Joe Paprocki, best-selling author of The Catechist’s Toolbox, has written the first step-by-step book that demonstrates how you can teach a 75-minute catechetical session with practical techniques that expand upon the textbook to create a more prayerful and experiential climate in the classroom. While textbooks are an essential tool for catechists to present the teachings of the Catholic Church in a clear and accurate manner, Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox gives you the framework to guide your students toward personal transformation. By using Catholic rituals, prayers, and the Liturgy of the Word, Paprocki provides suggestions on how to get catechesis to resemble Mass more than class. Reading a textbook can help children know about God, and Beyond the Catechist’s Toolbox helps them know God personally as they prayerfully become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. Also available in Spanish! Más allá de la caja de herramientas del catequista
Written specifically for any catechist who is new to the job or has never had any formal training, The Catechist's Toolbox features an invaluable collection of catechetical tips, techniques, methodologies, and advice. Throughout the book, master teacher Joe Paprocki shares the wisdom he has gleaned in two decades as a catechist, high school teacher, and religious educator. Employing the metaphor of a homeowner's toolbox, Paprocki explains how a new catechist is like a do-it-yourself builder who needs the right collection of tools to do the job; he then explains what the tools are, what they can do, and how to use them skillfully and effectively. Also available in Spanish! La caja de herramientas del catequista
Catechists spend their time guiding children and adults in deepening thei Catholic faith. But who's guiding the catechists on their spiritual journey? While there are many books about what catechists should know and what they should do, there is very little on the spirituality of being a catechist. This book gives catechists the resources that speak to the spiritual dimensions of their call to share the Catholic faith. --Book cover.
Everyone can teach the faithful about God's love, and "Handbook for Today's Catechist" examines basic principles for catechists and how parents are the first and most influential teachers of their children. This handbook helps provide answers and support for volunteer catechists, religion teachers, and parents when teaching their children about Catholicism. This wonderful resource explores many aspects of the role of catechist in a classroom setting, at home, and in the parish community. In an easy to understand format, this handbook provides an overview of the Bible, the life and teaching of Jesus (Christology), the mission of the Church in continuing Jesus' ministry, liturgy, and sacrament, and how to be a moral example to those we teach. An up-to-date guide for the catechist, this book looks at the challenge of catechizing children in the age of computers and electronics and how to identify good or misleading information on the Internet. "Handbook for Today's Catechist" offers guidance on speaking and living the faith and the necessity of sacramental spirituality, as well as suggestions to avoid burnout and some basic "dos & don'ts" associated with teaching the faith. This book is a must-have for everyone who has answered God's call to be a catechist. View sample pages. The material in this book is compliant with The Roman Missal, third edition, with the exception of page 56. To bring this book into compliance, we have revised and updated page 56. Click here for the revised page. "Paperback" Ginger Infantino's awareness and grasp of the multifaceted interconnections necessary for effective catechetical ministry are abundantly evident. As past Diocesan Director of the Office for Catechesis and Evangelization in the Diocese of San Diego, in her writings, in her workshop presentations, and most especially, in her person, she exudes wisdom, grace and depth of experience that confirms she is a woman of faith who is a true catechist. Whether you encounter her in person on in her writing, savor the sage counsel developed through a life time of prayer, faithful commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church and her large, loving family. Diana Dudoit Raiche NCEA Department of Religious Education Available for the Amazon Kindle:
A highly informative yet fun approach to understanding the world's all-time best-selling book It's pretty hard to build a house if you don't know how to read a blueprint. In the same way, it's difficult to develop your faith if you don't know how to read the Bible—or are reluctant even to open it. In The Bible Blueprint, best-selling author and popular speaker Joe Paprocki cleverly uses a blueprint metaphor to help Catholics gain a solid understanding of the structure and organization of the Bible, and to help them build confidence in navigating its pages. Among other topics, Paprocki covers the different genres of biblical writing, key figures in biblical history, and the methods Catholics rely on to interpret the Bible. Readers are also shown how to consult commentaries, concordances, and other valuable tools of Bible study to deepen their understanding of God's Word. Witty cartoons, sidebars, and quizzes throughout the book keep the tone fun and engaging; eight perforated Bible bookmarks are bound into the book. For the large number of Catholics who have never felt comfortable with the Scriptures, and for any Catholic new to the faith, The Bible Blueprint serves as an effective, nonthreatening introduction to God's Word, as well as a gateway to a deeper relationship with Christ.
Creator of the popular website The Religion Teacher, Jared Dees shares practical, easy-to-use teaching strategies and exercises for spiritual growth in his book 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator. These components are designed to improve the effectiveness of any busy religious educator. Volunteer catechists and professional religion teachers are responsible for two unique and challenging tasks: sharing (and assessing) information and the spiritual formation of their students. This succinct, practical resource helps busy catechists and religion teachers with both tasks and is designed for use either over consecutive days in one month, or by specific themes that encourage personal improvement in areas of discipleship, service, leadership, and overall teaching. Each of the thirty-one days includes a clear title that gives the lesson theme, a quotation from Scripture, an introduction to the exercise, step-by-step actions to take for the day, and spiritual enrichment ideas for the educator.
Nail down the facts, tear down the barriers! The Catechism of the Catholic Church is over nine hundred pages long, so it comes as no surprise that many Catholics think of their faith as complex—and certainly too complex to share with others! A Well-Built Faith—cleverly developed around a construction theme—makes it easy and flat-out fun for any Catholic to know what they believe and to feel confident in sharing those beliefs with others. The eighteen-chapter book—at times profound, at times humorous, always practical—follows the structure of the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer). Taking otherwise difficult topics about the Catholic faith and making them accessible and relevant to the lives of average Catholics, acclaimed author and teacher Joe Paprocki does so in a way that never compromises the rich depth of Catholic teaching and tradition. From the Trinity to the seven sacraments, from the Ten Commandments to the Lord's Prayer, A Well-Built Faith will help Catholics nail down the facts of the faith and tear down the barriers keeping them from sharing their beliefs with others.
Second Place, Liturgy category Catholic Press Association book awards, 2012 “This little book is a gem!” From Sunday Mass to Monday mayhem: Can the central act of Catholic worship transform our daily lives? In the United States, only 25% of self-proclaimed Catholics attend Mass on a weekly basis. Many Catholics believe that far more people would attend if only the homilies were better, or the music were more inspiring, or . . . the list goes on. But best-selling authors Fr. Dominic Grassi and Joe Paprocki are convinced that the real problem lies not in the Mass itself but in a lack of understanding of how the Mass prepares each person to live day in and day out as a baptized Catholic Christian. In Living the Mass, Grassi and Paprocki show how each part of the Mass relates to our baptismal call, closing the chasm between Sunday Mass and daily life. This newly revised edition takes into account the changes in the new Roman Missal, yet rather than isolating those texts or commenting on them, the authors have integrated the changes seamlessly into the book. This assimilation ensures that readers stay focused on the core message of the book—how the Mass as a whole changes us—rather than become sidetracked by the Missal’s new texts. Ideal for the countless Catholics who attend Mass simply out of habit, for the many who haven’t been to Mass in a while, or for anyone seeking to join the Catholic Church, Living the Mass compellingly demonstrates how the one hour spent at Mass on Sunday can truly transform the other 167 hours of the week.
Popular author, catechist, and creator of The Religion Teacher website Jared Dees learned a valuable lesson from his students: teaching is not the same as evangelization. He found instead—as in Jesus’ own ministry—if you focus first on healing the wounded, then proclaiming the Word of God, and finally teaching, you can bring people of all ages to Christ. Using examples from his own teaching, stories from the Bible, and the lives of the saints, Dees offers a fresh and engaging approach and practical ideas for following the ministry of Jesus in your own work. Jesus had a threefold ministry on Earth: to heal the sick and wounded, proclaim the Good News, and teach those who became his disciples. It’s an approach imitated by the saints throughout history and continues to be the cornerstone of successful ministry in parishes, Catholic schools, and other vibrant programs today. Jared Dees—author of 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator—will help you understand how Jesus’ ministry transformed lives through biblical examples such as Paul, Bartimaeus, the centurion’s servant, and the woman at the well. He shares the importance of healing through the ministries of saints, such as Mother Teresa, Br. André Bessette, Ignatius of Loyola, and Fr. Damien of Molokai. In To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach, Dees offers practical examples of how to apply Jesus’ threefold ministry to everyday life: allow yourself to be constantly evangelized; learn to help others through both good and bad times; and root yourself in community. He also suggests examples of ministries that are effectively reaching the faithful of all ages today, including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Life Teen, Teens Encounter Christ, Theology on Tap, FOCUS, and Christ Renews His Parish. Dees will guide you with practical ways to imitate Jesus’ ministry in your own classrooms and faith formation programs at all levels. To Heal, Proclaim, and Teach was a 2017 winner of the Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Award: Resources for Ministry (Third Place) and the Catholic Press Association Book Award: Pastoral Ministry (Third Place).
