RECongress 2009 - Period 2: Friday, February 27, 2009

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Mary Magdalene was one of Christ’s closest followers – and first witness to Resurrection! Come explore the art of movement as a way of entering into Mary Magdalene’s journey of faith and witness to the Risen Christ. Using improvisational forms, we will dance our way through healing, anointing, grief and Resurrection – all as ways of embodying our “yes” to the Christ who calls us to new life!

Betsey Beckman is a freelance liturgical dancer, storyteller, spiritual director and retreat leader based in Seattle. With her extensive background in performance, movement therapy, ministry and InterPlay, she regularly appears as artist/presenter at national conventions. Beckman’s publications include books, recordings and videos; her most recent offering celebrates the witness of Mary Magdalene in story and dance.

Laura Ash is Music Director at St. Patrick Parish in Seattle, where, with Betsey Beckman, she has supported the ministry of dance for over 15 years. Ash, with her husband David, has composed and published three albums of liturgical music and has created music for numerous liturgical dance offerings, including the video, “The Dancing Word: Miriam and Mary.”

In this jubilee year in honor of St. Paul, the Church’s first theologian and greatest missionary, learn how his life and letters can challenge and renew the Church of the 21st century. Though Paul is often misjudged and misunderstood, his life is a model for a truly inclusive and worldwide Church. Paul broke every barrier between people within his world, and his inspired word remains a guide for the Church to continue shattering previously erected boundaries that divide God’s people from one another.

Stephen Binz is a Catholic biblical scholar, popular speaker and award-winning author of more than two dozen books on the Bible, including the acclaimed new series, “Threshold Bible Study.” He has developed Bible study for over two decades, and has offered numerous study trips and pilgrimages to the lands of the Bible. Binz speaks frequently at parishes, diocesan events and national conferences about a variety of biblical topics. His most recent book is “Conversing with God in Scripture: A Contemporary Approach to Lectio Divina.”

All music should be “soul music.” Whether it is a foot-stomping, hand-clapping gospel song or a good, old-fashioned four stanza hymn, whether the song is fast and lively or slow and meditative, it should be sung from the heart. Come and experience singing from the top of your lungs, to the depths of your soul. If you like to sing, be ready to make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Grayson Warren Brown is an internationally known author, speaker, liturgical composer and recording artist. His latest collection is titled “Now That the Morning Has Broken the Darkness.” Brown began his liturgical ministry in the late 1960s in an inner-city church in New York City and has many years of experience working in a multicultural parish. He divides his time among writing, composing and traveling the country presenting workshops, speaking at conventions and conducting parish missions.

You’ve seen the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance,” and now the secret is out: Everybody loves to move! Come and experience new ideas for creatively incorporating movement and music into religious education. John Burland will share a variety of practical activities for enriching catechesis and joyously celebrating our Catholic faith. A range of catechetical themes will be addressed during this session. These activities and songs are suitable for children at the elementary level. Come ready to move, pray and celebrate!

John Burland is an educator and composer of religious music for children and adults. He is the Project Officer-Liturgy/Music for the Catholic Education Office in Sydney, Australia, where he conducts workshops, celebrations and reflection days for children, families and teachers. Burland has worked as a teacher, assistant principal and religious education coordinator for over 20 years, and is a regular speaker at conventions and gatherings across Australia and the United States.

In our time together, we will journey in the footsteps of the three founding patrons of the Church in Ireland and early Europe: St. Brigid, St. Patrick and St. Columba. We will remember their story and allow the inspiration of their “yes” in the past to ignite our “yes” in the Church of today.

Padraigin Clancy is an Irish folklorist and historian with a keen interest in Celtic Christian spirituality. She has lectured and facilitated retreats on Celtic spirituality throughout Ireland, Britain, the United States and Australia. A frequent contributor to Irish national radio and TV, Clancy is a Gaelic speaker, a traditional musician and dancer. She lives in the Aran Islands of Galway Bay in Ireland, where she works with the Irish Heritage Service as a tour/pilgrim guide.

Come prepared to sing the latest resources for Holy Week. We will be looking in depth at the music from “No Greater Love/No Hay Amor Mas Grande,” the latest bilingual resource for Holy Week, plus other music.

A pastoral musician for more than 20 years, Jaime Cortez serves as a clinician for OCP Publications, traveling across the United States, England and Japan giving workshops. He has presented workshops at all the major national conferences for liturgy and music. Cortez is currently Director of Liturgy and Music for Holy Cross Church and music teacher at Queen of Peace Church, both in Mesa, Ariz. His latest collection, “Adviento,” won the 2007 Unity Award for Spanish Album of the Year.

“Atheist, agnostic, Hindu or Jew, Muslim, Christian, Catholic, even you. We are all children of God.” These are the lyrics from a song that Justin Fatica co-wrote with Bob Halligan Jr., from the musical group Ceili Rain. The song – and this workshop – is to help people realize that Jesus’ universal message is to love others regardless of what we may think of them.

Justin Fatica is the lead evangelist for Hard as Nails Ministries, a team of young adult evangelists, and author of the book “Hard as Nails.” The former campus minister, youth minister, retreat coordinator and religion teacher now speaks to hundreds of thousands of teens and young adults at local, national and international venues. His appearances range from Soulfest and Lifefest to the Tribeca Film Festival.

2-08 One Bread, One Body, One Table: Eucharist – the Feast of Foot-washers

Eucharistic table fellowship has a long and honored history in our Christian tradition. Our interest during this workshop will center on bringing this tradition into our present reality and embracing the challenge this sacrament offers us today. Eucharist is bigger than fulfilling our Sunday obligation in a properly choreographed ritual. It is about a way of life. It is about a vision out of which we live, and in which we move and have our being. What does this mean for educated Catholics today? We will reflect on this question together.

Barbara Fiand, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, is adjunct Professor of Spirituality at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago. She lectures, teaches and gives retreats throughout the United States, Canada and abroad on issues related to holistic spirituality, prayer, religious life and the psychology and spirituality of human maturation. She is the author of 10 books and numerous articles and audio recordings.

The Catholic Church has always remained committed to the need for the office of the bishop to preserve the Church’s unity and the integrity of its apostolic faith. However, it is legitimate to wonder whether in the 21st-century global Church a new vision of church leadership is needed, one that remains faithful to our tradition but which is also open to the unique demands of our time. This presentation will review basic Catholic teaching regarding the office of the bishop, and then propose some models for a new vision of episcopal leadership.

Dr. Richard Gaillardetz is the Margaret and Thomas Murray/James J. Bacik Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Toledo, Ohio. He has published over 80 articles and has authored seven books. He has received numerous awards from the Catholic Press Association. A frequent conference speaker, Dr. Gaillardetz was an official delegate on the U.S. Methodist-Catholic Ecumenical Dialogue and served on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Theological Society of America.

How did I get this busy? The contemporary busy culture can learn a great deal from the contemplative culture of the monastic life. In this presentation, Abbot Christopher Jamison will help people refocus theirs lives on to a deeper level so that they can hear God’s Word speaking to them. The work of helping people to find sanctuary is a powerful means of evangelization in today’s culture. Evangelization by contemplation can reach those who run away from evangelization by amplification.

Fr. Christopher Jamison is the Abbot of Worth, a Benedictine Monastery in Sussex, England. Originally from Australia, he became a monk in 1973 and was elected Abbot in 2002. He is President of the International Commission on Benedictine Education. Due to the success of the BBC-TV broadcast “The Monastery,” a series based at Worth Abbey, Fr. Jamison has appeared on numerous British TV and radio shows and has been a speaker at numerous conferences and gatherings.

This workshop will explore ways of encouraging greater collaboration between priests, deacons, religious and laity in furthering the work of the Church. Today’s challenges call for greater cooperation and collaboration, and it is critical that those involved in ministry find more effective ways to accomplish this.

With so many licensing rules and regulations, even the best of early childhood educators can be overwhelmed and wonder “why?” Come and enjoy a lively, thought-provoking workshop that will answer that question for you, and remind you why you began your journey with young children.

Keri Krout, mother of seven children, is owner of Hand in Hand Child Development Center, based in Vancouver, Wash. She is also a book author and a columnist for Vancouver Family Magazine. A member of the Association for the Education of Young Children, Krout speaks at events throughout all the Western states, as well as Oklahoma, Minnesota and West Virginia.

2-13 Seeds of Faith: Practices to Grow a Healthy Spiritual Life (Workshop Closed)

The parable of the sower reveals that God plants seeds of spiritual significance in every moment and event in our lives. Our challenge is to prepare the soil of our lives to nurture these seeds so that they may take root and bear the fruit of faith, hope and love. As any good gardener knows, it takes discipline and trust to coax new life from a seed. The same is true in the spiritual life. Thankfully, Scripture and the Christian tradition are loaded with essential practices to help us become the best “soul gardeners” we can be. Join us as we explore how practices such as seeking, solitude, friendship, meditation, worship, community, celebration and service bring us closer to God.

Jeremy Langford is a publisher, writer and speaker. He is the Director of Communications for the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Langford has presented at Theology-on-Tap and numerous parish talks across the Chicago Archdiocese, as well as being a popular presenter at retreats and conferences nationwide. He is principal of the Langford Literary Agency, and serves as an agent for select authors and as a consultant to various religious publishing houses.

“The Dark Knight” was the hit film of 2008. Whether we like it or not, its portrayal of evil, redemption and hope has an impact on those with whom we work and what we might like to impart to them about where God can be found in the dark night of the soul. This session will give very practical advice about what we say to those struggling to find God in tough times.

Jesuit priest Richard Leonard is Director of the 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 the Jesuit Theological College in Australia. Fr. Leonard’s latest book is “Movies That Matter: Reading Film Through the Lens of Faith.”

2-15 Safe School Ambassadors: Harnessing Student Power to Stop Cruelty, Bullying and Violence

While adults can get better at identifying and addressing gossip, put-downs, bullying and other forms of cruelty, too often adults overlook the capacity of young people to effectively address these problems. Unfortunately, most students believe they have only two options: 1) turn away or ignore, thus condone the teasing and bullying; or 2) “tell” on their peers. Using a strengths-based approach, this workshop will introduce research-based strategies to identify, empower and equip key bystanders to interrupt and prevent mistreatment to create a caring and positive learning environment from the inside-out.

John Linney, a master speaker and trainer, is Executive Director of Impact Coaching and Speaking, Inc., based in Texas. He has presented at institutes, businesses and not-for-profit organizations throughout the United States and Mexico. Linney has also served as staff member in public and private schools and as a youth development educator for the past 12 years. He has been keynote at several events and has been a featured guest on numerous local and national television and radio programs.

Or, another way to say this: “How to be truly, powerfully and authentically Catholic.” The foundation of every ministry requires an awareness and a willingness to reverence other voices, other ways, other cultures – and to affirm the presence of God, long before we came along! Let’s talk story and offer nuts-and-bolts ideas! Bring your hesitation, your doubt, your fear, for we are entering uncomfortable territory!

Storyteller, speaker, composer and singer, Jesse Manibusan is Director of Two by Two Ministries. With experience as music minister, catechist and youth worker, he travels throughout the United States, Canada and beyond, appearing at our Los Angeles Congress, the National Catholic Youth Conference, the National Conference of Catholic Youth Ministers, and several other major events. Manibusan has also recorded several CDs.

Catholic social teaching is an evolving body of doctrine that responds to contemporary challenges with the resources of our faith tradition. This session explores Pope Benedict XVI’s contributions to the heritage of our social teaching through a consideration of his major addresses and his latest social encyclical.

Fr. Bryan Massingale, a priest of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, is Professor of Theology at Marquette University. He is a moral theologian who focuses upon Catholic social thought, liberation theologies, African-American religious ethics, and racial justice. Fr. Massingale has authored more than 60 articles in professional and popular publications. A past Congress keynoter, he is President-Elect of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and Convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium.

Since the beginning of time, we are a part of God’s unfolding Love. We tell the story. We live the story. We are drawn into the story at baptism and find ourselves ever more deeply in its unfolding in community and worship as we proclaim and become the Good News. We either contribute to making it come true, or put glitches and dead ends in the story. But because the story is one of Incarnation and Resurrection, all is redeemable and all is filled with the Spirit of the Word and Grace abounding. Come find out where you fit in the story and what God expects of us in the face of tests, challenges and surprises. Always we tell stories!

Dr. Megan McKenna is a theologian who tells stories, a traveling preacher, and a teacher who travels extensively in Southeast Asia, South America, South Africa, Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. She lectures and presents parish missions on interreligious dialogue and issues of justice, peace and Scripture, storytelling and cross-cultural mission. Dr. McKenna is author of nearly 100 tapes/CDs and 35 books, the most recent: “Playing Poker with Nana” and “Harm Not the Earth.”

This presentation debunks a number of myths about biblical fundamentalism and presents a more accurate understanding of this influential movement. The aim of the presentation is to give Catholics an accurate understanding of fundamentalism so that they are better equipped to respond to fundamentalist Christians.

A native of Sydney, Australia, Dr. Matthew Ogilvie taught at the Australian Catholic University and at the Catholic Institute of Sydney before moving to the United States in 2003 to teach at Boston College. He is presently Assistant Professor and Online Education Coordinator in the School of Ministry at the University of Dallas. Dr. Ogilvie has given numerous presentations on adult education in the United States and Australia and has made a dozen television appearances both in Dallas and Sydney.

Against the backdrop of God’s love for all persons, Dr. Elizabeth Crabb Breen’s scientific expertise on HIV/AIDS and Fr. Chris Ponnet’s experience working with those living with HIV/AIDS provide the framework for this session. Join Dr. Breen and Fr. Ponnet to learn the latest facts about HIV/AIDS, as well as liturgical and action steps to take in order to walk with those living with HIV/AIDS.

In 1999, Fr. Chris Ponnet, a priest for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, was appointed by Cardinal Roger Mahony as his Liaison and Director for the Office of Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry. Fr. Ponnet also serves as Pastor at St. Camillus Center for Pastoral Care in Los Angeles. He is a board-certified Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he works with persons infected or affected with HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Elizabeth Crabb Breen is an immunologist with more than 20 years of experience in HIV/AIDS research at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she is Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine. She has also served on the Los Angeles Archdiocese AIDS Education Task Force/Human Sexuality Committee since 1989. Dr. Breen speaks frequently at national and international scientific meetings and at Los Angeles-area Catholic schools and parishes.

When Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” his followers could not conceive of the many gifts that would be given us through the Eucharist. In this workshop, through a blending of psychology and spirituality – in presentation, discussion, story and guided remembrance – we will explore some of those gifts. This workshop is based on Dr. Nancy Reeves’ forthcoming book, “Gifts of the Eucharist.”

Dr. Nancy Reeves is a Canadian clinical psychologist, spiritual director and author. She presents regularly in eight countries showing how psychology can enhance our spiritual journey. She was keynote at Spiritual Directors International and at the St. Vincent de Paul annual meeting. Dr. Reeves is author of many books, including “Gifts of the Eucharist” and “Spirituality for Extroverts.”

Youth retreats are expensive, but they are worth every penny spent on them. This session will look at the youth retreat conceptually: What makes a youth retreat effective, how long a retreat should be, whether the retreat should be voluntary or mandatory, the relative merits of using an outside retreat director or a parish team, the various roles of adult and peer leaders, the choice of a retreat center, the cost factor, and various retreat models, themes and activities.

Sr. Kieran Sawyer is nationally known for her work in youth ministry, adolescent catechesis and character education. She is founder and Director Emeritus of TYME OUT, a youth retreat center that has served parishes and schools of the Milwaukee Archdiocese for 30 years. At present, Sr. Sawyer, a School Sister of Notre Dame, is traveling from diocese to diocese, preparing catechists to facilitate the “Learning about LIFE” family-based anti-abuse program, and presenting other catechetical workshops.

2-23 “You Were Once an Alien in a Foreign Land”: The Church and Immigration Issues

The United States can uniquely boast of a strength and vitality born of its historical experience of immigration and cultural diversity. At this time in our history as a nation, socio-political and economic complexities threaten to obscure our efforts to continue to develop and build upon our past experience. This workshop will discuss the issues from a Catholic perspective of the respect for human dignity and the teaching tradition of the Church.

Bishop Oscar Solis is the first Filipino-American bishop ordained in the United States, and the first bishop ordained at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. Bishop Solis is Vicar for the Office of Ethnic Ministry for the Los Angeles Archdiocese and Director of the Office of Justice and Peace. He assists with the coordination of outreach pastoral efforts for all ethnic groups in the archdiocese, where Mass is celebrated each week in 42 different languages.

2-24 The Contemporary Astrophysical Response to Atheism: Evidence of Universal Creation in Big-Bang Cosmology

Fr. Robert Spitzer will respond to some of the popular contemporary positions on atheism by providing evidence from contemporary astrophysics that directly contradicts these atheists’ scientific pretentions. Ironically, these atheistic contentions are surfacing at a time when the evidence of a creation from physics has never been more powerful. He will give a synopsis of the evidence discussed in his forthcoming book, “New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy.”

Professor, writer and speaker, Fr. Robert Spitzer has served as President of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., since 1998, and is founder of its Gonzaga Institute of Ethics. The Jesuit priest has authored three books in addition to many scholarly articles and journal pieces. Fr. Spitzer has addressed national and international audiences, has started seven academic centers, and is involved in a variety of different educational, philosophical and scientific organizations.

The journey of faith is one of the most challenging journeys. Does God really exist? If yes, how do I encounter God? What does God expect of me? This presentation will examine the divine-human relationship, using Francis Thompson’s classic poem, “The Hound of Heaven,” which focuses on the pursuit of the human soul by God.

For the past 19 years, Sr. Maureen Sullivan has been a member of the Theology Department at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. The Dominican Sister of Hope from New York also serves as a Religion Consultant for William H. Sadlier, a position that enables her to speak nationally to Catholic schoolteachers, catechists and diocesan leaders. Sr. Sullivan is author of “101 Questions and Answers on Vatican II” and “The Road to Vatican II: Key Changes in Theology.”

How can we organize all the manifold activities of an active parish? What is at the center of parish life? This workshop will show how the celebration of the Eucharist is the organizing principle for all of parish life; how the rhythm of the Eucharistic celebration is one with that of the Gospels and with personal conversion. We will suggest criteria for evaluating the various parish activities in the light of the parish celebration of the Eucharist.

Fr. Michael Sweeney is President of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (OSPI) at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif., where he also teaches. He is co-founder and former Co-Director of the Catherine of Siena Institute in Colorado. Fr. Sweeney has developed and offered retreats and talks in over 50 U.S. diocese and in Canada and Indonesia on the theology of the laity, vocation and pastoral governance.

2-27 Crossing Paths with Paul: A Pauline Year Journey into His Homeland and His Heart

In keeping with the theme of this “Year of St. Paul,” through images and sound, we will virtually visit major pilgrimage sites in Turkey (Tarsus, Antioch, Ephesus) to discover insights into the life, convictions and passions of this most significant figure in the formation of our Christian faith. In keeping with the goal of pilgrimage, we will explore what this means to how we live today.

Forty years a priest of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, Msgr. Thomas Welbers has been Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption in Claremont, Calif., for nearly 15 of those years. Msgr. Welbers has also served as a member of the Liturgical Commission and as instructor in many educational programs. Since 2005, he has focused on the Orthodox, Christian and Muslim faiths through preparing for and leading pilgrimages to Turkey.

We do not simply work with children. We make a difference in children’s lives. We are powerful agents for the formation of our Church’s and our country’s future. Award-winning educator Char Wenc shares stories and practical techniques that guide the heart and character of your students: Respect is an attitude we model, cooperation is a skill we learn; understand what motivates a student’s behavior and effective response; and how to encourage yourself in this challenging profession. Yes, it can be done!

Char Wenc is a nationally recognized author and speaker with teaching experience at all levels from primary to graduate school. For the past 30 years, she has been a professional communicator – as a clinical counselor, business consultant and television speaker. Wenc is also a professor in the doctoral programs at both the Adler School of Professional Psychology and Loyola University in Chicago. She is author of three books, including “Cooperation: Learning through Laughter.”

2-80 Korean Workshop
Challenges of Catechesis for Korean-American Youth and Young Adults: How Do We Ignite Their ‘Yes’?

This workshop will explore challenges that Korean Catholic Churches face in the 21st century where the “national church” is losing its identity. Many young Korean Catholics do not find Korean Catholic communities their “home” any more. Why? What will bring them home? How can we ignite their “yes” in our home parishes?

Katherine Ja-Eun Cho is currently the Director of Ministry with Youth Office in the Diocese of San Bernardino. She holds a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans. She is a Master Catechist and certified spiritual director. She has been involved in ministry for over 25 years in music, liturgical, religious education, adult faith formation, youth and young adult ministries. Cho has taught all age levels from primary to high school grades and has been a renowned speaker for parenting workshops. She is an experienced retreat director and offers spiritual direction in her personal time.

2009 RECongress Period 2

Religious Education Congress
Friday, February 27, 2009
1:00 - 2:30 pm

2009 RECongress Period 2

Religious Education Congress Friday, February 27, 2009 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Religious Education Congress
Friday, February 27, 2009
1:00 - 2:30 pm