Yesterday, Tom East drove us through a day of the skills of developing curriculum, especially in the light of the new framework for doctrinal elements for adolescent catechesis proposed by the US bishops last fall… He reminded us that the roots of word “curriculum” come from an understanding of “running the race.” … He referred to Carol Lytch’s work of Choosing Church and the circular process of belonging, experience, socialization … In planning curriculum, he invited us to answer the questions Know What? Know How? Know Why?  (to which I will be adding Now Who?   More on that later) … Note to self:  Curriculum planning by community is difficult, hard work that nonetheless empowers the community beyond the binder or textbook series to actively, passionately teach out of their own lived experienced faith … In this work, we are “building capacity,” a process of developing and strengthening skills, instincts, abilities, processes, and resources that will allow non-profits and communities (read here as Church) to survive and thrive in a fast changing world.

OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS
On an early tour of the shrine grounds this morning, I discovered a image of the teenage Jesus found in the temple.

LEADERSHIP
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” ~Lao Tzu