The Latest Scoop

Updated August 18, 2008.

At Communication Center, our warehouse is well stocked with all the products you need for your religious education programs. We are ready to fill your order so you will have everything you want for your classes this fall. Most religion publishers have already announced their new materials for 2008-2009. We have given you updates here in past columns. If you missed those announcements, click on the links to the left that will take you directly to those past pages.

Religious Education product news for August:
The National Conference of Catholic Bishops has updated their Conformity Listing of Catechetical Texts and Series. View the latest version with the list of texts and series that have been found in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church as of August 20, 2008.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a detailed framework for catechetical instruction for high school students. The 84-page document, titled Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for People of High School Age, outlines a national core curriculum and electives for a four-year, eight-semester course of Catholic high school instruction. The document is now available in a bound volume.

Ave Maria Press is preparing Catholic Essentials: An Overview of the Faith. This is a new handbook for high school students that will follow the new national curriculum framework. It has been approved by the Bishops’ Committee. More information on Catholic Essentials will be coming later in the fall. A December release date is expected.

Midwest Theological Forum has announced their new Didache Semester Series which will be published in accordance with the national curriculum framework for high school. These materials will be available for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Saint Mary’s Press has announced plans for a new high school education model that will include the doctrinal elements in the USCCB’s curriculum framework. The new model will be unveiled in the spring of 2010.

Two new elementary programs for school and parish:
Loyola Press presents a revised edition of Christ Our Life © 2009 for grades 1 through 8.

Harcourt Religion Publishers has introduced Call to Faith Enhanced for grades K-8 school and parish.


New Religious Education Products:
Annual publications, liturgical year calendars, study guides for Sunday readings, and lector resources for Year B are now in stock. The St. Joseph 2009 Sunday Missal will be available in early November.

Ascension Press presents the third in a series of question-and-answer books for Catholic teenagers by Matthew Pinto. Do I Have to Go? explains the meaning and the mystery of the Mass and answers the teens’ questions about liturgy, doctrines of the Eucharist and the priesthood.

From Ave Maria Press, the revised edition of Encountering Jesus in the New Testament has been approved by the Bishops’ Committee and should be ready by January 2009 for use in second semester high school New Testament courses.

Liguori Publications has completed a second title in their Journey into the Bible series. Mark is now available.

Life Athletes Press is offering a new chastity and respect for life program for junior high. See I Make All Things New is a 10-lesson program that emphasizes character development and introduces principles of the Theology of the Body. DVDs, student materials and teacher/catechist manuals for school and parish are available.

Liturgy Training Publications has two new volumes in their Liturgical Ministry Series. Guide for Sacristans and Guide for Ushers and Greeters are expected in September.

New from Loyola Press: God’s Gift—Reconciliation and God’s Gift—Eucharist. These sacrament programs are available now. They include family guides for parents and keepsake booklets for children. Catechist guides come with free CDs that include Scripture stories, guided reflections and music. Both new programs are available in bilingual editions. The Bishops’ Committee has approved all of them.

A revision of Our Sunday Visitor's I Am Special for 4-year-olds, recently approved by the Bishops' Committee, is now in stock. Our Sunday Visitor also has a new title in the Catholic Parent Know-How series called How to Be a Godparent.

The final modules in RCL Benziger's Echoes of Faith Plus, catechist training program, have been completed. The five-part Theology Set, is now available.

Sadlier’s revision of One Faith, One Lord is now in stock; a revision of Our Catholic Faith is expected in November.

Saint Mary’s Press has two revised textbooks coming out for Spring 2009. Written on Our Hearts: The Old Testament Story of God's Love and World Religions: A Voyage of Discovery are expected in February 2009.

Twenty-Third Publications has a new Lectionary-based product for children age 5 to 8. Liturgy of the Word with Children is a complete three-year program of reproducible handouts for each Sunday of the liturgical year.

Vacation Bible School 2009 Preview:
Themes for the 2009 Vacation Bible School programs have been announced. We will post information about these four programs on the Communication Center website very soon. Starter kits will begin arriving in December.

From Harcourt Religion Publishers: the Catholic version of Group’s Crocodile Dock where fearless kids shine God’s light, and next year’s Holy Land Adventure, Rome: Paul and the Underground Church.

From Liguori Publications: the Catholic version of Gospel Light’s Son Rock Kid’s Camp.

From Our Sunday Visitor the Catholic version of Augsburg Fortress’s Discovery Canyon, Explore the Wonders of the Word.