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Posts for Current Events
March Madness 2018: A Salute to the Loyola Chicago Ramblers
March 09, 2018
Catholic Schools Week Assignment for High School Students
January 22, 2018
Jim Caviezel's Powerful Message for Young Catholics
January 08, 2018
Report on Evangelization and Catechesis
November 16, 2017
A World Series Ballplayer Who Makes Time for Mass
October 24, 2017
Share the Journey
October 06, 2017
Practical Principles and Other Resources for Catechetical Sunday 2017
September 01, 2017
Updated Religious Education Resources for September
August 24, 2017
Save the Date: Global Campaign in Support of Refugees
August 04, 2017
The Issue of Glutton Free Holy Communion
July 14, 2017
Holy Spirit in Scripture
May 23, 2017
Scholarship Opportunity for Catholic Students Entering College
April 03, 2017
The Catholic Door online bookstore is offering three scholarships for Catholics entering college in the fall.
Catholic Colleges in March Madness 2017!
March 13, 2017
It’s time for our regular feature on Catholic colleges that qualify for the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. Here are this year’s men’s qualifiers, ranked by overall seeding in the tournament.
Reflections on Christian Patriotism
February 03, 2017
Ask students to say aloud words or phrases that come immediately to them when you say the word “patriotism.” List the words on the board.
Distribute a handout with the following quotations and questions. Read the first quotation and have the students write their reflections on the questions that follow. Repeat the format for sections 2 and 3.
Finally, ask the students to answer in writing the two “Final Items.” To conclude, ask the students to share their reflections either in small groups or with the whole class.
Catholic Schools Week 2017
January 25, 2017
The annual Catholic Schools Week, sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, begins on Monday January 29 and runs until Saturday, Feburary 4. This year's theme is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”
Catholic New Years' Resolutions
December 28, 2016
As a welcome back to class exercise after Christmas vacation, ask the students to create a list of ten Catholic New Years’ Resolutions.
Get In the Game!
October 14, 2016
With the World Series near, football in full swing, and basketball and hockey seasons just kicking off, sports certainly is in the forefront.
Use the reference of sports to remind your students to “get in the game” of life, to always do their best, and of the lesson that hard work pays off in whatever life course they chose for themselves.
St. Robert Bellarmine and Celebrating Catechists
September 07, 2016
Sunday, September 18 is the annual celebration of Catechetical Sunday. The theme this year is Prayer: The Faith Prayed. Catechetical Sunday celebrates the baptismal call of all Catholics to pass on the faith while especially recognizing parish catechists, youth ministers, Catholic and public school teachers, and school administrators.
Canonization of Mother Teresa
August 26, 2016
Mother Teresa of Calcutta is to be canonized a saint in the Catholic Church on Monday, September 4, 2016, in Rome.
Catholic Olympians 2016
August 10, 2016
Several current Olympians on the 2016 United States of America team have publicly witnessed to their Catholic faith while in Rio de Janeiro. Three of the most prominent are gymnast Simon Boles, swimmer Katie Ledecky, and fencer Katharine Holmes.
St. Mary Magdalene
June 24, 2016
Pope Francis has raised the liturgical memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, the woman from the Gospels who, according to the pope, "so loved Christ and was so greatly loved by Christ, to a feast day.
Kentucky Derby Winner Featured in Ave Maria Press Textbook
May 18, 2016
It’s not often that a Kentucky Derby champion trainer and his wife make it into an Ave Maria Press high school theology textbook. But that’s the case with Doug O’Neill, trainer of 2016 champion Nyquist (and 2012 Kentucky Derby winner, I’ll Have Another) and his wife Linette Galvan O’Neill.
Annual Fortnight for Religious Freedom Announced
April 29, 2016
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced the dates for the annual Fornight for Freedom, an occasion to pray, promote, and work for religious liberty. The year, the Fornight for Freedom will be held from June 21--the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More--to July 4, Independence Day.
New Testament Connection: Passover and Eucharist
April 22, 2016
The Jewish Pasch (Passover) is celebrated this year from April 22-30. You may wish to share this information on the Passover as it compares with the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist. The material is taken from The Old Testament: Our Call to Faith and Justice (Ave Maria Press, 2013).
Kraków in the Capital: A US Experience of World Youth Day 2016
April 11, 2016
Several Washington DC groups, including the Archdioceses of Washington and Baltimore and neighboring dioceses, are sponsoring a way for young adults (ages 18-39) to experience the 31st World Youth Day from Kraków, Poland, while remaining right here in the United States.
Tenth Annual Catholic Colleges in March Madness
March 15, 2016
Here we are again with our tenth annual look at Catholic colleges who have qualified for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments, also known as “March Madness.”
The exercise is an interesting one because many of your students are familiar with filling out brackets for an NCAA pool and you can use the current nature and popularity of the event to teach something about the traditions of the Catholic colleges participating, their founding religious community, a namesake saint, and much more.
New Book for Catholic High School Theology Teachers
March 01, 2016
Room 24: Adventures of a New Evangelist chronicles the story of a freshman theology teacher at a Catholic high school in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Brimming with good humor and constant hope, the book demonstrates the practical side of evangelization, with all its ups and downs, joys and frustrations.
Black History Month: Fr. Augustus Tolton
February 05, 2016
The child of slaves, Fr. Augustus Tolton (1854-1897) was the first African American priest ordained to serve the Church in the United States.
Considering Catholics in the News
January 22, 2016
This exercise gives students an opportunity to research and reflect on contemporary celebrities who identify as Catholic.
New Year's Personal Inventory
January 08, 2016
The start of a new year or a new semester is a great time for your students to take inventory on their lives, looking back to the past, critiquing their present, and anticipating their future. You might use the following exercise to supplement a lesson in the early part of the semester.
Student Prayers for the End of the Semester
December 01, 2015
As the semester winds down, share these prayers for student life with your own students. All are taken from Day by Day: The Notre Dame Prayerbook for Students (Ave Maria Press).
The Congregation of Holy Cross Celebrates Two Anniversaries in 2015
November 23, 2015
As the days and weeks of 2015 near the end, you might consider joining with the city of South Bend, Indiana, the nearby home of Ave Maria Press, on the celebration of the city's 150 year anniversary. Similarly, 2015 is the 150 year anniversary of Ave Maria Press as well.
Canonization of Sts. Louis and Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin
October 19, 2015
On Sunday, October 18, Pope Francis canonized Louis Martin and Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin, the parents of St. Thèrése of Lisieux. Here is information about St. Louis Martin and St. Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin, reprinted from Ten Christians by Bonface Hanley, OFM.
How Catholic Schools Can Address the Sinful Nature of Bullying
October 12, 2015
Over the last few decades, there has fortunately arisen a greater awareness of the scourge of bullying within school settings throughout the United States. To be clear, the awareness is the fortunate aspect, while the prevalence is the obviously deleterious one.
Ideas for Curricular Supplements on the World Meeting of Families
September 21, 2015
The World Meeting of Families will occur from Tuesday, September 22 to Friday, September 25, while the Holy Father’s presence in Philadelphia will be Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. It is important to recall that the World Meeting of Families is not merely an event to capture the attention of parents with families –after all, it is likewise a chance for even the youth to be drawn to reflect on the importance of the family within society.
Encouraging an Actively Pro-Life Generation of High School Students
September 11, 2015
Below are various ways that teachers in Catholic high schools, particularly (but not exclusively) theology teachers, can encourage their students to become engaged in the pro-life movement, along with methods of leading students to better learn and understand the vital theological basis by which we celebrate human life in all its multi-faceted stages.
Annulments of Catholic Marriages
September 08, 2015
In two motu proprios, that is formal documents, signed by Pope Francis on Tuesday, September 08, 2015, the pope has expedited the process for Catholics to get annulments from their marriages in the Church.
Canonization of Blessed Junipero Serra
September 02, 2015
This post contains resources about Blessed Junipero Serra, the Spanish Franciscan missionary who evangelized Indians and established twenty-one missions in California. Serra will be canonized by Pope Francis on his trip to the United States later this month.
Praying for the Care of Creation
August 31, 2015
Pope Francis has invited all of us to join in the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Tuesday, Septmber 1.
Fortnight for Freedom
June 29, 2015
Independence Day, July 4, marks the end of the 2015 commemoration and remembrance of religious freedom in the United States along with current threats to religious freedom.
CRS Resources for Pope Francis's Encyclical "Laudato Si"
June 15, 2015
In anticipation of the June 18 release of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si ("Be Praised" or "Praised Be") which focuses on environmental issues, please note information on several ways Catholic Relief Services is reaching out to address climate change issues around the world.
Rest, Renewal, and Revitalization for the Catholic School Educator
June 01, 2015
During the upcoming break in the academic year, plan to use part of the time to refresh yourself in the life-giving words and teachings of Christ!
Unit on the Life of Blessed Óscar Romero
May 26, 2015
Ave Maria Press offers an excellent resource to help your students learn more about the life of Óscar Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador, who was beatified on May 23.
Lessons on Religious Liberty for the Theology Classroom
April 06, 2015
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the watershed Vatican II declaration on religious freedom Dignitatis Humanae: On the Right of the Person and of Communities to Social and Civil Freedom in Matters Religious, promulgated by Blessed Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965. Within these last fifty years, there has been some notable progress, yet likewise significant setbacks, in terms of religious liberty both in the United States and throughout the world.
Witness of Christian Martrys
March 24, 2015
As Holy Week approaches for 2015, the Passion of Christ is more present in our midst than ever. Around the world, Christians have been martyred in recent months, weeks, and days. Share several articles that detail news coverage of the events, prayers offered on the martyrs' behalf, and prayers for all persecuted Christians.
Catholic Colleges in March Madness 2015
March 18, 2015
Christianity in China?
February 06, 2015
There are quite a few question marks about Catholicism and Christianity in China today. Have your students research the answers to these questions
Pope Francis to Canonize Bl. Junipero Serra
January 15, 2015
Pope Francis announced today that he will canonize Bl. Junipero Serra (1713-1784), the Franciscan priest who carried on extensive missionary work in California in the eighteenth century. This post contains some methods to help your student learn about the life and work of thie soon-to-be saint.
Meeting the New Cardinals
January 08, 2015
Pope Francis announced his intention to create twenty new cardinals at the upcoming consistory (an assembly of cardinals called together by the pope) on February 14, 2015.
An Additional Lesson on Death and Dying
October 21, 2014
Dying a Holy Death
October 13, 2014
Expecting Shane
September 26, 2014
Christians in the Middle East: A Crucial Issue to Keep in the Forefront
July 30, 2014
Christians in the Middle East and North Africa are facing a crisis. Forced to leave their ancestral homes and abandon their churches or face death, the situation is truly harrowing.
The Crucial Issue of Religious Freedom
June 30, 2014
With issues around the First Amendment to the United States Constitution swirling in the news, including around the recent Supreme Court Decision in the Hobby Lobby case, and worldwide in the brutal persecution and decimation of Christians in the Middle East, please note the following articles and resources.
Reflection on Driving While Drunk
June 24, 2014
With summer here, teens run the risk of many dangerous situations including the possibility they will drive or be in a car with someone who is impaired by alcohol. Use the occasion of summer to share with them the very meaningul poem below.
Tips to Share with Your Graduates about College Orientation
June 10, 2014
The following is an exerpt from Ready for College: Everything You Need to Know by Michael Pennock. Share the information with your graduating seniors (and juniors too as a preview). You may wish to adapt the presentation to fit with particular colleges in your area and others your students have applied to and been accepted at.
Summary of Pope Francis' Visit to the Holy Land
May 27, 2014
Pope Francis historic visit to the Holy Land is over. The Catholic bishops of the region have prepared and maintained a webpage with images, articles, and video of the trip. Included in this detailed reference is an article of other papal visists to the Holy Land.
Divergent in the Classroom
May 02, 2014
St. John Paul II: A Five-Day Mini Unit
April 21, 2014
Interested in teaching your students about Pope John Paul II? As part of the celebration of the canonizations of the pope, Ave Maria Press is offering St. John Paul II: A Five-Day Mini Unit, a supplementary resource designed to celebrate the life of Karol Wotyla, the beloved pope whose nearly twenty-seven year papacy that transitioned the world from the twentieth to twenty-first century.
March Madness: Catholic Colleges in the 2014 NCAA Tournament
March 18, 2014
Here are the rankings of Catholic colleges in this year's tournament based on their tournament seedings.
National Marriage Week February 7 – 14, 2014
February 10, 2014
Teaching about Marriage can be a challenge sometimes because you want to give the students an understanding of the Sacrament while not offending those whose loved ones are divorced, live together, or are remarried outside of the Church. How can you teach the students why it is important to prepare for strong marriages without seeming to condemn students’ families?
On the 200th Annivesary of the Birth of Our Founder
January 30, 2014
Catholic Schools Week 2014: Coming to Know God
January 24, 2014
New Cardinals Reflect the Global Church
January 20, 2014
Don't Let Go of Christmas Just Yet!
January 14, 2014
As you settle back into a new semester, don't let Christmas go without sharing and reflecting on the Christmas message of Pope Francis.
In Expectation of the Canonization of Blessed Peter Faber
December 16, 2013
Some time within the next week, Pope Francis is expected to announce the canonization of one of his favorite Jesuits, Blessed Peter Faber. In anticipation of the event, share some information on the life of Peter Faber. Have your students monitor the news stories from the Vatican on what might take place around this issue.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: First Catholic President
November 15, 2013
November 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the first and only Roman Catholic President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy. This might be a good time to remind your students of the prejudice faced by Kennedy when he ran for President in 1960. Kennedy had to directly confront anti-Catholic sentiment during the campaign.
Pro-Life Flash Mob
October 14, 2013
Canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II
September 30, 2013
The Vatican has announced the canonization dates for Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II: Sunday April, 27, 2014, the Sunday after Easter. This date is also the worldwide celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast instituted by Pope John Paul II. This post contains brief biographies of these two extraordinary men.
Air Strikes on Syria and the Just War Doctrine
September 06, 2013
The unfortunate civil war in Syria provides an opportunity for students, as Catholics, to research and evaluate the arguments they hear about the United States making air strikes against the country. Their thoughtful reflection may lead them to contact their senators or representatives in the US Congress.
Helping College Freshmen Say Good-bye to Mom and Dad
August 12, 2013
Welcome to World Youth Day 2016!
August 05, 2013
World Youth Day 2013 has finished but it's not too soon to prepare teens to begin planning a pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland.
Short Biography on Pope Francis
July 15, 2013
St. Michael the Archangel Pray for the Church
July 08, 2013
In coming together last week to dedicate a beautiful new statue to honor St. Michael the Archangel. Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI remind the Church of the importance of angels as those who aid our journey to God's Kingdom. Have your students reflect on St. Michael, the defender of the Church, with these prayers and readings.
Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
July 01, 2013
O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Teacher Resource: Marriage and Same-Sex Relationships
June 10, 2013
Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois recently gave a presentation on the Catholic Church's teaching on the hot-button topic of marriage and same-sex relationships.
Trinity Sunday
May 20, 2013
Baseball Is a Metaphor for Catholic Education!
April 30, 2013
Prayer After the Boston Marathon 2013
April 16, 2013
Even in the wake of a terrible tragedy and in the face of panic, we did not crumble. Rather, people stood up and helped their neighbors selflessly, offering their time, prayers, and treasures to help rebuild. This prayer reflects on what it means to truly act as Jesus would, even in the grip of fear.
Catholic Colleges in March Madness 2013!
March 18, 2013
Why Is the 2013 Papal Conclave Unique?
March 04, 2013
Emerging Youth Cultures
February 04, 2013
Super Bowl and the Mass
January 30, 2013
Reviewing Internet Safety
January 21, 2013
Addressing the Recent Shooting at the Sikh Temple
August 13, 2012
God, Faith, Catholics and the Olympic Games
August 07, 2012
Catholic Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faith
August 02, 2012
The Pew Forum of Religion& Public Life has released a new report about Asian-Americans and their religious affiliations and practices. In addition to helping you understand the religious composition of your own local or school community, you may find the information useful for student research or class activities, especially in a World Religions course.
Prayer for the Victims of the Aurora Theater Shooting
July 20, 2012
Grant unto them eternal rest, O Lord,
and let the perpetual light shine upon them;
May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace.
Amen.
National NFP Awareness Week Lesson
July 16, 2012
God Bless America!
July 02, 2012
Teaching with the Kony 2012 Video in Schools
March 19, 2012
Odds are good that your high school students have already seen the Kony 2012 video. It went viral in the first week of March being viewed roughly 80 million times in only five days. In fact it is now considered to be the most viral video in history defeating the likes of Susan Boyle, Lada Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus.
Catholic Colleges in March Madness 2012!
March 12, 2012
Three Different Feasts
October 31, 2011
Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day are often linked together as would make sense since they fall on consecutive days.
Catholic Connections with Steve Jobs
October 06, 2011
Respect Life Month Teaching Resources
September 27, 2011
The month of October is Respect Life Month. When we hear "respect life," most of us immediately think of the pro-life movement to end abortion. This is a key cause to support during October (and all year round!). But Respect Life Month is also meant to remind us of the issues of capital punishment, euthanasia, contraception, and respect for those with disabilities. September 28 begins the 40 Days for Life campaign that coincides with Respect Life month and ends on November 6.
Wisdom for High School Graduates
May 17, 2011
Sr. Cheryl Milner, SNJM, and Dennis B. Ryan of Bellarmine-Jefferson High School in Burbank, California, have spent the past few years asking some of the "most renowned and influential thinkers and doers in the English-speaking world" to write letters of advise and counsel to the school's graduating classes. In 2010 they assembled these letters to form an excellent book Wisdom from Giants: Contemporary Legends Give Students Advice. The letters are wonderful and difficult to summarize in limited space. Two of the best are from Los Angeles-area sports' legends: UCLA basketball coach John Wooden (who passed away in 2010) and Dodger baseball announcer Vin Scully, now in his sixty-second year with the team. Here is what they wrote:
A Catholic Response to the News on Bin Laden
May 02, 2011
Catholic Colleges in the NCAA Tournament 2011
March 14, 2011
Our Lady of Good Help, Pray for Us!
January 27, 2011
Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay issued a decree that authenticated the nineteenth-century apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a young woman, Adele Brise, in the farmlands near Champion, Wisconsin.
Blessed John Henry Newman Lesson Plan
September 20, 2010
On Sunday September 19, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman, Catholic convert and exceptional apologist.
Case Study: Illegal Immigration
May 23, 2010
The issue of immigration, especially due to the recent Arizona immigration law, is complex, as this case study reveals.
The Health Care Reform Law and Catholic Social Teaching
March 23, 2010
Below are some suggestions for teaching about the new Health Care Law in the context of Catholic Social Teaching.
Catholic Colleges in March Madness 2010!
March 15, 2010
Enjoy the time of March Madness with your students but also allow some opportunities to talk about the benefits of attending a Catholic college as well as some of the interesting facts and stories surrounding higher Catholic education in the United States and the religious communities that have founded these schools.
Catholic Schools Week 2010: Celebrating Innovative Leadership
February 01, 2010
The Church celebrates the lives of two founders of religious communities who have been dedicated to educating boys and girls in Catholic high schools that flourish to this day.
Youth March for Life - Live News Coverage
January 22, 2010
News coverage of the March for Life rally in Washington DC.
"When we let freedom ring . . .
January 18, 2010
"Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Responding to the Haitian Earthquake in Your Theology Class
January 13, 2010
Listed below are some opportunities for you and your students to get involved in the relief efforts in Haiti.
World Day of Prayer and Action for Children
November 19, 2009
Along with Pope Benedict XVI, commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the first World Day of Prayer and Action for Children with your class by praying with your class on behalf of suffering children worldwide.
WIN —-What's Important Now
September 04, 2009
You may wish to share some words of encouragement for the new school year from Lou Holtz, coach of the 1988 National Champion Fighting Irish from his book A Teen's Game Plan for Life
World Youth Day 2011 Logo Unveiled
August 03, 2009
The logo for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain was unveiled last week.
Islam through a Catholic Lens
May 11, 2009
The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator in the first place, amongst whom are the Muslims.
Avoiding Alcohol Abuse; Becoming A Better Me
May 05, 2009
Pray with your students for their commitment to live healthy and safe lives during these next few months and in the years ahead.
USCCB Movie Reviews
April 24, 2009
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has for many years operated an Office for Film and Broadcasting that serves “to provide the public with a Catholic evaluation of both entertainment features and documentaries from a moral and artistic perspective.”
Catholic College Bracketology
March 16, 2009
Here's an annual breakdown of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with a focus on Catholic colleges that have been selected.
Discussing the President's Embryonic Stem Cell Order
March 13, 2009
Help your students to understand this issue and the Church's position on the side of life.
Blessed Damien to be Canonized
February 23, 2009
The Vatican announced this weekend that Blessed Damien De Veuster, a priest of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart, who had ministered with lepers in Hawaii in the nineteenth century and later died of the disease, would be canonized a saint on October 11, 2009.
The Pope on Facebook
January 23, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI said that new technologies have an "extraordinary potential" to bring people together and that they can help people share the search for goodness, beauty, and truth.
Pray for the Unborn
January 22, 2009
Today, on the 36th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States, take some time to pray with your students for the rights of the unborn, a change of laws, and a change of heart.
A New Day
January 16, 2009
In small groups have the students role-play peaceful resolutions to situations that are often marked by racial tensions.
Facebook and God's Kingdom
December 05, 2008
Today's Facebook generation is getting a little taste of what Purgatory and Heaven are like all wrapped into one.
A Papal Blog?
October 30, 2008
Agnes Kam Leng Lam, a Chinese laywoman and President of the Catholic Biblical Association of Hong Kong, made the interesting suggestion that the Pope begin his own blog.
Parents of St. Thérèse One Step Closer to Sainthood
October 17, 2008
Mission Sunday, October 19, is the date of the beatification of the mother and father of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of the most popular saints of modern times.
Celebrating the Red Mass
October 10, 2008
A tradition that goes back to 13th-century Europe, Red Masses are celebrated in order to ask for the blessing of the Holy Spirit on those who administer justice, especially lawyers, judges, and lawmakers.
Marathon Bible Reading
October 06, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI began a "marathon of Bible reading" on live Italian television on Sunday, October 5, while encouraging people world-wide—Catholics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and all others—to spend some time with this sacred book.
Two Catholic High Schools Blue Ribbon Award Winners
September 22, 2008
This years only three private high schools achieved Blue Ribbon status; two of them or Catholic high schools: St. Viator of Arlington Heights, Illinois and Aquinas High School of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The Catholic Vote
September 18, 2008
Grassroots Films, an independent company, from Brooklyn, New York has released a powerful, thought-provoking film reminding and encouraging Catholics of the power to inform their conscience and to vote their conscience.
Catholic Perspectives on the Political Debate
September 15, 2008
In light of the recent announcement that the United States Catholic Bishops will take up the issue of politics and abortion at the meeting of the full body of bishops in November, take some time to visit the Faithful Citizenship site sponsored by the USCCB.
Share Lesson Plans on the Year of St. Paul!
August 06, 2008
As you begin a new semester, the Church is celebrating a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul.
World Youth Day 2008 Preview
July 14, 2008
The twenty-third World Youth Day begins tomorrow in Sydney, Australia.
Positive Results for Catholic Education
June 04, 2008
A study tracking and comparing high school students who reveived special financial aid to attend Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles netted overwhelming and positive results.
The Pope's Message to Catholic Educators
April 21, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI addressed Catholic educators on Thursday, April 17, at Catholic University in Washington D.C.
A Scandal of "Great Suffering"
April 15, 2008
There are good reasons for teaching adolescents about sexual abuse.
Birthday Blessings for the Pope
April 03, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate his 81st birthday next week, on April 16, when he visits the United States.
Baseball and Catholic Schools Juxtaposed
April 01, 2008
With the opening of another baseball season, consider ways the some of the folks that make up a Catholic school compare with those associated with a Major League baseball team.
Catholic Colleges in March Madness: Part 2
March 18, 2008
Here's a re-do of a post we published last year during the all-encompassing NCAA Basketball tournament.
The Words of Abraham Lincoln
February 11, 2008
February 12 marks the 199th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States.
Catholic Schools Light the Way
January 31, 2008
Pause and read the story of one Catholic High School Student from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Minneapolis.
The Last Tolerated Form of Prejudice?
January 23, 2008
Today, prejudice against Catholics has been called “the last tolerated form of prejudice.”
Discussing Racism
January 18, 2008
Jesus understood the pain of racism. He preached and gathered to himself the outcasts of society.
The Church In America Icebreaker
January 11, 2008
With presidential politics and primaries in full swing and the feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American born saint recently celebrated, consider the following lesson icebreaker on the theme of the Catholic Church in America.
Recalling God's Plan for Our Lives
January 07, 2008
The end of Christmas also celebrates the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry with his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
Hard as Nails/Life Is Worth Living Juxtaposition
January 02, 2008
The current HBO special has brought nationwide attention to the unique ministry of Justin Fatica.
News Report on National Framework
December 20, 2007
More information on the November 14 unanimous vote of approval of a national curriculum framework was reported in a recent article in My Catholic Standard, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C.
Saved By Hope
November 30, 2007
Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Spe Salvi (“Saved by Hope") says, "the Gospel is not merely a communication of things that can be known—it is one that makes things happen and is life-changing."
The Challenges of Teaching Theology
November 27, 2007
Some reader responses on the greatest challenges that Catholic theology teachers face.
50 Top Catholic High Schools!
November 26, 2007
The Catholic High School Honor Roll, an independent project of the Acton Institute, an international research and educational organization, recently announced its best 50 secondary schools.
Sharing The Faith
November 21, 2007
A preface from a final draft of the National Curriculum Framework for high school religion envisioned "a Christ-centered catechetical initiative that is intended to have the student encounter the living Lord as he is found in the Church, in the Word of God and in the sacramental life of the Church, most particularly, the Eucharist."
National Framework Approved
November 20, 2007
The new National Curriculum Framework has a strong Christological focus and roots each course in the life of Christ and the saving actions of the Paschal Mystery.
What Can We Do About the Teen Code of Silence?
October 19, 2007
Young people are terrified by the social ostracism that could come with being identified as a “snitch” or a “tattle tale.”
What Makes American Youth Happy?
September 18, 2007
Over the summer, the Associated Press and MTV released findings of an in-depth study of young people and happiness.
A Saint of Darkness?
September 07, 2007
Mother Theresa's spiritual struggles may raise some difficult but worthwhile questions to discuss with your students.
Remembering Mother Teresa
September 06, 2007
No one, not even in the secular media, can ever doubt Mother Teresa’s service to the “least brothers and sisters” of this world. She spent a majority of her life caring for the “poorest of the poor.” She spoke many times of the importance of love and family, of accepting the gift of life, and of learning many lessons from the poor.
“Thou Shall Not Drive Like a Road Hog!”
July 17, 2007
Forgiveness… even when it’s hard!
July 10, 2007
Prom Season
May 14, 2007
One in Four Read Diocesan Newspapers
May 06, 2007
An item in this month’s issue of St. Anthony Messenger reports that, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Applied Research (CARA), only a quarter of American Catholics have read their diocesan newspaper at least once in the past six months! And almost a quarter reported that they had read one or more national Catholic publications during that time.
Litany of Remembering
April 17, 2007
The Passion of the Christ
March 29, 2007
As Holy Week approaches you may be considering showing or assigning some of Mel Gibson’sThe Passion of the Christ. The movie initially sparked charges of anti-Semitism against Gibson and the producers. A suggestion as part of any viewing of The Passion of the Christ is to address the larger issue of anti-Semitism. The USCCB collection of documents on “The Bible, The Jews, and The Death of Jesus” offers an overview of the issue.
Religion Lessons and March Madness
March 14, 2007
Once again the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is upon us.
Social Justice: The Other Side
December 04, 2006
A Time for Nuns?
November 16, 2006
Body Image: Discussion Starter
November 15, 2006
Teen Culture
November 14, 2006
There and Back Again: An Author's Tale
November 14, 2006
The View From Here
November 10, 2006
In times like those you can feel some tangible glimpse of that everlasting kingdom we all long to be a part of and experience while we journey along on Planet Earth.
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