What You'll Get with this Workshop
- 6 45-Minute Sessions
- Explore teaching strategies with a master teacher
- Classroom-ready lesson plans
- Instant, easy access — no expiration!
- Receive a professional development certificate
Watch anytime!
No special downloads required
Workshop Overview
If you are a Catholic school teacher or parish catechist looking to deepen your understanding of the sacraments so you can more effectively engage young people, then look no further than this six-part course on the seven sacraments. Dr. Michel Therrien takes you on an engaging journey through each of the Sacraments as he unpacks how they provide us with the grace and strength to live a moral and virtuous life.
Each of the six 30-minute sessions with Dr. Therrien is followed by a short presentation by Master Teacher Jose Gonzalez who uses his decade of classroom experience to bring immediate, practical suggestions for applying your new knowledge in the classroom.
You will also receive an electronic copy of The Seven Sacraments Teacher's Guide, which features 10 lesson plans that enable you to go beyond the limitations of current textbooks by offering a more comprehensive and in-depth approach to engaging students with the sacraments.
Each self-contained lesson is teacher-written, classroom-tested, and scholar-reviewed, and includes background readings, student homework, classroom activities, games, role plays, and more. Lessons are available for both elementary and high school classrooms.
By completing this course, you and your teachers will learn:
- How Jesus establishes a personal relationship with each of us through the sacraments of the Church
- How to live a sacramental life and a life of prayer
- Why Christ entrusted Scripture and the sacraments to the Catholic Church for our salvation
- How regular reception of the sacraments is essential to becoming what God created us to be — holy
- How baptism incorporates us into the Church and makes us sharers in the priesthood of Christ
- Why the sacraments are effective whether we feel it or not
- Effective ways to prepare for proper reception of the sacraments
- The connection between the Sacraments and Christian discipleship
- Innovative ways to reach students and engage them with the mystery of the Sacraments
- And so much more that helps young people better understand and engage with each of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church
Professional Development Certificate: You may request your certificate by visiting this link.
Sophia Institute for Teachers is an independent, non-profit organization. Participants at our programs receive certificates stating the number of hours at each workshop and as proof of attendance. Each diocese will determine if/how these hours can be applied toward on-going teacher or catechist certification requirements. If you need official verification that attendance at our program will satisfy your requirements, please check with your principal and/or the appropriate person in your diocese.
Workshop Sessions
Encountering God's Love in the Sacraments
The Sacraments of Initiation
The Eucharist
The Sacraments of Healing
Holy Matrimony
Holy Orders
Your Presenters
Jose Gonzalez joined the team at Sophia Institute for Teachers in 2014 after more than 10 years as a Catholic high school teacher. In addition to teaching, Jose has experience working in parish and diocesan ministry. Jose has been leading Workshops in over 60 dioceses for more than 8 years, and contributes regularly to our teacher's guides and digital instructional resources. He has a BA in theology with a concentration in religious education from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and an MA in evangelization and catechesis from the Augustine Institute. Jose and his wife, Mary Beth, have four children.
.jpg "IMGP7564_(2)")
Michel Therrien is President and CEO of the Preambula Group, a lay apostolate serving the work of the New Evangelization in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He served as the President of the Institute for Pastoral Leadership in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as well as the Director of Evangelization. Prior to this, he served as a professor moral theology at the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO. Prior to that, he taught for seven years at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA, also serving as Academic Dean from 2008-2012. His prior work experience includes teaching high school religion, serving as a DRE, a youth minister, and RCIA leader for various parishes. He has also led adult faith formation in various parishes since 2003. He holds a B.A. in Theology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, an M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria, and a Doctorate in Fundamental Moral Theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.
Still not sure?
Contact us with any questions you may have.