Thursday, August 23, 2007

A resources bleg

So, I've been asked to present a workshop at the National Catholic Education Association Convocation in March, and want to provide a 'resources CD' listing all kinds of good stuff that can be used in parishes and/or schools to help promote vocations. The list would range from books to videos, suggestions for parish mission speakers, activities, places to visit, yada yada yada.

So, I have some ideas, obviously "Fishers of Men" will be on the list for videos, but what are other good videos out there, high quality, serious, hard hitting, CATHOLIC! videos that should be on a list that every child should see at some point during their career as students in a Catholic educational system, be that at school or part of a parish based catechetical program?

The goal, as everything, to make it as easy as possible for parishes and/or schools to use so that they do not have an excuse not to use it!

7 comments:

DP said...

are you talking short videos or long videos?

This is a good vocations video off of YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0gTh9ECLQ

Also God in the Streets of NY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX5X2cXMh0o

Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BxHskcd7_Q

Sisters of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvymx1lUy-c

in terms of full length movies,
- The Scarlet and the Black
- The Passion of St. Bernadette (the new one)
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- The Mission
- A Man for all Seasons (marriage)
- The Jeweler's Shop (marriage)
- Shadowlands [C.S. Lewis] (marriage)
- It's a Beautiful Life (marriage)

Those are the relevant videos I can think of off the top of my head. . . a lot of these movies are probably only appropriate for highschool kids, not because of immoral content but because of the level of conversation and the topics covered.

As for other resources, are you familiar with the Catholic Educator's Resource Center website? This is an excellent resource for all Catholic educators.

www.catholiceducation.org

Anonymous said...

I was shocked by the depth of the new Champions of Faith disc that just came out. It's surprising to see major league baseball superstars meeting the Holy Father and receiving Our Lord on the tongue. I showed it to my 5th graders, and they loved it. It's good role model stuff.

Plus, A Man For All Seasons is just outstanding, but I shouldn't have to tell you that.

Anonymous said...

...I posted the lay vocation thing, and forgot to post the priesthood/religious life thing...

I only saw one episode, but my wife claimed that "God or the Girl" went over extremely well with her high schoolers. Granted, since it's produced by A&E, it doesn't tackle the full depth of the discernment process, but it is far more sympathetic to Catholicism than I could have ever hoped a secular production would be.

Anonymous said...

Father Kyle--
For a LONG session or just to recommend, Karol, A Man Who Became Pope, cannot be beat.
This is an excellent, authentic CATHOLIC video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0nSjxDKJEo
and another found on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_H0R6Mw_5w&mode=user&search=
When I was in the process of converting 5 years ago, EWTN's series with Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilian "The Lamb's Supper" was a tremendous aid.
There is also a series of conversion tapes that have 3 different converts/reverts on them that had a great impact. Some of them included men who became priests.
Nothing can beat Fr. John Corapi's conversion story.
Since you are using the excellent DVD from Grassroots renewal, "Fishers of Men," The Knight's of Columbus have produced an excellent vocations DVD for a call to becoming a Sister.

Love that you are doing this!

Father Schnippel said...

Thanks, All, keep em coming, please!

DP said...

I just came across a short video of the clothing of a 19 year old Dominican novice.

I don't know how to put links in comment boxes, but if you go to:
http://www.lpb.org/programs/swi/streaming.cfm?PageNum_getShow=15
and then search "young nun taking vows" the link for the video should show up. (Yes, I know, it's not actually her vows but rather her receiving the habit as a novice, however, it's a positive piece by secular media so we shouldn't be too picky...)

Adoro said...

I'm handling elementary and Middle School, so hope to find ways of just keeping this idea available to them. Those that have been mentioned are more for kids who are in the arena of discernment...but how about pre-discernment? What to do for little ones? As we don't have nuns in habit around in most places, how to help them understand that they might be called to something other than marriage?

Two of us are single women, and we both feel the same way...although we don't think we're called to single life, we are "open" to what God wants of us RIGHT NOW and realize he may want a more specific committment in the future.

I'd like to say more but I think I'm sorting this idea out in my head still...what we both want to do is to make sure children see the Church as a whole, see ALL their options as they grow up, and thus be more open to God's designs when they reach the discernable age.

Perhaps we should pray more to St. Therese and other child saints who knew they were called to belong to Christ alone.

Still seeking...

Funny...I think I'm starting to figur out why I was sent to my new position....