Denise Gorss

Articles by Denise Gorss

• Celebrating the Saints All Year

  Catechist Denise Gorss shares ideas for celebrating the saints all year in a faith formation classroom.

• Classroom Management Techniques: Call-and-Response

  What are your classroom management techniques? One catechist uses call-and-response in her faith formation classes.

• Coloring Pages with Older Students

  How have you used coloring pages in meaningful ways in your class? Even older students can benefit from using coloring sheets.

• Eight Ways to Use Worksheets Effectively in Faith Formation

  Catechist Denise Gorss shares ways to use worksheets effectively in faith formation. What’s your favorite way to use worksheets in your classroom?

• Four Ideas for Setting Up the Classroom Environment as Sacred Space

  Denise Gorss shares ideas for making the classroom environment a sacred space for faith formation.

• Four Reasons Movement Is Important for Catechists

  Movement is important for catechists, for four reasons Denise Gorss lays out. How do you incorporate movement in your faith formation sessions?

• Four Tips for Making Connections Between the Mass and Class Discussions

  Catechist Denise Gorss shares four tips for making connections between the Mass and class discussions in faith formation.

• Four Ways to Encourage Silence

  Catechist Denise Gorss suggests ways to encourage silence with students. How do you encourage silence in your classroom?

• Four Ways to Meet Them Where They Are

  St. Ignatius advised "meeting them where they are" as a starting point. Catechist Denise Gorss suggests how we can meet young people where they are.

• How Do You Approach Lesson Planning?

  How do you approach lesson planning for faith formation sessions? One catechist shares her method for planning religious education gatherings.

• How Saint Joachim and Saint Anne Can Inspire Catechetical Ministers

  How can Saint Joachim and Saint Anne inspire catechetical ministers? Read a reflection for the feast day of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne.​

• How to Prepare for Class

  Catechist Denise Gorss shares five ideas on how to prepare for class in a faith formation program.

• Microshifts to Create a Retreat Atmosphere

  Catechist Denise Gorss shares small changes, or microshifts, to create a retreat atmosphere in the faith formation classroom.

• Not Done with Prayer Yet

  How do you incorporate a variety of prayer styles in your classroom? Catechist Denise Gorss shares ideas from her junior-high faith formation classroom.

• Pentecost Fire Drill

  ​How can a fire drill be a helpful image for understanding what happened on Pentecost? Denise Gorss tells about the Pentecost fire drill.

• Setting the Tone for Classroom Management with Respect

  A catechist shares her experience of using a rule of respect in religious education. This simple word sets the tone for classroom management.

• Six Ways to Keep the Message of Lent a Focal Point All Season

  Catechist Denise Gorss suggests ways to keep the message of Lent a focal point all season.

• The Advent Prayer Grab Bag

  ​For a new Advent activity, try the Advent prayer grab bag. One catechist explains how it works for junior high or high school.

• The Catechist as a Personal Trainer for Prayer Life

  Denise Gorss thinks of the catechist as a personal trainer for prayer life. Learn 5 ways a catechist can be a mentor in prayer for students.

• The Prayer Before Meals Opens a Conversation About Real-Life Prayer

  The Prayer Before Meals opens a conversation about real-life prayer for one faith formation group.

• The Question of Doubt

  One of the young people asked if it was OK to doubt aspects of religion. Read how one catechist responded.

• The Vocabulary of Christmas

  How do you teach the young people you work with the vocabulary of Christmas?

• Three Essential Presentation Skills for Catechists

  Catechist Denise Gorss shares three presentation skills for catechists that can help catechists grab and keep the attention of young people.