Catechesis and Technology has surely evolved from those days in the 60's when using a filmstrip projector and the 78rpm (with the beep telling us to turn the filmstrip to the next frame) was considered innovative catechesis.  So here I am ( with the help of our computer savvy staff people) attempting to communicate via a blog with all of you who are responsible for faith formation to help you keep abreast of resources and programs. Our goal as always is to share the good news of Jesus Christ as best we can. Quality catechesis today demands that we use technology effectively.

There are all kind of free resources available today online for catechists and youth ministers. Others have a yearly fee. The following are two of many available resources:

One free resource to check out is http://www.ecatechist.com/. Dan Pierson a veteran catechist, DRE, and Diocesan Director from Michigan is the author the website which is really an online magazine in blog format that had a variety of resources for all catechists. Check it out.  RCL/Benziger offers a weekly online resource for Adult Formation called The Faith Connection..For $150 who can post, print, e-mail, or paste this resource to help your parents/parishioners prepare for and respond to the Sunday Scriptures. http://www.rclbfaithconnectioin.com/.  Check it out.

Mini-Documentary Wins 2010 CCHD Multi-Media Art Contest
 
I just watched this video and was deeply moved. Think about challenging your middle school students to do something like this. What they learn by doing will last them for a lifetime.

A mini-documentary on homelessness by the sixth grade religious education class at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Kailua, Hawaii, won the grand prize of the 2010 Multi-Media Youth Arts Contest sponsored by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the antipoverty program of the U.S. bishops. The prize was given at the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry in New Orleans.  The submission, entitled 'Family of Promise,' was produced by religious education students who researched the growing number of homeless people in Hawaii and the U.S. and then conducted interviews, wrote a script, shot and edited the video. The mini-documentary also profiles the Family Promise program in Hawaii, in which families volunteer to host homeless families a week at a time as they work to address the factors that have contributed to their homelessness. The video can be found online at: The full press release can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEkbZfODEwc.  The full press release can be found at
http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2010/10-235.shtml

Everything is Holy Now-

This is a five (5) minute song that will hopefully make you look at the world with reverence and awe. . Watch and listen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaGnQc5Vmhs. Here’s the same song and a different video but one that is authorized by the artist. Peter Mayer's sacred science song, with captioned lyrics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiypaURysz4). Organizations may play this video publicly by downloading the mp4 and donating at: http://thegreatstory.org/order-mayer.... (Note: This video, by Connie Barlow, is authorized by Peter Mayer for public use on a donations basis.) There are two other videos available at this website. 

Lastly: Please take note of upcoming events which are all on our website www.fallriverfaithformation.org. 
Jan. 28-30    Women’s Retreat at Miramar conducted by
                                   Peggy Patenaude
Fe.11-13       Men's Retreat at Sacred Hearts, Wareham conducted by
                                   Fr. Stan Kolassa
March 5        Training on the Roman Missal in Taunton led by
                                  Msgr. James Maroney
Mar. 18-20    Yes Retreat - Cathedral Camp
August 4-7    NE Pre-convocation and Convocation for Catechetical
                                 Leadership in Springfield
Oct. 16          High School Convention -Jesse Manibusan -
                                Stang High School
Oct.17-18      Jr. High Rallies
Nov. 5           Faith Formation Ministry Convention- Taunton -
                                 Evangelization Theme