Papal Message for Lent 2009

The message of Pope Benedict XVI for Lent 2009 is available on the Vatican Web site at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20081211_lent-2009_en.html.

The following scripture verse is the one he chose to introduce us to the topic in his message:

"He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry" (Mt 4,1-2)

The focus of Pope Benedict's message is indeed on fasting and the meaning and importance of fasting during the Lenten season. It is a short text and a good reflection on this first day of Lent.

Online Theology Courses

According to the mission statement written by Father Thomas Dowd, the blog

"Adventus.org exists to help people discover and live the full meaning of the baptismal call. We exist to help people grow in a loving personal relationship with God, and to in turn help them to grow in service to their neighbour through the use of their gifts and talents."

Fr. Thomas Dowd is a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Montreal, Canada. He works in the diocesan curia as an associate director for the Office of Pastoral Personnel, and also teaches theology at Concordia University and the Grand Seminary of Montreal.

He has made available online MP3 audio files of two of the courses he has given or is presently giving at Concordia University:

THEO 211L: The Creed (Intro to Roman Catholicism)
THEO 331: Christian Understanding of God

In addition to these, Fr Dowd regularly posts mesages on various subjects related to Catholic faith. His blog is well worth exploring.

The Mountain of the Rising Star - A story

Several years ago I wrote the outline of one of my stories and put it online as part of a lesson plan called "Making space for God". that lesson plan is available on the Resources for Catholic Educators Web site at . This lesson plan and the story are well suited for the Lenten period.http://www.silk.net/RelEd/01042001plan.htm

Recently, I received an email from Mary Wood, Director of Religious Education for Our Mother of Sorrows/St. Peter the Apostle parish in Centreville, Maryland. She sent me an adaptation she had written of that story so that it could be read by her catechists. It is very well crafted and I am grateful that Mary has given me permission to share it with you. You can find the adaptation of the story at http://www.silk.net/RelEd/PDF/The-Mountain-of-the-Rising-Star-Adaptation.pdf.

Aggie Catholics: Lent 2009

http://marysaggies.blogspot.com/2009/02/lent-2009.html

Aggie Catholics is St. Mary's Catholic Center's (at Texas A&M) pastoral team's blog. A recent posting is a FAQ on Lent and provides brief answers to the following questions:

What is Lent?
Why aren't Sundays part of Lent?
Why forty days and not some other number?
what is Ash Wednesday all about?
why are the ashes made into a cross on the forehead?
Where do we get the ashes?
Who can receive ashes?
Is Ash Wed a holy day of Obligation?
Do we have to fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wed?
Why fast?
Why is fish not considered meat?
what are the other days of fast and abstinence?
why do people "give up" things during Lent?
What else then IS required during Lent?

There are also suggestions of things to do during Lent and links to other resources on lent.

See also:

• Lenten Clipart - Resources for Catholic Educators
• Lent - Resources for Catholic Educators
• Site Reviews: Lenten Season - Resources for Catholic Educators
• Prayer - Resources for Catholic Educators

Previous postings on this blog might also be useful:

• Lent - Call to Conversion - Frequently Asked Questions
• Ronald Rolheiser - Reflections for the Lenten Period
• Ash Wednesday
• Lent Reflections from Saint Elizabeth's
• FindingGod.org - More resources for Lent
• Lent and Easter Resource Guide
• Praying Lent
• Lenten Retreat Online
• Lenten Features

Australian Catholic Social Justice Council

Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Web site has two useful documents on the social justice teachings of the church:

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

Development of the Catholic Church's Thinking on Human Rights

For related resources: Social Justice and Peace - Resources for Catholic Educators

Books of the Bible Flash Cards

The Web site of the parish of Immaculate Conception in Franklin New Jersey has downloadable documents containing flash cards to help memorize the names of the books of the Old and New Testament:

Old Testament Flash Cards-Front (pdf file)
Old Testament Flash Cards-Front

Old Testament Flash Cards-Back (pdf file)
Old Testament Flash Cards-Back

New Testament Flash Cards-Front (pdf file)
New Testament Flash Cards-Front

New Testament Flash Cards-Back (pdf file)
New Testament Flash Cards-Back

For more resources on the Bible: The Bible - Resources for Catholic Educators

FI Prayer Resources

Franciscan International has a number of beautiful printouts of prayer posters on a social justice theme at http://www.franciscansinternational.org/resources/prayint.php:

• The prayer of Saint Francis;
• Witness: Ongoing Formation: This prayer resource and information sheet is a formational and spiritual guide to life-long Franciscan formation, and an introduction to active involvement with Franciscans International;
• Sister Water Prayer: This prayer resource and information sheet is a formational and spiritual guide to understanding the significance of preserving water, God’s gift and the greatest natural resource;
• The Way of the Cross;
• Feast of St. Francis Card.
• Prayer to End Trafficking

These prayers are available in 8 different languages.

My Friend Magazine

http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/paulinekids/games/printablegames.html

My Friend, a Catholic Magazine a publication of the Daughters of Saint Paul for children stopped being published in 2007, but its Web site is still available online and offers an extensive amount of resources that include stories, biographies of saints, coloring pages, interactive and printable games, family faith traditions, crafts, prayers.

Catholic Faith Educators Newsletter - February 16, 2009

The latest edition of the Catholic Faith Education Newsletter is now online at http://www.silk.net/RelEd/newsletters16_02_2009.htm.

Catholic Music Express

Catholic Music Express: Inspiration in Word & Song
http://www.silk.net/RelEd/newsletters16_02_2009.html

This Web site created and maintained by Jim O'Meara offers archived weekly one hour shows with lots of good songs by various catholic artists interspersed with brief but excellent information bits. The first of these shows was broadcast in November 2008. The broadcasts are quite interesting and professionally made.

We are the Children of the World Answering your Call

The Catholic Online Web site has a delightful 10 minutes music video with the song "We are the Children of the World Answering your Call" and images of children. The video can be found at http://www.catholic.org/video/?v=60

Office of Catholic Youth :: Resources

The Web site of the Office of Catholic Youth of the Archdiocese of Toronto has a number of resources for those involved in youth ministry at http://www.ocytoronto.org/resources/index.htm

This section includes resources that will help you in your ministry whether it be school, parish or community. Whether you are a young person, youth minister or young adult, you can find resources that will benefit you both personally and in your ministry.

Resources include prayers, outlines for catechesis on various themes, youth ministry resources, and descriptions of games.

For more resources on and for youth ministry see: http://www.silk.net/RelEd/youth.htm

Catholic Dictionary

For dictionaries of Catholic terms one can consult the following:

Modern Catholic Dictionary by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. on the Real Presence Association Web site. (See also Thesaurus of Terms on the same Web site)

New Catholic Dictionary - This is an project to put the 1910 version of the New Catholic Dictionary online.

CatholicReference.net : Catholic Dictionary

Dedication of a Cathedral

The Web site of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offers a large number of catechetical resources on the dedication of a cathedral. Although these resources were created in preparation for the dedication of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Hearth in Houston, much the material can be helpful in teaching about the role of a cathedral and the rite of dedication. The material available includes lesson plans for elementary and high school students as well as for adults. There are also coloring book pages on:

• Altar
• Ambo
• Tabernacle
• Crucifix
• Ambry
• Cathedra
• Sacred Heart Statue
• Mary Immaculate Statue
• Resurrection Window

For additional resources on the architecture of churches and cathedrals see:
Christianity and Architecture - Resources for Catholic Educators

New Jerusalem Bible

You can browse through or search the New Jerusalem Bible online at http://www.catholic.org/bible/

Additional resources on the Bible are available at:
The Bible - Resources for Catholic Educators

Catholic Faith Educators News _ February 2 Edition

The latest edition of the Catholic Faith Education Newsletter is now available online at
http://www.silk.net/RelEd/newsletters02_02_2009.htm