Doctrinal Focus

LITURGY

  • The Church has liturgical signs and seasons.
  • Seasons and celebrations
  • During Advent we prepare for Christmas.
  • Mary, Mother of God and The Saints
  • Mary was asked to be the mother of Jesus.
  • A saint is a person who loves Jesus very deeply and follows him closely.

General Articles

  • Advent , how time belongs to God | Msgr. Peter Elliott [Published by permission of Msgr. Peter Elliott, 2001]
    The importance of the season of Advent as a preparation for Christmas
  • Celebrating Advent and Christmas, A Sourcebook for Families | Women for Faith & Family [Women for Faith & Family, 1989]
    Pope John Paul II has repeatedly referred to the family as the "Domestic Church." In his exhortation on the family, "Familiaris Consortio," the Pope refers to the home as 'the little Church,' and speaks of the way families must make God presen
  • Advent and the Incarnation | Msgr. Peter Elliott [Published by permission of Msgr. Peter Elliott, 2001]
    Showing that the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, is an event rooted in history
  • Family Advent Customs | Helen McLoughlin [The Liturgical Press St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2003]
    Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year. It is a season of spiritual preparation, marked by eager longing for the coming of the Saviour through grace at Christmas, and for His second and final coming. It is also an ideal time to esta
  • Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas | Michaelann Martin [Lay Witness, 1998]
    How can families better live the spirit of Advent and Christmas in their homes?
  • Mary: Model of Discipleship for the Third Christian Millennium | Msgr. Peter Elliott [Published by permission of Msgr. Peter Elliott, 2001]
    Looking at Mary as a model that Chrisitans can imitiate their life upon as disciples of Jesus.
  • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: A Great Sign of Hope | Msgr. Peter Elliott [Published by permission of Msgr. Peter Elliott, 2002]
    Account of the historical and theological basis for the Catholic dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
  • Can Children be Saints? Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto of Fatima | Msgr. Peter Elliott [Published by permission of Msgr. Peter Elliott, 2001]
    Looking at the question of whether children can achieve heroic sanctity through the recently beatified Jacinta and Francisco Marto.
  • The Meaning of Christmas: Look Deeper | Peter Kreeft [National Catholic Register, 1986]
    Christmas is so familiar that we sometimes wonder whether anything fresh and true can be said about it.
  • The Heart of Advent: Mary Immaculate | Msgr. Peter Elliott [Msgr. Peter Elliott, 0]
    Comparing the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, with the Woman of the Apocalypse.
  • Devotion to Saint Anthony- The Wonder Worker of Padua | Benedict O’Donoghue O.F.M [Society of St Peter Canisius, 1999]
    Devotion to the Saints has always been a great characteristic of our Catholic life. These blessed souls have ever had a place in our hearts that is second only to that of God and His Blessed Mother.
  • The Life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino | Friar Christopher J.Sharrock O.F.M. Conv [Society of Saint Peter Canisius, 1985]
    The extraordinary life of St Joseph of Cupertino
  • Mother Mary of the Cross-Her Personality, Her Spirit | - [Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, 1973]
    The Story of Mary McKillop
  • Doctors of the Church | Tracey Rowland [kwl.com.au, 2000]
    A short List of Doctors of the Church and their achievements.
  • Fathers of the Church | Tracey Rowland [kwl.com.au, 0]
    A list of Fathers of the Church, Latin and Greek, who were celebrated for their learning.
  • St. Leo the Great, Pope | Tracey Rowland [kwl.com.au, 2002]
    A snapshot of the life of St. Leo the Great.
  • The Roman Calendar | Tracey Rowland [kwl.com.au, 2002]
    The ‘Roman Calendar’ lists the days on which the Western Church celebrates various feasts and solemnities.
  • Mary, Seat of Wisdom | Dr. Hayden Ramsay [kwl.com.au, 2000]
    An Article about the wisdom of the Virgin Mary
  • St Josephine Bakhita | [Summary taken from L’Osservatore Romano] [L’Osservatore Romano, 2000]
    St Josephine Bakhita was born in the Sudan in 1869. This is her remarkable story from her life as a slave to her sainthood.
  • Hail Mary | - [kwl.com.au, 0]
    The Hail Mary
  • The Angelus | - [kwl.com.au, 0]
    The Angleus
  • Hail, Holy Queen | - [kwl.com.au, 0]
    The Hail, Holy Queen Prayer
  • The Regina Caeli | - [kwl.com.au, 0]
    The Regina Caeli prayer
  • The Memorare | - [kwl.com.au, 0]
    The Memorare prayer
  • Concluding Prayer of the Rosary | - [kwl.com.au, 0]
    The Concluding Prayer of the Rosary
  • Summaries of Christian Teaching | Rev. Geoffrey Jarrett, P.P. [Society of Saint Peter Canisius, 1988]
    An excerpt of Christian Teaching from For Mind and Memory Prayers, Teachings of Christ and Summaries of the faith arranged for learning by heart.
  • Padre Pio's Message for Today | Peter Dwan [Society of St Peter Canisius, 0]
    Many think that saintly souls, especially those who have received remarkable gifts such as prophecy and healing, are to be admired rather than emulated.
  • The Place of Images in Roman Catholicism | Fr. Paul Stenhouse MSC [Annals Australia, 0]
    Examining the role of images in Catholicism
  • Chronological list of the Popes of Rome- Pt 3 | Fr. Paul Stenhouse MSC [Annals Australia, 0]
    From the death of Pope Gregory the Great in 604 A.D. to the death of Pope Sergius I in 701 A.D. = 20 Popes
  • Saint Bernadette and Lourdes | Fr Ambrose Ryan O.F.M. [Society of St Peter Canisius Inc., 1999]
    The story of the life of Saint Bernadette Soubirous 1844-1879
  • Saint Patrick | Rev. Ambrose Ryan [Society of St Peter Canisius Inc., 1999]
    The Story of Saint Patrick
  • Saint Clare of Assisi (Companion of St. Francis) | Fr Ambrose Ryan, O.F.M. [Society of St Peter Canisius Inc., 1999]
    The story of Clare of Assisi begins with her elopement from her parents' home on Palm Sunday evening 19 th March, 1212...
  • The Holy Rosary -How to pray it | Mgr Peter Elliott [Society of St Peter Canisius, 1999]
    Monsignor Peter Elliott Discusses how to Pray the Rosary
  • Why go to Confession? | Fr John Flader [Society of Saint Peter Canisius, 2000]
    This article is adapted from a talk given to the Thomas More Centre Summer School, Melbourne 1999 by Fr John Flader, BA (Harvard), DCL (Navarre), a priest of the Opus Dei prelature, who is chaplain of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Blackline Masters / Activity Sheets

  • Make a Christmas Crib (part 1)
    A cut, color, and folding activity where students can create their own Nativity Scene. Figures include: Mary, joseph and a donkey.
  • Make a Christmas Crib (part 2)
    A cut, color, and folding activity where students can create their own Nativity Scene. Figures include: Jesus and a sheep.

Links

Recommended Reading