Year: 2008

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Teaching Students How to Find God in the Little Things

Other66 by Loyola CommunicationsSometimes we think God only speaks in grand, sweeping gestures or experiences. We forget that God most often communicates to us through the little things. It’s important to remind our students (and ourselves) of this simple truth. But how can we remember to look at the details of our lives and learn to recognize God’s presence?

In the tradition of the Ignatian examen, Loyola Communications has designed a website called Other6: Where Does God Bubble Up in Your Life the Other 6 Days of the Week? Other6 is a beautifully simple and elegant site, consisting of translucent blue bubbles spiraling upward to the soothing sounds of wind chimes. As your mouse hovers over the bubbles you can read how other people have seen God’s presence in their lives. Here are a few examples from today:

“In my daughter’s elementary school. I love visiting my daughter’s elementary school, where everyone from the janitor up is involved in keeping small people safe and providing a place for them to grow.”

“In every breath I take, every beat of my heart. I find such peace these days. I am focused on starting my day with gratitude and prayer. I know God is in every beat of my heart, every breath I take, every thought in my mind.”

“In my coworker. I see such joy & faith in my co-worker. Her life is a daily testimony of God’s love & grace. God has blessed me so much by bringing JE into my life. There is much I need to learn from her faith.”

Clicking on a bubble brings up a small window that allows readers to leave a comment. Adding your own bubble is as easy as clicking the bubble containing a plus sign.

Other6 can be used in the classroom as part of morning prayer or for prayer at the end of the day. Students can take turns reading how others found God that day, or perhaps the students can leave their own observations. No registration is required to use the site.

I find Other6 tremendously soothing, and will often surf the web with the sound of the chiming bells in the background. I’d love to hear what you think, so visit Other6 and then come back and leave a comment. Maybe Other6 will be the quiet way God speaks to you today.

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Tutorials of the Catholic Mass

One of the most important things we teachers/catechists can do is help students participate more fully in the celebration of the Mass. One way to teach about the Mass is to walk students through a celebration step by step. The following resources may help:

Fr. Jim McKearney’s Video Tutorial of the Mass: This series of 24 short video clips is appropriate for younger children, especially those preparing to make their first communion. Fr. Jim McKearney, a Sulpician priest, takes viewers on a tour of the entire mass, explaining it in language that children in grades 2-5 will understand.

Mysteries of the Mass podcast: In this podcast Fr. Bill Holtzinger, a Catholic parish priest from Forest Grove, Oregon, offers “reflections, teachings, interviews and more about the Mass.” Fr. Bill has a friendly voice and a natural manner, and his reflections help listeners to understand the Mass more deeply. His podcast is probably more appropriate as a background for teachers, but you may find it useful to use with students in grades 7-12. You might also suggest that your students subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.

The Catholic Mass Revealed: This web site is more of a sample of the dvd, but it does contain some beautiful images of the Mass, and some of the segments are available in their entirety.

Do you have a favorite multimedia resource for teaching about the Mass? Let everyone know by leaving a comment.

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4 Random Resources for Catholic Teachers

Here are some resources that I’ve posted in other places around the Internet that might be useful to those who teach in Catholic schools:

  1. 10 Inspiring Teacher Videos to Lift Your Spirit
  2. 5 Great Books to Read Aloud at the Family Dinner Table (also good for reading to your students)
  3. 10 Best Books for New Catholics (or for Catholics looking to re-charge their faith)
  4. My free eBook: Roman Reading: 5 Practical Skills to Transform Your Life Through Literature
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What’s the Role of Technology in Catholic Schools?

This provocative video challenges us to think seriously about the place of technology in our schools:

Do you agree with their comments? In light of the opinions expressed in the video, what can Catholic teachers do help students become responsible users of technology? And what about those who don’t have access to technology?

My Take: Students who have access to computers and cell phones are constantly consuming and creating content. If we are to help them become bearers of Christ’s light to the world, we need to help them evaluate the content they’re taking in and the content they’re creating. In some respects, this is no different than what we’ve done for decades. We try to help students think for themselves and apply the teachings of Christ to the ethical decisions they make, and we challenge students to bring the Good News to every arena of their lives. But we can’t do that unless we are familiar ourselves with the ways in which they are using technology–unless we speak their language and know how to use the tools they use.

What’s your take?

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An Example to a New Generation of Teachers

What does it mean to be committed to Catholic education? Ask Rosemary Kingston and Judy Lanini of Notre Dame High School in Salinas, California. They retire together this year after 57 combined years of teaching at the ages of 67 and 70. That’s right–67 years old and 70 years old. Where did their dedication come from? A hint can be found on Rosemary’s staff page on the Notre Dame website:

I have enjoyed every minute I have spent in the classroom. It is a real joy working with young women. I am blessed that I am now teaching the daughters of my previous students. I love to attend co-curricular activities, especially athletic events. Over the years, many parents and students have become my friends. I have had the privilege of reading at their weddings and being a god parent to their children.

One of the hallmarks of working in Catholic schools is the community atmosphere that arises out of a group of people dedicated to a common cause working together for the sake of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Congratulations to Rosemary and Judy, and thank you for your years of service.  For more about their story, see this article in the Californian.