Liturgical Year

Although the Triduum takes place over three days—counting from sundown to sundown, according to Jewish tradition, from Holy Thursday night to Easter Sunday evening—help your students begin to grasp that the Triduum is one three-day, continuous celebration. Unless we see these days as an organic whole, we miss their interconnectedness.

Maria Josefa was a person of compassion; she dedicated her life to caring for people who were sick. She wanted to help them deal with the challenges of being ill at home and in the hospital.

In today's high-tech world, our students stay connected with their classmates and peers using umpteen gizmos and gadgets: cell phones, smart phones, social networking options, and online applications. Any effort to introduce religious education with this medium has the potential of exciting students and keeping them engaged. In the fifth-grade religious education class of Queen of Peace in Queens, New York, we have successfully used the technology and would like to share this so that any instructor could use this time-tested and successful model.

Peter was born in 1007 and lived with his family in Italy. His parents died when he was a child, so he went to stay with an older brother who treated him badly. Another brother, a priest, found out and helped Peter get an education. Peter was a good student and eventually became a university teacher.

During Advent we prepare students to celebrate the birth of our Savior on Christmas. Use the following ideas to keep the spotlight on celebrating the coming of the Lord.

Master catechists answer questions from readers.

The season of Advent reminds us to always be ready to welcome Jesus.

A downloadable Image Key of the liturgical calendar that appears in November/December 2013 CATECHIST.

Marguerite helped care for those who were sick and living in poverty. She shared God’s love with everyone, even with those who were against her.

The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13) tells us that Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. While there, he paid less attention to his physical life and more to his spiritual life by fasting and praying. But it wasn't easy. All the while, the devil tempted him. Do similar things happen to you today? Let's see.