Recent headlines
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AUGUST 19, 2020
Saint Mary’s Press Pioneers Brand New Distance-Learning Options for Flexible Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic
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APRIL 11, 2019
Saint Mary’s Press and the California Catholic Conference launch new eLearning program celebrating California Native Peoples and Missions
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MARCH 20, 2019
Mission: Building Solidarity Across Differences
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JANUARY 29, 2019
Singer-Towns Takes On New Role After Storied Career at Saint Mary’s Press
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JANUARY 9, 2019
OPEN WIDE OUR HEARTS
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JULY 12, 2018
ACTA Publications and Saint Mary’s Press Conclude Historic Sale
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JUNE 29, 2018
Janet Zafft: A celebration of 40 years of faithful, joyful service
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JANUARY 17, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SAINT MARY’S PRESS & GEORGETOWN RESEARCHERS RELEASE TWO-YEAR NATIONAL STUDY ON DISAFFILIATION IN YOUNG CATHOLICS
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JANUARY 15, 2018
RELEASE: SAINT MARY’S PRESS RELEASES NEW CATHOLIC YOUTH BIBLE DESIGNED TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE
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JANUARY 5, 2018
RELEASE: SAINT MARY’S PRESS HOSTS A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON WHY YOUTH ARE LEAVING RELIGION
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SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
"A better children's bible" from Aleteia: a review of The Catholic Children's Bible
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JULY 3, 2017
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AUGUST 10, 2015
Ready-To-Go Game Shows
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JULY 8, 2015
Coming Soon! A New Translation of The Catholic Youth Bible
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MAY 8, 2015
New type of Bible with African-American history
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MAY 3, 2015
World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery
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APRIL 21, 2015
Religion teacher wants students to open Bible, be surprised
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APRIL 14, 2015
The Catholic Children's Prayer Book
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MARCH 26, 2015
New Edition of Bible Considers African-American Catholic Faith, Youth and Community
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JANUARY 9, 2015
New Bible is Designed Specifically for Young Black Catholics
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DECEMBER 29, 2014
One of Us
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DECEMBER 19, 2014
Cotter student receives free prayer book from Saint Mary's Press
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NOVEMBER 24, 2014
Bible aims to make God's word more accessible to African-American youth
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OCTOBER 7, 2014
Bible for African-American youth to be released
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MAY 28, 2014
Saint Mary's Press Named Gold Winner for Benjamin Franklin Award
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APRIL 26, 2014
Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times
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APRIL 21, 2014
Anselm Academic Study Bible
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APRIL 12, 2014
The Catholic Youth Bible
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APRIL 8, 2014
Break Through!
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MARCH 31, 2014
Moses and the Ten Commandments Big Book
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MARCH 30, 2014
The Catholic Children’s Bible
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MARCH 24, 2014
Vocations: Answering God's Call
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FEBRUARY 5, 2014
Excellent Textbook on Morality For Kids
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JANUARY 30, 2014
Church History: Apostolic Times to Today
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DECEMBER 13, 2013
The Catholic Children’s Bible
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NOVEMBER 24, 2013
Catholic TV interviews John Vitek on The Catholic Children's Bible
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AUGUST 25, 2013
Back-to-School Time Is Good Reading Time-Review by National Catholic Register
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AUGUST 21, 2013
The Catholic Children's Bible by Saint Mary's Press-Review by Equipping Catholic Families
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JULY 27, 2013
"Great Addition to The Catholic Children's Bible" by Stuart Dunn
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JULY 12, 2013
The Catholic Children’s Bible by Saint Mary's Press -Review by Gidget Bookworms
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JUNE 18, 2013
The Catholic Youth Bible® New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition, Not just for Roman Catholics!
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MAY 26, 2013
The Catholic Children’s Bible
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MAY 26, 2013
The Catholic Children's Bible Review
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MAY 19, 2013
Liturgical Press, Loyola Press, Saint Mary's Press Dominate 2013 "Excellence in Publishing Awards"
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MAY 19, 2013
Saint Mary's Press: The Catholic Children's Bible
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MAY 5, 2013
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APRIL 1, 2013
First Dog, Midwest Book Review
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OCTOBER 24, 2012
Made in Winona: Saint Mary's Press
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OCTOBER 1, 2012
Reviews of Who Is Jesus Christ?
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SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
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AUGUST 22, 2012
Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics
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AUGUST 16, 2012
Who is Jesus Christ?
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JULY 16, 2012
Sister Michaela Hedican Elected 16th Prioress of Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN
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JUNE 6, 2012
Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics
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APRIL 16, 2012
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JULY 1, 2011
Great People of the Bible Student Book
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FEBRUARY 1, 2011
Sister Michaela Hedican Elected 16th Prioress of Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN
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JANUARY 26, 2011
Saint Mary's Press Releases High School Textbooks Found in Conformity with the Catechism
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JANUARY 26, 2011
Saint Mary's Press Releases High School Textbooks Found in Conformity with the Catechism
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JANUARY 1, 2011
Saint Mary's Press Releases Framework High School Textbooks Declared in Conformity with the Catechism
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DECEMBER 17, 2010
Jesus in the Gospels and Acts: Introducing the New Testament
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DECEMBER 17, 2010
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DECEMBER 17, 2010
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NOVEMBER 1, 2010
Brian Singer-Towns Receives Youth Ministry Award
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NOVEMBER 1, 2010
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OCTOBER 31, 2010
Interview with John Vitek
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JUNE 1, 2010
The Catholic Family Connections Bible
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JUNE 1, 2010
Reviews of Saint Mary's Press® Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times
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MARCH 1, 2010
Using the Remote to Channel Jesus: 50 Movie clips for Ministry
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DECEMBER 1, 2009
World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery, Third Edition
Press Room
February 5, 2014
Excellent Textbook on Morality For Kids
by Ben Wolinsky with Olive Branch United
Christian Morality
A veteran teacher once said to me, “You don’t need a textbook to teach these kids; it’s all about how you do it.” I’m inclined to disagree for one reason only; a good textbook encourages the young to learn on their own. When you give your students their textbooks for the course, they’ll think one of the following; either “these textbooks are junk, so the school doesn’t care” or “great looking book, this course is going to be a lot of fun.”
Christian Morality is a great book, a great teaching tool, and a great moral example. Instead of endless homilies, it compares the moral struggle to that of everyday life. Take for instance page 57, where it talks about sin and natural law. The illustration is a photo of a riot in Athens, Greece, which has been in the news a lot lately after the economy collapsed. The caption says “sin leads to lawless situations,” and I’m inclined to agree, because tax fraud certainly didn’t help Greece’s situation. It goes on to talk about the same sins that caused so much trouble in the Bible being repeated today, with equally destructive consequences.
One of the issues discussed in this book (and unfortunately, rarely in others) is the role that adults play in bringing about their own disrespect. It’s clear in the Ten Commandments, “respect your elders,” but what if the elders are causing disrespect? Are the adults setting the example? Take the book of Genesis for instance, where Jacob deceives is father in order to get his blessings. Jacob is rarely faulted for his deception, and I’m going to guess that it’s because of Isaac’s passive attitude. It says in the Bible that Isaac took Rebecca “to comfort him after the death of his mother,” so unlike his father Abraham, Isaac wanted a wife as a replacement for his mother, not someone with whom he could produce another generation. When it says that Isaac’s sight was dim, does it mean he couldn’t see, or was he so ignorant of his twin sons’ rivalry that he might as well have been blind?
Unlike some textbooks, Christian Morality doesn’t use drawings for illustration. It uses photos, almost all of which come from stock photo agencies. They are random people in real life situations, and with the way they look and dress, today’s kids will relate well to them. The photos, like the book’s texts, are all in color, and that is no small asset today. With all the technology kids play with, they’re bombarded by flashy colors day and night, so black and white photos probably won’t impress them as much.
Brian Singer-Towns, the author of this wonderful book, has outdone himself. Perfectly compiled and illustrated, written in clear and plain language, it is the perfect book for anyone teaching children about Christian life.
Posted by Ben Wolinsky at 9:32 PM