Focus is on faith, skills

youngstown diocese

Staff report

youngstown

The Diocese of Youngstown Office of Religious Education announced that the Summer Catechetical Institute will be at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 7-9.

The institute features prayer, a keynote presentation, courses and practical workshops each day at two locations — St. Michael Family Life Center in Canfield, and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Canton. It is an accessible, cost-effective opportunity for faith formation and skill building for parish catechists, Catholic school teachers, parish catechetical leaders, Catholic school principals and pastoral ministers.

Presenters will be:

Sister Maureen Sullivan, a Dominican Sister of Hope, associate professor of theology at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire and a religion consultant for the RCL Benziger Religion Publishing Co. She is the author of “101 Questions and Answers on Vatican II” and “The Road to Vatican II: Key Changes in Theology,” both published by Paulist Press.

Sue Grenough, consultant for Pflaum Publishing, has served as an archdiocesan director of catechesis, adjunct professor, parish director of religious education, parish youth minister, and Catholic high school teacher. She is a member of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership.

Nancy Bird, division manager for RCL Benziger Religion Publishing, has served as a master professional catechist, parish catechetical leader and youth minister.

The Rev. Donald King, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, has served as pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Warren and as associate pastor of St. Joan of Arc in Canton, St. Paul in Canton, St. Mary in Warren, and Holy Family in Poland. He has a master’s degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he also served as director of worship and apostolic formation at the North American College.

Programs will be:

St. Michael Family Life Center: Aug. 7, Sister Sullivan will speak on “I Hope You Dance” and two breakouts, “Memory and Reform: Revisiting Vatican II after Fifty Years and Finding a Language That Gives Life: Discipleship for the 21st Century.” Aug. 8, Grenough presents the keynote, “Igniting the Fire of Faith” and two breakouts, “Lighting the Fire of Young People’s Faith” and “Praying with Children: Primary and Intermediate.” Aug. 9, Bird presents the keynote, “Simple Pleasures and the Sacramental Life” and two breakouts, “Partnering with Parent: Working Together in Children’s Faith Formation and Four Secrets of the Spirituality of Self Care.” Local experts offer Elementary Catechesis, a core course of 10 hours, and breakouts on a variety of topics.

At St. Michael the Archangel Parish: Aug. 7, Father King presents “Ministry in a Vatican II Church.” Aug. 8, Sister Sullivan presents “I Hope You Dance, and two breakouts. Aug. 9, Grenough presents the keynote, “Igniting the Fire of Faith, and two breakouts. Local experts offer two courses, Elementary Catechesis (10 contact hours) and Psalms and Justice (six contact hours), and breakouts on a variety of topics.

Registration including lunch is $50 for all three days, $40 for two days, and $20 for one day. Workbook fee for Elementary Catechesis is an additional $14. The Summer Catechetical Institute is partially funded by a grant from the Catholic Extension Society. Participants can earn up to 14 hours of religious education certification credit. Catholic school teachers employed by the diocese may be eligible to earn professional development credit for state of Ohio certification.

For more information, contact the diocese’s office of religious education at 330-744-8451 or email to sgreco@youngstowndiocese.org. Reservations are due by Aug. 1.