web01.fireside.fm Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:45:15 -0500 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast) - Episodes Tagged with “Catechists” https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/tags/catechists Wed, 04 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400 Lay Catholic evangelists Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle bring you a podcast series that teaches you how to confidently share your Catholic faith with your family members, friends, co-workers, and the strangers you meet on airplanes. Every episode, Mike and Dave give you five steps you can take each week to become an instrument God uses to spread the Gospel, heal hearts, and renew his Church. Be inspired by stories of miraculous conversions and be reminded that God still powerfully intervenes to transform people's lives. en-us episodic Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast Ascension Lay Catholic evangelists Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle bring you a podcast series that teaches you how to confidently share your Catholic faith with your family members, friends, co-workers, and the strangers you meet on airplanes. Every episode, Mike and Dave give you five steps you can take each week to become an instrument God uses to spread the Gospel, heal hearts, and renew his Church. Be inspired by stories of miraculous conversions and be reminded that God still powerfully intervenes to transform people's lives. no ascension, Ascension Press, Ascension Presents, Dave VanVickle, Mike Gormley, Mike Gomer Gormley, Gomer, catholic church, catholic parish, catholic, ministry, evangelize, evangelization, mission, faith, catholic faith, sharing the gospel, catholicism, Catholic Church, catholic faith, catholic religion, Roman Catholic, Jesus, god, Jesus Christ, ascension catholic, catholic teachings, catholic ministry, catholics, catholic life, christians, christian, christianity, catechist, bible, catechism, Ascension podcasts@ascensionpress.com How to Talk to Catechists: A Practical Application https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/39 011fe379-34d3-468c-8cfe-4f5e60e06c37 Wed, 04 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension Dave “Wolfsbane” VanVickle is … not here today. It’s just me, Gomer, with a special episode where I recorded a talk I gave to my catechists about how to become excellent teachers of our Faith. This talk is the past two episodes of EKSB put into practice. If you are a catechist, thinking about becoming a catechist, or work with catechists in any way, this episode will be extremely helpful. 47:01 no Dave “Wolfsbane” VanVickle is … not here today. It’s just me, Gomer, with a special episode where I recorded a talk I gave to my catechists about how to become excellent teachers of our Faith. This talk is the past two episodes of EKSB put into practice. If you are a catechist, thinking about becoming a catechist, or work with catechists in any way, this episode will be extremely helpful. Snippet from the Show What is catechesis? It’s about giving growth to a faith that already exists because of evangelization that has already happened. But if evengalization hasn’t happened, what are we maturing? 5 Practical Takeaways 1. Read and pray with Ephesians 4:1-16 2. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae paragraph five. 3. Handwrite every student’s name and pray for them for 1 min every day. 4. Write one sentence per lesson that ties it to the person of Jesus Christ. 5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson. catechists, religion teacher, christian, catholic, evangelization, evangelize, ministry, catholic church, parish Dave “Wolfsbane” VanVickle is … not here today. It’s just me, Gomer, with a special episode where I recorded a talk I gave to my catechists about how to become excellent teachers of our Faith. This talk is the past two episodes of EKSB put into practice.

If you are a catechist, thinking about becoming a catechist, or work with catechists in any way, this episode will be extremely helpful.

Snippet from the Show
What is catechesis? It’s about giving growth to a faith that already exists because of evangelization that has already happened. But if evengalization hasn’t happened, what are we maturing?

5 Practical Takeaways

  1. Read and pray with Ephesians 4:1-16
  2. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae paragraph five.
  3. Handwrite every student’s name and pray for them for 1 min every day.
  4. Write one sentence per lesson that ties it to the person of Jesus Christ.
  5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson.

Support Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

]]> Dave “Wolfsbane” VanVickle is … not here today. It’s just me, Gomer, with a special episode where I recorded a talk I gave to my catechists about how to become excellent teachers of our Faith. This talk is the past two episodes of EKSB put into practice.

If you are a catechist, thinking about becoming a catechist, or work with catechists in any way, this episode will be extremely helpful.

Snippet from the Show
What is catechesis? It’s about giving growth to a faith that already exists because of evangelization that has already happened. But if evengalization hasn’t happened, what are we maturing?

5 Practical Takeaways

  1. Read and pray with Ephesians 4:1-16
  2. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae paragraph five.
  3. Handwrite every student’s name and pray for them for 1 min every day.
  4. Write one sentence per lesson that ties it to the person of Jesus Christ.
  5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson.

Support Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

]]> What Makes a Great Catechist (or a Terrible One)? https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/38 8ae4a053-78ec-44f2-bffa-ba1e0cbd7a03 Wed, 28 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension CALLING ALL DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHISTS! This one’s for you. Dave “Cucumber Melon” VanVickle and I talk about the qualities that make for bad catechists vs. great catechists and how to find the right people for your program. This is a huge issue for religious education that is so important because the immortal souls of kids depends on it. We also have storytime with Dave on why Kenny Baldwin is A MONSTER (just kidding) and extend an extra-special welcome to long-time listener Ralph “The Party” VanVickle! 36:58 no CALLING ALL DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHISTS! This one’s for you. Dave “Cucumber Melon” VanVickle and I talk about the qualities that make for bad catechists vs. great catechists and how to find the right people for your program. This is a huge issue for religious education that is so important because the immortal souls of kids depends on it. We also have storytime with Dave on why Kenny Baldwin is A MONSTER (just kidding) and extend an extra-special welcome to long-time listener Ralph “The Party” VanVickle! We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave. SHOWNOTES What makes a good catechist? * You have a mature spiritual life with daily prayer and a mentality of fides quaerens intellectum or "faith seeking understanding". * You have an answer to this question: “Can you tell me about your daily lived relationship with the Lord?” * You prioritize the truths of the Faith and always tie them to the Person of Christ. * In the classroom, you make sure any craft or art project is truly effective and relevant to the lesson. * You understand that you are making a difference to the immortal souls of your students. * You have a DRE who is responsible for ongoing formation of catechists. What makes a bad catechist? * Unprepared, you haven’t read it or prayed about it. * You don’t know your kids’ names. * You never pray for them. * You don’t quote the Bible. * You never share your story of God’s movement in your life. * You don’t think about conversion, only communicating the doctrine. * You don’t see the whole and how it is all interrelated to Christ and the Trinity. * Prayer is nothing but a bookend to your class. How to find good catechists * Start a Bible study or adult faith formation event (or go to one that already exists) and see who shows up consistently and is serious about growing in their faith. * Invite specific people to be catechists. Don’t advertise to the whole church. You’re looking for people who are called, not guilted into it. * Do a ministry fair where people can come and see what ministries your parish has. * Pray and ask God for good catechists. * Be comfortable letting people go. 5 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS 1. Personal Prayer Time: Ephesians 4:1-16 2. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae center of paragraph five. 3. Handwrite each kids’ name and pray for one minute for each kid in your class this week. 4. Prepare a lesson plan for one lesson on one topic and, keeping in mind good/bad catechist, write one sentence that ties it to Christ. 5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson plan. RESOURCES AND EVENTS * Dave’s School of Spiritual Warfare (https://www.petersshadow.org/events) event in Akron, OH * Catechesi Tradendae (http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_16101979_catechesi-tradendae.html) * Chosen Confirmation Prep Program (https://ascensionpress.com/pages/chosen-your-journey-toward-confirmation?utm_source=website&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=chosen&utm_content=eksb) catechism, catechists, religious education, catholic, ministry, evangelize, catholic church, parish CALLING ALL DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHISTS! This one’s for you. Dave “Cucumber Melon” VanVickle and I talk about the qualities that make for bad catechists vs. great catechists and how to find the right people for your program. This is a huge issue for religious education that is so important because the immortal souls of kids depends on it.

We also have storytime with Dave on why Kenny Baldwin is A MONSTER (just kidding) and extend an extra-special welcome to long-time listener Ralph “The Party” VanVickle!

We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.

SHOWNOTES

What makes a good catechist?

  • You have a mature spiritual life with daily prayer and a mentality of fides quaerens intellectum or "faith seeking understanding".
  • You have an answer to this question: “Can you tell me about your daily lived relationship with the Lord?”
  • You prioritize the truths of the Faith and always tie them to the Person of Christ.
  • In the classroom, you make sure any craft or art project is truly effective and relevant to the lesson.
  • You understand that you are making a difference to the immortal souls of your students.
  • You have a DRE who is responsible for ongoing formation of catechists.

What makes a bad catechist?

  • Unprepared, you haven’t read it or prayed about it.
  • You don’t know your kids’ names.
  • You never pray for them.
  • You don’t quote the Bible.
  • You never share your story of God’s movement in your life.
  • You don’t think about conversion, only communicating the doctrine.
  • You don’t see the whole and how it is all interrelated to Christ and the Trinity.
  • Prayer is nothing but a bookend to your class.

How to find good catechists

  • Start a Bible study or adult faith formation event (or go to one that already exists) and see who shows up consistently and is serious about growing in their faith.
  • Invite specific people to be catechists. Don’t advertise to the whole church. You’re looking for people who are called, not guilted into it.
  • Do a ministry fair where people can come and see what ministries your parish has.
  • Pray and ask God for good catechists.
  • Be comfortable letting people go.

5 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

  1. Personal Prayer Time: Ephesians 4:1-16
  2. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae center of paragraph five.
  3. Handwrite each kids’ name and pray for one minute for each kid in your class this week.
  4. Prepare a lesson plan for one lesson on one topic and, keeping in mind good/bad catechist, write one sentence that ties it to Christ.
  5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson plan.

RESOURCES AND EVENTS

Support Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

]]> CALLING ALL DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHISTS! This one’s for you. Dave “Cucumber Melon” VanVickle and I talk about the qualities that make for bad catechists vs. great catechists and how to find the right people for your program. This is a huge issue for religious education that is so important because the immortal souls of kids depends on it.

We also have storytime with Dave on why Kenny Baldwin is A MONSTER (just kidding) and extend an extra-special welcome to long-time listener Ralph “The Party” VanVickle!

We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.

SHOWNOTES

What makes a good catechist?

  • You have a mature spiritual life with daily prayer and a mentality of fides quaerens intellectum or "faith seeking understanding".
  • You have an answer to this question: “Can you tell me about your daily lived relationship with the Lord?”
  • You prioritize the truths of the Faith and always tie them to the Person of Christ.
  • In the classroom, you make sure any craft or art project is truly effective and relevant to the lesson.
  • You understand that you are making a difference to the immortal souls of your students.
  • You have a DRE who is responsible for ongoing formation of catechists.

What makes a bad catechist?

  • Unprepared, you haven’t read it or prayed about it.
  • You don’t know your kids’ names.
  • You never pray for them.
  • You don’t quote the Bible.
  • You never share your story of God’s movement in your life.
  • You don’t think about conversion, only communicating the doctrine.
  • You don’t see the whole and how it is all interrelated to Christ and the Trinity.
  • Prayer is nothing but a bookend to your class.

How to find good catechists

  • Start a Bible study or adult faith formation event (or go to one that already exists) and see who shows up consistently and is serious about growing in their faith.
  • Invite specific people to be catechists. Don’t advertise to the whole church. You’re looking for people who are called, not guilted into it.
  • Do a ministry fair where people can come and see what ministries your parish has.
  • Pray and ask God for good catechists.
  • Be comfortable letting people go.

5 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

  1. Personal Prayer Time: Ephesians 4:1-16
  2. Memorize Catechesi Tradendae center of paragraph five.
  3. Handwrite each kids’ name and pray for one minute for each kid in your class this week.
  4. Prepare a lesson plan for one lesson on one topic and, keeping in mind good/bad catechist, write one sentence that ties it to Christ.
  5. Come up with one example from your life per lesson plan.

RESOURCES AND EVENTS

Support Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

]]> Kerygma and Parish Touch Points https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/19 bcd12254-4b2c-44ab-a79f-4ebdac58fdac Wed, 17 Apr 2019 12:00:00 -0400 Ascension full Ascension Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.) We start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education. Our advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish? We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave. 39:03 no Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.) We start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education. Our advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish? We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave. Snippet from the Show “People aren’t going to surrender their life to Christ if we’re hitting them over the head with moral issues and their failure … but there is no gospel without repentance.” Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow (https://media.ascensionpress.com/category/everykneeshallbow/) for shownotes and resources from the show. kerygma, evangelize, parish, catholic, evangelizing Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.)

We start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education.

Our advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish?

We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.

Snippet from the Show
“People aren’t going to surrender their life to Christ if we’re hitting them over the head with moral issues and their failure … but there is no gospel without repentance.”

Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow for shownotes and resources from the show.

Support Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

]]> Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.)

We start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education.

Our advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish?

We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.

Snippet from the Show
“People aren’t going to surrender their life to Christ if we’re hitting them over the head with moral issues and their failure … but there is no gospel without repentance.”

Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow for shownotes and resources from the show.

Support Every Knee Shall Bow (Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast)

]]>