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About the
Catholic Connections Program
This dynamite new program introduces young adolescents to Jesus Christ in a new way and inspires them to follow him. Fostering the faith of young adolescents involves helping them to make connections between the Catholic faith and everyday life. It also means helping young people to strengthen their connection to the faith community. Catholic Connections aims to strengthen the participants' Catholic identity and inspire them to participate more fully in the Church's mission. In a world of laws of nations and laws of the heart, help them recognize that it is the power of the Holy Spirit that has united God's people in love and that continues to be a transforming presence.
Using an active, hands-on approach to religious education, Catholic Connections is a comprehensive parish religious education program for 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
The program is flexible enough to work in a 2- or 3-year model and includes a student handbook, parish director
manual, six catechist guides, student activity book, test book, and this eSource Web site for coordinators and catechists.
| For the Student |
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The Catholic Connections Handbook
for Middle Schoolers
The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers welcomes
young adolescents in a fresh and vibrant way into the history and hope of
their ultimate belonging. Introduce them to the presence and people who
have lived before them yet looked for the same answers they seek today.
Assure them that even amidst the challenges and choices before them,
they can experience a belonging that is not based on what they do or
don't do, but based on the Father who created them, the Holy Spirit who
accompanies them, and on the love of Jesus, who says to each of them, "Come follow me."
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For the Director |
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Parish Director Manual
As the overarching piece of the Catholic Connections program, this manual for the coordinator includes the following:
an overview of the Catholic Connections program
a "getting started" checklist
program planning guidance, including scheduling options
overviews of all six courses
six tip sheets for catechists
two tip sheets for parents
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For the Catechist |
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God, Relevation, and Faith
Catechist Guide
Catechists are called to help young adolescents understand how
God, through Scripture and Tradition reveals himself to us.
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Jesus the Christ
Catechist Guide
At the center of our faith is a person, Jesus Christ, the source
of our hope and our salvation. Jesus the Christ Catechist's Guide
helps catechists lead young adolescents to know Jesus Christ
and inspires them to follow him. |
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The Holy Spirit and the Church
Catechist Guide
The Holy Spirit is the creative breath of God that gives birth
to and sustains the life and mission of Jesus Christ. These
sessions help young adolescents recognize that it is the power
of the Holy Spirit that has united God's people in love and that
continues to be a transforming presence in the Church and in
the world today.
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Sacraments and Prayer
Catechist Guide
Sacraments and Prayer Catechist's Guide includes sessions
designed to help young adolescents better understand and more
fully participate in the Church's sacraments and prayer life. |
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The Eucharist
Catechist Guide
The Eucharist is the center and high point of the Church's life.
These sessions aim to help young adolescents better understand
and more fully participate in the Eucharist.
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Christian Morality and Justice
Catechist Guide
Through the Ten Commandments, God provides us with moral
principles for living in right relationship with God and with one
another. These sessions help young adolescents understand
these basic moral principles and explore how we apply them to
the choices we make every day. |
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Student Activity Book
The Student Activity Book is designed to expand the students’ learning of the chapter content and to provide students with opportunities for reflection, for critical thinking about how what they have learned applies to their own lives, and for creative ways to explore the material, each chapter is supplemented with three activity masters.
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Test Book
The Catholic Connections Test Book provides chapter tests for the Catholic Connection’s Catechist Guides.
Tests contain a combination of objective questions in a variety of formats, such as sentence completion and multiple choice, as well as essay questions.
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Game On!
Games for Catholic Connections
The Game On! card games provide a great way to learn and review the vocabulary and teachings that are part of the richness of the Catholic faith. Each of the fifty cards contains six questions from themes covered in The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers and the Catholic Connections religious education program.
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