Frequently Asked Questions

How do I preview this program?

You can get a 30-day examination of the entire Catholic Connections Program by calling 800-533-8095 or by adding the program to your cart at the Saint Mary's Press Web site http://www.smp.org/CatholicConnections. The 30-day examination option will come up during the check out process.

I'm a parent. Can I use the Catholic Connections program at home with my middle schoolers?

A: Yes, you can. All you need is a copy of the Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers for your son or daughter. You can read chapters together and discuss the Think About It questions. Also, many of the chapters will have activity worksheets in the Catechist Course Activities section that you can print out and do to review the chapter's content. And if you are home schooling, consider using the Catholic Connections Catechist Guides and adapting the session outlines for home use.

Why did you create a program that uses only one textbook instead of mini-course workbooks?

There are several reasons why a single text for middle school is an advantage for your parish program, school, or home.

1. The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers offers a comprehensive overview of the Catholic faith in one attractive volume. This helps young adolescents understand that the Catholic faith is a unified, organic whole,  
2. A single student book allows you to custom-design courses using material from multiple leader resources without having to buy multiple participant books.
3. You can use the handbook with programs such as retreats or service work to bring a catechetical dimension into those activities.
4. You can send the handbook home, suggesting ways that parents can read and discuss topics with their sons and daughters.
5. It allows young people to have a handbook of faith that they can keep and refer to long after they finish your program.
6. Using a single text for two or three years is more cost-effective than purchsing multiple textbooks or workbooks.

What is the difference between the Discovering program and the Catholic Connections program?

Here are the main differences between the Discovering program and the Catholic Connections program.

1. Catholic Connections uses one student textbook for all six semester courses. Discovering uses disposable student workbooks for its fourteen mini-courses.
2. The six courses in the Catholic Connections program are primarily intended to be semester long, with each catechist guide containing ten sessions. The Discovering program's fourteen courses are intended to be mini-courses, with each catechist guide containing six sessions.
3. The Catholic Connections program provides a comprehensive overview of the faith following the main points of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Discovering does not.
4. The Discovering program has five mini-courses that focus on young people's developmental concerns, the Catholic Connections program has only two sessions in each course that address development issues.
5. The Catholic Connections program has additional resources and training available on the eSource Web site, the Discovering program does not.

I see the message on the bottoms of all the tips sheets giving me permission to reproduce them. Does this mean I can e-mail them to catechists and parents in my parish?

Yes, you can. If your parish has purchased the Catholic Connections program you are free to share any of the content on this Web site with others in your parish. That includes digital means--e-mail, parish Web sites, and so on.