Let’s Discuss: Small Moment Catechesis

As we begin a new school year, I thought it would be a good month to listen to Ela Milewska’s OSV Talk entitled “Catechesis in Small Moments.” Ela has served in a few different dioceses and parishes in the role of catechist and youth minister. She has trained youth ministry and catechetical leaders, catechists, and educators across the United States and internationally. Currently she serves as the executive director of the Department of Youth Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of New York overseeing the ministries that help parishes form young people and their families from baptism to twelfth grade. 

Free Virtual Conference on the Eucharist

As you know we are in the first year of the National Eucharistic Revival – beginning with the Diocese. Many are asking: “What does this look like?” and “What should we do?” and “Aside from attending Mass regularly what does it mean to be ‘more Eucharistic’?” and “Can you just tell me more about what this might look like?” … That is not an exhaustive list of questions, nor is it a series of quotes from others, but I know it’s questions I’ve been asking myself.

Inspiring Priests

I’ve shared before about focusing on people who are in the margins. Last week I saw this article about a priest reaching a group of Catholics I don’t often think about – those who are deaf. I’ve read many survey responses where those who are hearing impaired later in life have a hard time hearing at Mass because of the sound system, but aside from a loop in the church or headphones that can be given out, I’ve not before considered what a deaf ministry would look like in a parish.

Photo Resources

As you’ve probably heard more than once, “A photo’s worth a thousand words.” Before coming to OSV I worked in a parish and one of my jobs was our parish website and our social media. The “king” of digital is great photos. A compelling or fun photo seems to capture us online, but we can’t…

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Let’s Discuss: Millennial Moms

I’ve been following Katie Pregjean McGrady off and on for quite a few years. She has two darling little girls who light up her social media feed along with the extensive travel schedule she once kept. Those are two things I love to see while scrolling. Then a little while ago she was offered a radio show on The Catholic Channel and it changed the space she evangelized from, but it hasn’t changed her message.

Family Holy Hours

One of the trademark characteristics of Eucharistic Adoration is silence. While I don’t have any little ones, one of their trademark characteristics is the opposite of silence. So how can we make Eucharistic Adoration more accessible for families?

INTO LIFE: Love Changes Everything

In a newsletter I read regularly, I saw this new course produced by the Sisters of Life and the McGrath Institute for Church Life that I have to share with you. It’s called “Into Life: Love Changes Everything” and it’s free! We’re in a strange place as we wait for the official decision from SCOTUS on Mississippi vs. Dobbs. The beginning of a new way of operating in the pro-life movement, or really a new starting point to walk with women experiencing a crisis pregnancy.

Celebrating John the Baptist

I’ve been working with parishes over the past year to create plans and many of them include “Helping families embrace Liturgical Living to build up the Domestic Church.” One of the members of our team asked, “What does that mean? Concretely what would that look like?” I was reminded of something I read on Catholic All Year awhile ago that I’d like to share with you this week. This would be a great event to share with families to do at home. It would also be a great parish event to kick off the summer.

The Time Is Now

I met with a parish council today to talk about our Parish Vision Plan solution, and I couldn’t help but think they’re so much like most of the parishes I work with. The answer to what they were asking, and what so many ask, is simply: Time, Action, and Relationships.

Pete, the Basement, & Young Adults

I’ve been taking my time listening to the newly released OSV Talks and found one from 2020 that I hadn’t listened to yet. I met Pete Burak years ago when I attended a conference of Millennials and the Church. He is the director of id, the young adult outreach of Renewal Ministries. As I watched his OSV Talk, I was remembering all of the young adult events I’ve attended in the Church basement with bad food that seemed like an after thought for the parish. I even ran a young adult ministry that did all the wrong things, trying to aim for a target I more often than not missed.