Ooh, I Just Can’t Wait!

Bring to mind that unique kind of excitement you enjoy when you have something to give another that you know that person is going to like a lot. Many of us, in fact, have a hard time waiting until “the day” to give a gift for a special occasion because we “just can’t wait.”

That’s the kind of excitement I enjoy as we finalize editorial intentions for CATECHIST’s upcoming print publishing year. I just can’t wait until you “unwrap” each issue of CATECHIST to find terrific Special Features, Continuing Features, and Departments.

For example, this year you’ll unwrap some Special Features to find ideas about best catechetical practices, the Beatitudes, early childhood religious education programs, meaningful holiday celebrations, the Sacrament of Marriage, end-of-the-learning year, art-and-craft activities, and much more.

The Continuing Features that you unwrap every month will offer effective hands-on techniques that you can use to share the Catholic faith with your learners. Among them you will find articles about saints, activities for the classroom or the family at home, Bible exercises, self-quizzes, prayer, and creative ideas for presenting lessons about the faith.

A new Continuing Feature this year is in response to your enthusiasm for material about vacation Bible school. In every issue of CATECHIST, Kathy Carlisle will share with you ideas about “Your VBS Now,” which delivers just what it states: guidelines for what you can do now to make your VBS experience a joyful and successful event for your entire faith community.

From CATECHIST’s Departments, you will be gifted with the voices of experts in the field who offer you guidance, wisdom, and insight. These experts speak to your special concerns and interests—leadership, discipleship, discipline, and partnering with parents—and offer resources, prayer, and networking opportunities.

A new Department this year brings you the voice of Cullen Schippe, Vice President of Religious Education at the Peter Li Education Group
(publisher of CATECHIST). In every issue throughout this learning year, Cullen will share with you “Bits o’ Wisdom” from his more than 40 years of experience in catechesis.

This summary of CATECHIST’s content (and this is a very brief summary indeed) stirs my excitement for the coming year. Ooh, I just can’t wait!

Kass Dotterweich
Editor, CATECHIST

P.S. There's still time to start your subscription to CATECHIST with the September issue which includes a FREE CATECHIST Handbook & Planning Guide. This convenient, easy-to-use planning, reference, and organizational tool offers a complete 12-month planner with saints days, feast days, and plenty of space for personal reminders plus lots of resources, how-tos, a liturgical year calendar and questions for personal reflection. Click here to reserve your subscription today!