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Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
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Technology Tips for Religious Educators Webinar

This is the first installment of a new series of tech tips for high school religion teachers. Each week we will be posting how-to articles, tutorials, video screencasts, interviews, and other multimedia resources to supplement your religious education needs. Thank you to everyone you tuned in to yesterday's webinar "Technology Tips for Religious Educators." We are very proud of the online resources we have developed for teachers and we hope the tips in this presentation are helpful in your efforts to integrate technology into classroom instruction. If you would like to view a recording of this webinar, you can find it here. Technology Tips for Religious Educators Webinar Recording Technology Tips for Religious Educators from Ave Maria Press on Vimeo. Ave Maria Press links mentioned in the video: Ave Maria Press Classroom Resources: www.avemariapress.com/resources Ave Maria Press eTextbooks: www.avemariapress.com/etextbooks Engaging Faith blog: www.avemariapress.com/engagingfaith Ave Maria Press Tech Tips Series Home: www.avemariapress.com/techtips Ave Maria Press YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/avemariapress Ave Maria Press High School Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/HighSchoolReligiousEducation Other links mentioned in the video: Outside da Box: www.outsidedabox.com Blogs: Blogger: www.blogger.com Typepad: www.typepad.com Wordpress: www.wordpress.com Tumblr: www.tumblr.com Wikis: Wikispaces: www.wikispaces.com Pbworks: http://pbworks.com SlideShare : www.slideshare.net Scribd : www.scribd.com Google Sites : http://sites.google.com Learning Management Systems: Moodle: www.moodle.org Blackboard: www.blackboard.com Audio-Visual Recordings: Screenr: http://screenr.com Camstudio: http://camstudio.org Skype: www.skype.com YouTube: www.youtube.com Vimeo: www.vimeo.com Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net Productivity: Dropbox: www.dropbox.com Evernote: www.evernote.com Religious Education Animoto Videos: Unfortunately the Webinar recording did not pick up the sound on these two Animoto videos. You can view them below instead: Ave Maria Press Textbook Sample: Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com. A special thanks to Barb Gilman (@BarbInNebraska on Twitter) and her class for creating this fantastic Animoto video: http://animoto.com/play/PyPxWw3s40XhutMhhsuDPw

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Ash Wednesday Prayer Service for High School

The following Ash Wednesday prayer service is suitable for teachers to use in their classrooms, as an all-school assembly, or in a youth group setting. Leader: Loving God, as we begin this Lenten journey toward a greater union with you, strengthen our faith through our devoted practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Open up new doors to deeper spirituality and discovery of your love. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Reader 1: Joel 2:12-13 Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Leader: Think, for a moment, about the times in your life in which you wanted recognition for something you have done. It may be a good grade on a test, an athletic accomplishment, or a favor to a friend. What rewards have you been given lately? Are there materials things, like clothes, phones, jewelry, or your body, that are a source of confidence? God asks us during Lent to set all of our attachment to those things aside, and rely solely on him. Reader 2: Matthew 6:5-6 When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Leader: (Choose between the following penitential prayers) O Lord, who has mercy on all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and enjoy you, for Christ's sake, Amen — St. Ambrose of Milan (AD 339-397) O Lord, The house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that you may enter in. It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases your sight. I confess it, I know. But who will cleanse it, to whom will I cry but to you? Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare Your servant from strange sins. — St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) We ask this, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Jesus Welcomes All People

It would be difficult to accept the challenge of discipleship if Jesus were like the host of an exclusive party who only welcomed a select few. Rather, Jesus offers an invitation of discipleship to all. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes this point more than others. It is sometimes called the "social Gospel" because it focuses on Jesus' acceptance of those people who have been neglected by society. Divide the class into four groups. Assign each group one of the following passages from the Gospel of Luke. Ask them to read the passage and discuss it in light of the following question: "What does this passage tell me about how I should treat other people"? Call on a representative from each group to summarize the parable and their group's responses. Record the responses on a board under the heading "How We Are to Welcome Others." Gospel Passages The parable of the rich fool—Luke 12:16-21 The parable of the dishonest steward—Luke 16:1-8 The cleansing of ten Lepers—Luke 17:11-19 Zacchaeus the tax collector—Luke 19:1-10

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Jesus Charades

To introduce a lesson on the Gospels, play a game of "Jesus Charades." Divide the class into small teams. Prepare a stack of playing cards with separate phrases about the life of Jesus. For example, Jesus walks on water Jesus feeds the 5,000 Jesus heals the paralytic Jesus calms the storm Jesus drives Satan into the herd of swine Jesus carries his cross Jesus welcomes the criminal into paradise Jesus lets Thomas probe his wounds Jesus ascends into Heaven Call on a representative from each team to choose a phrase from the stack (without looking) to be acted out silently until someone from another team guesses the event. Take turns, calling on a new team representative each time.

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Examination of Conscience for Teens

Preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is essential at the high school level. It is an excellent opportunity to catechize young people through an examination of conscience. You don't want to have students waiting in line for the Sacrament of Reconciliation thinking things like this student (from Outside da Box Productions and the Jesus Christ Video Collection). Traditionally, reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation "ought to be prepared for by an examination of conscience made in the light o the Word of God" (CCC, 1454). Typically the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, are the focus of this examination of conscience. Giving students the time to reflect on their sins either in class or during a school assembly can make an important impact on a student's decision to receive the Sacrament and to enter into it with a contrite heart. Examination of Conscience for Teens Handouts   Each examination of conscience below is designed around the Ten Commandments:   Catholic Youth Ministry's Examination of Conscience Diocese of Fall River's Examination of Conscience Deacon Douglas McManaman's Examination of Conscience You can also find a very simple examination of conscience for teens handout in the resources section the Meeting Jesus in the Sacraments textbook (Examination of Conscience Handout).   New App for Students with iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches   There is a new App available that has been getting a lot of buzz lately. It is called Confession: A Roman Catholic App. The app is actually an in-depth examination of conscience that is great for tech-savvy teenagers. Contact the creators at Little iApps for a special bulk price for schools.

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Reaction to Jesus' Miracles

As you investigate Jesus’ miracles from the Gospels, your students will notice three kinds of reactions. Some of those who witness the miracles are rightly amazed. Others are doubtful. And still others are confused. Play this short game of “mental math” to introduce a lesson on Jesus’ miracles. Present the following problem. Do not read the example. Rather, rehearse it so that you can move through it quickly. Say to the students: Do each step silently. Don’t call out any responses. Don’t say anything if you have done this problem before. Think of a number between 1 and 10 (for example, 7). Multiply your number by 9. You now have a two-digit number (for example, 63). Add the two digits of your new number together (for example, 6 plus 3). You now have a one-digit number (9). Subtract 5 from your number. You now have a new one-digit number (4). Now pretend that each letter of the alphabet corresponds to a number. For example, A is 1, B is 2, C is 3, and so on. Think of the letter that corresponds to your number (D). Think of a country that starts with your letter (most people with think of Denmark). Now think of an animal that starts with the second letter of your country (most people will think of elephant). Place your hand over your forehead as if some great inspiration is coming to you. Then say, “You are thinking of Denmark and an elephant.” There should be varied reaction, for example: “ho-hum” from students who have done the problem before confusion from students who were lost somewhere in the math amazement from students who were thinking of Denmark and elephant Now, choose some miracle stories of Jesus from the Gospels and compare the reaction of your class to this problem to the reaction of the people who witnessed Jesus’ miracles!

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Catholic Schools Week Prayer Service

Catholic Schools Week is a time of celebration of the bright light that Catholic schools are to the children and communities they serve. This Catholic Schools Week prayer service has a special focus on light and in a particular way the light that shines forth from the students in Catholic schools everywhere. + Sign of the Cross Scripture Reading A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew. "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:13:16) The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray: Heavenly Father, Your light shines brightly in your children. You have inspired us to do good deeds in your name. Bless this school and all who work to make your will known in the world. We ask this in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Intercessions [Have students create their own intentions to be offered during the prayer service] The response is: Lord, let you light shine before your people.

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Our Lady of Good Help, Pray for Us!

December 8, 2010, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, was a momentous day for the Church and for the United States of America. It was on that day that Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay issued a decree that authenticated the nineteenth-century apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a young woman, Adele Brise, in the farmlands near Champion, Wisconsin. A shrine built there, the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, is now worthy of belief as a site where Mary really appeared along the level of Guadalupe in Mexico, Lourdes in France, and Fatima in Portugal. Mary’s appearances to Adele Brise are the first Marian apparitions approved by the Church for the United States. Adele Brise’s story is a remarkable one. At age twenty-four and the oldest of four children of Belgian immigrants, she came with her family to the Green Bay peninsula in 1855. Her father purchased 240 acres of land in the town of Red River for $120 dollars. Adele had intended to join a religious community when she came to America, but her first days in Wisconsin were taken up with the hard work of farming and pioneer life. Adele’s life changed in early October 1859. While carrying grain to a mill about four miles from her home, Mary appeared to her. A few days later, on October 9, while walking to Sunday Mass in Bay Settlement, about eleven miles from home, Mary appeared to her again. After Mass, Adele told the pastor about what she had seen. He said to her, “Ask in God’s name who it was and what it desired of her.” On the way, home, Mary appeared a third time and Adele asked the question as the pastor had suggested. Mary responded: "I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners and I wish you to do the same. Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation. Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and how to approach the sacraments." Adele Brise dedicated the rest of her life to doing what Mary instructed. She gathered the children near her home and taught them the faith. She also traveled to other farms, sometimes as far as fifty miles away, to do the same. She faced challenges of the forest and weather that were often easier to handle than ridicule that came from those who didn’t believe that Mary had appeared to her. Eventually, a school and chapel were built at the site of the appearances. Most of the students were orphans. Adele, who gathered a lay community known as the Sisters of Good Help around her, often went begging for what she and the school needed. When food was scarce, Adele would pray to Mary for help. Inevitably someone would drop by a sack of flour or some meat to get them through the next days. A huge fire known as the Peshitgo Fire threatened the area on October 8, 1871 (the same day as the Chicago Fire). People brought animals and their families to the grounds of the chapel. Adele carried a statue of Mary around the perimeter of the grounds. On the outer portion of the perimeter everything burned. The fire did not advance inside the five-acre perimeter near the school and chapel. Many considered this a miracle. The procession is repeated every year on October 8. Bishop Ricken began looking into Mary’s appearances in 2009, and much of his investigation involved the life of Adele Brise. The bishop said this about her: "What has struck me about the story of the life of Adel Brise is her lifelong fidelity to what the Blessed Mother asked her to do with her life. She dedicated her life to prayer, especially for the conversion of sinners, and to the catechesis of children. She made great sacrifices and attracted other young women to follow her in fidelity to the Blessed Mother’s call." Activities Plan as if you are able to make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. Ask students to prepare an itinerary of their pilgrimage. Write a prayer of petition to Our Lady of Good Help. Create a PowerPoint or slide show of the approved Marian apparitions. Investigate other Marian apparitions that have been considered but not approved. Write a report on at least one of these.

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