Daily Bible Poster - Luke 4 18

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.  -- Luke 4 18

View Poster: Lk 4.18

Stand by Me - Song Around the World

This video is from the documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music". it is a wonderful collage of  musicians around the world adding their part to the song "Stand by Me".

Daily Bible Poster - Psalm 119.27

Make me understand the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalm 119.27

View Poster: Ps 119.27

A Bit of Humor

1. If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?
2. If you're born again, do you have two bellybuttons?
3. One nice thing about egotists: They don't talk about other people.
4. To be intoxicated is to feel sophisticated but not be able to say it.
5. Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
6. The older you get, the better you realize you were.
7. I doubt, therefore I might be.
8. Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
9. Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.
10. Women like silent men, they think they're listening.
11. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
12. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
13. A fool and his money are soon partying.
14. Do pediatricians play miniature golf on Wednesdays?
15. Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
16. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery.
17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
18. If God dropped acid, would he see people?
19. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown too?
20. If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2?
21. If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?
22. If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?

Advent Resources – IgnatianSpirituality.com

IgnatianSpirituality.com offers Advent resources in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality.

Daily Bible Poster - Psalm 118.19-21

Open to me the gates of righteousness. that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. -- Psalm 118.19-21

View poster: Ps 118.19-21

Children's Advent Calendar

Loyola Press offers an online Advent calendar inviting children to do something each day to share the meaning of the season with others.This calendar is also available in a printable version. There is also a printable version of a Family Advent Calendar that you can download.

Daily Bible Poster - Psalm 116.2

I love the Lord because he has heard my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.-- Psalm 116.2

Vie Poster: Ps 116.2

A Tour of the Church Student Worksheet

A Tour of the Church Student Worksheet is an article that was recently posted on Catechist Journey with links to a useful worksheet and answer key to use when taking students on a guided tour of a church.

Daily Bible Poster - Psalm 40.1-2

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. .-- Psalm 40.1-2

View poster: Ps 40.1-2

The Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree - by Catherine Fournier - How to build it and how to use it during advent. Includes several pages of drawings for the Jesse tree symbols.

Daily Bible Poster - Ecclesiastes 1. 2

Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.-- Ecclesiastes 1. 2

View poster:  Ecc 1.2

Advent Resources

ADVENT: Pilgrims, Travelers, and Citizens of Heaven - this web site offers weekly Advent prayers, the antiphons of Advent, meditations, Advent readings from the early church fathers and from other sources.

Daily Bible Poster - 1 Corinthians 9.22

I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some.--1 Corinthians 9.22

View Poster: 1 Cor 9.22

A Visit from Jesus

A Visit from Jesus is a Junior High reflection suggested by Nick Senger on the Catholic School Chronicle Blog:

"How would our lives change if we remembered that Jesus was with us always? We are often so preoccupied with the material world that it can be difficult to remember that the Holy Spirit is present and alive in each moment of our lives. When our students begin to realize that Jesus is with them at all times, their lives become transformed, as happens to all who encounter Christ. The following reflection assignment is meant to help junior high students creatively picture Jesus present in their lives by imagining that he comes for a visit." [more]

Daily Bible Poster - Luke 18.25

...it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. -- Luke 18.25

View Poster: Lk 18.25

Advent Coloring Pages

Here are a few Advent related coloring pages:

• Joseph and Mary on their way to Bethlehem 
• Shepherds following the star 
• The Wise men on the way to Bethlehem 
• Advent Wreath (no longer available)

See also: Advent Coloring Pages and Puzzles

Note: The drawing on the right is from apostlesshipofprayer.net

Dily Bible Poster - 1 Corinthians 9.19

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. -- 1 Corinthians 9.19

View Poster: 1 Cor 9.19

Catholic Faith Education News - November Edition

The Novembre issue of the Catholic Faith Education Newsletter is now available online at http://4catholiceducators.com/ezine1.htm.

A Bit of Humor

Some reflections: --- No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes --- If you really look like your passport photo, you need the trip. Some puzzling thoughts: --- If you turned a Chinese person around a few times, would they become disoriented? --- Can you buy an entire chess set at a pawnshop? --- If space is a vacuum, who changes the bags?

Daily Bible Poster - 1 Corinthians 3.16

Do you not know that you are God’s temple
and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3.16

View poster: 1 Cor 3.16

Christmas Resources from LessonSense.com

LessonSense.com has useful resources focusing on Christmas:

Christmas worksheets downloads
Christmas Crafts

Catholic Icing: Jesse Tree Crafts

Catholic Icing: O Jesse Tree, O Jesse Tree... How Crafty are Your Branches! - This blog posting links to several sources of Jesse Tree symbols craft ideas. Also on the same blog: 6 Ways to Kick Off Advent With a Religious Bang! And a Linky :-)

Daily Bible Poster - John 15.15

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.-- John 15.15

View poster: Jn 15.15

Education for Justice

 The Education for Justice Web site offers a myriad of resources related to Catholic Social Teachings including the following:

    * Catholic Social Teaching Resources section - organized by Principle or justice topic.
    * The Media, Faith and Culture section has resources that look at CST through many cultural mediums like films, books, TV shows and more.
    * The Liturgical and Prayer Resources section has extensive resources for faith formation, retreats, prayer,
      and reflection.
    * Calendar features lists the social justice saints of the day and other events.
    * The current events page, summarizing and collecting current news items in one spot.

Most of the resources are accessible to paying subscribers only, but there are also some free sample resources.

Free Hugs in Sondrio, Italy

I have seen "free hugs" videos before and I love them. I especially like this one with the music of Leonard Cohen in the Background. Please give a "spiritual hug" to my daugther, her husband and their children who are ill with the flu and/or bronchitis this week.

Daily Bible Poster - John 8.32

And you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. -- John 8.32

View Poster: Jn 8.32

USCCB - Advent and Christmas Seasons

Advent and Christmas Seasons - This section on the Web site of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops offers several resources for Advent and Christmas: On devotionals for Advent and Christmas; Lessons and Carols; Blessings and Prayers; Useful Resources

Upbeat Rosary

I receive a substantial number of requests for help in locating resources on specific topics. I am always pleased to oblige when I can. Most of the requests are simple enough to fulfill and I have a general idea as to where the resource can be found. A recent request, however, has me completely stumped! Could anyone provide me with an answer to Cynthia who writes:

"I'm looking for an upbeat/uptempo version of the rosary to listen to while running/exercising.  Do you have one or know of one?"

Note: The graphic of the rosary (minus the jogger) is from Huhsunqu

Daily Bible Poster - Matthew 7.1

Do not judge so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. -- Matthew 7.1

View poster: Matt 7.1

Thanksgiving Resources

americancatholic.org offers a page of Thanksgiving Prayers for Catholics.

For a listing of online resources on Thanksgiving consult: Thanksgiving - Resources for Catholic Educators

Daily Bible Poster - 1 Kings 3.9

Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil... -- 1 Kings 3.9

View poster: 1Kg 3.9

Advent - Resources for Sunday Gospels

Articles, commentaries, homilies, clipart, coloring pages, puzzles, children's stories for the four Sunday of Advent Gospel readings:

• November 28: First Sunday of Advent - Matthew 24:37-44
• December 5: Second Sunday of Advent - Matthew 3.1-12
• December 12: Third Sunday of Advent - Matthew 11.2-11
• December 19: Fourth Sunday of Advent - Matthew 1.18-24

Thy Kingdom Come

     A few years ago I was one of the facilitator in a faith-sharing group made up of 12 adults from various fields of life. The group had been meeting on a weekly basis for over a year.  My turn as facilitator came once a month and it was then up to me to choose a topic for the evening. For one of these sessions I decided I would focus on the Kingdom of God as a theme. A week before the session I was to facilitate, I asked the participants to answer the following question: When you pray the Lord’s prayer and you come to “Thy Kingdom come”, what is it exactly that you mean when you pray this phrase? I asked them to take 5 minutes to write down their answer. I simply added that these answers would remain anonymous (I asked them not to sign their names) and would help me prepare for the next session.

  

    As I went through what they had written, I soon I realized how much the prayer had taken root in each of them. Year after year they had been praying, “Thy Kingdom come”. Some of the members of the group were over 80 years old and they certainly must have repeated this phrase thousands upon thousands of times.  In their answers to my question it was obvious that, over time, they had pored much of their own life experience into these words of the Lord's Prayer. But I could also perceive that something else had transpired as they prayed. I could sense that the words of the prayer had illuminated their hearts so that it now contained not only their own thoughts on the Kingdom of God, but also those of the Father. It was as if the prayer they had so often repeated had given birth to something wonderful in their own hearts - God’s own dream of the Kingdom was alive in them.

     The prayer I used to start the faith sharing session the following week was a collage of excerpts taken from what the participants had written.  It was a very beautiful prayer indeed...       

Daily Bible Poster - Luke 11.9

...knock, and the door will be opened for you. Luke 11.9

View poster: Lk 11.9

A bit of Humor - Airplane

A plane full of retirees headed for Florida was gripped with fear when the pilot announced, "Two of our engines are on fire; we are flying through a heavy fog and it has eliminated all our visibility."
The passengers were numb with fear, except for one - a retired priest. "Now, now, keep calm," he said. "Let's all bow our heads and pray."
Immediately, the group bowed their heads to pray, except one man. "Why aren't you bowing your head to pray?" the priest asked.
"I don't know how to pray," replied the passenger.
"Well, just do something religious!" instructed the priest.
The man got up and passed his hat down the aisle, taking an offering.

Advent and Christmas Resources

The Religious Education and Family Life Office of the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board has a selection of free resources (prayer service and other useful handouts) for each month of the school year. Among these are the following resources for Advent:

• Advent Wreath Handout - One page handout explaining the Advent wreath, the meaning of its symbols and colours
• Advent Prayer Service - Prayer Service For Schools
• Expectant Waiting in Joyful Hope - Advent Prayer Service for Staff
• Adult Advent Prayer Service
• History, Mystery & Majesty - Advent Staff Reflection Guide
• Wish List for Christmas and Easter - Classroom exercise for students of all ages

 Thank you to Tony Cosentino for making me aware of his excellent resource. Tony is a Religious and Family Life Education Resource Teacher.

Daily Bible Poster - Luke 22.19

This is my body, which is given for you.
Luke 22.19

 

View poaster: Lk 22.19

Introduction to the Bible

The Web site of the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has an extensive selection of articles introducing the Bible in general and each of the books of the Bible in particular. Also included ar historical maps of Bible lands and Church documents relating to the study of the Holy Scriptures.

Daily Bible Poster - Psalm 103.4

...who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy... -- Psalm 103.4

View poster: Ps 103.4

Giving Thanks for Online Resources II

Yesterday I listed some of the blogs I visit often. There are also Web sites which are familiar territories to me and where I constantly go to find information and resources for myself and for others:

americancatholic.org -  I return to this site at least once a month when I am looking for articles and resources for the Catholic Faith Education Newsletter site published by the Franciscans and St.Anthony Messenger Press. There I am always certain to find resources on all things pertaining to our faith: seasonal features on the liturgical year, feast days and special days; resources on each of the sacraments; news around the world on specific thematics; biographies of saints; sections to help with daily prayer and meditation; articles to help deepen ones understanding of all aspects of the faith.

The Text This Week created and maintained by Jenee Woodward has been invaluable to me over the year in compiling resources on the Sunday Gospel readings (see Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Jenee's  site "features a wide variety of resources for study and liturgy based on the 3-year Revised Common Lectionary cycle".  Her sources are not restricted to any particular theological/ideological position and includes resources from various denominational perspectives. "The purpose of this website is to provide links to resources for study, reflection and liturgy which correspond to the RCL readings you may be using for study, teaching & preaching."

The Catechist Magazine Web site is also a monthly destination for me. I am always eager to discover in each new issue articles providing advice to catechists, craft ideas, prayer services, reflections on aspects of the faith, explorations into the use of new technologies in teaching the faith... I never fail to share these with the readers of my monthly newsletter. 


To all those involved in providing so many wonderful resources on these Web sites I say thank you and pray for Gods blessing on you and all the work you do. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. " 1 Corinthians 1:3  

Daily Bible Poster - Psalm 33.22

Let your steadfast love,
O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33.22

View Poster: Ps 33.22

Giving Thanks for Online Resources

There are a number of blogs that I return to constantly for my own use or to discover new resources to share with you on this blog or in my Catholic Faith Education Newsletter.  I would like to acknowledge my indebtedness and my gratitude to a few of the owners of these online sources of information or teaching ideas.

Joe Paprocki for his wonderful blog Catechist's Journey in which he has posted hundreds of articles on catechetical issues and topics, lesson plans and evaluations, teaching skills, understanding kids, and useful resources. Joe is also willing to share his personal experiences, frustrations, and small victories as a catechist - I am sure many catechists can identify with what he writes and find in what he shares both inspiration and solace when needed.

Jared Dees who created his blog, The Religion Teacher, in March of 2009 "to provide teachers with the resources, tips, strategies and tools to become excellent religious educators". He has been posting regularly since then and his blog is now a veritable cornucopia of resources, ideas for activities, tips on teaching strategies, and lesson plans.

Luca Paolini whose blog Religione 2.0 is in Italian, but he often links to English language Websites. Luca posts articles on all religions of the world, but often does so on specifically Catholic resources. I have often discovered marvelous little gems through his blog.

To these generous people I say thank you and I pray that God will continue to support you in your online ministries:

The LORD bless you
   and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you
   and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
   and give you peace.

              Numbers 6.24-26

Bible Story - Amazing Catechists

Amazing Catechist, founded by Lisa Mladinich,  is  "a community of faithful Catholics ready to share with you and hoping to learn from you." The site features many venues for sharing: a "tips and insights" section to share ideas; forums as sharing platforms; "galleries" where you can post "your digital photos, videos, audio files and artwork related to teaching the Faith"; an "Events" bulletin board; a section simply called "More Goodies" for various other shared resources including a retelling of several New Testament stories. Also of note on this site is the Columnist section that includes articles on a variety of topics to catechists and teachers of the faith: family culture, confirmation, special needs, theology of the body, RCIA, catechist training, high school, home education, middle school, and so on.  This Web site is an interesting and innovative project that is well worth a visit.

Daily Bible Poster - Ps 8.4-5

What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. -- Psalm 8.4-5

View Poster: Ps 8.4-5

People for Others Blog

"People for Others – working together to find God in all things is a blog about how, when we strive together to live for Christ, we become men and women for others. Because God’s love and grace can be discerned in all places and situations, People for Others wants to help Christians to discover just how active God has been, and is, in their lives."

This is the blog of Fr. Paul Brian Campbell, SJ and is sponsored by Loyola Press. 

Posting on his blog include include short thought provoking and inspiring stories - catechists who use stories as part of their teaching tools will appreciate the collection of close to 30 archived stories. I also appreciate the occasional dash of humor in his postings - see for example his recent article on Jesus' retirement.

Daily Bible Poster - Matthew 18.3

Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. -- Matthew 18.3

View Poster: Matt 18.3

The Johnny Cash Project

Ain’t No Grave is Johnny’s final studio recording. The album and its title track deal heavily with themes of mortality, resurrection, and everlasting life. The Johnny Cash Project pays tribute to these themes.

The Johnny Cash Project shows a music video of this song illustrated by thousands of people from all over the world who have contributed their drawings for this video. All drawings are strung together to form a continuous video stream and the effect is quite amazing.

Nick Senger, in an article entitled Commemorating the Dead with Johnny Cash published in the Catholic School Chronicle, gives the background to the project and to the song and suggests several ways teachers can use the project in their classrooms "as an entry point into talking about the difficult subject of death."

Daily Bible Poster - Matthew 7.11

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7.11

View Poster: Matt 7.11

Sharing the Word

Sharing the Word is a daily 90-second radio homily by Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk, based on the weekday Gospel readings. Sharing the Word is a companion to the Sunday Soundbite, and is also heard on Catholic radio stations around the country.

Daily Bible Poster - Wisdom 2.4

Our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will remember our works; our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and be scattered like mist that is chased by the rays of the sun and overcome by its heat. -- Wisdom 2.4

View Poster:  Wis 2.4

The Religion Teacher’s Guide to Lesson Planning

Blogger Jared Dees has recently published a 63 pages e-book called The Religion Teacher’s Guide to Lesson Planning. He writes:

"This guide provides teachers and catechists with a simple system for lesson planning success. Included in this 63 page e-book are:

• Unit planning and lesson planning templates
• Lesson objective keys
• Assessments for various learning styles
• An introduction to the Learning PROCESS
• and 250 activities and teaching strategies!"

 To obtain this useful resource, all that is required is that you subscribe to The Religion Teacher newsletter at http://www.thereligionteacher.com/introducing-the-free-ebook-the-religion-teachers-guide-to-lesson-planning/ (scroll down the page to subscribe).

Mr. Dees intends to develop and share resources built around the concepts within this guide, including sample lesson plans, video tutorials, and expanded discussions in blog posts. Subscribing to the newsletter is therefore an additional blessing for catechists and teachers since they will thus be informed of these future developments.

Actual Announcements from Church Bulletins

• Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
• Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals."
• The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
• This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

Daily Bible Poster - Job 19.25-26

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God... - Job 19.25-26

View Poster: Jb 19.25-26