About this article This prayer service is intended to bring hope during the difficult days that follow a tragedy. The service can be used with any size group, and with various ages of young...
In Foundations for Flourishing, a video and podcast series by Saint Mary’s Press, we share stories and advice from educators, ministers, and leaders, all with one goal: to encourage you...
“It’s all about how you show up.” Showing up for young people requires a system of support, a personal community that guides you through difficulties and joys. In this episode of Foundations...
About this article This prayer service provides an opportunity for prayer and communal support in light of the aftermath of any disaster. The service can be used with any size group, and...
When asked what their greatest wish is, many people respond that they would like to see world peace. It is admirable to hope for the absence of war and physical violence in the world. But...
Where does your relationship with God touch your daily life? For these five Catholic leaders, faith touches everything. In this episode of Foundations for Flourishing, you’ll hear five perspectives...
Engaging young people in the Church is important. In fact, it is essential to the life of the Church. But engaging young people is about far more than just filling pews. It is about acknowledging,...
There are many simple day-to-day practices that can help you stay encouraged when challenges arise. In this episode of Foundations for Flourishing, expert Catholic educators and ministers...
More than ten percent of people in the United States live below the poverty threshold defined by the US Census Bureau. Of those, more than one quarter (28 percent) are under the age of eighteen....
We began with the question: “What is a fundamental principle of your ministry?” What these Catholic leaders shared was not only insightful but also practical advice for those called to work...
Adapted from Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics. In Genesis 1–11, the Bible begins with imaginative stories about how God created everything. These are sometimes called primeval...
Relationships are central to any form of education or ministry. How does one build that into their daily work with young people? In this episode of Foundations for Flourishing, our guests...
Faith formation requires effective teaching. The Greeks had a word for “teaching” which is still used in professional circles today, and that word is pedagogy. The literal meaning of pedagogy...
In 1706, John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of teachers, listed twelve virtues of a good teacher in his Conduct of the Christian Schools. In 1785, Brother Agathon, the fifth superior...
We’re excited to announce Foundations for Flourishing, our new video and podcast series all about building a strong foundation for your work, faith, and life. Over the next six videos, you’ll...
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks his last words of encouragement and commissioning to his disciples: “Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; . . . and...
1. Create a Eucharist Card Invite your group to make a card that illustrates the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. This card will emphasize how ordinary bread is changed into the...
In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are urged to keep the light of Christ alive in our hearts for the rest of our lives. We are called to holiness. Though this may seem like a tall order, when...
“The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all how live on it are his.” (Psalm 24:1) Yes, the Earth is God’s, and it has been given to us as a gift. Imagine! Our...
Consider the ways you interact with nature. Have you ever thought about how all our lives depend on nature? How often have you felt in awe of the beauty and power of the natural world? Unfortunately,...
The Paschal Mystery is a core doctrine of the Church, one of the essential beliefs of all Christians. Though all doctrines are important, some define the very heart of the Christian faith....
If you were to ask most people about the story of Christmas, they could likely recall it in some detail. Religious or not, people would likely name the shepherds, the Wise Men, the star,...
Reading the Word of God is key to building a personal relationship with Jesus and the Church while learning to live our faith! Did you know there are 73 books in the Bible? It’s true! The...
In a society where young people are well connected virtually but still feel isolated and lonely, how can we build school communities where young people feel important and seen? We can start...
Watch Steven Ellair talk about engaged, active learning and how his experience as a religion teacher informed the creation of Discover! Finding Faith in Life. Discover! is a brand new approach...
We talk a lot about love and the need to be loving people, but what is love? This is a question that Paul’s converts in Corinth must have been asking as well. In his First Letter to the...
When I first began teaching, I would invite the class to take several minutes for silent prayer before we began. Shortly after I started this, individual students would approach me privately...
I don’t recall where I first heard this quote, but it has stuck with me ever since. It is a quote that simply states, “What we do inside of the Church makes no difference unless it affects...
