Religious Education - Children
Catechist BlogA View from the Kitchen Window
As part of formation for solemn vows as a Franciscan friar, you spend a whole year living outside the world of formation and studies. You live with a friar community involved in full-time ministry. I was assigned to a large parish in Raleigh, N.C. It was a large...
The Innocents
Shadows lurked beneath the light of the star of Bethlehem. There is murder in the air as Herod attempts to eliminate any possible threat to his throne by ordering the death of any male child 2 years and younger found in the town of Bethlehem. Today, amidst the warmth...
The Evangelist
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. In the midst of the Christmas season today's gospel seems out of place. It recounts Mary Magdalene's experience of Easter morning when she reports to Peter and the other apostles: "They have taken the Lord from...
The First Martyr
How quickly things change! Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Jesus and today we celebrate St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The Greek word “martyr” means a witness. So, anyone who witnesses to the faith is a martyr. Sometimes this witnessing is to the...
It’s About a Revolution
Today’s Gospel speaks to us again about one of the most powerful prayers of all time, The Magnificat of Mary. It is about a moral revolution. He scatters the proud in the plans of their heart. That is a moral revolution. It is the death of pride. If we compare our...
O Radiant Dawn
Jesus Christ comes to illuminate our lives with a new vision that remakes all of us. Today’s OH antiphon reminds of the need for a new light that all of us have inside our hearts and souls. Today’s first reading also expressed the joy one feels at the anticipation of...
To whom the Word came
Today’s Gospel is a familiar part of the Christmas story - the Angel Gabriel inviting Mary into the plans of God for redemption and salvation of the world. Given its proximity to Christmas, I suspect we quickly want to jump the 9 months and have our thoughts move...
Zechariah and Elizabeth
Today’s Gospel presents us with two holy and righteous Jews, the priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. Luke describes their holiness: “Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.” Luke will later...
Do What Is Just; For My Salvation Is About to Come
December is a time of planning – often the planning starts in September or October. Typically, we spent a lot of time in this season planning for all the celebrations: Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany. We seem to be experts on planning parties and fun. After all the...
John the Baptist
Did John the Baptist fully understand Jesus? In today’s Gospel Jesus describes John as a prophet and more than a prophet. Jesus quotes Scripture to describe him: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.” Yet it seems...