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Guided Meditation before the Blessed Sacrament

An outline and script for a guided meditation before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Have you explored Go Seek Find: Discover God’s Treasures yet? This one-of-a-kind sacrament prep program will help children discover how preparing for the sacraments is …

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Family Prayer before First Eucharist

These prayers will help your family focus more deeply on the celebration of First Eucharist that will take place soon. Through these prayers, you, your child, and your family will ask for guidance as you continue to grow as disciples …

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First Reconciliation Meal Prayer

Make this simple prayer card for your family table. The prayer is especially appropriate as preparation for First Reconciliation.

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Family Prayer before First Reconciliation

These prayers are intended to help your family focus more deeply on the celebration of First Reconciliation that will take place soon. You and your child will pray for guidance as you continue to grow as disciples and continue your …

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A Little Help Here!

After reading several real-life examples of conflict, students provide suggestions to mediate each situation.

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Dear Millie and Mike

This handout provides several real-life situations that teens might encounter. Students are challenged to respond to the situations and give advice to other teens.

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Baptism of Jesus Study Guide

This study guide helps students reflect on the story of Jesus’ Baptism.

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Empathizing (Jainism)

This short handout provides questions, reflections, and suggestions to help students empathize with Jainism.

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Empathizing (Hinduism)

This short handout provides questions, reflections, and suggestions to help students empathize with Hinduism.

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Miriam's Shabbat

A Sabbath Blessing.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 39

A lesson plan for lesson 39 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 38

A lesson plan for lesson 38 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 37

A lesson plan for lesson 37 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 36

A lesson plan for lesson 36 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 35

A lesson plan for lesson 35 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 34

A lesson plan for lesson 34 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 33

A lesson plan for lesson 33 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore God’s call to each of us to pray.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 32

A lesson plan for lesson 32 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore what it means to use virtues and grace to live a moral life.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 31

A lesson plan for lesson 31 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore what it means to respect truth.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 30

A lesson plan for lesson 30 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore what it means to respect material goods.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 29

A lesson plan for lesson 29 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore what it means to respect the sexuality of ourselves and others.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 28

A lesson plan for lesson 28 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore what it means to truly respect life.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 27

A lesson plan for lesson 27 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 26

A lesson plan for lesson 26 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 25

A lesson plan for lesson 25 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 23

A lesson plan for lesson 23 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 22

A lesson plan for lesson 22 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 21

A lesson plan for lesson 21 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore the sacraments of healing.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 20

A lesson plan for lesson 20 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 19

A lesson plan for lesson 19 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 18

A lesson plan for lesson 18 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 17

A lesson plan for lesson 17 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 16

A lesson plan for lesson 16 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. In this lesson students explore how the Holy Trinity is revealed through liturgy.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 15

A lesson plan for lesson 15 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 14

A lesson plan for lesson 14 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 13

A lesson plan for lesson 13 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 12

A lesson plan for lesson 12 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 11

A lesson plan for lesson 11 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 10

A lesson plan for lesson 10 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 9

A lesson plan for lesson 9 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 8

A lesson plan for lesson 8 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 7

A lesson plan for lesson 7 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 6

A lesson plan for lesson 6 in the Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 5

A lesson plan for lesson 5 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 4

A lesson plan for lesson 4 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 3

A lesson plan for lesson 3 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 2

A lesson plan for lesson 2 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.

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Lesson Plan for Lesson 1

A lesson plan for lesson 1 in The Catholic faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide. This lesson plan challenges students to identify why they are Catholic and the core beliefs, practices, and attitudes of Catholicism

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Lesson Planning Chart

A sample lesson planning chart.

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To Know Another

An individual worksheet where students rank the importance of discovering specific types of information about another person

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Sample Lesson Planning Chart

A sample of a week's lesson planning chart

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Handout: Psalm 23

An adaptation of Psalm 23 to be used in prayer or reflection

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From Fasting to Feasting

A short prayer that calls us to feast on kindness and compassion towards others.

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Isaiah: The Peaceable Kingdom Is Coming!

This handout offers a brief look at the use of Isaiah’s visions of the kingdom during Advent.

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Eucharist

This prayer reflects on the true meaning of receiving and living the Eucharist.

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I Pray

This prayer for a large group asks for our eyes to be opened to the injustices in the world and our souls to be strengthened by Christ’s presence.

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For Love Is Stronger than Death

A reading of the Resurrection story from Luke's Gospel.

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Who Is Your God?

This handout presents a list of different definitions and identities for God. Students are asked to choose ones that resonate with them.

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Our Culture, Our Selves

This handout asks students to rank a list of items in life and society according to their importance.

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Prayer Service: Reflections on Relationships

This prayer service reflects on some of the aspects of relationships.

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Communication in My Family

This handout helps students to explore the communication and relationship they have with their parents by asking a series of reflective questions for students to answer.

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Telling Our Body's Story

This handout helps teens reflect on their body image and the influences on their attitudes towards their bodies.

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Lesson Planning Chart

An example of a completed lesson planning chart for Chapter 1: A-D.

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Relationships in Marriage

This handout presents numerous questions about healthy, life-long marriages for students to think about and answer.

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Cases to Examine: Changing Roles

This handout presents several real-life family situations about which students must evaluate and make a decision.

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Cases to Examine: Parenting Dilemmas

This handout provides several examples of parenting dilemmas. Students are to read the situations, choose a course of action, and explain their thoughts.

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Paths to Marriage

This handout gives a brief explanation for several types of relationships that end in marriage. Students are then asked to evaluate the reading and complete a journal prompt.

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In Praise of the Creator

This prayer uses Psalm 95 to praise God our creator.

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Sample Lesson Planning Chart

A sample chart of a week of lessons.

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Lesson Planning Chart

A blank chart to be sued for a week of lessons.

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Cases to Examine: Dealing with Conflict

This handout provides three situations for students to read and evaluate. Students must give a suggestion for how to respond to the conflict in each scenario based on the strategies in the book.

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Perspectives on Sex

This handout provides several comments from teenagers about sex. It can be used as a discussion starter or writing prompt.

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Three Perspectives on Drugs

This handout provides three different comments from teens about their drug and alcohol usage. This can be used as a discussion starter.

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Grandpa and Tim

Read the following story and be prepared to discuss it in class.

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Lesson Planning Chart

A lesson planning chart.

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Prayer Service: For Christian Unity

A short prayer service for Christian unity.

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Prayer Service: Forgiveness

A prayer service centered on forgiveness.

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Saint Joan of Arc: A Brief Biography

A biography of Saint Joan of Arc.

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Prayer Service: The Children of God

A prayer service.

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Sample Lesson Planning Chart

A sample lesson planning chart.

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Lesson Planning Chart

A blank lesson planning chart.

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The Eucharist in Mathari Valley

In 1986, Fr. Jim Notebaart flew to Nairobi, Kenya, to live and work as a missioner. Years later, he told an audience in the United States about an experience of Eucharist as transformation. Read this story and, on a separate …

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Lazarus and the Rich Man: A Sequel

Characters: Reader, Narrator, Servant, Levi, Hannah, Isaiah, Simeon.

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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations in 1948, sets the international standard for human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has thirty articles. The following list paraphrases and summarizes the articles from …

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The Scriptures and Concern for Justice

A list of justice-centered biblical passages that can be used for preparing class prayers and liturgies, as a resource for assignments, and for your own reflection and prayer.

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Sample Lesson Planning Chart

A sample lesson plan.

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Prayer Is...

Read the following descriptions of prayer by various authors. Choose one description that best fits how you see prayer. Or formulate your own description using a couple of these.

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Seeing with Faith, Acting in Faith

Read the two pieces of writing below thoughtfully and carefully.

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Sample Lesson Planning Chart

An example of how to create a lesson plan.

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Lesson Planning Chart

A chart for formatting lesson plans.

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Sample Lesson Planning Chart

A sample lesson plan.

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"In the Beginning Was the Word"

The Incarnation, a core doctrine of Christianity, states that in Jesus Christ, God became fully human while remaining fully divine. In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 1 through 18, we see one of the earliest expressions of that …

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"The Dance of Love"

The story of the Dance of Love.

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Life Issues B Summary: God, Where Are You?

A nice summary of the ways God promises to be with us always.

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Life Issues A Summary: Dealing with Peer Pressure

A good summary on dealing with peer pressure.

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Life Issues B Summary: Friends in Jesus

A summary of Life Issues B: Friends in Jesus from the Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition.

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Life Issues A Summary: Who Am I?

A summary of Life Issues from the Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition.

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Program Scheduling

A guide for how to schedule programs based on the Catholic Connections program.

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Getting Started

This segment will help you to get started with Catholic Connections. First it de- scribes details about the program and section features. Then it describes specific “getting started” tasks and provides a checklist for your planning.

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Around the World in More Than Eighty Days

Let’s take a glance around the globe to see some of the missionary efforts that began during the Fifteenth through Seventeenth centuries.

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Belief and Violence: The Crusades

A reading about the Crusades.

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Islam: Historical Orgins

Islam began almost two thousand years after the start of Judaism and more than six hundred years after Christianity. In fact, Islam, which goes back to the seventh century, began in support of the monotheism of these two religions, and …

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The East-West Split

Looking back over the first 1500 years of Church history, the picture is not one of perfect harmony. Political conflicts, religious controversies, invasions, and condemnations created sometimes occasional, sometimes lasting rifts. For the Eastern Church and the Latin Church, the …

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The Divinity of Jesus: An Early Christian Debate

A reading about the early Christian debate over the divinity of Jesus.

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Handout: Called to Pray Together

A prayer based off of the Lord’s Prayer with a leader, a reader, and various responses.

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Handout: A Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours

A Liturgy of the Hours morning prayer with a leader, a reader, and various responses.

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Handout: Sharing with God

A guided meditation and opportunity for prayer.

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Handout: Morally Good or Morally Suspect

For each situation, determine whether the action is right, neutral, or wrong; whether the intent is good or not good; and whether the circumstances allow you to decide freely or keep you from deciding freely.

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Handout: A Prayer for Forgiveness

A prayer about forgiveness.

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Handout: Being Catholic

Being Catholic: Beliefs, Practices, and Attitudes.

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Called to Pray Together

A reflection/prayer based on the Lord’s Prayer.

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Saying Yes to God

A prayer/reflection on saying yes to God’s will for our lives.

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Loving God and One Another

A prayer/reflection on the questions Jesus asks in Scripture.

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Prayer from Morning to Night

Use the following prompts to think about how you pray.

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Sent Forth by Gods Blessing

A prayer with two readers and a leader.

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Blessed Are You

This prayer is quoted from Seasons of Your Heart: Prayers and Reflections by Marcina Wiederkehr.

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Prayer for My Family

A prayer for family.

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Key Concepts Underlying Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic social justice teachings are based on some key concepts. By applying these concepts to different social issues, the Church makes judgments about the correct direction to follow. In this lesson we look briefly at the following four key concepts, …

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Building the Table of the Lord

Descriptions of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life, thanksgiving, memorial sacrifice, and the presence of Christ.

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Fourteen Effects of Baptism

A list of the fourteen effects of Baptism.

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The Holy Trinity

Descriptions of each person of the trinity.

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Phillip's Story

The story of Phillip, an eight-year-old boy with down syndrome.

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The Canticle of Brother Sun

The canticle of the brother sun by Saint Francis of Assisi.

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Creedal Statements

A list of the statements of belief made in the creed.

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Prayer of Saint Anselm

The prayer of St. Anselm.

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Prayer Card

A prayer card with promises from the book of Isaiah.

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Beliefs Practices and Attitudes

The beliefs, practices, and attitudes of the Catholic faith.

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Prayer Service

An in class prayer service.

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Aquinas’s Five Proofs for the Existence of God

The Summa Theologica is a famous work written by Saint Thomas Aquinas between AD 1265 and 1274. It is divided into three main parts and presents reasoning for almost all core Christian beliefs. The Summa Theologica is well known for …

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Inside and Outside

Everyone knows what it feels like to be on the inside and the outside of a group of people. Fill in the statements below, and then write a prayer to Jesus asking for his help when you are an outsider …

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Planning a Marian Prayer Service

This resource, taken from the New Testament Leader Guide for Breakthrough! can be used to help you plan a Marian prayer service for Advent, The Annunciation, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and other celebrations of …

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Footprints

Footprints in the sand poem.

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A Prayer Service in Intercession for Ordained Ministers

A prayer service for ordained ministers including multiple readers, speakers, and responses.

Saint John of Egypt (304-394)

Saint John of Egypt devoted himself to a life of prayer and meditation as a hermit. He lived the majority of his life in a small, walled-up cell. He was as strict with his diet as he was with his …

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Forms and Expressions of Prayer

A listing of several forms and expressions of prayer.

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Fellow Prophets, Pray for Us

A short prayer service asking the Lord to grant us the gifts of the prophets before us.

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Resurrection Passages

Several Resurrection passages from Scripture.

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Passion Passages

Scripture passages from all four Gospels on the Passion of Jesus Christ.

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Scripture Passages on Morality

A collection of Scripture passages focused on morality.

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Understanding the Lord's Prayer

An activity to help students understand the Lord's Prayer from "The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth" Teacher Guide.

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Teach Us to Pray

An activity to help students learn "The Lord's Prayer" from "The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth" Teacher Guide.

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Praying with Scripture The Magnificat

Praying with Scripture, using The Magnificat, from "The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Teacher Guide.

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Pray in Good Form

A worksheet, from "The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth" Teacher Guide, to assist students in researching and presenting different prayer forms.

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Prayer 101 An Introduction

An introduction to prayer from "The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth" Teacher Guide.

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What Is Prayer

A worksheet, found in “The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth” Teacher Guide, that is based on students’ current understanding and experience with prayer.

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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6

Options for final performance tasks for Unit 6 of "The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth" Teacher Guide.

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Prayer Service: Love One Another as I Have Loved You

A prayer service focusing on loving one another as God loves us.

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Aquinas' Five Proofs for the Existence of God

A listing of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ five proofs for the existence of God.

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Using Hevruta

A lesson plan on using Hevruta in the classroom.

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Chalk Talk

Steps on how to facilitate a silent conversation in writing in response to a topic or question posed.

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Paul's Cultural Context

A reading on Paul’s cultural context.

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Introducing Biblical Criticism

An article on introducing biblical criticism in the classroom.

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Bloom's Taxonomy

A short reading where the six levels of Bloom’s taxonomy of the cognitive domain are explained.

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Sustained Silent Reading Log Instructions

Instructions for students’ sustained silent reading logs.

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Sustained Silent Reading

An article on how to use sustained silent reading as an effective tool in the classroom.

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Formation of the Canon

An article on the formation of the Canon.

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The Gettysburg Address

A copy of the Gettysburg Address.

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Old and New Testament Passages

A chart showing the similarities between Scripture passages in the Old Testament and Scripture passages in the New Testament.

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Writing Workshop

How to conduct a writing workshop in the classroom.

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Paired Verbal Fluency

How to conduct a paired verbal fluency exercise in the classroom.

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Informal Assessments

A reading on methods of informal assessment.

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Symbols in the Book of Revelation

A reference sheet for the symbols that are used in the Book of Revelation.

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Imaginary First-Century Letters

Two imaginary first-century letters that describe the difficulties of staying faithful to the teachings of Jesus in a culture that rejects them.

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Historical Genre Stations, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide

An activity where students read certain Scripture passages and look for illustrations of community and identity, from “The Catholic Youth Bible” Old Testament Teacher Guide.

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Learning about Learning

A review of students’ understanding of unit material and their learning experiences. This review consists of several questions and encourages additional written feedback from students.

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Using Final Performance Tasks to Assess Understanding

A reading on using final performance tasks in the classroom to assess students' understanding.

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God's Story Plotline 4: Reconciliation

A reading on why God, whose love in unlimited, constantly picks out special groups.

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The Anointing of the Sick

A reading on the Sacrament of anointing of the sick, with a discussion of how the Sacrament was viewed in the past and how it is viewed today.

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All Are One in Christ Jesus

Several Scripture passages that show that all are one in Christ Jesus.

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The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus

A scriptural excerpt from Luke 24:13-35.

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Writing a Script for a Guided Imagery Meditation

A handout that describes how to write a script for guided imagery meditation, and why students enjoy participating in this type of meditation.

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How to Lead a Socratic Seminar

A reading on how to lead a Socratic seminar.

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Using the Jigsaw Process

A resource on how to use the jigsaw process, with is a method where students share information and insights from different readings to create a larger picture.

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Conducting Justice Simulations

A resource on how to conduct a justice simulation.

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The One-Act Play

One-act plays give students the opportunity to be creative as they explore a concept, issue, dilemma, person, or situation.

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Teaching Individuals with Differing Abilities

A reading on teaching and talking to students about differing abilities, along with several reinforcing activity ideas.

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In-Class Debates

A format for an in-class debate.

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Expert Groups

A reading on how expert groups are a valuable classroom instructional strategy that helps to build student confidence, class collaboration, and expertise in chosen topics.

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Students Teaching Students About Environmental Justice

A lesson plan entitled “Students Teaching Students about Environmental Justice.”

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Using Graphic Organizers

A reading on how to use graphic organizers as learning tools to deepen understanding.

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Creating a Quick Assessment

A reading on creating a quick assessment with Clickers.

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Thomas Merton and Nonviolence

A reading on Thomas Merton and nonviolence.

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Living the Life of a Disciple: Prayer Service

A small-group planning sheet for a classroom prayer service on living the life of a disciple.

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Audits: Point of Inquiry

This document explains the educational benefits of an audit, instructions on how to assign an audit, and an example of an audit handout.

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Confirmation

A reading on the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Catholic Church.

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Using Learning Stations

Instructions on how to effectively use Learning Stations in the classroom.

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Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

A reading on the principles of Catholic social teaching.

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Using Video in Your Classroom

A reading on why using video in the classroom is beneficial.

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Using Skits in Teaching

A reading on using skits as a method of teaching.

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The Journey of the Catechumen

A map of the journey of the Catechumen.

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The Conversion of Saint Augustine

A reading on the Conversion of Saint Augustine, with excerpts from “Confessions and Enchiridion.”

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Using Multiple Intelligences in the Educational Process

A reading on using multiple intelligences in the educational process, including a chart on ways to use each intelligence in religious education.