The first day of classes can be nerve-wracking. Standing in front of a group of young people for the first time is intimidating. Introductions have yet to be made, expectations have yet...
Guiding K-8 learners through a Catholic religious education means walking with them across a wide span of growth and change. From the first Bible story in kindergarten to thoughtful reflection...
Earlier this year, Steven Ellair sat down with John Roberto, Director of National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) to co-host a webinar titled Parents and Families at the Center...
Engage kids with fun and faith-filled activities from Discover! Finding Faith in Life. This Catholic activity calendar takes you through each month of the year, providing creative ways to...
This timeline from The Catholic Children’s Bible highlights important stories in the Bible. From the beginning of Genesis all the way to Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, this timeline helps...
Engage kids with fun and faith-filled activities from Discover! Finding Faith in Life. This Catholic activity calendar takes you through each month of the year, providing creative ways to...
This article contains insights from the recent webinar Parents and Families at the Center of Faith Formation. The webinar offered strategies for Directors of Religious Education (DREs) and...
It is not uncommon for classes and programs to start the year with a grounding theme or a centering idea. Start this new academic year by being intentional about inviting the children to...
“I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. . . . ” begins the Nicene Creed, which Catholics all over the world pray during...
The Rosary is a popular devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. By praying the Rosary, we pray with Mary and we ask her to pray for us. The main part of the Rosary is to recite five sets of...
The word Magnificat means “magnifies.” It comes from the first line of Mary’s song after she heard Elizabeth’s greeting to her: “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord...
Engage your entire parish community with Vacation Bible School (VBS)! From leaders and organizers to teen volunteers and participants, VBS offers a unique opportunity for intergenerational...
Choosing a new pope is somewhat of a mystery to people. In the early Church, a pope was elected not only by the bishops but also by the clergy and the laity. In later years, only the bishops...
Imagine choosing a lifelong spiritual companion. That’s what Confirmation names are all about. This tradition connects young people with a saint who will serve as their special patron and...
Catholic family faith formation, no matter the situation Sustaining faith in a family’s busy routine is an intentional act. By embracing the opportunities within daily life, families can...
Introducing a dynamic new way to enhance faith formation in your parish: Gathered Family Sessions! Rooted in the liturgical and natural seasons, our Gathered Family Sessions offer ten 90-minute...
Invite children, tweens and teens to deepen their Lenten journey. Lent is a time for renewal and reflection through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. We offer free Lent activities to guide...
Questions of human dignity encircle us in many striking and challenging ways these days. Can we as teachers and mentors truly contribute to a national conversation that insists on the value...
Christians understand the Old Testament as preparing us for the coming of Jesus Christ. The authors of the New Testament incorporated Old Testament texts in their writings to demonstrate...
In this season of joyful anticipation, we invite you to use and share this interactive Advent calendar of activities to prepare for Jesus’ birth. With prayers, projects, and reflections...
People of different religious backgrounds sometimes disagree bitterly. This is a big deal because of the violence and war that can result. Violence-inducing disagreements may suggest that...
Catholics view respect for life as a value that touches a wide range of life issues. It recognizes that we are called to have compassion for all people—including those who are not yet born,...
When the pictures of turkeys appear in school windows across the land (sometimes each feather a different color!), we know that Thanksgiving is near. After a full weekend of food, family,...
Twenty years ago, Saint Mary’s Press discovered a sad reality. Our research indicated that Catholic young people didn’t know how to find things in the Bible, they weren’t familiar with its...
About this article This prayer service offers families a way to come together to pray and reflect on recovering from traumatic events. Gathering Come together as a family. Set aside time...
All Saints’ Day, which falls on November 1, is a time to honor all the saints of the Church, known and unknown. These people of great faith lived lives of holiness and can help us...
Just as our calendar year has special times and seasons, so does the Church. In liturgical seasons, we remember important parts of our faith and we celebrate and reflect on key moments in...
