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Where Have Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, Disciples, and Others Modeled the Ways to Discipleship?
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students are asked to reflect on the discipleship modeled by Jesus, Mary, the Apostles, and others.
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Where Are You Right Now in Your Faith Life?
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students are asked to reflect on their own habits and practices in their spiritual journey.
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Matthew's Sermon on the Mount
This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers an overview of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount through the lens of Matthew's Jewish audience and signifance.
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Faith: Three Definitions
This article is from the Living in Christ Series. It discusses various definitions of faith, the relationships between faith and reason, and faith and religion.
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Free Will
This article is from the Living in Christ Series. It discusses the relationship between free will and grace, the conscience, character, and human choices.
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Salvation: Different Theories
This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers an overview of some of the main theories of salvation, including the Prophetic, Sacrificial, Ransom, Divinization, Vicarious, Moral Exemplar, and Penal Substitution models.
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Check Your Understanding
This activity is part of the Living in Christ Series. It serves as a review of several important terms and asks students to define, associate, and put the term into the context of Salvation History.
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Original Sin and Its Effects
This article discusses original sin, the effects of sin on relationships, and the criteria with which to make a moral judgment.
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Finding God and Being Found by God
This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It discusses how God is revealed in humanity, creation, nature, the natural order, and the human conscience, and humanity is likewise revealed in God. It uses the Catechism of the …
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Leadership Statements
This worksheet is part of the Living in Christ Series. It includes several statesments about leadership in the Bible, including who's called, what skills are necessary, and what it takes to be a good leader.
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The Ten Commandments
This handout is part of the Living in Christ Series. It outlines the 10 Commandments, the meaning, and the book, chapter and verse at which they are found in the Bible.
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Vocabulary for Unit 6
This vocabulary list is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students may use it as a reference for key theological terms to know.
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Rubric for Final Performance Tasks for Unit 6
This rubric is part of the Living in Christ Series. It serves as a guide for assessing students on projects on the person of Jesus Christ, especially his teaching on morality and Christian lifestyle.
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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 6
This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers various project ideas for students who have recently studied christology, especially the moral teachings and model of Jesus Christ.
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Reflection on the Greatest Commandments
This worksheet is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can study and reflect on the Greatest Commandments: to love God with your whole mind, body and soul, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
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Vocabulary for Unit 5
This vocabulary list is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students may use it as a reference for key theological terms to know.
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Final Performance Task Options for Unit 1
This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers ideas for final assessment projects for students studying Christology, including revelation, the Church, and tradition.
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Jason Evert - Why Chastity?
Jason Evert speaks to youth about chastity, and why it's important, in a quick and understandable way.
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Porn - What's the Harm?
Jason Evert speaks with youths about pornography and its impact on love and relationships. This video addresses one of the most prominent issues for male adolescents, and is explained by one of the most relatable professionals.
Article
Where is now thy God? Reflections on Psalm 42:7-10
Where do we find God today? How are we to understand such happenings? Some might respond by saying that everything happens for a reason. I don't buy that. Some might respond by saying that it is all part of God's …
Article
November, National Child Safety Month: Preparing for safe and sacred places
Preparing for Safe and Sacred Places Some experts predict the presence of at least one abuser and one victim of abuse anytime there is a gathering focusing on this topic. Someone in your community might be experiencing abuse of some …
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November, National Child Safety Month: Preventing Abuse
Ongoing Prevention and Education Your community can do several things to inform, prevent, and respond to sexual abuse. The following are essential strategies you will want to incorporate into parish- or school-wide ministries: • All young people need to know …
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November, National Child Safety Month: Considerations in Ministry Planning
CONSIDERATIONS IN MINISTRY PLANNING All adults who work with children and or young people must be capable of exercising good judgment and wisdom in their ministry. We recommend that you consider the following questions when planning any activity involving children …
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Word-Association Exercise: Afterlife
(30 minutes) Prior to this exercise, have the all participants (including the facilitator) bring to the session a personal symbol. This symbol should be an object from among the participant's personal belongings that acts as a reminder of a much …
Article
Who Does the Movie Say Killed Jesus?
Much of the controversy about The Passion of the Christ centers around one question: Who killed Jesus? The Anti-Defamation League feels the movie lays the blame at the feet of the Jews. Mel Gibson, the movie's director, producer and cowriter, …
Article
Talking Hands--Personal Attitudes Toward Death
(10 minutes) 1. Have the participants assemble and sit in a circle. Introduce this activity as Talking Hands. Explain to the participants the signals that they will need to use. Tell the young people that each time they hear a …
Article
Unbound!
OVERVIEW Praying for forgiveness sets us free. In this prayer the young people experience this message through a ritual of reconciliation. This strategy, which is ideal for a retreat or as a conclusion to a session on forgiveness, allows …
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January 22: Saying Yes to Life
Preparation Bring in pictures of fetal development. 1. Present a scenario in which a girl like those in your group experiences a crisis pregnancy. Then list on the board a number of options, such as these: She can keep the …
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Self-Esteem and Sexual Activity: The Difference Between the Sexes
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently found a major difference between boys with hgh self-esteem and girls with high self-esteem. Boys with a high self-esteem were more likely to have engaged in sexual intercourse than boys with low self-esteem. Conversely, …
Article
Let's Prove Them Wrong!
12 September 2001 As the truth unfolds behind who committed these horrendous terrorist attacks against the United States, I pray that we--as individuals and a country--will have the strength and courage to think deeply before we lash out in anger …
Article
Why Is the World the Way It Is?
Why is the world the way it is? Why is it full of wrong? Why are her eyes so big? Why is his neck so long? Why is she so dark? Why am I so light? Why is she called …
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Moral Decision Making and Real-Life Applications
If you have used the Saint Mary's Press textbook Growing in Christian Morality, then you're familiar with the LISTEN process for making moral decisions. The process is introduced in the textbook and is used throughout the companion student casebook. LISTEN …
Article
On the Frontier of Justice in Ghana
"Africa has been the land of hope, salvation, and redemption. Abraham had come to Africa, Joseph from slave to savior. It was the land of refuge for Jesus and helped to carry his cross. Will we continue to dismiss Africa …
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Patch Adams - Movie Reflection
Patch Adams is a great movie to use with students! It is the fact-based story of Hunter "Patch" Adams, the founder of the Gesundheit Clinic. Robin Williams plays the lead character with grace and skill. Synopsis: After spending some time …
Article
The Color Purple
A CAUTIONARY NOTE: One of the criticisms of The Color Purple is that it depicts the men in the story as primarily abusive. Also, this movie is PG-13, mostly because of the violence and strong language. We recommend the movie …
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Until a "lack of discretion" do us part
Ever since the church got involved in the wedding ceremony, relatively late in Christian history, it has stood by its main belief about a marriage. It’s the consent of the couple that binds. SEVENTH IN A 10-PART SERIES ON CHURCH …
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Who's Sorry Now?
For those of us old enough to remember, the phrase, "Love means never having to say you're sorry," produces a wry smile. It takes but a moment of reflection to realize the profound untruth of this statement. Life without "I'm …
Article
Everyday Works of Mercy
Are you more Christian than you give yourself credit for being? My belief is that there are many like that--that many dedicated Christian people have compartmentalized their lives and have excluded important and central areas of their lives from what …
Article
Annulments:
Mary Sue Williams and Cathy Miettunen lived just a few blocks apart in a tree-lined, middle-class neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota when both went through the Catholic Church's annulment process following their civil divorces. Williams and Miettunen belonged to the …
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The Death Penalty and the Catholic Conscience
Some proponents say the death penalty is biblical: "an eye for an eye." This moral theologian shows how they are misreading the Bible. If someone murdered your child or closest friend, what punishment would you want for the criminal? If …
Article
Evil Never Looked So Good
Do you think you're a victim? Do you avoid making judgments because you'll hurt someone's feelings? Do you feel betrayed by your wrinkles or your balding dome? Be careful. You might be cuddling up to heresy, which just had a …
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Letting Go and Letting God
*last name has been changed for this article Bernie Fenton* never minded that his office overlooked a cemetery. In fact, he kind of liked it. He'd glance up from his desk now and then catching glimpses of friends and family …
Article
Jubilee Transformation and the Call to Reconciliation
The jubilee tradition has many connecting themes. One powerful current that runs through all the themes is the transformative power of God at work, reshaping our hearts and restoring our world. The hopes of the jubilee tradition are also a …
Article
Peace: The Countercultural Value
Ours is a violent society. Furthermore, evidence strongly suggests that we are learning to accept violence as normal behavior. As a people, we appear to be increasingly indifferent to daily images of warfare, racial hatred and ethnic cleansing. Murder and …
Article
Thou Shalt Not Kill: The Church Against Assisted Suicide
Will we allow doctors to become accomplices in self-destruction? That's a question the U.S. Supreme Court is facing. The results of its decision will be felt everywhere. WHEN I FIRST SAW my 39-year-old friend Jim lying in a nursing-home bed, …
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The Ethics of Cloning
Amazing. Maybe it's because I can still be wowed by yet another Spielberg dinosaur film. Maybe it's because I find the processes of reproduction and the inner life of DNA to be as much about mystery as they are about …
Article
Litany of Forgiveness
Before the session, cut out each of the eight prayers and accompanying Scripture passages. Place each slip of paper in a separate small envelope and seal it. There are times at school, at home, at work, or in a group …
Article
Using Literature in Theology Classes
Editor's note: The author of our feature article, Kathleen Hodapp, was one of the participants in last summer's workshop "The Catholic High School As Faith Community," held here in Winona, Minnesota, as well as on the East Coast and the …
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Kinds of Relationships
Margaret Kueberth, a religion teacher at the Catholic High School of Baltimore, passed on two of her exercises that can be used in a sexuality or lifestyles course. The first exercise, which can be made into a handout, serves as …
Article
The Mirror Has Two Faces
We live in a culture obsessed with sex, and our students soak up that message in music, television, and film. I am astounded at how explicit the sexual dynamics, innuendo, and situations in typical teen dramas (witness "Dawson’s Creek," "Felicity," …
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Curriculum Offerings of Theology Departments
For a couple of years, Saint Mary’s Press sponsored a listserv discussion group online. Discussions on a variety of topics were pursued via e-mail. In this section of the web site, I summarize some of the highlights from these old …
