Covenant is one of the most fundamental dimensions of our life as Christians, yet it can easily remain an abstraction – a theological concept removed from our everyday lives. In this workshop, we will explore the layers of meaning suggested in key biblical texts on covenant, survey some of the major controversies surrounding the term, and reflect on implications for teaching and preaching about covenant today.

The Reign of God on Earth is experienced through intentional God-centeredness and people-connectedness. This workshop will explore how a synthesis of small Christian communities, neighborhood ministries and ministries with a family consciousness can move parishes toward more genuine experiences of the Reign of God. The connection between the praxis of parish and cele­bration of the Eucharist will be explored.

How can we reach our highly energetic, Internet-focused, media-influenced, overly scheduled, peer-pressured young people? This session will explore catechetical strategies that will engage young people in ways that will touch their hearts and minds.

This workshop will be a practical demonstration of how song, meditation and movement can assist in the faith development and spiritual formation of children. Australian John Burland will share many songs, including music for celebrating the Sacraments, and discuss/demonstrate their practical application in proclaiming our faith with children. These songs are suitable for children at the ele­mentary level.

Violence is fast becoming the primary coping skill of our children. If we hope to be able to raise responsible, caring adults, we must discover the sources of violence in our own lives and defuse the violence in our children’s lives. Moral development begins early; we must understand and begin early, too, if we hope to build a more peaceful world.

Central to the calls for renewal in the Catholic Church in the United States are calls for a reinvigorated laity. This session will look at that renewal with a very practical eye, asking what it means to be a baptized adult in the Roman Catholic Church and, in particular, how such an adult might engage with questions of conversion, responsibility, leadership and authority.

Come together and resonate with our Jesus’ walk of mercy – the Way of the Cross – as not simply something that occurred in history as much as it continues in the present. Implicitly, this is an “experience” of Our Lord’s perseverance of mercy enhanced by personal witness, contemporary film, music and art. While attempting to be a “spiritual experience,” catechists will also experience how modern media can easily empower our awareness of being disciples of His mercy in our present time.

We have had the documents and discussions, debates and disagreements about catechesis for contemporary youth. Now, we will examine where we have been in youth catechesis practices; and we will explore where we need to be if we are to form youth who are disciples of Jesus and evangelizers.

Through sound and silence, through music and words, we will meditate on the saving depths of the Paschal mystery. (Joe Mattingly & the Newman Singers will also present at this session.)

Discover how the so-called “minor rites” of RCIA – weekly dismissals, anointing with the oil of the catechumens, blessings, exorcisms, presentations and preparation rites on Holy Saturday – are of major importance in the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.

In the past, evangelization appeared to be done from a posture of health and wholeness. We, as Church, were delighted to invite others to share the joy of our family. Unfortunately, the recent scandals have left us wondering how we can invite others into this obviously broken family. In many ways this posture of brokenness is the very posture needed to effectively evangelize. This session will look at new ways of engaging in effective evangelization. It will offer a particular emphasis on the relationship between evangelization and reconciliation.

If you’re a parish director of catechesis or religious education, or if you’re a volunteer catechist, or if you’re an interested member of the parish, then this workshop is for you! In it we will lay out – in good, old plain English – the basic principles for whole community catechesis as called for in the “General Directory for Catechesis.” These basics are ones that can really strengthen your program and begin moving it toward one that addresses the whole parish community of faith.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we catechists are called to be witnesses of God’s Word and Love. Moreover, we are called to become contagious witnesses to God’s presence. For faithful disciples to remain contagious we need to be fed as we hunger for God’s presence. As delegates of the Word, we know we are contagious when, through our witness, others are drawn to the table of God’s Love and reconciliation. Yes, our ministry is a walk on holy ground.

Join in this hands-on, interactive workshop demonstrating a variety of techniques and props for presenting music, movement and creative activities. Have fun, get inspired and take home lots of new ideas to make your group time more effective and enjoyable for all involved.

This workshop will address the basis for our call to global solidarity from Scripture, our Catholic tradition, and the reality of the world today.

This workshop will focus on the need of junior-high students to be actively engaged in reflection upon a life of discipleship. Through exploring the world of the religious imagination we will discover creative methodologies that help to form the minds and hearts of our Catholic youth.

Building a solid youth ministry team is critical for success when helping a parish or school serve teens. It can also feel overwhelming. Come, laugh a little, share a little, learn a little … on “de-mystify-ing” the “how-tos” for ministry teaming building.

How can we Christians, who are “steeped in mercy,” speak and act in a world deeply marked by violence and retaliation in such a way that God’s mercy becomes a “balm for the world”? This session will present Jesus’ ethic of non-violent resistance as a command for Christians in today’s world.

With the implementation of the revised “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” and the continued use of the “Directory on Catechesis” we must now make a strategic plan on how we will face the future. Come to discuss success stories. Develop ideas to be used immediately in your religious education settings and help each other plot out a future where liturgy and catechesis are synonymous.

Have you ever experienced the Power of Evil operating in your life? Just when things seem to be going well, the Devil can find a way to “get in our business” and mess things up. It’s about time that we ask the Devil to leave. But dealing with the Devil is not easy, for the Devil is a powerful source. Yet, the Power of God surpasses all things. No Devil in your life can defeat our God. In this interactive workshop, we will try to discover “who invited the Devil?” and more importantly, we will try to figure out how to “un-invite this unwanted guest.”

In this session, we will explore the implications of a major debate that is brewing in biblical studies with regard to the date of the stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the book of Genesis. What are the historical and theological issues at stake in this debate? (Continued in Session 2-24.)

One of the hallmarks of a successful parish is the way decisions are made and how parishioners are included in the process. What is needed is a structure of checks and balances so that people know which individual or group should make what decisions. There also needs to be clarity as to who needs to be consulted before a decision is made and who needs to be informed afterward. This presentation will provide a method for doing this.

The influence of media is one of the greatest challenges facing religious educators today. This workshop will break new ground on the impact of mass media on children, families and communities. Dr. David Walsh will combine the latest discoveries in brain research with empirical data to show why mass media are so powerful in shaping attitudes, values and behaviors. There will be particular attention to the “culture of disrespect.” Also offered will be a concrete plan for change and why it is imperative to address the role of media in believers’ lives.

Spiritual and psychological approaches to strengthening your inner life in simple, creative ways are presented by author Robert Wicks. Topics will include: Prune Carefully ... and Often; Recognize Your Renewal Zones; Catch the Slide; Building Your Own Rule of Prayer; and Engaging Spiritual Darkness.

One out of two marriages today ends in divorce, and half of all divorces take place in the first seven years of marriage. You can “divorce-proof” your marriage by detecting 10 critical warning signs and practicing effective strategies to strengthen it. Dr. John Yzaguirre will share how to make your marriage a dwelling place for God and transform it into a fulfilling and resilient experience of abundant new life.

Laø ngöôøi Kitoâ höõu, chuùng ta tuyeân xöng tình thöông cuûa Thieân Chuùa theå hieän qua Ñöùc Gieâsu Kitoâ, nhöng chöa haún chuùng ta ñaõ caûm nghieäm ñöôïc tình thöông bao la vaø tuyeät vôøi naøy. Phöông theá giuùp chuùng ta nhaän ra tình thöông cao caû naøy laø söï trôû veà nguoàn ñeå bieát roõ con ngöôøi cuûa mình, ñeå chöõa laønh nhöõng veát thöông trong cuoäc ñôøi vaø ñeå trôû neân nhöõng baøn tay chöõa laønh xoa dòu khoå ñau cuûa theá giôùi.