Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike
Volume 1
Colin MacIver
Leaders Guide
ISBN 9781945179631 
Student Workbook
ISBN 9781950784400

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver

I had this volume on my wishlist for a long time. Originally it was a spiral bound volume with a DVD and everything you needed to work through it yourself or lead a group through it. Currently it is still available in that format, but you can also purchase the workbook digitally and have access to each lesson though an Ascension course. Once I saw it was available that way I purchased it immediately, It had been on my wishlist for about 4 years. There is also a volume 2. About the authors we are informed:

“Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He is a presenter in Chosen, Altaration, and on Ascension Presents.”

And 

“Colin MacIver teaches theology and has served as the religion department chair and campus ministry coordinator at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington, Louisiana. He and his wife, Amy, are co-authors and presenters of Theology of the Body for Teens Middle School Edition and co-authors of the Chosen Parent’s and Sponsor’s Guides.”

The description of this volume is:

“The Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Student Workbook provides the space for your teens to enter in and engage with Fr. Mike's presentations, helping to reinforce the lessons given in the videos. It includes multiple-choice questions, prayers, discussion prompts, activities, take home exercises, and more. 

Each lesson provides a breakdown of Fr. Mike's train of thought to help them follow along with the video, multiple choice questions to ensure comprehension and retention of the material, and discussion questions that help them to apply the lesson to their own lives and talk about it with others.

   • 15 Lessons
   • High School
   • 30 min./ 45 min./ 60 min. class time options
   • 104 page workbook
   • Online access for one year to the digital content
   • About Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike offers lessons built around Fr. Mike’s extremely popular Ascension Presents YouTube videos.

It covers a wide variety of topics kids care about, from core questions about Catholicism to practical and tough issues in Christian discipleship. Teachers, catechists, and youth ministers can supplement USCCB curriculum, prompt small-group discussion, and answer students’ questions easily and powerfully with this teacher’s guide and DVD.”

The chapters and sections in this volume are:

Believe – Why Be Catholic 
Lesson 1 - Why Be Catholic and Not Just Christian? 
Lesson 2 - Motivation to Go to Mass 
Lesson 3 - Why Confess My Sins to a Priest? 

Love – Live Your Faith 
Lesson 4 - Learning How to Love from the Bible 
Lesson 5 - What Is Hope and Why Do You Need It? 
Lesson 6 - Is It OK to Judge Someone? 

Pray – A How-To Guide for Real Life 
Lesson 7 - The Power of Prayer 
Lesson 8 – The Battle of Prayer 
Lesson 9 - Three Steps to Unceasing Prayer 

Grow – Expand Your Horizon 
Lesson 10 - Mastering Love and Relationships 
Lesson 11 - The Meaning of Suffering 
Lesson 12 - Mortal versus Venial Sin 

Think – Help with Tough Topics 
Lesson 13 - Talking About Suicide 
Lesson 14 - How to Quit Porn 
Lesson 15 - Avoiding Impurity 

Each lesson follows these sections:

Opening Prayer
Video Lesson
Student Workbook Lesson
Quiz
Discussion Question
Closing Prayer (starts with Scripture verses)

The discussion question sections has questions for the student to answer directly, and further questions for a discussion time if working through it as a group. This was an excellent resource to work through; even just working through it on my own for personal study and devotion. I am very thankful it is available and that I did the 15 lessons, and I look forward to the 15 lessons in Volume 2. My only regret is the digital access is only for a year. I would love to work through it again in 6-8 months but I would need to repurchase access to do so. 

This is an excellent resource from Father Mike, Colin MacIver, and Ascension. I loved working through the lessons and wish I had dedicated the time to do 1 a week and get through it quicker. It is a great resource for personal use, a high school or college and careers group, or even an adult group at church. And if you are looking for something to work through next look into the Sunday Homilies Series from Ascension by Father Mike. I can easily recommend this course it was an excellent experience. 

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver Sample 1

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver Sample 2

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver Sample 3

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver Sample 4

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver Sample 5

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan

Books By Father Mike Schmitz:
Made for Love: Same-Sex Attraction and the Catholic Church
Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume II


Contributed to:
Pray, Decide, and Don't Worry: Five Steps to Discerning God's Will
Don't Be Afraid to Say Yes to God! Pope Francis Speaks to Young People

Audio Talks by Father Mike Schmitz:
Living Life by Design, Not by Default
Love - Sacrifice - Trust He Showed Us the Way
From Love, By Love, For Love
True Worship
The Four Last Things
Jesus Is …
Changed Forever - The Sacrament of Baptism
We Must Go Out - The Sacrament of Confirmation


Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 1 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike Volume 2 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Colin MacIver

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