How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Mark Kurowski Lesson Plan

I recommend setting aside two Friday's of the month for the Journey Home Lesson Plans. You will cover one convert during each of these Friday sessions. Here's how to do it:

1. Click on the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSdfCFgoEEw
2. Preview the whole show OR simply view the recommended times. (The minute-segments are the PRECISE segments that I show to my classes.)
3. Before the students view the suggested segments, pass out the following handout. You may cut and paste this handout and create your own document. The answers are given in italics. I recommend that you make one ANSWER KEY that contains the italicized answers and then delete the italicized answers and print a STUDENT COPY. Students will use their copies for note-taking while viewing the suggested segments.

I hope that your students enjoy these Journey Home episodes which have been distilled into a series of segments that will hold their interest while 1.)building up their understanding of the Catholic Faith and 2.)giving them a glimpse into the why&how stories of many converts. I will post another show and lesson plan in a couple of weeks. Love your Faith -- and give your middle school & high school students a reason to love it as well!

Journey Home Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSdfCFgoEEw

First Segment: 0:00-13:30 and 20:00-21:30 and 22:32-23:41

Second Segment: 25:39-26:03 and 30:20-35:00

Third Segment: 38:40-42:40

Bonus: 46:25-47:30 How we, as Catholics, can help converts.

Bonus: 49:48-50:48 Mark describes what it was like to receive the Eucharist that first time (very moving clip).

Total viewing time: approximately 26 minutes

Convert’s Name: Mark Kurowski

1.      

1. What was this convert’s early faith formation? (Answers in First Segment)

There was no faith formation in this convert’s early years. His parents were divorced. He was the ninth and youngest child in the family. Even though the family did not have a formal faith home, his mother was pro-life and placed a high premium on living out her values. There was much anger in the children as they were growing up, and this convert battled anger issues. As a child, he wanted to make people happy, but he struggled with insecurity (due to the lack of a father’s love and presence in his life). His mother was a big part of his life, but he felt a mother “was supposed to love you.” His insecurity made him an angry kid with a foul mouth. He describes himself as “just a mess.” His grandfather tried to fill the void.

After his grandfather passed away, Mark had the same dream five times, in which his grandfather came to him and told him that God had something very important for him to do.

Mark went to Mass as a young teen – on his own – but nobody reached out to him, so the Catholic faith didn’t take hold at that point. In fact, Mark fell away from God and the pursuit of holy living. He did like to sing. In high school, a teacher invited him to sing in the church choir at the Methodist church. It was in that church that Mark had a kind of 1^st conversion – to Christ.

Mark sensed a call to become a minister. In this final portion of the first segment, Mark talks about the call and has a great quote about discernment by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

2.    

2. What event or thought process led to the beginning of the conversion process?   (Answers in Second Segment)

Mark worked on a political campaign and met his future wife at that time. She was a Catholic. The two eventually married, and they bounced between churches for a while.

While in seminary, Mark wrote a paper about Wesley (Protestant theologian associated with the Methodist denomination). In the paper, Mark traces Wesley’s concept of sanctification to a Catholic monk by the name of Macarius. This patristic father explains that the path to holiness comes by putting into place holy practices in daily living. This is how we become holy people. Mark realized that the Book of Common Prayer (Protestant) is based on the Catholic tradition of the Liturgy of the Hours. At this time, many beautiful Catholic practices became part of his daily life.

3.     

 3. What obstacle did this convert have to overcome? What stood in his way in the process of conversion? What event finally prompted him to enter the Catholic Church? (Answer in Third Segment)

This convert did not express describe obstacles to conversion. His journey seems to be a progression of revelations on the beauty of Catholic practices and the connections he made between Wesley’s concept of sanctification and the Catholic theology it was based upon. Mark and his wife moved to Gary, Indiana, where he served a multi-ethnic parish. There was a group of priests in the area who worked in this part of the city. They opened Mark’s eyes to the beauty of the Catholic Church and the writings of St. Justin Martyr on the Eucharist and the order of the Mass.

It might be helpful at this point to discuss the need for Holy Orders for the Consecration in the Mass. While the convert was beginning to understand the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, he does not point out the essential element of the priest and the indelible mark God places upon him in Holy Orders. Be sure to point out to students that the Eucharist comes to us in the Mass through the words of Consecration, spoken by a validly ordained priest.

If you have time, consider playing the two bonus clips and discussing the topics listed with the given time frame for each bonus segment.

Nearing the Assumption

I had a terrible time with the Immaculate Conception when I was studying the Catholic faith - what a year it was -  that year before entering the Church. But the Assumption of Our Lady was easy in comparison.

It just made sense to me. 

Once I accepted that Mary was conceived without sin, full of every grace from the moment of her conception, the Assumption seemed obvious.

She would not - could not - suffer from sins' final destructive force. Of course, the Lord would want to reach down and lift His mother out of the world.

Of course, He would want to bring her to Himself. There is no way on God's green earth that He would let His mother's perfect body remain here until the end of time.

If we believe that Christ will return one day and receive the faithful, that He will raise the faithful from the earth and give them new, glorified bodies, then why in heaven's name wouldn't we believe that He would first do it for His own mother?

A perfect son (who also happens to be the Word of God Incarnate) would most definitely break through the veil that separates this world from the eternal world and call His mother to His side.

Certainly, He would not wait for the end of time. Not a chance.

And this is the final clue that the Catholic Church got this one right. It doesn't take a rocket scientest to realize that the Church has gone to great lengths to preserve and venerate the remains of every saint they possibly can. If the Blessed Mother's body had not been assumed into heaven, every Catholic would know where her remains were buried.

Why do we not have the remains of Our Lord's body? Evangelicals respond immediately by saying, "Because He is not here. He has ascended, and He will come again."

Ah, yes. They are right. But why do we not have the remains of Our Lady's body? It is not a coverup. It is not a clever game. It is really very simple and altogether lovely. Our Lord loved His mother so much that He broke through the great divide and said, "Come."

And the entire Church, the Bride of Christ, looks to this event as a sign of hope. One day, He will come for us as well. One day, the heavens will open and the Lord will say to us, "Come."

It is not too difficult to understand. Not too difficult at all.

How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Mike Carlton Lesson Plan

I recommend setting aside two Friday's of the month for the Journey Home Lesson Plans. You will cover one convert during each of these Friday sessions. Here's how to do it:

1. Click on the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yRcY9FQ6s0
2. Preview the whole show OR simply view the recommended times. (The minute-segments are the PRECISE segments that I show to my classes.)
3. Before the students view the suggested segments, pass out the following handout. You may cut and paste this handout and create your own document. The answers are given in italics. I recommend that you make one ANSWER KEY that contains the italicized answers and then delete the italicized answers and print a STUDENT COPY. Students will use their copies for note-taking while viewing the suggested segments.

I hope that your students enjoy these Journey Home episodes which have been distilled into a series of segments that will hold their interest while 1.)building up their understanding of the Catholic Faith and 2.)giving them a glimpse into the why&how stories of many converts. I will post another show and lesson plan in a couple of weeks. Love your Faith -- and give your middle school & high school students a reason to love it as well!

Journey Home Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yRcY9FQ6s0

First Segment: 0:00-5:02 and 6:05-7:04

                (Terms for discussion: “River Tiber” and “Protestant” & “Protest”)

Second Segment: 8:30-14:30 and 15:20-16:31 and 17:00-18:32

Final Segment: 19:14-22:05 and 24:46-26:30 and 30:22-35:43

                (Concepts for discussion: “Early Church Fathers” and “Where did the Bible come from” and “Church definition of Scandal – CCC# 2284”)

*Bonus Segment on the Blessed Virgin Mary: 38:00-38:57

Total viewing time: approximately 24 minutes

Convert’s Name: Mike Carlton

1.

1. What was this convert's early faith formation? (Answer in First Segment)
Mike Carlton was raised Presbyterian, and his family has a Scottish background. (Note the connection between Presbyterian and the Church of Scotland) Mike was very active in his Presbyterian congregation as a youth. He had some friends who were Catholic, but he never thought he would become Catholic. Mike went on (Presbyterian) youth retreats and enjoyed those. When he was a teen, he heard the word “Protestant” and wondered why his faith heritage was associated with the word “Protest.” He went off to college and attended Presbyterian churches often, but he began to realize that the people he was meeting in college had many different kinds of beliefs, and he began to wonder why one person believes as he does and another believes something different, and so on.

2

2. What event of thought process led to the beginning of the conversion process?.     (Answers in Second Segment)

Mike met his future wife in college. While planning their wedding, the question came up regarding whether or not they should have a wedding with the Eucharist or without the Eucharist (because his side of the family would not be able to receive the Eucharist as they were not Catholic). The couple decided to have a wedding without the Eucharist. Mike felt like outsider because of the closed Communion in his wife’s Church. At this point, Mike became overtly anti-Catholic.

PAUSE THE PROGRAM AT 12:20 and talk to the students about why we have a closed Communion in the Catholic Church.

“We believe this is really and truly the Body of Christ that we are receiving in Holy Communion. Only those who are in full Communion with the teachings of the Catholic Church may receive Communion. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. One must be in union with Our Eucharistic Lord and the teachings of His Church before receiving Christ in the Eucharist. For this reason, the Catholic Church has a closed Communion. It is the hope and the prayer of all Catholics that all people will come into complete union with Christ and His Church. God willing, this will happen, and when it does, the Church will receive them with open arms and invite them at that time to the Table of Our Lord. Other Christian communities have an open Communion. These faith communities permit everyone to receive the bread and wine (or grape juice). Typically, these Protestant denominations believe in a symbolic Communion – that the bread and wine do not change, but merely symbolize Christ’s Body and Blood. They also do not require that believers hold to a common set of beliefs.”

 During the first 8 years of their marriage, Mike and his wife looked at different faith communities, but Mike was really looking for reasons to not be Catholic during that time of his life. He continued to feel like an outsider at gatherings/holidays with his wife’s family. They moved to Atlanta where his wife met some Catholic neighbors, and his wife’s Catholic “seeds” from growing up as a Catholic started to come out.

He continued to ponder the problem with so many Christians believing so many different things. He realized “two things can’t be true and yet opposing.” Somebody had to be right. Some had to be wrong.

3. What obstacle did this convert have to overcome? What stood in his way in the process of conversion? What event finally prompted him to enter the Catholic Church?


Mike decided it would be okay to raise the children in the Catholic Church, but he would never become Catholic. One day, he was running on the beach and felt the Holy Spirit say “search for truth but be open.”

 He began studying the Early Church Fathers and started connecting the Catholic Church to the full Deposit of the Faith and combined that with reading some works by Dr. Scott Hahn. Even so, he still struggled with the scandals that were plaguing the Church at that time.

The final portion of his journey came when he was on his way home from Alabama to Georgia and, on a whim, followed a road sign that said there was a shrine ahead. He kept going, and the real journey ended at The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament where the final pieces came together. He was ready to come home to the Catholic Church.

*If there is time, play the bonus segment on the Blessed Virgin Mary and talk with the students about our veneration and devotion to Mary. Explain to the students that there are other Christian communities who do not have a place for Mary beyond her role in the Christmas story.

How To Use Journey Home Episodes in Middle School and High School Classrooms: Skylar Testa Lesson Plan

I recommend setting aside two Friday's of the month for the Journey Home Lesson Plans. You will cover one convert during each of these Friday sessions. Here's how to do it:

1. Click on the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmoEUuT_XQY&feature=player_embedded
2. Preview the whole show OR simply view the recommended times. (The minute-segments are the PRECISE segments that I show to my classes.)
3. Before the students view the suggested segments, pass out the following handout. You may cut and paste this handout and create your own document. The answers are given in italics. I recommend that you make one ANSWER KEY that contains the italicized answers and then delete the italicized answers and print a STUDENT COPY. Students will use their copies for note-taking while viewing the suggested segments.

I hope that your students enjoy these Journey Home episodes which have been distilled into a series of segments that will hold their interest while 1.)building up their understanding of the Catholic Faith and 2.)giving them a glimpse into the why&how stories of many converts. I will post another show and lesson plan in a couple of weeks. Love your Faith -- and give your middle school & high school students a reason to love it as well!

Journey Home Show

For class viewing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmoEUuT_XQY&feature=player_embedded

First Segment: 0:00-14:00

Second Segment: 15:34-17:50 and 19:33-20:30 and 22:30-25:55

Final Segment: 29:02-31:21 and 33:13-37:07 and 39:20-39:32

Total viewing time: approximately 29 minutes

Convert’s Name: Skylar Testa

1.    1.    (Answers in First Segments)

Describe this convert’s previous faith formation.

 Mostly non-denominational background

Faith formation of his parents - father: Catholic & mother: Jewish

The parents set aside their faith heritage and began raising their family as Jehovah's Witnesses.

One of the three sons had special needs, and the family turned to a non-denominational church to fill their need for a vibrant faith. Later, the family began attending another non-denominational church that was charismatic (very lively style of worship).

2.   2.     (Answers in Second Segment)

What event or thought process led to the beginning of his conversion?

 Skylar began acting. His manager was Catholic. Eventually, he met a group of actors/producers who were Catholic, and he joined their Bible study.

3.    3.    (Answer in Second Segment, specifically in 22:30-25:55)

What obstacle did this convert have to overcome? What stood in his way in the process of conversion?

He was content right where he was. He felt happy with his personal relationship with the Lord. He describes it as being in a little boat that is comfortable--and it seemed unnecessary to jump from that little boat to the Mother Ship (Catholic Church) even though he was beginning to see some wonderful things in the Catholic faith.

4.     4.   (Answer in Final Segment, specifically 33:13-37:07 and 39:20-39:32)

What event finally prompted him to enter the Catholic Church?

On Valentine's Day 2007, Skylar had jury duty. He had been given a book by Dr. Scott Hahn called Rome Sweet Home. It sat on the shelf until the day of Skylar's jury duty. Skylar took the book with him to kill time. He was given enough time to read the entire book, and just like that, when he finished the last page, they said he could go. They didn't need him anymore for jury duty.

He entered the Church.

August 2011 Catholic By Grace Diocesan Article

I used to place a high premium on getting a good night’s sleep. On nights when I battled insomnia, I considered throwing the alarm clock at the bedroom wall. I tried every nesting routine that had been successful in the past, stopping short of walking in circles on the bed like a dog. When I didn’t get a solid night’s sleep, everyone knew it the next day.

I used to love eating in restaurants. Someone else made the meal. Someone else cleaned the messy dishes. When we had to rein in the spending, our eat-out budget got chopped. After about two weeks, I would simply have to go to Denny’s and get the Grand Slam.

I still hope for a good night’s sleep, and I still enjoy eating out. But something is changing. I’m craving a spiritual diet and rejuvenation time with God more than a meal out and blissful sleep.

I’ve learned to turn insomnia into prayer time. I’m learning to be okay with what is in the food pantry at home. I’m learning to offer these things up to the Cross.

The saints tell us that we can do little things for God. If we let God transform us in little ways, He will begin to transform us in all ways.

Every little sacrifice, every little suffering can become part of God’s redemption story.

Catholics have a phrase for this little act of faith. It’s called offering it up. I mention it to my family now and then. I’m careful about when and where I say it. It should never be said in place of a snippy get over it.

Offer it up is not the same thing as get over it.

The first phrase is an encouragement; it is filled with hope. It has the potential to transform the smallest thing into something good and holy and lovely.

The second phrase is a chastisement; it seeks to control and silence another person. It has the potential to destroy whatever is good and holy and lovely in these little moments of sacrifice.

So, I remind my family to offer it up when I really do hope and pray that they might do it.

My youngest daughter gets it, like she gets all these Catholic things. She gets it because she has no memory of a time before we became Catholic. She was only five when I converted.

Not John. Like me, my husband didn’t grow up in the Catholic Church. And he has never been the kind of guy to accept something that’s more fluff than substance. So, the first time I suggested that he offer it up, he chuckled and said, “I have no idea what that means.”

I quoted Colossians 1:24 and he said he still didn’t get it. He added a quick, but that’s okay. “I don’t have to get everything to know the Church has it right,” he said.  Catholic theology went from one perspective (among many) to truth for him in 2008. Sometimes, though, he just likes to see if I’m up to the challenge of defending our new faith.

These are some of my favorite moments with John. He knows how much I like talks like this. But sometimes, it’s frustrating because mysteries can’t be contained in 800 word articles – or two minute conversations between husbands and wives.

“Just try it. You don’t have to get it to give it a try.” Sometimes, that’s all I can say. Sometimes, there are no words or great analogies.

“Sort of like fake it until you make it,” he says.

“No. More like ‘I believe, Lord, help my unbelief,’” I tell him.

John says, “Okay.” I smile then, knowing he’ll keep asking me for explanations when this comes up. Not because he thinks it is nonsense. It has simply become one of those little dialogs we have. It’s almost scripted. It’s the dance we do. And it is awesome.

A dialog between two lovers that somehow reminds us that we like being together and talking about stuff like this.

Kind of like offering it up, which is also a dialog between lovers. This time, it’s between the Beloved and the human soul. An offering of everything from insomnia to simple meals at home. Little things offered with great love. Moments we repeat again and again, like a divinely scripted dialog. Go ahead, offer it up.