Mid-January of every year in the United States is declared National Vocations Awareness Week by the USCCB to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Why is this week so important? From the USCCB website: “National Vocation Awareness Week gives dioceses and parishes across the country a chance to promote vocations through prayer…
The Religion Teacher Blog
45 Ways to Celebrate the Year of Faith as a Family
Although we’ve begun a new calendar year, the Year of Faith is still in full swing! Have you given your parents some ideas on how to celebrate the Year of Faith at home with your students? Jennifer from Risen Christ School in Minneapolis shared with me a Year of Faith brochure she created to give…
@Pontifex Lesson Plan on the Pope
In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI officially joined Twitter as @pontifex in 2012. Teachers and catechists constantly ask me how to make lessons interesting to the students, well here is a great opportunity to be relevant with lesson plan on the Pope! The Pope joining Twitter is an excellent opportunity to make real world connections to…
Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Service
In many areas of the United States, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe may be one of the most important feast days in the Catholic school/parish religious education year. As the number of Hispanic Catholics rise in the United States, so does the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Consider using this prayer service,…
The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit
The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit is a special set of resources that can be used by catechists, teachers, and parents to prepare their children for the coming of Christ throughout the month of December. This Jesse Tree kit includes twenty-four Jesse Tree ornaments and symbols. All twenty-four ornaments in The Religion Teacher’s Jesse Tree Kit come…
Catholic Mass Activities for Kids
There are so many fun ways to teach kids about the Catholic Mass. This collection of Catholic Mass activities should help you plan your next lesson about the mass or help prepare students for school or parishes masses throughout the year. Whether you are teaching students about the liturgy or specifically about the Eucharist, try…
Introduction to the Catechism Lesson Plan
The Year of Faith is the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. While many students have never seen or heard of the Catechism, others can become so intimidated by the size, small print, paragraphs, notes, and numbers…
“Ask Me About” Printable Handout for Parents
This is a guest post by my wife, Jennifer Dees, who currently works for the Alliance for Catholic Education. Jen taught fourth grade in Nashville for four years and since then has helped out with Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at our parish. Like every good parent, when my kids jump into the car after a…
The Five Finger Prayer Method for Kids
As religious educators we are always looking for prayer ideas and activities that involve movement and hand motions for our children to participate more fully in their faith. As Christians we are programmed to pray with our hands usually held together tightly. The five finger prayer method is a great way for children to literally…
Year of Faith Activities and Ideas for Religious Educators
On October 11, 2012 the Catholic Church will begin a celebration of the “Year of Faith” to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the twentieth anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The year will be quite busy, beginning with a Synod on “The New Evangelization for…
