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Category Archives: Catechesis

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Words Matter: Communicating the Importance of Confirmation

If you have been working with young people long enough, it is entirely possible that you have sat through a high school production of the musical Into the Woods. The closing song is a cautionary plea reminding us that Children Will Listen. The refrain reminds us: Careful the things you say Children will listen Careful the things you do Children will see and learn Children may not obey, but children will listen Children will look to you for which way to turn To learn what to be Careful before you

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5 Ways that Talks Fail Before We Open Our Mouths

In the past seventeen years, I’ve given more talks than I can count in more states than I can seem to remember (senility is setting in) and in many dioceses and cities I can scarcely spell. Truthfully, I think I still have yet to ever give a “great talk”. I’ve gotten close at times…certain occasions when I really felt the Spirit moving unimpededly. Most of the time, it’s a tug-of-war within my self, trying not to get in the way of God’s Spirit. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is

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It’s all Greek to Them: The Dangers of Speaking the Church’s Language

I’ve had several conversations with people in ministry lately regarding possible liturgical changes, linguistic concerns, basics of Latin and, even, foundational hermeneutics. Basically, it’s been a lot of discussion over topics that I never in my wildest of dreams envisioned myself having when I got into ministry. I’m not a liturgist. I’m not a theologian. I’m not a Bishop (though I do look good in hats). And while the conversations are engaging and the “concerns” people have