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Faith Formation Archive

2013
Honoring Moms, Dads, and Grads! (May)
To Jesus, through Mary (April)
What Happens after Easter? (March)
Resources for Reconciliation (February)
Make the Most of the New Year ... and Lent (January)

2012
Celebrating the Incarnation (December)
Gratitude . . . for Things Past and Yet to Come (November)
'When the Saints Go Marching In' (October)
Year of Faith (September)
Gearing Up! What's New? (August)
Summertime Reading and Reflection (July)
Celebrating Spirit and Community (May)
Fresh Wineskins for New Wine (April)
Reconciliation (March)
Lenten Resources (February)
Catholic Identity (January)

2011
Advent, Christmas and Holy Family (December)
Teach Us to Pray—As a Family (November)
Saints Alive! (October)
Harvest Lessons (September)
What’s in Your Catechist Bag of Tricks? (August)
Summer Reading Assignments (July)
Looking Back Before Planning Ahead (May)
Special Edition on the Roman Missal (April)
Mystagogy and Postbaptismal Catechesis (April)
God's Reconciling Love (March)
Lenten Lessons (February)
Back to Basics (January)

2010
Incarnation Moments (December)
Inspiring an Attitude of Gratitude (November)
Saints and Spiritual Heroes (October)
Sacraments: Passing On the Rituals (September)
Back to School With Intergenerational Catechesis (August)
Summer Spiritual Reading (July)
Ecology and Faith (May)
Praying Always and All Ways (April)
Lenten Sacrifices (March)
St. Clare and the Franciscan Way (February)
Marriage and U.S. Bishops' Marriage Pastoral (January)

2009
A Gentler Christmas (December)
What Happened to Advent? (November)
A Few Heroes (October)
Angels All Around Us (September)
Finding Your Passion (August)
Using Summer as a Time to Re-create (July)
Following a Moral Compass (May)
Signs of the Season (April)
Prayer and Fasting (March)
Celebrating Love (February)
Living the Generous Life (January)

2008
Living the Generous Life (December)
Try to Remember (November)
Faith and Politics (October)
Things Going Bump in the Night (September)
Tool Time—Resources for the Catechist (August)
Up, Up and Away – Play Is Holy (July)
The Spirit’s Creative Motion (May)
Journeying From Easter With Mary (April)
Learning Through Liturgy (March)
Developing New Appetites (February)
Gathered Around the Table (January)

2007
The Lord Is Coming Soon! (December)
Sacred Seasons (November)
Hallowthanksmas (October)
The Pleasure of Her Company (September)
Gearing Up (August)
Summer R & R (July)
Evangelization: Now and (Just Before) Forever Amen (May)
Catechesis for the Easter Season (April)
New Life for Parish Staffs (March)
Liturgy of the Word for Children (February)
Lent Comes Early (January)

2006
Peace and Goodwill to All (December)
The Year of Luke (November)
Thy Kingdom Come (October)
Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Rosary (September)
Adult Learning in Small Groups (August)
Summer R & R (July)
The Trinity (May)
Ministry of the Sick (April)
Healing and Reconciliation (March)
Lenten Reflections (February)
Adult Faith Formation (January)

2005
The Incarnation (December)
Advent: Jesus Is Coming (November)
Confirmation and Service Hours (October)
Celebrating St. Francis (September)
What's New (August)
Time for Some R&R: Resources and Renewal (July)
Parish Book Clubs (May)
Bringing New Life Into Your Easter Season (April)
Forgiveness and Mercy (March)
Lenten Customs and Traditions (February)
We Are the Body of Christ (January)

2004
The Holy Family (December)
Welcoming in a New Liturgical Year (November)
All Saints Day (October)
Preparing for First Sacraments: First Communion (Sep.)
August: What's New (August)
July: Time for Some R & R (July)
Determining Ownership (May)
Mystagogy: Final Stage of the RCIA Process (April)
Adult Faith Formation: Our Primary Focus (March)
Lent, Rededication and Small Groups (February)
Catholic Identity (January)

2003
Incarnation and Inculturation (December)
Advent (November)
Fall Holidays (October)
Preparing for First Sacraments (September)
Gearing Up Again (August)
Summer R&R (July)
Pentecost: Catechesis and Evangelization (June)
Mary, Christ's First Witness (May)
Baptismal Catechumenate: A Model for All Catechesis (April)
Teaching Through Rituals (March)
Lenten Resources (February)
Believing in Jesus (January)

2002
Welcome to Faith Formation Update! (November)

Bernardine of Siena: Most of the saints suffer great personal opposition, even persecution. Bernardine, by contrast, seems more like a human dynamo who simply took on the needs of the world.
<p>He was the greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking the paganism he found rampant, attracting crowds of 30,000, following St. Francis of Assisi’s admonition to preach about “vice and virtue, punishment and glory.” </p><p>Compared with St. Paul by the pope, Bernardine had a keen intuition of the needs of the time, along with solid holiness and boundless energy and joy. He accomplished all this despite having a very weak and hoarse voice, miraculously improved later because of his devotion to Mary. </p><p>When he was 20, the plague was at its height in his hometown, Siena. Sometimes as many as 20 people died in one day at the hospital. Bernardine offered to run the hospital and, with the help of other young men, nursed patients there for four months. He escaped the plague but was so exhausted that a fever confined him for several months. He spent another year caring for a beloved aunt (her parents had died when he was a child) and at her death began to fast and pray to know God’s will for him. </p><p>At 22, he entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained two years later. For almost a dozen years he lived in solitude and prayer, but his gifts ultimately caused him to be sent to preach. He always traveled on foot, sometimes speaking for hours in one place, then doing the same in another town. </p><p>Especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus, Bernardine devised a symbol—IHS, the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek, in Gothic letters on a blazing sun. This was to displace the superstitious symbols of the day, as well as the insignia of factions (for example, Guelphs and Ghibellines). The devotion spread, and the symbol began to appear in churches, homes and public buildings. Opposition arose from those who thought it a dangerous innovation. Three attempts were made to have the pope take action against him, but Bernardine’s holiness, orthodoxy and intelligence were evidence of his faithfulness. </p><p>General of a branch of the Franciscan Order, the Friars of the Strict Observance, he strongly emphasized scholarship and further study of theology and canon law. When he started there were 300 friars in the community; when he died there were 4,000. He returned to preaching the last two years of his life, dying while traveling.</p>

American Catholic Blog

Unfaithfulness to God causes us to be vulnerable to the influence of the darkness. Only through the sacraments are we able to return to his heavenly light and goodness.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

	When the Spirit Comes in Power
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	In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan
	In 1219 during the Fifth Crusade, Francis took it upon himself to cross battle lines and reach out to Muslims.

	For Mothers (and Fathers!)
	Author Curtis shares personal stories and advice for helping your children find God's voice amid the messages that target them.

	New from Franciscan Media
	When the initial shock and pain of widowhood has passed, Life after Death can help you build a new life.

	The Month of Mary
	Learn what the Bible has to say about the Mother of God in Chris Padgett's engaging style.

CATHOLIC GREETINGS

	Happy Birthday
	Make the most of God’s graces and blessings throughout the coming year.

	Pentecost
	As Church we rely on the Holy Spirit to form us in the image of Christ.

	Pentecost
	As Church we rely on the Holy Spirit to form us in the image of Christ.

	Armed Forces Day (U.S.)
	Remember to honor those in the service of our nation with your prayers and support.

	Reception into Full Communion
	Participate in welcoming those completing their Christian initiation and recall your own commitment to the faith.

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