View from the Domestic Church: What's going on in Catholic classrooms?

In addition to my books

I have written for the English edition of L'Osservatore Romano (Vatican newspaper)

The National Catholic Register, Catholic World Report, Our Sunday Visitor (national) newsweekly, Columbia Magazine, The Catholic Transcript, The News Times, The New Milford Times, Hearth magazine, Canticle magazine, Lay Witness magazine, Faith & Family magazine, CarbLite magazine, On the Web - many areas, including Catholic Exchange, Catholic Online, Catholic Lane, Catholic Mom, and a parenting column for Irish Family Press (print edition), a Catholic weekly newspaper published in Ireland as well as the online format. My work appears in many foreign publications as well (Nigeria, Singapore, Africa, Russia, and more).

A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

With all the mixed messages that women receive from society today, women can be distracted from--and even unreceptive to--the deep and abiding love that Christ has for them. Whether single or married, religious or consecrated, parenting children, or spiritually mentoring others, women need to know that the Lord understands the many challenges they face, their desire for inspiration, and, above all, their need to be affirmed as women.Through this book of original and traditional prayers from one of the top ten most fascinating Catholics of 2009 as rated by Faith & Family Live, women can realize God's divine Love, thrive in inspiration from Saints and the Church and rest in the affirmation of the "feminine genius." (order above by clicking book image at top of page)

First and foremost educator

"Since parents have conferred life on their children, they have a most solemn obligation to educate their offspring. Hence, parents must be acknowledged as the first and foremost educators of their children. Their role as educators is so decisive that scarcely anything can compensate for their failure in it. For it devolves on parents to create a family atmosphere so animated with love and reverence for God and others that a well-rounded personal and social development will be fostered among children. Hence, the family is the first school of those social virtues which every society needs."--Gravissimum Educationis (one of the documents of the Second Vatican Council)

Saturday, July 4, 2009

What's going on in Catholic classrooms?

I am offering a snippet from a Catholic mother's blog post at Upholding Purity in the Catholic Classroom to pique your interest. If you are concerned or the least bit interested in what goes on in our Catholic schools disguised as education, please check out this new blog and unite to help make changes and raise awareness. Here's the excerpt:

"Dear Archdiocese of Mine,

1. Please find suitable materials to teach and offer instruction in these matters. It seems you are still wearing bell-bottoms and large rose colored glasses with this list of "approved" (pardon me while I bite my tongue), ahem, "textbooks"....

2. These are NOT good reasons to steal a divinely appointed period of innocence from our school children! Please-call parents out and demand they pick up their cross in addressing this material (well, no, suitable proper material, is what I mean to say), at home-call them out on their duty! Make parents attend classes on TMHS (etc). Feed us, nourish us, call us to duty! We are required to attend so many things-yet none nearly as important as this! Please explain how God will respond to the enabling of omission of duty-grave omission, on the part of the parents, supported and encouraged by the Church? Who is it exactly that wants us to believe parents aren't up for the job? Is this just easier legally?-feed the children poison and wash our hands in the court of the world like Pontious Pilate?-and then say, they (parents) wanted us to take this obligation off their hands?..."

So, now go on over to and show your support, leave a comment, make a suggestion, do something!

God bless and hugs,

Donna-Marie