. This training session is tonight and all day tomorrow.
Miami Auxiliary Bishop Noonan was present and gave a great introduction about the programs history, importance and full support. The main training was led by Dr Paul Ashton.
CCD 7th: Heaven + Hell + Purgatory (day 8)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we …
Write Jeopardy Questions — everyone made up Jeopardy questions about anything we learned so far. Some of the questions will be used for the Parent Teen Jeopardy in a couple weeks.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
- –apparition to Juan Diego
- –picked roses in winter
- –“eye” of Mary portrait
–Gangs using Rosaries (for protection?)
Heaven – the state of eternal life and union with God, for those that choose God (saints).
Hell – the state of permanent separation from God, reserved for those that reject God.
- Sheol (Hell) – Hebrew OT word for gloomy place beneath the earth for all dead, both righteous and evil.
- Gehenna (Hell) – Hebrew NT word refers to the place on the SW side of Jerusalem, used for a dumping ground for human waste, corpses, rotting matter, etc. with “fires” burning. Became a popular symbol for what Christians called “hell.” (See Mark 9:43-48, Luke 12:5)
Purgatory – a state of final purification that one may need following death, before heaven.
HOMEWORK:
- finish Pop Quiz handout & prayer journal “God letters” (3 any + 3 events),
- do “Jeopardy Questions” handout (x 2)
Miami Catechetical Morning 2009
Today was the annual Archdiocese of Miami Catechetical Morning 2009 at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, sponsored by the Office of Religious Education. It drew about 400 catechists from all over the diocese to celebrate our essential ministry as catechist of the Catholic faith.
The morning began with morning prayer and some words of thanks and encouragement from Archbishop Favalora.
The keynote speaker was also encouraging as well as enteraining. Sister Carol Cimino, a Sister of St. Joseph of Rochester and consultant for the William H. Sadlier publishing company. Her talk was titled, “I Know Who You Are and I Saw What You Did.”
At lunchtime, we could browse the various displays of resources from various Catholic companies. Respect Life was well represented as well with lots of resources for all ages. I especially like the poster of “The Facts of Life” and the hand-held figurines of a 3 month old in the womb.
Lunch was tasty and affordable for those that chose to stay on campus. A footlong hotdog or ham n turkey sandwich with chips or “cookie” and drink for about $5-6. During lunch, I also had a close encounter with a butterfly.
After lunch, the second speaker was Sue DeFerrari, retreat director of the Morningstar Renewal Center retreat house in Miami.
There’s a good article on the Florida Catholic website about the event as well.
the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic
Here is the “Lord’s Prayer” (Our Father) in Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke.
CCD hs: Old Testament + CCC (day 7)
Today, in our high school Confirmation class, we covered Chapter 3 on Old Testament. We also included in introduction the the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) with a project assignment (a report or display or collage) based on individually assigned CCC quotes.
St Veronica (“bearer of victory”) wiped the face of Jesus on the road to Calvary. His image remained on the cloth. Her feast day is July 12, same day as the Holy Face of Jesus.
Interpreting the Bible
- –Literalist
- –Contextualist
“Four Religious Truths” ( 2nd Creation Story)
- –God is one
- –God planned creation
- –God created everything good
- –God made the Sabbath holy
Sin, Personal Sin, Social Sin, Original Sin
Bible books (p34)
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
- www.usccb.org/catechism/text/
- “CCC #” = is the paragraph # in the CCC
- –Part 1: CREED (Prof of Faith)
- –Part 2: SACRAMENTS (Celebrate Mystery)
- –Part 3: MORALITY (Life in Christ)
- –Part 4: PRAYER
HOMEWORK:
(1) handout “Rays of Hope” Links, and (2) assigned CCC project (report or display)
Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound
Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound
Check out this article at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571215,00.html
Here are some quotes:
Johnson said she became disillusioned with her job after her bosses pressured her for months to increase profits by performing more and more abortions, which cost patients between $505 and $695.
“Every meeting that we had was, ‘We don’t have enough money, we don’t have enough money — we’ve got to keep these abortions coming,'” Johnson told FoxNews.com. “It’s a very lucrative business and that’s why they want to increase numbers.”
…
But Johnson said her bosses told her to change her “priorities” and focus on abortions, which she said made money for the office at a time when the recession has left them hurting.
“For them there’s not a lot of money in education,” she said. “There’s as not as much money in family planning as there is abortion.”
Check out this article at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571215,00.html
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