Resources for Creative Teaching

Office of Evangelization and Catechesis -- Northern Area

February 2010
www.catholiccincinnati.org/oec http://resourcesforcreativefaithformation.wordpress.com/
Fostering a Missionary Spirit
One of the tasks of catechesis is to educate for mission. (See the General Directory for Catechesis, #86) This
encompasses our efforts to “seek out the lost sheep … to be poor…. to know how to accept rejection and persecution; to
place one’s trust in the Father….; to expect no other reward than the joy of working for the Kingdom.” The GDC goes
on to say that this kind of formation is necessary for interreligious dialogue. We foster this missionary spirit in different
ways using different methods. Service is more than an expectation. It is a way of life.

The Catholic Social Action Office keeps before us the myriad of justice issues and charitable causes that face us today.
Their training program, Salt and Light, encourages parishes to identify the issues and offers support to parishes as they
attempt to address one or more of the issues.

The Mission Office offers immersion trips for adults and families. Many of these trips are into Latin American countries
where poverty is great and immigration to the United States is necessary for life. Experiencing their poverty, their deep
joy and sense of giving, and rooted faith helps us to work with them in our parishes and communities. For a presentation
of a recent trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, contact our office.

Center for Ministry Development offers service opportunities.

http://www.youngneighbors.org/ -- Young Neighbors is committed to seeing the world from the
perspective of the poor. A truly Catholic program, Young Neighbors engages participants (grades 10
and up) in Catholic Social Teaching and takes a Catholic approach to service. Young Neighbors seeks
to help participants serve people in real need, to help make a difference in the community, not because it
makes us better Christians, not because it makes us feel good, but because Jesus calls us to serve. Cincinnati, OH, June
27-July 3, 2010.
http://secure.cmdnet.org/index.cfm?id=775F3652-1517-61B4-48F3DB10958CA568 –-Just5Days is
designed for youth who are entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade. Those who are entering 6th grade are not
eligible for the program. For those entering the 10th grade and above, consider attending a Young
Neighbors in Action program. Cincinnati, OH, July 19-23, 2010.
For more information, contact: Ann Marie Eckert, Project Coordinator, annmarie@cmdnet.org, (716) 819-0925

Our office offers some print and video resources to plant the seeds of service/missionary work into the lives of Catholics
of all ages. Below are only a few.

DV 0061 /VC 1967.02 TEEN DISCIPLESHIP

cds (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2001), 22 Minutes, JSA
The story segment (12 minutes) follows a group of Ohio teens on a mission trip to Chicago. In the witness segment (3
minutes), a college student who has made Christian service a main focus of his life is featured. In the teaching segment (4
minutes), a youth minister answers teens' questions about Christian service and the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The program concludes with a music video reflection (3 minutes).

DV 0320/ VC 58/VC2104 CONFIRMATION: STORIES OF DISCIPLESHIP

cds (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2008), 39 Minutes, JSA
This DVD includes two programs on the sacrament of Confirmation. “Moving On: Responding in the Spirit” invites
viewers to consider the responsibility that our Baptism gives us to respond to the Spirit. A family is challenged to respond
to Christ's call to encounter him in a neighbor. In “The Choice: Sacrament of Confirmation” and “La Opcion” a teenage
girl finds out that service can be more of a joy than a choice.

Service Projects for Teens: 20 plans that Work. By Tony Pichler & Chris Broslavick, Hi-Time*Pflaum, 2001.

Christian Service: Junior High Minicourse, The Center for Learning, 2007.