OCEA plans its convention

Staff report

Youngstown

The Ohio Catholic Education Association Convention will be Oct. 3-4 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus.

The event is sponsored by the Ohio Catholic Education Association in collaboration with the Catholic Dioceses of Ohio, and welcomes people from all over Ohio as well as Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. It occurs once every two years.

This year, the convention, one of the largest of its kind in the country, will feature more than 250 national and regional presenters, covering virtually every aspect of Catholic education and Catholic religious education.

The gathering is designed primarily for Catholic school administrators and teachers, parish and diocesan directors of religious education, catechists, youth ministers and other pastoral ministers. However, all are welcome to attend.

Featured national speakers include: Sr. Anne Bryan Smollin, ValLimar Jansen, Sr. Kathleen Glavich, Mary Birmingham and Dan Mulhall.

In addition, some of the finest local talent from all over Ohio and beyond will be presenting.

Many major publishing companies and suppliers will have exhibits.

Mass with Bishops of the participating dioceses is central to the convention and will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Oct. 3.

Presenters from the Diocese of Youngstown include: Rev. Michael Balash, pastor, St. William Parish, Champion; Lisa Baylor, teacher, Regina Coeli-St. Joseph School, Alliance; Rev. Edward Brienz, director, Propagation of Faith and Missions, Diocese of Youngstown; Lois Cavucci, principal, Our Lady of Peace School, Canton; Alan DiGianantonio, Walsh University; Amy Goodchild and Kristi Reidy, teachers, St. Paul School, Salem; Tina Miller, teacher, St. Louis School, Louisville; Michalene Murphy, pastoral associate, St. Patrick Parish, Kent; Brian Sinchak, president, John F. Kennedy High School, Warren; Anne Marie Vega, parish director of religious education, St. Anthony/All Saints Parish, Canton; John Weeks, religion teacher, Canton Central Catholic High School, Canton; Anne Weeks, parish director of youth ministry, Holy Spirit Parish, Uniontown; Monsignor John Zuraw, pastor, St. Rose Parish, Girard, and director of the Permanent Diaconate, Diocese of Youngstown.

Catholic educators are encouraged to attend the OCEA Convention.

For additional information, contact the OCEA at 614-224-7147 or register online at www.ohiocathconf.org.

Local information is available from the Diocese of Youngstown at 330-744-8451.