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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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Empathizing (Religion in the Modern World)

This article provides several suggestions of ways to help students reflect on their experiences with people from different forms of religion in the modern world.

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Empathizing (Islam)

This handout provides several suggestions to help students draw connections between Islam and Christianity.

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Empathizing (Shinto)

This article provides several possible ideas of ways to help students see, experience, and better understand the Shinto religion.

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Empathizing (Zen Buddhism)

This short article provides questions, reflections, and suggestions to help students empathize with Zen Buddhism.

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Empathizing (Taoism)

This short article provides questions, reflections, and suggestions to help students empathize with Taoism.

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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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Worldviews: Religions and Their Relatives

This article explores two examples of modern worldviews and how they different from traditional religions.

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Miriam's Shabbat

A Sabbath Blessing.

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Buddhist and Judeo-Christian Understandings of God

This article compares and contrasts the Buddhist and Judeo-Christian understanding of God.

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What Harm Is in Our Sun Dance?

This short article provides the point of view of a Blackfoot Indian about the illegalization of the Sun Dance.

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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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From Fasting to Feasting

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

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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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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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Facts About Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS

This article gives information about common STDs and AIDS.

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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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What Can a Person Do?

This article gives several suggestions of how an individual can bring about distributive justice.

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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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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 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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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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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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Create Your Own Crossword Puzzle

Use the link below to create your own crossword puzzles. Use the vocabulary from the course you are teaching, and create your own fun and engaging activity!   http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp  

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The Church in the Third Millennium

An excerpt from The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History, by Cynthia Stewart that discusses background on the Church in the Third Millennium.

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Strengthening the Papacy: Vatican I

A book excerpt from The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History by Cynthia Stewart about strengthening the papacy during Vatican I.

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Dialogue with Others

Excerpts from the address of Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the John Paul II center in Washington D.C.

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The Council of Trent

An article about The Council of Trent, excerpted from The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History, by Cynthia Stewart.

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Interview with Paul

This interview with Paul is from Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics. On this colorful page, Paul explains his ministry and his legacy.

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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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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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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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Prayer Service

An in class prayer service.

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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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Letters in Paul's Day

An article that discusses the format of Paul’s letters and how they are different from letters today.

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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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In Mary's Voice

A reading that tells the story of Mary’s relationship with Jesus through her perspective.

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Human Rights

Several articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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Ignatian Discernment of Spirits

An article that breaks down the differences between good and evil spirits.

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What Do Sisters Do?

An article that discusses the roles and responsibilities of religious sisters.

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“To Brother”: A Personal Story

An article written by Br. Armand Alcazar FSC, who discusses his view of his vocation as a verb, “to brother”, or “brothering” in teaching and community life.

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A Prayer Service in Intercession for Ordained Ministers

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

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Litany Promises Promises

Rev. John P. Mack Jr. discusses the rite of ordination, including the litany and the promise to obedience that priests make. He also talks about the challenges that priests face, and questions that he is often asked by high school …

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Love and Faith in Times of Trouble

This excerpt discusses the ups and down of married life, and how one should respond in both good times and bad.

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The Future of Marriage

An article on the eschatological perspective of marriage.

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Conversion's Impact on Marriage

An article about the ways that a married individual is called upon to be converted; as an individual, within the marriage, and as one called to live in the image of God.

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The Witness of One

An article about how the greatest testimony to the faith comes not from famous and influential people, but through you and me, as we face the challenges that come to us each and every day.

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"You Have Heard…But I Say"

An article about Jesus’ command to love everyone, even those who society has deemed unlovable.

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Living God's Call

A reading, with reflection questions, on living out God’s Call of unconditional love, agape, for all.

Article

Biography of the Holy Father Francis

The first Pope of the Americas Jorge Mario Bergoglio hails from Argentina. The 76-year-old Jesuit Archbishop of Buenos Aires is a prominent figure throughout the continent, yet remains a simple pastor who is deeply loved by his diocese, throughout which …

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Who Is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite, was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He studied as and holds a degree …

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Roman Missal Overview

This resource is intended to assist you in preparing young people for the implementation of the new missal.

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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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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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Priests and Levites

A book excerpt on priests and Levites.

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Revelation: A New Testament Apocalypse

An article on the Book of Revelation.

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Christian Persecutions in the Roman Empire

An article on the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

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Using Hevruta

A lesson plan on using Hevruta in the classroom.

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Pauline and Deutero-Pauline Letters

An article on the Pauline and Deutero-Pauline letters.

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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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The Passion According to John

An article on the Passion according to John.

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Jesus and Judaism

An article on Jesus and Judaism.

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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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Oral Tradition

An article on oral tradition.

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Non-canonical Gospels

An article on the non-canonical Gospels.

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New Testament Christologies

An article on New Testament Christologies.

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How to Teach Biblical Research

An article on how to teach students to conduct biblical research.

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How Should We Interpret Scripture?

An article on how we should interpret Scripture.

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A Brief History of Catholic Biblical Interpretation

A reading that gives a brief history of Catholic biblical interpretation.

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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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Why the Second Vatican Council Really Is That Important

An article on the importance of the Second Vatican Council.

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Events at the Second Vatican Council

An article on the events that took place at the Second Vatican Council.

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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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The Domestic Church

An article on family life and the domestic Church.

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War and Peace in Catholic Social Teaching

An article on war and peace in Catholic social teaching.

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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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The Challenge of Peace

An article on the foundations for a justified war and the just war doctrine.

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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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Principles of Catholic Social Teaching for Business Ethics

An article on the principles of Catholic social teaching for business ethics.

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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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Suicide Prevention

A document on suicide prevention including warning signs, action steps, online resources, and lifesaving facts to consider.

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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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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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Using Learning Stations

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