Catechetical Sessions on Liturgy and the Sacraments begins by familiarizing participants with the nature of liturgy and the liturgical year. An introduction to the properties of signs, symbols, and rituals sets the groundwork for studying individual sacraments. Four sessions address the sacraments of initiation, two sessions cover the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, and the final session covers the sacraments at the service of Communion. The sessions share some of the history of the sacraments, their meaning, the significance of symbols, and the nature of the rites. The participants are invited to actively study the sacraments, to make connections between the sacraments and their own lives, to reflect prayerfully on the meaning of the sacraments, and to take some sacrament-related actions.
Catechetical Sessions on Christian Morality is a rich course that gives young people a solid grounding in the foundations of Christian morality, to add to what they have already received in their faith community and in their family. The manual presents young people with the fundamental concerns of the moral life in a Catholic Christian context. Above all, the course is an invitation to young people to build God's Reign by loving themselves and others as God loves them. In other words, it is an invitation to become holy, healthy, and happy. In doing so, they will bring God and the world together!
Many Catholic parents are tempted to leave the religious education and spiritual formation of their children up to their parish or Catholic school. Professional catechist, popular blogger, and father of two, Marc Cardaronella has a passionate plea for those parents: be your child’s primary educator in the faith by what you do and say. This practical guide gives parents what they need to be a bigger partner in handing on the faith to their children by creating a faith-nurturing environment at home. When Marc Cardaronella started his job as a catechist, he could empathize with parents who came to him to talk about how their now-grown children had left the Church because he had been there: Despite years of religious education and regular Mass attendance, Cardaronella never really practiced his faith. He fell away from the Church right after his Confirmation and stayed away for twenty years. Now it’s his mission to equip families like yours to hand on your faith. His passionate message is that the kind of faith formation children need is not taught in standard religious education classes and probably never will be. Cardaronella is on a quest to help you fill the gaps by first strengthening your own faith—opening your heart to God, practicing trust, clearing away obstacles to God’s grace, and creating regular prayer and study routines at home. He gives you the tools to pass that faith on to your kids and make it stick by teaching you how to pray with your children consistently, about adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the power of the Examen prayer, and how to motivate your kids to be engaged in parish life and Christian outreach. Keep Your Kids Catholic offers equal shares of inspiration, challenge, and practical advice. Each chapter includes Reflect, Pray, and Live sections to help you integrate Cardaronella’s message into family life.
By teaching young people to pray, you can open for them a way to communicate on a deeply personal level with God, who is the source of all holiness. By inviting them to explore different forms of personal prayer, you will encourage them to expand their image of God and their expectations of prayer. By challenging them to look at communal prayer, you will remind them that their role in building God's Reign and as a part of the Body of Christ is important, unique, and valued. This manual can help you give young people the tools to pray all ways, and always, and enable them to build their relationship with God on a solid foundation.
The period of the catechumenate is focused on helping new disciples understand the doctrines and precepts of the Church in a way that flows from the liturgy. This period imbues catechumens with a spirit of prayer and service as catechists guide them to a deeper relationship with Christ. Catechetical Sessions for the Catechumenate provides models and suggestions for leading catechumens through the many aspects of the Catholic faith, including fifty prayerful and theologically sound sessions to use when catechizing the unbaptized and the uncatechized. The sessions are organized in five categories: Beliefs, Catholic Living, Holy People, Prayer and Liturgy, and Sacraments, allowing the catechist to integrate doctrinal teachings into sessions in a prayerful and formative way that reflects the vision of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. This material can also be adapted to your parish’s unique needs, including to a year-round catechumenate model. The sessions include: Theological backgrounds for each session topic Engaging and interactive catechetical scripts Liturgical recommendations for the Celebrations of the Word Opportunities for catechumens to live their faith Summary statements for wrapping up each session Organizational chart for scheduling the sessions according to the liturgical year Also included in this book is an organizational chart for scheduling the sessions according to the liturgical year. With a helpful overview of the period of the catechumenate, and guidance for forming catechumens, this resource will help catechists and initiation team members share their faith, teach Catholic beliefs, and help catechumens live their developing faith as disciples of Christ.
From USCCB Publishing, this revision of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) seeks to promote more conscious, active, and full participation of the faithful in the mystery of the Eucharist. While the Missale Romanum contains the rite and prayers for Mass, the GIRM provides specific detail about each element of the Order of Mass as well as other information related to the Mass.
The Total Faith(tm) Initiative Coordinator's Manual draws on the experience of many parish communities to give leaders what they need to plan and implement dynamic and effective youth ministry, including intentional catechesis. The manual includes two chapters describing a vision for youth ministry and adolescent catechesis four chapters providing planning tools for using the many resources within the Total Faith(tm) Initiative four more chapters suggesting numerous ways for parishes to connect with youth and their families a final chapter providing practical guidance in finding and supporting youth ministry leaders The accompanying coordinator's CD includes additional tools for using the Total Faith(tm) resources. You will find a searchable index of all activities and strategies, additional handouts, and PowerPoint presentations for training leaders, a printable list of short descriptions for every session, and more. It has never been easier to create dynamic and customized ministries for your parish.
The focus of Catechetical Session on the Creed is on understanding the treasure, the gifts, and the sacrament that is Church. The young people are supported as they grow in their faith and in their knowledge about the basic truths that Catholics profess. They will be encouraged to make the mission of the Church their own and challenged to set their heart on all that is good, holy, and true about being a young Catholic in the world today.
