Educating in Christ: A Practical Handbook for Developing the Catholic Faith from Childhood to Adolescence -- For Parents, Teachers, Catechists and School Administrators

by Gerard O'Shea

Educating in Christ covers the essential practical and theoretical elements of religious education and catechetics for parents, catechists, teachers, and Catholic school administrators. The first part of the book responds to contemporary calls from the popes for a religious education based upon authentic Christian anthropology. It provides a comprehensive outline of religious developmental stages, indicating activities appropriate for each of these from age three years to adolescence. It also takes into account the call of recent Church documents to approach this task from a “mystagogical” angle, linking the sacraments with the scriptures. In the second part, the best of contemporary teaching practices are linked with sound Montessori principles and the Catholic understanding of a pedagogy of God. Teachers and home-schooling parents will find the sections on classroom methods, and the curriculum outline based on the liturgical year, especially helpful.

“In anxious times, this practical book is good news for parents, teachers, and catechists who introduce Catholic faith and morals to children and young people. The author offers a way forward that is Trinitarian, Christ-centered, and yet fully attentive to the needs of the child.”—MOST REV. PETER J. ELLIOTT, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

“If you regard the objective of religious education as the formation of a Catholic heart, memory, intellect, and imagination, then you will consider Educating in Christ an indispensable text. Drawing on ideas from Maria Montessori and Sofia Cavalletti, it explains how to hand on the faith at different stages of a child’s development. Every Catholic teacher should read and apply it.”—TRACEY ROWLAND, University of Notre Dame, Australia

“Rooted in the Church’s sacramental traditions, informed by classical virtue theory, and drawing upon the best of modern developmental psychology, Gerard O’Shea’s work is a gem. I heartily recommend this practical, credible, orthodox, organized, and hopeful guide.”—RYAN N.S. TOPPING, Newman Theological College, Edmonton

“This masterful work offers an integrated vision, bringing together anthropology, curriculum guidance, questions of school ethos and teacher formation, analyses of research findings in children’s learning—all grounded in a coherent and persuasive account of the aims and nature of Catholic education.”—PETROC WILLEY, Franciscan University of Steubenville

“Educating in Christ has come out of the substantial educational and research experience of the author. It offers guidance to parents and teachers on all of the significant areas of religious Scripture, Sacraments, moral formation, doctrine, and prayer.”—KEVIN WATSON, Acting Dean of Education, Sydney, University of Notre Dame, Australia

“Balancing the natural and the supernatural, the theoretical and the practical, and combining the best of traditional methods with modern educational theory and psychology (with great prudence), Gerard O’Shea describes how a mystagogical catechesis lies at the heart of Catholic education.”—DAVID CLAYTON, Provost, Pontifex University

“Gerard O’Shea’s new book is an insightful and eminently useful guide for Catholic school teachers, catechists, and home-schooling parents. It provides not only insights into child development and its relationship to religious instruction, but offers practical, easy-to-follow lessons and applications for the teacher.”—MICHAEL MARTIN, author of The Incarnation of the Poetic Word

“Gerard O’Shea has written an extraordinary book that will serve catechists well in these challenging times. In language both insightful and accessible, Educating in Christ engages the question of how today’s religious education can lead people into communion with God.”—JAMES PAULEY, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Genres: Philosophy

290 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2018

Reviews

[Klara Rawdanowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly incredible book about the education of Primary School Children and how to bring them to an understanding of the Catholic Faith. Interweaved with research articles, empirical evidence, scripture passages and quotes from the Catechism. I highly recommend this book to all Catholic educators but also (and especially) any parents hoping to raise their children in the faith. This book will give you practical and helpful insights into the processes and developmental needs involved for every age and how we can harness these to create the best learning environments and faith encounters for them.
Such an amazing book!

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful insights on essential topics. Highlighted Montessori method, body, heart, mind, concept -- helpful. Overall, about Catholic education, prob in schools, then something like after school religious ed programming.