Dr. Tom Neal is the director of the St. Joseph’s Educational Center for the Diocese of Des Moines. He is a theologian and a gifted teacher. I always take something profound from his talks even when I know the subject well. He has inspired me to strive to be a better Catechist.

Last night he taught the Catechist in-service for our parish Religious Education program. His topic was Catholics and the Bible. What impressed me was his ability to engage the culture to teach and evangelize. Here is a wonderful example:

I thought that I would never stop laughing. My favorite deacon enjoyed it so much that when we got home he asked me to find the video on YouTube, and then we watched it again.

It is rather odd, though. Our idea of contemporary music is Handel or Beethoven. Oh and my personal favorite, which the Pope shares, is even older. Mozart.

Well Dr. Neal does have an advantage. He still has teenagers at home, and he is much younger.

I am going to need help being culturally relevant.

Do check out the St. Joseph’s Educational site. There is much to gnaw on there for the theologically hungry. Dr. Neal also has a personal blog, Neal Obstat, where he opines on all things theological. I go there daily; a passer by might hear me say, Wow. Or huh? I mean that in a positive way. His musings can twist my brain into a pretzel. And that is a good thing. Really