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Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
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Researching Catholic Non-Violent Resisters of the 20th Century

During his 2015 address to Congress, Pope Francis spoke of four great Americans that stood as witnesses of the dignity of the human person and advocated for social justice for all: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton (Address of the Holy Father, 2015).  In this spirt, encourage your students to follow the insights of Pope Francis and research lives of individuals from Catholic tradition that advocated for social justice and non-violence alternatives through their life and witness. Assign a presentation or short essay along with the research.   Rubric expectations might include: personal quotations, pictures, biographical information, and/or a summary of their advocacy work. (This might be a good activity to guide students in learning about digital literacy and the need of reference citations and clear supporting evidence to accurately illustrate the advocacy of the individual.)  For more creative settings invite the students to create a poster, PechaKucha, or find a series of song lyrics that connect with the mission and ministry of one of the following Catholic advocates to present for the class.  The following are some examples of Catholic individuals who advocated for human dignity and labored for a non-violent alternative throughout the American twentieth century (supply background information on each as needed): Nicholas Black Elk (1863-1950) Sr. Thea Bowman (1937-1990) Fr. Solanus Casey (1870-1957) Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) St. Marianne Cope (1838-1918) Dorothy Day, OblSB (1897-1980) Ms. Eileen Egan (1912-2000) Ms. Dolores Huerta (1930-) Fr. Emil Kapaun (1916-1951) Sr. Teresa Kearney (1875-1957) The Martyrs of La Paz, El Salvador (1980) Sr. Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory (1893-1984) Thomas “Fr. Louis” Merton, OCSO (1915-1968) Fr. Stanley Rother (1935-1981) Mother Soledad Sanjurjo Santos (1892-1973) Fr. Aloysius Schwartz (1930-1992) Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921-2009) Ms. Mary Ann Wright (1921-2009) Ms. Rhoda Greer Wise (1888-1948) Fr. George B. Zabelka (1915-1992                                                     Submitted by Thomas Malewitz, Ph.D.                                                         St. Xavier High School Louisville, KY

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Comparing Parable Themes with Music Videos

An essential component for authentic catechesis is to include real-life, pertinent, and culturally relevant examples within the theology course activities (Catechesi Tradendae, 1979; Instrumentum Laboris, 2012; Evangelii Gaudium, 2013).  Jesus exemplified this by teaching through parables to relate to his audience.  Jesus’ parables challenged the audience to think critically about a moral lesson, and jar complacent/stereotypical attitudes of the time (see Luke 10:25-37).  Although we don’t use the same cultural images in our stories today we can still use similar techniques, like music videos and short films, to teach moral lessons and challenge our students to think beyond stereotypes and labels.  Music videos, like ancient parables, can be a helpful modern-day storytelling technique as well as a beneficial option for a quick theological conversation starter.  Directions To start a conversation for adolescents on parables choose a couple of the music videos (a few are listed below), watch the video and develop a dialogue from the following suggested questions to discuss the meaning and morals of the videos you chose.  Finally, bring the conversation back to Scripture by connecting the video to any theme of Jesus’ parables. Suggested Questions 1) What message do you think the director wanted to express through this music video? 2) How could the video be compared to a parable?  3) What were your first impressions of the video? 4) Who could be considered the anawim (outcast) in the video?  5) Briefly discuss, explain, or compare/contrast the videos you chose and relate them to a parable from the Gospel.    Suggested Videos (remember adolescents may relate to other genres or artists more than the options offered below) - Avicii's "Hey Brother" (2013)  - Collective Soul's "The World I Know" (1995)  - Dave Matthew's Band "Everyday" (2001)  - Emerson Drive's "Moments" (2006)  - Five for Fighting’s “What If” (2013)  - Taylor Swift’s “Mean” (2010)  - T.I.'s "Live Your Life" (2008)                                                                       Submitted by Thomas Malewitz, Ph.D.                                                                      St. Xavier High School Louisville, KY

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Word Clues

Make a copy of the clues and key below.   Directions:Write a one word answer for each item. The letters below appear just once. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of letters in each answer. Latin translation of the Bible (7)                                        ________________________ Missionary to the Gentiles (4)                                           ________________________ Someone preparing for Baptism (9)                                  ________________________ What you hear after the Gospel (6)                                   ________________________ Betrayer of Jesus (5)                                                         ________________________ Month of St. Francis of Assisi’s feat day (7)                        ________________________ Place where Jesus died (7)                                                 ________________________   VU HO EN CA TE TEC JUD OC LY PA CA UL TOB ARY AS ER LV MI HUM LGA     Answers: 1) Vulgate; 2) Paul; 3) catechumen 4) homily 5) Judas 6) October; 7) Calvary

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Nine Days for Life

Check resources for Pro-Life activities from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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Patrick J. McGeary Requiescat in Pace

Patrick J. McGeary, former marketing director at Ave Maria Press, passed away on January 1 at his home in Venice, Florida, after a two-month illness.   Pat was able to enjoy the Christmas holidays with his wife Marion, three daughters, and four grandchildren. As per his goal, he was able to watch Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl (albeit with undesired results) and the Chicago Bears in their last regular season game. Pat was an unforgettable person. I met him for the first time at the NCCL conference in Covington, Kentucky in 1994. After I set up the booth, Pat came in and rearranged some of the books. I was taken aback, but after talking with him for a few minutes he warmed me over with an array of stories about publishing, growing up in New York City, basketball, and much more. We went out for a steak dinner that night and chatted way later than we should have. The next night Pat invited me to go with him to the NCCL publisher’s dinner. I wasn’t that interested but Pat wanted me to meet one of his old friends. When we got there the host requested everyone in attendance stand up and “tell something unique about themselves” or something to that effect. Pat looked and me and I looked at him and we both bolted for the door along with the young and flustered Sister who had ridden in the car with us. Pat came to work at Ave Maria Press shortly after and we enjoyed several more years of good conversations along with our regular tasks of producing, marketing, and selling our books. In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brother Pat. In this life you embraced him with your tender love; deliver him now from every evil and bid him eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. R/. Amen.                                                                                                                                 --Mike Amodei   Obituary and Memorial information for Patrick J. McGeary.

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Justification, Atonement, Scapegoating

These related terms—justification, atonement, and scapegoat—are connected in a Christian sense in the living, holy victim, Jesus Christ, “whose blood has become the instrument and atonement” (CCC, 1992) for our sins. Justification is given to Christians in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. The term scapegoat is an Old Testament term (see Leviticus 16) connected with a goat sent out into the wilderness after the Jewish priest had symbolically laid the sins of the people upon it. Covenant renewal and restoration of the people were connected to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Explore the idea of scapegoating with a lesson on The Lottery, a short story originally published in 1948 in the New Yorker. The story is also depicted in a 17 minute film, available on YouTube. Several study questions are available online.

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Christmas Quotations

Listed below are several Christmas quotations (gathered from Catholic Online). You might have your students do one or more of the following: Design a Christmas card using one of the sayings along with their own message. Research other Christmas quotations and share a favorite and why that it is so. Compose their own Christmas quotations. Use one of the Christmas quotations as the basis of a one-page essay on the meaning of Christmas. Research and report on teachings or reflections of the saints on the meaning of Christmas. See, for example, "The Saints Teach Us about Christmas." Quotations What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.- Agnes M. Pharo The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart.- Helen Keller There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.- Henry Van Dyke "It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."- W.T.Ellis Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.- Lenore Hershey May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; the spirit of Christmas which is peace; the heart of Christmas which is love.- Ada V. Hendricks We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.- Winston Churchill I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.- Charles Dickens Christmas is not just a time for festivity and merry making. It is more than that. It is a time for the contemplation of eternal things. The Christmas spirit is a spirit of giving and forgiving.- J. C. Penney ("Christmas Thoughts")

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Taking the Risk of Faith

Jesus summoned a crowd with his disciples and said to them, Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this faithless and sinless generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels                                                                                                 --Mark 8:34-38   To follow Jesus means to take a risk. Help your students determine their “risk quotient” before they take up the questions of the risk of faith. Make a worksheet with the following items and have the students circle their responses.   If I lost my way I would Stop and ask directions Check the GPS Keep driving and follow my hunches On the menu, I look for: Something familiar I know and like Something special, a little different Something I never have tried before. In playing Monopoly, I usually Play it safe and hide money under the table Hang loose, but save a little back Go for broke and gamble everything I would prefer to get An “A” in an easy course A “B” in a so-so course A “C” in a tough demanding course In choosing a job,  I would prefer A boring job with security and benefits An interesting job with some security A job with endless possibilities but no security At the amusement park I Stick to the bumper cars Get jittery on the double Ferris wheel Ride no-hands on the fastest, highest revolution roller coaster At a party, I usually Talk only to the friends I came with Get to know a few new people Try to meet most everyone who is there When I have a problem with a teacher I complain, but not to the teacher I ask a parent to talk to the teacher I talk to the teacher myself I would break off a two-year relationship Online By phone In person As a parent I would probably be Very protective Firm but fun Very permissive   RQ SCALE Low Risker                                                           Medium Risker                                                  High Risker 10           12           14           16           18           20           24           26           28           30   When they are finished tell the value of the letters: each A=1 point, each B=2 points and each C=3 points. Have them add their point to figure their RQ scores and circle it on the scale. Tell them to share their scores with a partner. Then divide the room by putting the high riskers in one group, the medium riskers in a second group, and the low riskers in a third group. Have each group discuss and come to a consensus on the following questions: Would you leave your parents and family to be a Christian missionary? What would you give up to follow Jesus? What would cause you to lose your faith in Christ? What motivates you to follow Christ? After the discussion, compare the group’s answers. Note similarities and differences between the way the different kinds of “riskers” answered the questions. Have the students all answer in writing the following question: What does it mean to risk your life in faith for Jesus?

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