The Joy of Advent: Complete Catholic lessons for every age, ready to teach
This is such a special time of year. The excitement of the holidays is mounting, and Advent is about to begin, our preparation for the Incarnation and Nativity of...
Celebrating Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls
The ancient Celts, who invented our Halloween celebration, were particularly sensitive to the turning-points of the year. They had to be, for their survival depended on their knowledge of...
The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
As Christians, we know we’re called to serve one another. This, we can understand, is one of the core messages of the Gospel, especially significant in the instructions to...
Scriptural Prayer with Children
Among the many ways to pray, scriptural prayer is one of the best for children. The stories, images, characters, and words of the Bible are an excellent starting point...
Understanding Aquinas’s Five Proofs for the Existence of God
The Summa Theologica, written by Saint Thomas Aquinas between the years AD 1265 and 1274, is one of the most extensive summaries of Catholic theology ever written. Meant to...
An Inexhaustible Mystery: Images of the Church in Scripture
If you were asked to describe what the Church is, how would you answer? Would your answer be about the buildings, the people, or the teachings? Once you have...
Three Easy Ways to Celebrate the Assumption
With the Solemnity of the Assumption right around the corner, we’re thinking of some creative ways to celebrate with kids—ways that will help to bring the wonder and meaning...
Describing and Defining the Sacraments
Like signs and symbols, the sacraments are about the mystery of a threefold communication: from God to humans, from humans to God, and among humans in community. The very...
Bringing Faith to Life for Middle Schoolers!
Have you ever had the experience of revealing to others that you teach young adolescents only to have them say, “That’s nice!” when their faces seem to say, “Why...
How to Choose the Right Catholic Bible for Children
Getting children into Scripture requires careful planning, especially when it comes to choosing the right Bible for them. With several options in terms of translations, formats, and features, it...
Finding Scripture in the Mass
Every week at Mass, we listen as Sacred Scripture is proclaimed to the Church. Then, later on in every week during faith formation or religious education classes, we teach...
The Scriptural Roots of the Eucharist: Making the Connection with Kids
Scripture and Tradition: The Heart of the Catholic Faith The core of our belief is rooted in what we hear and read in Sacred Scripture, interpreted by the Tradition...
Celebrating the Ascension with Kids
The Solemnity of the Ascension has the power to really wow kids with the marvelous account of Christ’s last moments, after his Resurrection, before he enters into Heaven. The...
Mary of Nazareth
Mary of Nazareth (ca. 18 BC—AD 50), the mother of Jesus of Nazareth, is without a doubt one of the most influential figures in all of Christianity. Revered by...
5 Action Steps for Nurturing Children in Faith
What are the best ways to help children learn and live their faith? How can we engage children so that faith comes to life for them? What are some...
Bringing Lent to Life
Lent can be challenging, especially for younger children. It is a penitential season of the liturgical year. Penance, by definition, expresses repentance for wrongdoing and is neither fun nor...
What is Said About Mary is Said About the Church
Mary has been so closely associated with the church throughout the history of Christianity that many scriptural sayings and traditional teachings about her can also be understood as sayings...
Holy Family Ties – The Feast of The Holy Family (December 30)
The popularity of genealogy and ever-new ways to search for family origins has brought to mind the importance of family. Ever since God told our first parents (as we...
Preparing Kids for Christmas: A Candlelight Prayer
The last days in class before Christmas can be hectic. Use this prayer service to spend some quiet time with your students. Create a peaceful atmosphere by turning down...
Mary’s Incredible Role in God’s Plan
Laurie was confused when she spent the night at Eden’s house. Before Eden went to bed, she prayed a Hail Mary for her sick grandmother and for her brother...
5 Ways to Jump-Start and Nourish Your Faith This Advent
5 Ways to Jump-Start Your Faith This Advent Is your faith feeling a bit . . . stale? Has it been awhile since you’ve connected with God? Consider a...
Four Ways Engaged Learning Can Create More Meaning With Children!
Have you ever been teaching, and you look out to see a room full of children just staring back at you with glazed eyes? Maybe you’ve experienced sessions where...
Saint Thérèse and 3 Other Young Saints to Inspire Teens
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) Feast day: October 1 In every teen’s life, there are big decisions to be made. This is true in a saint’s life as well....
Mastering the Words
We’ve all heard them—the bloopers or malaprops young children come up with as they articulate memorized prayer. The child who prays, “May the souls of the faithful departed rest...
Teaching Kids About Our Lady of Sorrows
Opening Prayer On September 15th each year, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, a day for prayer and reflection on the distinct sorrows that the...
Calling Forth the Invisible, Spreading Goodness: Virtue Ethics in Laudato Si’
On the surface, Pope Francis’s Laudato si’ does not look like a call for an ecological virtue ethics.¹ Large-scale social change seems to be the main point. In two hundred...
Embracing the Season of Creation
While many are familiar with the seasons of the Church such as Lent and Advent, not many are aware of the Season of Creation. This season begins on September...
