The Grumpy Old Catechist on E-Books
For all my love of technology, I’m still a stick-in-the-mud when it comes to e-books. I’m simply not convinced that the convenience of being able to carry around a library in your backpack offsets what I see as some very real and core problems with the technology. As I’ve refined my thoughts on the subject I continue to have two problems with e-books: one philosophical, one technological. My philosophical problem stems from the fact that, as highly editable constructs, e-books enable the kind of post-publication tinkering that now plagues movie-making. Imagine if J.R.R....
Read MoreHangin’ Out – Catechetical Leader Episode 013
I’m happy to present the latest episode of the Catechetical Leader podcast! This Year of Faith has been called to commemorate both the 50th anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The round-table was hosted as an open invitation Google+Hangout. I was very happy to be joined by Joyce Donahue, catechetical associate with the Diocese of Joliet Lisa Hendey, blogger and host of CatholicMom.com Russell Peterson, associate director of religious education with the Diocese of...
Read MoreMy Four Goals for 2012
I’m not typically one for New Year’s resolutions, but there is something about a fresh calendar that predisposes one to changing habits for the coming solar cycle. I’m not sure if it’s cultural (do the Chinese make resolutions for Chinese New Year?) or psychological, but there it is. That having been said, here, in no particular order, are my goals for 2012: Continue to refine this blog. I have a number of items on my “to-do” list regarding my blog. My unstated goal has been to post one substantial piece a week, with breaks during the Easter and...
Read MoreFree Grant Writing Webinars for Catholic Organizations
My office is offering three free webinars on grant writing for Catholic organizations. Each webinar will cover a different facet of the grant writing process and will include two handouts for participants. Kristin Olsen of grantsgalore.net will be our presenter. The topics and dates are: Grant Writing: An Overview Thursday, October 20, 9a (CT) Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/873292987 Grant Writing: Cultivating Prospective Grantmakers Thursday, October 27, 9a (CT) Register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/909622466 Grant Writing: The Finishing Touches Thursday,...
Read MoreThings Heard and Done at #CNMC11
This past Saturday I attended the Catholic New Media Conference in Kansas City. I had a great time meeting some fellow Catholic new media enthusiasts, including lots of people I follow on Twitter and Google+. These were some of the highlights: I started the day with an unexpected Holy Hour, thanks to the fact that I wrote down the wrong start time for Mass. (Doh!) “What counts isn’t the numbers, but the presence of the Holy Spirit.” – St. Anne Flanagan, FSP “ We need to do a better job of recruiting talent and leaders for Catholic New Media.” –...
Read MoreMy 3 Goals for #CNMC11
After months of hemming and hawing I finally registered for the Catholic New Media Conference in Kansas City next month. My main concern was that the conference is scheduled just a few weeks after our next child is due. With the blessing of my wife, however, we are going. (It helps that the conference is being held 15 minutes from my mom’s house. Growing up in KC does have its advantages, kids!) Here’s the three things I’m hoping to accomplish at the conference: Networking. Honestly, this is the #1 reason I’m going. There are quite a few people I know from Twitter and...
Read More#NCCL2011 Wrap-Up
In this video I discuss the highlights of my trip to the 2011 NCCL conference. I’m thinking of doing more videoes like this on the blog; let me know what you think in the...
Read More#NCCL2011, Here I Come!
Today I take off for the annual National Conference for Catechetical Leadership convention and expo, being held this year in Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve got a pretty busy slate lined up: I’m attending the Rep Council meeting (I recently agreed to represent the Province of Chicago), I’ll be part of a learning session, and I’m hosting two roundtable discussions. That’s on top of the general sessions, business meetings, socials, and hosting Monday night’s Tweet-Up. I’m really excited to meet some catechetical colleagues face-to-face for the first time,...
Read MoreOpening Prayer for Peace
This morning I am leading an opening prayer for a meeting. I had prepared a perfectly serviceable Liturgy of the Word for the Feast of St. Athanasius. However, given last night’s news on the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. military forces, I decided to go in a different direction. Without getting into politics, praying for our enemies and for peace is one of Christ’s commands to us. In that spirit I have prepared a brief Liturgy of the Word for Peace. Feel free to copy and use...
Read MoreFr. James Murray and the 1918 Influenza Epidemic
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of participating in the annual Calvary Cemetery “Walk with Your Ancestors” event sponsored by the Diocesan Archives. I portrayed Fr. James Murray, a priest of the diocese who died during the 1918 flu epidemic. The diocese has posted videos of all the portrayals online, including my own. The other videos can be viewed at the diocese’s Vimeo...
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