Whether middle schoolers encounter this book as part of the Catholic Connections program in faith formation or pick it up out of curiosity, The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers offers great guidance and aims to help young teens learn about all the central aspects of the Catholic faith, including God, revelation, faith, Jesus the Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, liturgy and sacraments, Christian morality and justice, and prayer. The book contains many special features and sidebars, including Live It!: suggestions for putting faith into action Pray It!: short, inspiring prayers Did You Know?: additional information about selected topics Fun Facts: brief notes designed to inform and amuse Illustrations: 22 4-color illustrations of people of faith People of Faith: profiles of inspiring, faith-filled people Think About It!: questions to ponder or discuss with friends and family Liturgy Connections: articles that show the relationship between Catholic beliefs and worship Looking Back: insights from history PLUS A collection of prayers A glossary of key words A handy, brief summary of Catholic beliefs and practices The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers is a great tool for study, but it is more than that. It offers excellent guidance for praying and living the Catholic faith. The Subcommittee on the Catechism (formerly the Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism), United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found this catechetical text, copyright 2009, to be in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Catholic Connections is a dynamic parish religious education program designed to foster the faith of young adolescents and help them make the connections between the Catholic faith, their everyday life, and their 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 sixth, seventh, and eighth-graders. The progam is flexible enough to work in a two- or three-year model and includes a student handbook, coordinator's manual, six catechetical manuals, and an eSource Web site for coordinators and catechists. The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition presents the core teachings of the Catholic faith in a way that middle schoolers can understand and apply in their own lives. What's new in the second edition? NEW! �The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition is now divided into four sections that align with the four pillars of the Catechism NEW! � Enhanced navigational features make finding the information even easier NEW! � Includes eight new chapters on Scripture

This reference is an understandable and down-to-earth guide to all things Catholic. The resource is appropriate for brushing up on specific Catholic terms and concepts or learning them for the first time. (Catholic)

New! - The Student Activity Booklet is designed to give the catechist two additional activities for each chapter of the revised handbook New! - 14 new activities have been added to the revised Student Activity Booklet New! - The chapters in the Activity Booklet now follow the sequence of the chapters in The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers, Second Edition The Activity Booklet 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. In most chapters, the activity masters are intended to accompany the chapter as follows: Activity master A: This activity is generally intended as a warm-up activity, to be completed by the students before they begin the chapter. The activity is designed to get the students to reflect on the key theme of the chapter in a "big picture" sort of way, applying its relevance to their own lives. Completing the activity will prepare the students to understand the chapter content as personal and meaningful in their own lives. Activity master B: Frequently this activity sheet contains more than one activity, each of which is intended to be used with a specific section of the chapter. These activities are designed to help the students think analytically about the content of the section and reflect on ways they can live what they have learned. Activity master C: The closing activity for the chapter frequently features a review of the key concepts or terms taught in the lesson, and it frequently engages the students through the use of a game, such as a word search or an acrostic, or a creative exercise, such as designing symbols, reflecting on artwork, and so forth. Look for the activity book icon throughout the guide to help you identify ideal points in the chapter instruction for incorporating these activities

Over 3 million copies sold! Essential reading for Catholics of all walks of life. Here it is - the first new Catechism of the Catholic Church in more than 400 years, a complete summary of what Catholics around the world commonly believe. The Catechism draws on the Bible, the Mass, the Sacraments, Church tradition and teaching, and the lives of saints. It comes with a complete index, footnotes and cross-references for a fuller understanding of every subject. The word catechism means "instruction" - this book will serve as the standard for all future catechisms. Using the tradition of explaining what the Church believes (the Creed), what she celebrates (the Sacraments), what she lives (the Commandments), and what she prays (the Lord's Prayer), the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers challenges for believers and answers for all those interested in learning about the mystery of the Catholic faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a positive, coherent and contemporary map for our spiritual journey toward transformation.

Every Catholic student should have access to this pocket-size, abridged of Handbook of Prayers. Features: • Basic prayers such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Morning Offering, and Apostles' Creed; • Prayers before and after Mass; • Guide for a good Confession; • Devotions to the Blessed Trinity, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph; • Scores of prayers in all. This is an ideal book for every student to keep in his or her pocket. It makes a great gift, especially for a group of students.

The Vatican-approved guide to opening up new connections to God. Today, more and more Catholics are looking to explore their spirituality in new ways: by trying meditation or contemplation, seeking to adapt monastic traditions to modern life, or seeking a deeper connection to Jesus through the Eucharist, giving rise to the growing popularity of Adoration. The Essential Guide to Catholic Prayer and the Mass offers Catholics a way to explore prayer styles they may have never before considered, and non-Catholics or fringe Catholics a look into a world that can sometimes seem mysterious or intimidating. Through Mass, scripture, ancient rituals, the examples of the saints, the lives of holy men and women in the world today, and more, Catholics of every mindset can find a style of prayer to suit them. • One of the first books with a detailed explanation and instructions on how to follow the new translation of Mass as prepared by the Catholic Church • Includes an imprimatur-a seal of approval from Paul G. Bootkoski, Bishop of Metuchen • Perfect for cradle, convert, and revert Catholics, as well as people from other faiths, students, and teachers

Sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by Catholic clergy is not a new phenomenon. Sex, Priests, and Secret Codes reveals in shocking detail a deep-seated problem that spans the Church's history.

Introduces young readers to Catholic beliefs as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.