Archive
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!
CCD 7th: Parent child Jeopardy + Angelus + BAPTiSM prayer types (day 10)
Today, in our 7th grade Pre-Confirmation class, parents were invited to come to class for orientation of the upcoming year and review of the last 9 classes. We opened with a review of “incarnation” and the “Angelus” for an opening prayer. Then I reviewed the different prayer types with B.A.P.T.i.S.M.. Then we played Jeopardy!
“Angelus” Prayer
(The Angel of the Lord)
[Lead:] The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
[ALL:] And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
HAIL MARY, full of grace …
[Lead:] Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
[ALL:] Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
HAIL MARY, full of grace …
[Lead:] And the Word was made flesh, [bow during]
[ALL:] And dwelt among us.
HAIL MARY, full of grace …
[Lead:] Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
[ALL:] That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
[Lead:] Let us pray.
[ALL:] Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts; that we,
to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
through the same Christ Our Lord.
AMEN.
Types of prayers … B.A.P.T.i.S.M.
- BLESSING – invoke God’s power for a person, place or activity
- ADORATION – the “created” before the Creator
- PRAISE – glory God (for who He is)
- THANKSGIVING – gratitude (for what He does)
- i ASK for ME (petition) + OTHERS (intercession)
- SORRY – ask of forgiveness
MEDITATION – tuning into God, reflection (through quiet prayer, Sacred Scripture, lectio divina, liturgy of the hours, Rosary, holy icons, imagery, books of daily devotion, lives of saints, works of spirituality, etc.)
The MASS includes ALL these types of prayer
We played Classroom Jeopardy! with teams of parents & kids. With almost perfect attendance, only 5 kids came without parents and everyone seemed to have a great time playing. Most categories were facts we’ve covered in class like “Jewish Roots,” “Gotta Have Faith,” “Facebook Jesus,” “Catholic Pop Quiz,” “Catholic Prayers,” “Angels & Demons,” and “A.R.R.R. You Listening?” Then there was the more entertaining categories like “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Anything Goes,” and the favorite “Candy Bars.” A great time for all. I can’t wait to bring the parents back soon!
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!
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.
CCD 7th: Incarnation + Chapter 1 + God Proofs (day 6)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we …
[story] “Father + Son + ant hill”
Incarnation = “God becoming man (flesh)”
- We bow & genuflect for the incarnation
- — in front of tabernacle or alter @ Mass
- –@ the name of Jesus in prayers
- –during Nicene Creed @ Mass
- –@ transubstantiation @ Mass
- –before receiving Communion
(p12) How do I experience God? As a parent? Loving Heavenly Father? A powerful & limitless presence? As a close friend? Jesus? my own specific way?
(p13) Aristotle’s 5 Proofs of God
- Prime Mover … nothing moves on their own
- First Cause … everything is caused by?
- Necessary Being … why do things exist?
- Ultimate beauty, goodness & truth … what standard sets good/bad, true/false, etc.
- Great Designer … mind, eyes, creation?
Blaise Pascal, 17th century French math + scientist said, “There is a God-shaped hole in the human heart that nothing else can fill.”
HOMEWORK:
- finish reading textbook Chapter 1 (The Source of All Life),
- do “Pop Quiz” handout with parents,
- pray over 3 events in your life where you felt God present + journal a letter to God after each.
CCD 7th: Hats + 3 Birthdays + Vocations (day 5)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we discussed our unique identities, our stages in life, vocations, marriage and closed with the story of St Agatha. Lots of interaction and discussion, full of the Lord’s blessings!
—3 BIRTHDAYS … each begins a new life
- —Physical B-day … start earthly life
- —Baptism B-day … start Christian spiritual life
- —Death B-day … start our heavenly life
Who Am I? (back page of journal)
- –Birth name, Nick names, “Hats” (our roles)
- —Spiritual names? What does God call you?
- (we’ll find out as we try different prayers)
VOCATION = “a call” by God to holiness
- ”Primary” Vocation …
- –“to be a beloved child to our heavenly Father”
- “State of Life” Vocation … which one?
- —Single, Consecrated Single
- —Married (husband/father, wife/mother)
- —Religious sister or brother
- —Priesthood (clergy, deacon)
- “Service” Vocation … career, ministry, etc.
Sacrament of Marriage … purpose is …
- —Pro-create (open to children),
- —Educate (evangelize your Catholic children)
- —Holy Mate (get your spouse to heaven!)
St Agatha (3rd century virgin martyr) a beautiful young girl who consecrated herself to Jesus and resisted the advances of a nobleman. He imprisoned & tortured her (even cut off her breasts), but she stayed faithful to God. Died in prison. Feast on Feb 5. Patron of breast, nurses, (bell-makers & bakers – due to statue plater).
CCD hs: God Positions + St Francis of Assisi (day 3)
Today, in our high school Confirmation class, Jose covered much of Chapter 1: Light of Faith. We discussed a story about Tommy, an “atheist in residence,” who wasn’t sure if he’d ever find God. A priest assured him, “I don’t think you’ll ever find God. But I’m certain that God will find you.” It wasn’t until years later when Tommy developed cancer that his quest for God became more fervent. We realized in times of desperate need, Tommy was looking for a “quick fix” — not for a God to love. Unless he reached out to God in love, his faith would be short-lived and his spiritual growth negligible. God is not a 911 number that you call in emergencies. When we’re lost, how does God find us? God finds us in the sense that God does not give up on us. Rather, God continually graces us to open our hearts to him as Tommy finally did.
We also clarified, with a chalkboard matching activity, the various “God Positions” that people choose:
- Atheist = denies there is a God
- Agnostic = doesn’t deny or affirm God
- Theist = affirms a personal God
- Deist = affirms impersonal God
- Monotheist = affirms only one God
- Polytheist = affirms many gods
We also had a couple guys (Andy & Principe) introduce themselves and their assigned Saint to present. The pair presented St Francis of Assisi on a awesome display board.
ASSIGNMENTS: handout + read Chapters 1 & 2 + be ready for quiz
CCD 7th: P.R.A.Y.S. + angels + Yom Kippur (day 2)
Today, in our 7th grade pre-Confirmation class, we handed out journals & wrote on inside cover …
In my BAPTISM, I …
- PRAISE = God for who He is … God
- REPENT = confess + rec forgiveness + change
- ASK = for me + other (“5 finger prayer”)
- YIELD = be open to God’s voice
- SHARE = my faith with others
In my CLASS, I …
- PRAISE = encourage others
- REPENT = take responsibility for wrongs
- ASK = learn by asking questions
- YIELD = respect speaker + listen
- SHARE = contribute + respect privacy
Difference between angels + humans?
- Angels = pure spiritual beings
- Humans = body + spiritual beings
—Yom Kippur = Jewish “day of atonement”
- fast, no work, pray, make reparations for sins
- “scapegoat” takes sins of the people = Jesus
HOMEWORK:
(1) Decorate Binder Cover with “ME” … on a sheet of paper, make a collage of you, your hobbies, likes, etc.
(2) do the “Doxology” prayer exercise from last week if you haven’t done it yet.
CCD hs: parents orientation (day 1)
A local parish, St Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, needed catechists for their Religious Education program on Tuesday & Wednesday nights. Since I go to St Mark’s for Mass occasionally & Wednesday Bible study, I guess I consider it a “2nd home parish,” so I volunteered to help. I was paired up with Jose A., another former seminarian (3 years in Colombia), who’s very excited about our High School Confirmation class of 24 kids, so far. Most showed up today with their parents for a large group orientation with the DRE and pastor in the church. We got to introduce ourselves for about 20 minutes at the end.
— Even though it wasn’t really “planned,” I can already see the blessings that will come from my passion for catechesis being used on Sunday’s at my home parish with 7th graders and here on Tuesday nights with high school teens.
Bishop Noonan @ Confirmation prep
CCD — Since I’m a catechist for 10th grade Confirmation preparation (@ St Timothy’s), I went to the Confirmation prayer service led by Bishop Noonan. Kids, parents and sponsors prayed together with a very meaningful reflection by Bishop Noonan on Baptism, parents, purpose of marriage, our growth in faith, our call to service, our lives of prayer, and our response in Confirmation. — Awesome … I’m glad I went!
CCD: Saints + Rosary
CCD — For apostalic work (10th grade Confirmation religious education), we continued on the Rosary, reviewed the Mysteries, prayed the Joyful Mysteries, discussed All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, Purgatory and debated “only saints go to heaven.” — next week they’re doing saint reports & presentations!
CCD: Christian music
APOSTALIC WORK — Today in 10th grade CCD class, we tried to review some things we’ve discuss so far by adding some discussion on application. We used some mainstream Christian songs and studied their lyrics to bring a Christian perspective to practical life issues. Here are the songs we used …
Life, sin, shame, forgiveness … “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot
Heaven … “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe
Effectiveness of prayer … “This is a Call” by Thousand Foot Krutch
Dating relationships … “Gone” by TobyMac
Parable of the Lost Sheep (Mt 18:10-14) … “Leaving 99” by Audio Adrenaline
Confirmation Mass
Today, I helped alter serve at my home parish of St Bernadette Catholic Church (Hollywood, FL) for Confirmation Mass with Miami Auxiliary Bishop Roman and Deacon Blanco (from St Brendan High School), along with my pastor Fr Dalton, Deacon Lou, and Fr Kris (from Archbishop McCarthy High School). A beautiful Mass for some great kids and parents (some I taught last year in CCD).
CCD @ St Catherine of Siena
Since we’ll be assigned “apostalic work” next year, we’re observing other fellow seminarians in different current assignments for the last few Mondays of the semester. Today, I observed an 8th grade CCD Confirmation class at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Miami, not too far from the seminary.
We were greeted by Pastor Fr Sosa and served an awesome dinner. (Patricio’s Monday meatloaf will have to wait.) His dog was also very friendly. — the class went great!
A week before Easter, the parish church building was set on fire by a couple local teenagers. About one million dollars in damage. While repairs are being done, Mass is done outside under the overhang area of the church entrance. — We’ll definitely keep them all in our prayers.
CCD + catechesis crisis
MINISTERIAL PRACTICUM – (Fr Michael) — since the weather was so nice, we had class outside in the grass and discussed the current state of catechesis in the Catholic Church. Whether you call it CCD or Religious Education or Christian Formation, it’s essentially teaching the Catholic faith to adults or children (either in private Catholic Schools or weekly evening for public schoolers). We started by sharing, comparing & contrasting our own experiences in CCD verses private Catholic Schools. We highlighted the good and bad areas that need work, including better textbooks, better catechist training, more challenging truth (and less warm & fuzzy emotion-only faith), and other issues.
I can identify with many of these issues, especially since I’ve been a Pre-Confirmation catechist for (mostly) 7th graders for about the last 15 years. Even when a catechist commits lots of time, effort & prayer to present catechist attractively, relevantly and challengingly, frustration stiffle your efforts that perpetuates generation to generation producing ignorant Catholics with a childish knowledge of their Catholic faith. Improvements are coming … through the Church … through a committed laity … through our perseverence … to share the Gospel message of Christ in words and lessons and, most importantly, a living witness in “me”, in order to fullfill my role and awaken all I encounter.
Despite the obstacles and frustrations, I recall a quote from Pope John Paul II about teaching the faith to young people that illustrated my approach to catechesis and youth ministry through the years. [I’m still looking for the exact quote and will post here … check back]
[related resource: CATECHESI TRADENDAE (On Catechesis In Our Time) 1979 by Pope John Paul II]
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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