1. Jesus: The Christocentricity of Catechesis (CT1) Marc Cardaronella (JCWC: Gentile Gallery)
At the heart of catechesis, we find Christ. In essence, the job of the catechist is to teach Christ and everything in relation to him. In this workshop, you’ll learn seven essential ways to center everything you teach on the Person of Jesus Christ.
2. The Four Last Things (CT2/ CS2) Dr. Mark Ginter (Egan Hall, Room 113)
The Big Questions: Who made me? Why did God make me? What is my purpose? Where am I going? What happens when I die? These are burningly urgent and profoundly relevant questions. How Divine Revelation answers these questions right up to our last breath is essential for meaning in life. We’ll correct common myths about the “Four Last Things,” provide suggestions for teaching these amazing truths, and address the powerful curiosity we all have about crossing that final threshold.
3. Kerygma: Key Doctrines (PCL1 / CS1/ YA) Fr. Drake McCalister (Cosmas and Damian, Room 300)
The basic proclamation of the good news of Jesus’ saving life, death, and Resurrection, known as the kerygma, is about giving the gift of belonging — the call to a life within a love beyond all telling. This workshop lays out the essential elements of this most important story, enabling those who teach, share, and witness to more effectively unfold its surpassing beauty to other souls. Knowing the kerygma is essential in leading others to a saving faith in Jesus.
4. Legal Issues for PCLs: Ecclesial & Civil (PCL2) Gigi Zapiain (Cosmas and Damian, Pugliese Auditorium)
All professions, particularly those serving minors, have legal implications, and parish catechetical leadership is no exception. This is an introduction to matters concerning civil and ecclesial law and their impact on parish religious education programs, though each diocese and state will have its own particular implementation. Ignorance in these matters is not bliss-it could be liability.
5. Liturgical Components of the Christian Initiation Process: Gateways and Sources of Grace for Conversions (RCIA1) Gary Norris (St. Joseph Center, Classroom A)
What are the liturgical components of the RCIA / OCIA process in each period? This will include minor and major rites; however, there are many liturgical components that are to be incorporated gradually by period in the process separate from the major and minor rites. Actually creating liturgical people is a prime objective of the RCIA/ OCIA process, and that will be the focus of this presentation.
6. Catechesis in the Catechumanate: Faith, Hope, and Love (RCIA2)
Dr. Scott Sollom (St. Joseph Center, Classroom B)
Details to come
7. The Role of the Family and Community in Youth Ministry (YM1) Gina Bauer (FFH Aerobics Room, 2nd floor)
This workshop will explore St John Paul II Apostolic Exhortation, On The family while also giving best practices on involving family and community in our youth ministry programs.
8. The Church Goes Forth: Missionary Outreach to Teens (YM2) Kris Frank (JCWC, St. Leo Room)
Looking at Jesus as our model of ministry, this session will explore how to reach teens who are not initially interested in youth groups. We will explore best practices to engage new teens and invite them into the Church and a relationship with Christ.
9. The Six Types of Working Genius: A Resource for Diocesan Leadership Teams (DO) Dr. Chris Burgwald (FFH: Performance Room, 2nd Floor)
With Patrick Lencioni’s new model for collaborative teamwork — The Working Genius — we are able to be more self-aware, more fruitful and more successful by better understanding the types of work that bring us fulfillment and the types of work that frustrates us. In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the Working Genius framework: what it is and how they can incorporate it into their ministry.
10. The Trinity: Developing a Relationship With God in Daily Life (HLT)
Jeremy Duo (Cosmas and Damian, 206)
The Mysterium Mysteriorum: The mystery of mysteries. Here’s the one mystery that most people give up trying to understand before they even try. A mystery, however, is not something we cannot know anything about, but rather something that we cannot entirely understand. Yet, that does not mean that we cannot know some things–especially when those things have been revealed by God. Better yet, what we can know about the Most Blessed Trinity can forge our paths toward sanctity.
11. Contemplative Study (RT) Sr. Mary Michael Fox, OP (CTK)
All who work in catechetical ministry should take as their own the Dominican motto: contemplare et contemplata aliis tradere, for indeed our work is to contemplate God’s truth, beauty, and goodness and to hand on to others the God we contemplate. Contemplative study is so much more than reading the catechism so as to “proof-text” an apologetic lesson; it is an occasion to ponder the Face of our Beloved First Truth. Don’t forget to bring your Catechism.