Engaging Faith

Ave Maria Press offers free 5-day mini-units that fit within several different theology courses schedules. They are also perfect for a short catechetical lesson in a parish youth ministry setting. Four of the mini-units are particularly applicable and related to contemporary issue occurring how. 1. Migration and the Church shows ways for Catholics to help with immigration reform. It also points out to the many ways immigrants help in their new communities. It accompanies a video on the migration issue, Dying to Live, which is also available from Ave Maria Press. 2. Adoption: A Choice Worth Making provides a synopsis of the adoption process, including perspectives from adoptive children and parents. 3. Religious Liberty and Catholicism in the United States shares the proper relationship Catholics should have with civil authorities. It also traces the historical development of the Church's relationship with the government in the United States. 4. Monseñor: The Last Journey of Óscar Romero Study Guide (English and Spanish) reviews the last days and martyrdom of Blessed Óscar Romero whose canonization is anticipated for October 2018. This mini-unit is accompanied by the award-winning documentary of the same name. Check out the Ave Maria Press mini-unit section for these and other free 5-day mini units!

"Gossip is not a work of the Holy Spirit, it is not a work of the unity of the church. Gossip destroys the work of God. Please stop gossiping," Pope Francis said recently in a talk on the Sacrament of Confirmation.The pope emphasized that the gift of peace a person receives at Confirmation can be lost if the person starts saying mean things to others once he or she leaves Church. Remind teens that the commandment "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" means more than lying. It also means that we are not to talk about people behind their backs or to spread untrue rumors about them. To gossip means to reveal private or sensational facts about others. What you say may be entirely true, but it's really none of your business and it's not the business of those who you are telling. In many, many times it's better to not say anything.This dramatic short film titled Word of Mouth about two high-school girls on different ends of the social spectrum illustrates the point well. More practical advice about how to stop gossip can be gleaned from It's Time to Silence Gossip, an article by a teenage boy. Writing Prompt Tell about a time you have been hurt or hurt another by gossip. Explain the lesson you learned from this occasion.

Engaging Faith

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Avoid Gossip