2008 RECongress Period 8
Religious Education Congress
Sunday, March 2, 2008
1:00 - 2:30 pm
= Recorded
session
8-01 The Word is Made Flesh – Creatively Breaking Open the
Word of God with Children and Youth
Monica Brown & Hilary Musgrave
This workshop will be a practical exploration of the
use of creative process in breaking open the Word of God with children and
youth. Through the integration of Scripture storytelling, music, mime,
sacred clowning and ritual, participants will be actively involved in
developing creative ways to support and nurture the spirituality and faith
development of the their students. This will be a down-to-earth, hands-on
workshop that will enthuse and inspire a new approach to faith formation
and, at the same time, affirm and enrich participants in their own journey.
8-02 Unchaining Confirmation
(Workshop Closed)
Michael Carotta
Confirmation now seems to serve a functional purpose.
But given all we know about adolescent spirituality, youth culture, good
adolescent catechesis and youth ministry, how might we enhance Confirmation
prep’s potential to be a more transformative experience for young people?
What might it look like? What might be the tasks, and what are the
challenges?
8-03 Prayers/Conversations with Jesus from the
Gospels
Fr. Kevin Cronin, OFM
Prayer has often been defined as conversation with God.
Did you ever have questions you’d like to ask Jesus, now or when you meet
him face to face? “What must I do?” “What are we going to get out of it?” or
just want to say things about your life: “Lord, if you were only here, then
…”; “The one whom you love is sick”; or even, “There’s no more wine.” Come
explore with Fr. Kevin Cronin, OFM, some interactions with Jesus from real
people like us in the Gospels. Maybe you’ll find yourself again, your
answers, or him!
Maybe you’ll find in the Scriptures some new ways to prayer!
8-04 Living Relevance
We are the People of God, the leaven in the bread,
called to transform the world, to live a life that makes a real difference.
The church has provided social teachings to show the way, but many find
these teachings overwhelming that they feel paralyzed. The truth is that
Catholic social teaching is for all people in every walk of life. It is
meant to be lived, not adored. Come be inspired in how to saturate your own
life and ministry with relevance.
Mia Crosthwaite
Mia Crosthwaite is a lecturer, catechist, minister and
author of “Go and Do Likewise, Catholic Social Teaching in Action.” She
serves as Coordinator of Parish Life & Faith Formation for the Diocese of
Boise, Idaho, where she formerly served as Director of Adult Catholic
Education and as Legislative Liaison for the Idaho Catholic Conference.
Crosthwaite has presented at numerous parish adult catechesis, catechist
formations and retreats.
8-05 Sent to Lead Afresh
Msgr. Ray East
Our human vocation is to imitate God in being givers of
life and leaders who can motivate, inspire and sustain growth. What are the
challenges for leaders in our parish communities today? How do we envision
the future, engage and sustain the whole community and send them out to make
a difference?
8-06 Dorothy Day: A Saint for Today
Robert Ellsberg
In this session, Robert Ellsberg outlines the life and
spirituality of Dorothy Day and shows why she is a particularly relevant
saint for today. As a lay person, a single mother and a convert, Day
launched a movement to live out the radical social implications of the
Gospel. She embodied the option for the poor and the spirit of gospel
non-violence. But her activism was deeply rooted in prayer, the Sacraments
and reflection on Scripture. Drawing on his work as editor of Day’s diaries,
Ellsberg shows how her spirituality responded both to the challenges of
history and the demands of the every day.
8-07 Created for Communion: Catholic Identity and the
Challenge of Inclusion
John Heagle, JCL & Fran Ferder, FSPA, PhD
What makes us Catholic? This question has become a
crucial concern for our church, both as an institution and for each of us as
members of the Body of Christ. This presentation seeks to re-ground Catholic
identity in the rich soil of Gospel relationships. In his preaching and
ministry, Jesus focused on the “Reign of God” as the all-embracing
compassion of God and the call to human communion. This vision of
relationships is both an invitation and a challenge. What insight can it
give us in facing the creative tension between Jesus’ practice of inclusion
and contemporary church teaching?
8-08 The Tough Challenge: When People Mourn a Suicide
(Workshop Closed)
Fr. Richard B. Gilbert, PhD, CT
This session will offer a frank discussion, with
comfort and resources, to help those grieving a suicidal death (including
children) and equipping the church to be more empathetic responders to this
walk through sorrow.
8-09 To Be God’s Heart on Earth: A Fresh Interpretation of
“Devotion to the Sacred Heart”
Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ
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 is a repeat of Session 5-15).
8-10 From Palm Sunday to Easter: Passion/Resurrection
Narratives of Matthew and John
Sr. Dorothy Jonaitis, OP
The journey through Holy Week has its own rhythms when
one looks carefully at the Scriptures used for the week. Particular
attention needs to be paid to the proclamation of the Passion narratives on
Palm Sunday and Good Friday. This year, you will hear the Passion accounts
of Matthew and John. How do they differ in their structure and message
intended for different audiences, and how do we apply this message to today?
8-11 Is Jesus Just Another Super Hero?
Rev. Richard Leonard, SJ
Six of the highest grossing films in 2007 are science
fantasies, many with “super heroes” in the lead. What does this, now,
long-standing trend have to say to our belief in Jesus as the savior of the
world, to our mystical tradition, and to the value formation the people of
God are receiving at the multiplex?
8-12 Music and Liturgy – Worship, Proclamation and Charity
Jesse Manibusan
Full, conscious, active, passionate participation of
the People of God in the work of God: How does our music flesh this out in
our practice and celebration? How does it not?
8-13 Setting Hearts on Fire: Using Music for
Evangelization, Mission, Peace and Justice
(Workshop Closed)
Michael Mangan
Michael Mangan, one of Australia’s foremost liturgical
composers, will focus on using the power of music to build up the Body of
Christ through vibrant and meaningful celebrations in parishes and schools.
The shared musical experience and the messages carried in the lyrical
content of song can help build communion with Christ and each other and to
“set hearts on fire” for mission in the world. Come along ready to sing,
move and have fun as this energetic presenter introduces us to repertoire
from his catalog of over 130 compositions including music for First
Communion, Confirmation, peace, justice and our mission in the world.
8-14 A Pedagogy for the Oppressors: Training Ourselves to
Train Our Children in Peace, Justice and Mercy
John J. Markey, PhD
All knowing comes through imitation: Aristotle’s
profound observation implies that if we want to change our children’s
behavior then we have to change our own. To accomplish this, first we need
to be freed from the false value system that material wealth creates, which
keeps us from adequately seeing and hearing the cry of the poor. In this
session, John Markey will develop a concrete and practical process of
training ourselves in empathy, non-violence, conflict-resolution and
compassion. We need to train ourselves so that we can train our children to
live differently, to act justly, to seek peace and to genuinely hope for the
coming of the Reign of God.
8-15 Catholic Laughter
James Martin, SJ
Come have a laugh for an hour or so! Too often joy,
humor and laughter are forgotten as an important part of the Catholic
spiritual tradition. We will look at how the saints and the great spiritual
masters understood humor, and how they used it to move toward greater
wholeness and holiness in life. Practical ways of incorporating these
insights into your daily life, as well as some great jokes, will be
included.
8-16 Life Jackets, Parachutes and Armor
Every catechist knows the feeling of sinking in the
middle of a lesson or wanting to jump when a class in on a nosedive or to
retreat when bombarded with questions. Participants will not only review
survival basics but discover a variety of tactics that lead to the mission
successfully accomplished.
Leland D. Nagel
Lee Nagel has held a variety of positions on both the
diocesan and university level. Currently, he is the Executive Director of
the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. A faith-filled
storyteller, he is an educator by profession and a catechist by vocations, a
teacher by trade and an evangelist by Baptism. He has taught at the
University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., and has presented at several national
conferences and diocesan conferences.
8-17 The Twilight Wisdom of the Heart: The Art of
Harvesting Your Inner Light
(Workshop Closed)
David Whyte (originally with John O’Donohue, PhD)
After its creative voyage of light, the day slows down
at twilight to recall and illuminate all of its hidden color and investment.
We need to learn to trust the wisdom of the heart, to take twilight-time so
that the hidden color of our becoming might illuminate for us. Experience is
squandered if it is not savored and integrated. The Holy Spirit, mother of
the soul, harvests each day’s light so that when night overtakes us, we can
rely on its hidden, inner twilight-heart. Everything we need for the journey
has already been secretly given to us. It awaits us there on the
twilight-altar of the heart.
8-18 Forming a Spiritual Child in a Secular World
Jo Ann Paradise
How can parents and religious educators engage a
child’s religious imagination in a way that enables them to develop as
spiritual people in a world that is often toxic to spirituality? We will
explore practical ideas for making room for the Spirit in both family life
and classroom experiences.
8-19 Discipleship and Mission Among Hispanic Young Adults
(Workshop Closed)
Young adult ministry (pastoral juvenil for young adult
Hispanic ministry) is for the evangelization of the young people. This
evangelization should immerse them into the fundamental experience of their
faith, the historical discipleship of Jesus and to the continuing of their
project for the here and now. According to the Gospel of Mark, “And Jesus
appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them
out to preach” (Mk 3:14). This double experience of call of discipleship
and the mission today for Hispanic young adults.continues to be the central
core of the Christian experience and it should also be for the young
adult/pastoral juvenil as well.
Jorge Rivera
Jorge Rivera has worked for over 10 years with the
Hispanic/Latino community in the Chicago area. Presently, he is Coordinator
for Hispanic Young Adults for the Chicago Archdiocese. He previously served
as Coordinator for Hispanic Ministry in the archdiocese. His speaking
engagements have taken him to more than 15 states and dioceses in the
nation. Rivera also developed, in conjunction with Chicago’s DePaul
University, a formation program for training youth leaders.
8-20 Shepherds on the Edge
Tending to the needs of our flock is a blessing and our
responsibility. Being a spiritual guide in the lives of our young teens can
be ministry at its best. Walk away from this workshop with a new confidence
and effective ways to minister to young people. Shepherding on the edge
requires openness, awareness and true love to tune into young people where
they are in their lives.
Anna Scally
Anna Scally, President of Cornerstone Media, is a columnist
for their Top Music Countdown online resource and host of their audio show,
“Burning Issues.” She is recipient of the National Youth Ministry
Performer/Artist/Author of the Year Award from the National Federation of
Catholic Youth Ministry. She has made over 2,200 public presentations, and
has been a presenter at all the major conferences for religious educators in
North America.
8-21 Content in the Catechumenate
Jim Schellman
In this session participants will explore together the
church’s understanding of how doctrinal content in the catechumenate is
derived, developed and delivered. The workshop format will use presentation
and facilitated conversation.
8-22 The Gospel of John: A Mystic Vision of Wholeness?
Alexander Shaia, PhD
Over the centuries, parts of St. John’s complex Gospel
have been used for some of the greatest abuses of Christian evangelism,
leading to exclusionism, murder and even war. Yet his text also contains
some of the most exquisite mystical poetry available in any holy book – and
a message of peace and unity. We will examine this Gospel thoroughly to
discover what accounts for this apparent dichotomy, and what an appropriate
study and prayer of the Gospel can be. Recapture the ancient view of
wholeness and mystery imbedded in John, and deepen your reflection on Lent,
the Triduum and the Easter Season.
8-23 Why the Old Testament Matters: Amos & Hosea
Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher
Using some ideas from the two contemporary prophets
Amos and Hosea, this session will show how reading prophetic texts sheds
light on the otherwise somewhat difficult aspects of the teachings of Jesus.
Recommended for religious education teachers!
8-24 Pope Benedict XVI’s Vision of the Church
Bishop Luis
Antonio G. Tagle, STD
Using some of the theological and pastoral writings of
Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), this workshop will highlight his
vision for the church and its mission in our contemporary time.
8-25 Seven Peacemaking Strategies for the Home and
Classroom
Susan V. Vogt
Learn how to start an argument and how to end it. Use
the Pledge of Nonviolence to change the culture of your school, class or
family. Learn how to stop nagging by “running a race” and to cure gripes by
taking plenty of vitamins B and C. It’s not magic; it just takes planning,
know how, and courageous parents and educators.
8-26 Happy are You? A Catechesis for Joy
(Workshop Closed)
David Wells
When we gather in Anaheim – opposite “the happiest
place on Earth” – will we find happiness there? Many of us don’t know what
happiness is until we experience it, then we want it for everyone! So where
is happiness to be found, and how do we lead people there? Can we help the
world find the happiness? By taking a look at Jesus’ preaching, together
with some contemporary spiritual writers and our rich tradition, we will
consider how to find a deeper joy – a joy Pope Paul VI spoke of in
Gaudete in Domino.
Together, let us look at some good news. Are you ready to help others find
that happiness too? An informative, practical and moving experience!
8-70 Vietnamese Workshop
Bro. Fortunat Phong
