Archive for the ‘Catechesis’ Category

In the past few weeks I have had two very discouraging experiences. First, I learned that a diocesan catechetical director refused to include in an adult formation program a guided tour of the cathedral, led by a liturgist. The reason? It would take away from the time allotted for catechesis. Second, I learned that a [...]

(THE SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED) Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey about the needs of inquirers, catechumens, and candidates in your RCIA processes. Over 200 people completed the survey, and you can see a summary of the results here. We have prepared a second survey that goes a little deeper into the kind [...]

Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey about the needs of inquirers, catechumens, and candidates in your RCIA processes. Over 200 people completed the survey, and you can see a summary of the results here. Sacraments The highest need, by far, is a need for more information about sacraments. 129 of you gave that [...]

Virtual Learning Community posted an excellent video of Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk speaking about the faith of the church. Archbishop Pilarczyk makes the claim that we can give a full summary of everything the church teaches in less than five minutes. And then he goes on to prove it! Don’t miss this excellent catechist in action. [...]

There is a great and somewhat ironic convergence happening in our calendars. In the midst of the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 13, 2010, the Church celebrated National Migration Week (January 3-9), starting on the Feast of the Epiphany, a week when it focused on the situation of migrants and refugees. The Church also [...]

Diana Macalintal and I will be copresenting a workshop in Orlando this weekend at the Fashion Me a People conference. Our topic is the Liturgy of the Word as a source of catechesis. Our goal is to help participants learn techniques for drawing out and extending the catechetical content of the Liturgy of the Word. [...]

For Christmas, a friend gave me The Complete Robuchon, which is 800 recipes for “French home cooking for the way we live now.” My friend and I both love to cook, although she is much more serious about it than I am. She takes classes from important chefs, stocks her pantry with sea salts from [...]

What is the church’s position on baptizing adults that are traveling often and do not have time for a formal RCIA program? They are aware of all Catholic precepts but lack the formal baptism and confirmation but faithfully seek these sacraments. Any help would be appreciated. This is a great question that sends us back [...]

The Catholic News Service has posted a word cloud for Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical, “Charity in Truth.” A word cloud is a pictorial representation of the most- and least-used words in a document. The CNS graphic makes it very obvious what the emphasis of the Pope’s letter is. See also this related post: Free reader’s [...]

John Madden, the legendary football coach and television announcer is retiring at age 73. And his mother still calls him to check up on him. I totally understand this because, if current trajectory is any guide, I will be getting calls from my mother when I am well into my 70s. And I also understand [...]