RECongress 2008 - Period 5: Saturday, March 1, 2008

In this session, John Allen gives a 360-degree review of the latest news from the global Catholic Church and analysis about what it all means, with a special eye to implications for the church in the United States.

John Allen is the prize-winning Senior Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter; he is also CNN’s Senior Vatican Analyst and a frequent commentator for other media outlets. He is author of five books on the Vatican and Catholic affairs, and writes the weekly Internet column, “All Things Catholic.” Allen has given hundreds of lectures in various parts of the world. Though he lives in New York, he also maintains a residence in Rome.

5-02 Seeing Stewardship with New Eyes: How Lifelong Learning and Forming Generous Hearts Fit Together

Embracing the life of discipleship takes courage, conversion and commitment. Living the life of discipleship results in generous giving and a grateful heart. Lifelong faith-formation is the key to forming such disciples. Explore principles that will establish conversion, discipleship and stewardship in individuals and the parish community.

Leisa Anslinger is Pastoral Associate for Evangelization, Catechesis and Stewardship at Immaculate Heart of Mary School Parish in Cincinnati. She contributes regularly to ministerial publications, and has written a new book, “Forming Generous Hearts,” co-authored with Vikki Shepp. Anslinger has presented workshops, in-services and retreats in 45 dioceses in the last four years on topics of catechesis, pastoral leadership and stewardship.

Vikki Shepp, a consultant for ministry, previously served as the L.A. Congress Coordinator and, before that, as the Consultant for Youth Ministry and Confirmation for the Office of Religious Education in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Along with Leisa Anslinger, she authored “Forming Generous Hearts,” and has individually authored “Letting Go of the Chaos” and “Coyote Meets Jesus,” which was a Benjamin Franklin Award finalist.

5-03 Slavery: It Didn’t End with the Civil War – Modern-Day Perspectives on Human Trafficking

“Slavery: It Didn’t End with the Civil War” is a powerful, fact- and human interest-filled multimedia presentation that explains contemporary human trafficking. The presentation starts out quick and hard by placing a human face on historical slavery. From there, it uses a fast-paced presentation style built upon everyday news reports, academic theory, government reports, statistics and first-hand stories from the streets to bring the audience to a state of learned awareness of what must be done to prevent modern-day slavery. Some original slave documents and relics will also be on hand.

5-04 Dancing in the Pews: An Experiential History of Worship and Dance

(Workshop Closed)

Throughout time, humanity has responded to the sacred through rhythm, song, movement and dance. Journey through the sweep of centuries experiencing how our ancestors in Western culture have expressed their relationship to the divine through indigenous rhythms, ecstatic dance, sacred gestures, circle dances, mystery dramas, processions, repressions and resurgences of Spirit! Explore how our heritage as humans and as Christians continues to call us to embodied prayer.

Keeping your cool in tense situations doesn’t mean freezing yourself out of opportunities to express emotions. Educators have many opportunities to model appropriate ways of expressing all kinds of feelings and teach their students conflict-resolution skills. Discussed will be techniques to help students calm their rage and handle conflicts constructively and non-violently.

The Catholic “cultural wars” between conservatives and progressives have discouraged and disillusioned countless members of the church. In this workshop, Donald Cozzens first examines the fears and anxieties at the center of the present polarization and then offers practical steps to achieve the adult, Gospel-based discipleship that is vital to authentic spirituality and to the church’s future and mission. (This is a repeat of Session 1-04.)

At its best, our spiritual tradition celebrates embodied love and the sacredness of human passion. The rich wisdom found in our Judeo-Christian writings continually reminds us that we are made for love and service. This presentation explores the ways in which the emerging studies of “social intelligence” are affirming what the Gospel has long known: that we are “wired for love” – for self-giving, joyful, faithful, mutual relationships. From the perspective of faith, the findings of behavioral science seem to be saying that our brains are encoded with a “DNA” that urges us beyond superficial physical pleasure to deep and engaging human love.

Fr. John Heagle, a psychotherapist, and Sr. Fran Ferder, a clinical psychologist, are Co-Directors of Therapy and Renewal Associates (TARA), a Catholic psychotherapy center near Seattle. Both also serve as Adjunct Professors at Seattle University in the School of Theology and Ministry. They are internationally recognized authors and workshop leaders. Individually and together, they have written books; their latest book is entitled, “Tender Fires: The Spiritual Promise of Sexuality.”

Exploring the universe story connects us deeply to our Christian convictions. The extraordinary possibilities science opens up for us concerning matters of life, death and human interconnectedness with all of creation, gives us much to hope for. During our time together we will explore the vision offered us in our time, claim its power, try to listen with our hearts, and accept with gratitude the awe-filled place in creation that our time in history presents to us.

5-09 Where’s Grandpa? The Challenges, Hurts and Blessings of Alzheimer’s

(Workshop Closed)

Alzheimer’s disease, especially with the need for earlier diagnosis and response, is a challenge that touches all of us. This session will provide information, direction and comfort with special thoughts for mobilizing the churches.

Serving 25 years as a hospital chaplain, bereavement counselor and educator, Dick Gilbert, an Anglican priest, has a long record of advocacy for the bereaved, healthy clergy and spirituality. He has presented throughout the United States and internationally. His resource network now reaches 1,400 in five countries. Fr. Gilbert is a Diplomat of The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and is an active leader in The Association for Death Education and Counseling.

In this workshop we will look at some past and contemporary rebels and prophets who have made, and continue to make, a difference in our world. We will see how we, in small or big ways, can change the world – one miracle at a time.

5-11 Discovering Discipleship by Discovering “the Least”

(Workshop Closed)

“Whatever you did to the least ... you did to me” (Mt 25:40). Not only does Jesus identify himself with “the least,” he says that he is one of them! To care for those who are hungry, thirsty or strangers then, is only part of our Christian vocation; we must become like Jesus, who was hungry and thirsty, and indeed a stranger from his birth as a homeless child to his death as a condemned criminal. We will explore the double call to discipleship by listening to homeless women’s stories.

British by birth, Fr. Anthony Gittins is a “resident alien” in the United States and a religious member of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans). He is an author, speaker and teacher of graduate theology, and is currently the Bishop F.X. Ford Professor of Missiology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Fr. Gittins travels widely giving retreats and teaching. The former missionary who served in Sierra Leone, West Africa, now also works with homeless women in a Chicago shelter.

5-12 The Ministry of Liturgical Music in the Journey of Life (Workshop Closed)

The ministry of liturgical music is a powerful path for the people of God to celebrate and amplify key moments in their spiritual life: initiation, reconciliation, marriage, celebrations of transition, anointing, ministry, and the rituals and movements of the dying process. Music truly touches our lives and enables us to celebrate, honor, cope and survive the process of being alive and seeing how God is present in the midst of the journey. Come ready to sing, ponder and enter into a musical process of celebrating all that God is, and some of what we are called to become as disciples, not just mere believers.

David Haas is Director of The Emmaus Center for Music, Prayer and Ministry, and is also Campus Minister/Artist-In-Residence at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School in St. Louis Park, Minn. A composer of over 45 original collections of liturgical music and author of over 20 books in the areas of music, liturgy, prayer, spirituality, religious education and youth ministry, Haas has traveled all over the world as a workshop and conference speaker, retreat leader, composer and recording artist.

Many Protestants doubted in 1960 that John F. Kennedy could be Catholic; some bishops doubted in 2004 that John F. Kerry was Catholic. How “Catholic” must Catholic politicians be to be real Catholics? How should bishops deal with Catholic politicians?

Recent studies show that Catholic teens trail their peers from other churches and religions in being able to express what they believe and to find adults who will help them in their religious search. What are we to make of these claims? On the other hand, there are many “Good News stories” and “best practices” that tell us teens are both eager and able to live their faith. What are these best practices, and what factors either support or block real faith sharing between teens and adults? This workshop considers these questions.

Dr. Michael Horan is Professor of Religious Education and Pastoral Theology at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He has ministered to youth and young adults on high school and college campuses in New York and Washington, D.C., and is a well-known presenter. Dr. Horan is an author of two works on the General Directory for Catechesis and is a contributing author of Blest Are We, a parish and school religious education series.

5-15 To Be God’s Heart on Earth: A Fresh Interpretation of “Devotion to the Sacred Heart” (Workshop Closed)

Insipid art, flaming hearts, devotional practices verging on the superstitious: all of these virtually guaranteed that devotion to the Sacred Heart would rapidly wane in light of Vatican II’s emphasis on the liturgy. This presentation of word and image will attempt to reinterpret the core mystery – the love of Christ – and will challenge 21st-century Christians who, by our vocations, are also meant to be God’s Heart on Earth. (This will be repeated as Session 8-09.)

Sr. Kathleen Hughes is Mission Consultant with the Society of the Sacred Heart. She formerly had taught liturgy, Sacraments, and preaching for 19 years at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Sr. Hughes is author of “Saying Amen: A Mystagogy of Sacrament” and “Finding Voice to Give God Praise.”

5-16 Alternative to Being “Left Behind”: A Workshop on Apocalyptic Literature

This workshop will investigate the meaning of liturgical texts that speak of famine, wars and other disasters and why they are proclaimed at the liturgy before Christmas. It will highlight the importance of understanding apocalyptic literature as a literature of hope and not a literature of God’s wrath. An important piece will be what Catholics believe about the rapture: Is it biblical or not?

A Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Mich., Sr. Dorothy Jonaitis is Professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Dallas School of Ministry. For 24 years she has taught adult education in parishes and has given numerous workshops at parishes and diocesan conferences. Sr. Jonaitis is currently working with three others at the School of Ministry on a four-year project to revise the The Catholic Biblical School Program.

To be freely forgiven is one of the most grace-filled experiences there is; to offer that same forgiveness, one of the most difficult. In this presentation, using down-to-earth wisdom and stories, Fr. Joe Kempf offers a glimpse of what forgiveness is and what it isn’t; explores the experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; and offers some ideas about how we might invite children to enter more deeply into this great mystery.

One can’t attend a meeting of catechists where a discussion doesn’t ensue about families who come to faith formation but don’t attend Mass. This workshop will explore where catechesis is failing to make connections between formation and the Sunday liturgy for both children and adults, and what we can do to lead families to conversion and faith-sharing through evangelization.

Whether we like it or not, the Harry Potter books and films have been a phenomena among our children and teenagers. Are we flirting with the occult? Is author J.K. Rowling’s take on the struggle between good and evil helpful in our religious education and youth ministry? How can we use Harry’s message for the Reign of God?

Fr. Richard Leonard, a Jesuit priest, directs the Australian Catholic Office for Film and Broadcasting, based in Melbourne, Australia. As a visiting professor, he has taught at the Gregorian University; at the University of California, Los Angeles; and at both the University of Melbourne and at the Jesuit Theological College in Australia. Fr. Leonard is author of the book “Movies That Matter: Reading Film Through the Lens of Faith.”

5-20 Lift Your Voice, Sing Anew! Bringing New Life to School and Parish Liturgy

Music and song are recognized as crucial elements of vibrant, meaningful and inclusive liturgy. But when and what should we sing, and how can we use music to promote full, conscious and active participation in school and parish celebrations? This session will tackle the topics: Why do we sing in liturgy? What parts do we sing? How do we choose repertoire? How do we encourage participation? Come along ready to sing, move and have fun as vibrant Australian presenter Michael Mangan leads us on a quick tour of the church’s liturgy documents and introduces us to a new repertoire from his musical compositions.

Composer, teacher and music liturgist, Michael Mangan is one of Australia’s most popular contemporary Catholic composers. His 130 songs, psalms and acclamations are sung in parishes and schools throughout Australia, New Zealand and parts of North America. Since 1990 Mangan has served as Music Director for All Saints Parish in Albany Creek, Brisbane, Australia. He regularly presents concerts and workshops at conferences throughout Australia, New Zealand and North America.

If the word “project” implies an act that has a beginning and an end, why would we ever connect that word to discipleship? Join us as we explore how discovering our gifts, talents and passions are the beginning of a lifelong commitment to discipleship. Service is something we do. Servant is someone we are. We will discuss the practical implications of this understanding especially as it pertains to the Sacrament of Confirmation. Take the pledge to never say “service project” again!

Dr. Jo Ann Paradise is Director of Parish Ministerial Life and Spiritual Formation at St. Sebastian Parish in Pittsburgh. She has been an elementary and high school teacher as well as an adjunct faculty member at Duquesne University, La Roche College and Carlow University in Pittsburgh. Dr. Paradise is a popular retreat director and provides spiritual direction. She is also a national consultant and textbook collaborator for William H. Sadlier.

Much of contemporary Catholicism is marked by violent language and postures. How can we make peace, not only within the church but within ourselves?

Throughout the world, the ancient practice of pilgrimage is enjoying a remarkable resurgence. For various reasons people set out in search of a meaningful encounter with God and themselves. At the same time, the old reverence for pilgrims can open to us new avenues for shaping the experience of Church on the local level. Using the customs of the Camino of St. Jacob as a springboard, this session will look at a spirituality of pilgrimage that can offer a transforming vision of the way we welcome seekers into the heart of faith community.

A member of the Pallottine Fathers, Fr. Erik Riechers’ public speaking and teaching engagements on issues of Catholic education and spirituality have taken him worldwide. He served 12 years on the Pallottine General Secretariat for Apostolate in Rome. Fr. Riechers works extensively with bibliodrama, a holistic approach to biblical texts and personal spiritual experience, and is Director at the Pallottine Centre of Pilgrimage in Vallendar, Germany.

5-24 Addressing the Crisis – Immigration and Working Poverty

(Workshop Closed)

Over 40 percent of the families in our community are working poor – employed and working hard but struggling to meet basic expenses. Over 70 percent of these families are immigrants. How can people of faith respond effectively to these crises? CLUE-CA (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California) brings religious leaders together from all faith traditions to contribute our unique gifts as people of faith to the movements for economic justice and fair immigration policy. We will discuss the current situation of immigrant and working-poor families and effective opportunities for a faithful response to their needs.

Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is an ordained Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with over 30 years of experience in interfaith and community ministry, community organizing and legislative advocacy. She is also Executive Director of CLUE-CA (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice of California), a statewide alliance of interfaith organization of religious leaders that seeks to build a faith-based movement for economic justice for low-wage workers.

What was the deeply inspired purpose in the selection of Matthew, Mark, John and Luke. Do they hold far more than the life story and words of Jesus? What are the real reasons for the discrepancies within the texts? Discover an invaluable and potentially revolutionary view of the Gospels. Explore the four Gospels in the sequence of the Sunday Lectionary cycle as the fourfold process of spiritual awakening and transformation. A grace-filled journey awaits as you restore relevance and maturity to your individual study and that of your parish community.

Raised as a Maronite Catholic and graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Alexander Shaia is a spiritual director, international speaker and psychotherapist. He is also author of two volumes of “Beyond the Biography of Jesus: The Journey of Ouadratos,” plus parish study guides. A former diocesan Director of Adult Catechesis, Shaia is also founder and Director of the Blue Door Retreat in Santa Fe, N.M., where he resides.

5-26 Is There Salvation Outside the Catholic Church? Are Other Churches “True”?

What does the recent document, “Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine of the Church,” issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, really say? How is it being interpreted by our ecumenical partners? A panel consisting of ecumenical officers from the Greek Orthodox, Episcopal and Catholic Churches will discuss this in detail.

In 1987, Rev. Alexei Smith, a Greek Catholic priest and Los Angeles native, was assigned to serve two small Eastern Catholic communities in El Segundo, Calif.: St. Andrew Russian Greek Catholic Church and St. Paul Melkite Greek Catholic Mission. In 2000, Rev. Smith was appointed Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, making him the first Greek Catholic priest to head an archdiocesan office.

Rev. Gwynne Guibord is the Officer of Ecumenical and Interreligious Concerns for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. She is immediate Past President for the California Council of Churches and Past President of Progressive Christians Uniting. Dr. Guibord serves as Vice President of the Southern California Ecumenical Council, Chair of the National Board of The Interfaith Alliance, and is on the Los Angeles Interreligious Council.

Since 1995, Fr. John Bakas has been Dean of St. Sophia Cathedral and Greek Orthodox Community of Los Angeles. He, with the church leadership, spearheaded the major renovation of the Cathedral grounds and adjacent buildings, which spawned the redevelopment of the surrounding Byzantine-Latino Quarter of Los Angeles. Fr. Bakas is also the founder of Camp Axios, a camping program for at-risk youth from inner-city Los Angeles.

5-27 A Perennial Pro-Life Philosophy: A Convincing Curriculum for both Sacred and Secular Environments

The Catholic Church has been the champion of the notions of personhood and rights, which found there way into John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government and Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. Fr. Robert Spitzer will show that these concepts not only protect the weak and defenseless from slavery and genocide, but also unborn life from abortion. He will explain the radical inconsistency between these fundamental notions (which have now made their way into the U.N. Charter on human rights) and the reasoning in the Dred Scott decision (justifying slavery in America), and the Roe v. Wade decision (sanctioning abortion).

5-28 Creating a Youth Ministry that Matters: The Keys to Success

(Workshop Closed)

What unlocks the door to a comprehensive youth ministry program that makes a difference not only in the lives of the young people, but of the whole parish as well? Come discover a full understanding of the three interrelated keys – vision, leadership and structure – and how each can be utilized to “see anew” a model of youth ministry that matters.

As busy catechists we help others to pray and relate to God – but how do we find time for our own spirituality? This workshop will help teachers, catechists and all in ministry to pray with music and God’s Word as they go to and from work as well as in times of reflection.

CONGRESS 2008 WORKSHOPS & LINKS
THURSDAY	• Youth Day Info • Youth Day Schedule • Youth Day Workshops
WORKSHOPS FRIDAY: SATURDAY: SUNDAY:	Text Page Links • Period 1 • Period 2 • Period 3 • Period 4 • Period 5 • Period 6 • Period 7 • Period 8	PDF Downloads • Friday Workshops • Saturday Workshops • Sunday Workshops
EN ESPAÑOL VIERNES: SÁBADO: DOMINGO:	TALLERES • Sesión 1 • Sesión 2 • Sesión 3 • Sesión 4 • Sesión 5 • Sesión 6 • Sesión 7 • Sesión 8	• talleres en español
2008 FEATURES	• Youth Day • Theme • Cardinal Online • Comments • Schedule • Speakers • Topics • Order Recordings • Photos • Exhibitor Listing • Exhibitor Categories • Statistics

2008 RECongress Period 5

Religious Education Congress
Saturday, March 1, 2008
1:00 - 2:30 pm

2008 RECongress Period 5

Religious Education Congress Saturday, March 1, 2008 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Religious Education Congress
Saturday, March 1, 2008
1:00 - 2:30 pm