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Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
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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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History of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

During Jesus' life and after his Ascension to heaven, his disciples anointed and laid hands on those were sick in order to heal them. Share this brief timeline of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick from the third century forward. ca. 215: The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus described how at Mass, a bishop blessed the oil of the sick (olive or another plant oil), praying that the oil would bring strength to all anointed with it. Christians regarded their blessed oil as an especially effective remedy and a sign of God’s presence. ca. 416: Pope Innocent I described in a letter how blessed oil was used for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. 428: St. Cyril of Alexandria warned Christians not to turn to pagan magicians and sorcerers when they were sick. Instead, they were to turn to God’s healing through the bishop and presbyters of the Church. 1551: The Council of Trent affirmed that “only priests (bishops and presbyters) are ministers of the Anointing of the Sick” (CCC, 1516). 1965: The Second Vatican Council wrote that “‘Extreme Unction,’ which may also and more fittingly be called ‘Anointing of the Sick,’ is not a sacrament intended only for those who are at the point of death. . . . [A]s soon as any of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, this is already a suitable time for them to receive this sacrament.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 73) Assignments Define oil of the sick and Extreme Unction. Research and write a two-page report on one or more religious communities whose primary apostolate is to care for the sick and suffering. Interview a doctor, nurse, or someone in the medical field. Ask his or her opinion on the role of the the Spirit and prayer in the healing process. Write a one-page report detailing the results of the interview.

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Seven New Saints

Pope Francis canonized seven new saints on Sunday, October 14, at St. Peter's Square in Rome. Here are short videos and other information on each new saint. St. Paul VI St. Oscar Romero See also the award-winning full length feature Monsenor: The Last Journey of Oscar Romero with accompanying free study guide. St. Francesco Spinelli St. Nunzio Sulprizio St. Nazaria Ignacia March Mesa St. Katharina Kasper

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Help for Children Refugees

The following important message comes from the desk of Catholic Relief Services. It asks for immediate help for children refugees, especially help in securing for them the right to go to school. Read the message and explo0re the links which include several ways your students can actively learn about and support this mission. See also the separate Share the Journey. Seventeen years. Not only are more people than ever displaced today, but they are displaced, on average, for 17 years. That’s close to a generation. In a strange place. With few connections. Often with little knowledge of local language and customs, and often with rights denied that most of us take for granted. A period that is supposed to be devoted to play, growth and education is too often spent worrying about their daily existence. During war and crisis, education may seem like something minor, but it is critical to keeping children safe and building hope for the future. That’s why agencies that serve refugees work to provide access to education for refugee children. Have You Shared the Journey? Eyeing the enormity of the refugee crisis, Pope Francis declared, "To give a child a seat at school is the finest gift you can give.”  Right now, a great number of refugee children, especially girls, are not able to attend. We invite you and your communities to call on your Senators to pass an important bill moving in the Senate that would help provide access to education for vulnerable children, like refugees. So much in the present is a struggle for refugee families, but we work and pray for a chance at a meaningful future. A Seat at School Policies and answers are something we debate.  But solidarity is something we do.  It is how we live. That is why we continue to encourage you to Share the Journey by taking a Pilgrimage Walk.  As persons, as families, and as communities, we are putting one foot in front of the other, walking in public in solidarity with those whose lives have become a difficult journey; moving in a deeper, more meaningful way, spiritually and physically.  And then, as we go forward, we will be going forward together. The response so far has been exciting.  Together, we have entered into the journey, and have walked more than twice around the world.  Can we do five times around?  That is our new goal. And if we can do that, then surely we can help provide a seat in a school and the opportunity to be educated.  To all of our children.

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A Catholic Hero

Share this article on hall of fame baseball player and exemplary Catholic Roberto Clemente. You may wish to have the students write their answers to the comprehension questions that follow. An additional reflection  assignment is also provided. Comprehension What was early evidence of Roberto's practice of his faith? How were the people of Puerto Rico divided when Roberto grew up? What major league team originally signed Roberto? What issues did Roberto originally have with the sportswriters? his teammates? When did Roberto meet his wife? How did Roberto practice his Catholic faith while living in Pittsburgh? How did Roberto die? Reflection Could Roberto Clemente become a saint? Read this article and then write your opinion in a three paragraph response.

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