March 23, 2015  
Volume IX, Number 12
Palm Sunday - Utilize these great videos by the USCCB to reflect and learn on the various readings as you enter Holy Week.   Daily Reflection Videos by USCCB.
SAINTS

Monday, March 23- Blessed Claudio Granzotto

Tuesday, March 24-  St. Catherine of Genoa
Wednesday, March 25-   Annunciation of the Lord
Friday, March 27- Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno

"The Congregation also promulgated decrees of heroic virtue for seven individuals who are on the path to canonization." They include: Fr. Francesco Gattola, Pietro Barbaric, Mary Aikenhead, Elisabeta Baldo, Vincenza  of the Passion of the Lord, Giovanna of the Cross, and Maria Orsola Bussone.   Read more about these wonderful men and women.
 
NCCL ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Encounter the Joy of the Gospel!  
¡Descubre la Alegria del Evangelio!
Pre-conference: May 17
Conference: May 18-21       
Post-Conference: May 21  
REGISTER NOW 

Register online, or print the registration form in the brochure  to register by mail.  Utilize the same procedure if you participated in "Save Me A Place." Just check the "Save Me A Place" category.  

DON'T FORGET TO CAST YOUR VOTE THIS YEAR!  

Make sure to check out the latest Catechetical Leader Magazine to learn about the slates and the voting process!  All magazines should have arrived in your mailboxes last week.  This is a great opportunity for our organization as there are two wonderful slates offering their gifts and talents. More information...

 
NCCL NEWS
Our Prayers Are With Russell Peterson And Family
Russell, presenting Sr. Janet Shaeffler with an award, when serving as Vice President of NCCL.
(Information on funeral arrangements are located in the obituary.) 

Russell Peterson, former NCCL Vice President, stepped into eternal life on Friday evening, March 20. With joy for Russell but a heavy heart for all his family and friends, NCCL offers our prayers and thanksgiving for the gift that Russell was to NCCL and NCCL's Board of Directors.

Cards of support and prayer can be sent to: 
Lara Peterson
9790 Old St. Louis Road
East St. Louis IL 62207

Many were influenced by Russell's involvement with catechesis.  Read the reflections of colleague, Jonathan Sullivan, as he expresses the echoing sentiments of Russell's influence on his life.  He begins by saying, "I've spent the last couple of days reflecting on Russell's ministry and the lessons he taught me both explicitly and implicitly: Focus on Jesus and the rest will follow." Read more here.
New Books Help Children Put Faith in Action
Two beautiful new children's books about putting faith in action  are now available from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Loyola Press!  Green Street Park  is a story about Philip, his family, friends and neighbors, who learn to imitate the model of St. Francis of Assisi by caring for creation in their own neighborhood. In  Drop by Drop , Sr. Mary Jerome's classroom receives a visit from Mr. Mike, from Catholic Relief Services. He invites the students to "journey" with him across the world to Burkina Faso, where they learn about how lack of water affects a little girl name Sylvie and her family. These wonderful books are a true treasure to help parents  -and all educators- teach children about responding to Christ's call to love God and neighbor, and are perfect for sharing as bedtime stories or in the classroom.
 
The books are available for sale on the Loyola Press website. They make great Baptism and First Communion gifts! Care for God's creation is a theme of both books, so they also help families, parishes and schools prepare for the release of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment this summer. The USCCB will give away some free copies of the books on USCCB social media during the week of Earth Day, April 20-24, 2015.  
New and Free! Winter 2015 Lifelong Faith Journal
The Winter Issue of the Lifelong Faith journal presents article that span the whole life cycle.  These authors have written interesting and practical articles to help you in your ministry.  Included is an article by Craig Mitchell from the Uniting Church in Australia! Download the Winter Journal for free and enjoy a variety of articles:
  1. Forming Faith @ Home - Leif Kehrwald
  2. A Sea Change for Elderly Churches - Craig Mitchell
  3.  Children's Faith Formation at Church and Home - Jolene Roehlkepartain
  4.  Lent and Easter with Youth and Young Adults - Shannon Kelly
  5.  Flipping the Church, Again - Lee Yates
  6.  Motivation for Adult Faith Formation - Janet Schaeffler
  7.  Milestones as a Means to Empower and Equip - Debbie Streicher
  8.  Intergenerational Models, Programs, and Ideas across Church Life - Jim Merhaut
  9.  Digital Media for Ministry Brief: Community and Organizational Life - Kyle Matthew Oliver
  10.  Congregational-Based Mentoring: Why Bother? - Marlene Bogard 
  11.  Cultivating An Intercessory Prayer Ministry - Frank Mercadante
Download your free copy!
"40 Uses For Smartphone in School..."
 Or Perhaps... Catechetical Processes??
This article gives an overview of 40 ways to use a smartphone in a classroom setting. Though our ministry work may not occur in a classroom model, the list of 40 can pertain to various catechetical work done within your local community, for younger learners ... or even adults! Enjoy the article and consider the possibilities.

NACYML MOOC!

 Join us and thousands of people from around the world starting April 12, 2015 for a five-week free online learning experience on helping young people encounter Christ and the Church! Each week will have a Master Teacher(s) focusing the topic around a chapter from the apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium or The Joy of the Gospel. Surrounding that topic will be other experts and practitioners helping you put that theme into context in a variety of NetSourcing Learning Communities, such as clergy, parents, faith formation, and ministry with high school youth, middle school youth, or young adults .

 

Master Teachers include: 

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Bishop Frank Caggiano, Dr. Ansel Augustine, Angel Barrera, Tom East, Rev. Joe Espaillat, Bob Rice, Joan Weber, and Dr. Carolyn Woo.

 

NCCL is proud to serve as a theme content provider in this great initiative!

 

For learn more or to register, please go to www.NACYML.org

Download the poster for details to share with others.

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