Catholic Faith Education Newsletter

April, 2005

 

 

Church History

bullet Into His Own - Perspective on the World of Jesus - "Into His Own is designed as a tool for the historical study of Christian scriptures. Since the works in the New Testament were composed in implicit & often explicit dialog with first century champions of Jewish tradition, the bulk of the passages included here have been excerpted from works written by Jewish authors, especially those composed after the Hebrew scriptures that can be found in any Christian "Old Testament." But there are also selections from non-Jewish sources that help bring the writings of Christian authors into a clearer cultural perspective."

bullet The Christian Catacombs of Rome "The Internet site gives a wide range of answers to the many questions of visitors

What are really the catacombs?... When did they originate? Why did they develop so extensively? Why are they located outside the city walls, along the great consular roads? ...Since the catacombs are only cemeteries, how can they tell us the history of the early Church in Rome? Why did the Christians use so many symbols? Why were the Christians persecuted? Did the persecutions last uninterruptedly for centuries? What was the behaviour of the Christians during the persecutions? Did they suffer them passively, without any resistance or did they react to this injustice? ...What is the importance of the Catacombs for the Church of today?"

bullet The History of the Catholic Church - A timeline in pdf format.

See also various pages of links on the Resources for Catholic Educators web site:

bullet Church History
bullet Apostolic Church
bullet Early Church
bullet Early Church Personalities
bullet Early Church - Doctrine & Heresies
bullet Medieval Church
bullet Modern Church

 

 

Click for a larger version of this poster on Luke 24,6

 

History of the Catholic Church
in Specific Countries and areas:

bulletBelarus
bullet British Isles
bullet Japan
bullet Isle of Man
bullet Mexico
bullet Micronesia


Online Articles

bullet New vision of God's Poor - by Don Patterson

" Holbrook uses his skills as a photographic artist to paint film portraits of the poor, the disadvantaged, the homeless, and the mentally or physically challenged. He portrays his subjects as saints and patriarchs, giving them names taken from scripture..." Read the article...

bullet Seeing Christ in the homeless - Story by Karen Rangel, Photos by Jesus Rangel - March 19, 2004—North Texas Catholic

"During a homeless awareness weekend March 6-7 at Good Shepherd Church in Colleyville, Holbrook, along with teenagers from the church, tried to bring this message home. Holbrook spends his spare time getting to know those living on the streets. He learns about their lives and tells their stories through his pictures. The teens have been feeding and clothing the homeless for the past five years by working with the Bread of Life ministries. Holbrook and the teens joined forces to give a vision of a world rarely seen."

bullet Theologians, historian explore decline in confessions - By Jerry Filteau

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been two weeks since my last confession. ..."
With that ritual formula once familiar to all Catholics, Boston College historian James O'Toole opened a daylong symposium on how the sacrament of penance has changed and how its chief form, individual auricular confession, has almost disappeared from American Catholic consciousness in the last 40 years. Read the whole article...bullet An Easter Reflection - Using the Sunday Easter readings (Acts 10:34a,37-43; Ps. 118:1-2,16-17,22-23; Col. 3:1-4; Jn. 20:1-9), Sr. Denise Pyles weaves a short and powerful reflection on the awesome nature of life and resurrection. Using some current expressions from a popular game show, the final answer is clear. Jesus Christ is risen! This reflection is suitable for faculties, school prayer, retreats, and the classroom during the Easter season. Read the whole article...

 

 

Photo by John Holbrook

© John Holbrook - Used with permission

bullet Leadership Virtues, by Al Mozingo - The virtues of leadership as exemplified in an event in the life of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Mr Mozingo is a leadership instructor and a certified youth minister who has worked with children and adults within the Catholic Church including: First Communion, Confirmation, RCIA, and Bible Studies. Read the article...

bullet Tough Questions with Tough Answers - by Thomas Turner, Director of Bishop Sullivan Center

"I’ve been in the food pantry business for over ten years now. In all those years, I have never once received a phone call from a church, school or anyone saying, “Tom, is there anything we could do to help so that people no longer have to go to a pantry? Is there anything we could do to help so soup kitchens are no longer needed?” Read the article...

 

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Music in Review

Christian songs for children - "Schools, youth groups and churches from all over the world, have been requesting copies of the words and music of these songs, including the award winning Mothers Day Song "Thank you Mum". Written by Patrick Ambrose and Adrian Haw the songs have proved popular across the globe." Musicians & children of Sacred Heart, Sowerby Bridge, England. The words and music of 7 songs are available on the web site. Sound files are provided with voices and as backing tracks. For a limited time, the music sheets are also available online.

Upcoming Conferences & Forums

send us your special event news and we will post it here.

 
Announcement

Join Hands Across the States to Help Abused and Hungry Children

On Sept. 6, 2004, Hands Across the States promises to be bigger than the 1986 ‘Hands Across America’ campaign. ‘For Our Children Inc.,’ a new charitable organization to help children is launching the event in the spirit of Pope John Paul’s Lenten theme whereby we are called to reflect upon the condition of children. The non-profit group needs 14.1 million people to form a 10,700-mile-long chain in support of the victims of child abuse and childhood hunger. Not only will the human chain symbolize the awareness of hungry and abused children, each person in line actually would represent one child who is either at risk of hunger or was maltreated last year. In addition, this chain will make a statement to the abusers and those who sit idly by that Americans will not let this happen in their country.

 

"Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow.
The same Everlasting Father, who takes care of you today,
will take care of you tomorrow.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace then,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."
--Saint Francis de Sales.

 

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Submitting articles, lesson plans, reviews, information...

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A Bit of Humor

A grandmother and a little girl who was sprinkled with bright red freckles spent the day at the zoo. The children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.
"You have so many freckles, there's no place to paint" a boy in the line cried.
Embarrassed, the little girl dropped her head. Her grandmother knelt down next to her. "I love your freckles," she said.
"Not me" the little girl replied.
"Well, when I was little girl I always wanted freckles. Freckles are beautiful."
The little girl looked up. "Really?"
"Of course." said the grandmother, "Why just name one thing that's prettier than freckles." The little girl peered into the old woman's smiling face. "Wrinkles" she answered softly. -- From Catholic1.com

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