Called to Teach: Daily Inspiration for Catholic Educators

Catholic school teachers have a special vocation to reach the hearts and minds of young people, even in the midst of never-ending lesson planning, grading papers, and trying to lead a balanced life. Called to Teach, a book of 366 short, thought-provoking reflections, can help teachers stay focused on their Christ-centered mission by providing a source of energy, renewal, and affirmation for their day.

This collection of one-minute daily reflections offers a prayerful opportunity to recapture the joyous expectation Christ has in mind for Catholic teachers. Each day begins with a scripture passage that sets a theme and provides much-needed encouragement as a reminder of the daily gifts present in a Catholic school. Justin McClain, a theology and Spanish teacher at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Maryland, will help teachers take a fresh look at everyday benchmarks of success in lesson planning, classroom prayer, and dealing with difficult theological questions. He also addresses needs outside the classroom―relaxation and a good night’s sleep, healthy eating habits, continuing education, and more time for prayer.

Justin McClain is a veteran Catholic educator, catechist, and author. He received a Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching and commitment to Catholic education from the Archdiocese of Washington in 2017. McClain has taught and consulted within Catholic education since 2006. He is active in the pro-life movement, as well as in the ministry of teaching about the role of wildlife within God's gift of nature.

McClain is the author of several books, including Called to Teach, Alleluia to Amen, and the award-winning Called to Pray. He is a regular contributor to the National Catholic Register, Catholic Exchange, and the National Catholic Educational Association. He was a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church’s Subcommittee on African-American Affairs in 2015, as well as to the USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace, and Human Development, and the Secretariat of Catholic Education, in 2018.

A lay Dominican, McClain lives with his wife, Bernadette, and their children in Bowie, Maryland.