RECongress 2011 - Period 2: Friday, March 18, 2011

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The papacy of Pope Benedict XVI has been marred by a series of communications meltdowns, from an affair involving a Holocaust-denying bishop to public statements from Vatican officials which aggravated the sexual abuse crisis. This session examines those PR problems from the bird’s eye view of a veteran Vatican reporter, and uses them to teach five lessons about communications and media relations at any level of the Church.

John Allen is the prize-winning Senior Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and Senior Vatican Analyst for CNN. He is author of seven best-selling books and writes frequently on the Church for major national and international publications. Allen’s weekly Internet column, “All Things Catholic,” is widely read as a source of insight on the global Catholic Church.

Teresa of Avila said, “Our soul is like a castle created out of a precious jewel, with many very interesting rooms. You can live your whole life and never discover what it’s like inside.” Join us for this prayer experience as we take time to journey into this castle. It is an exploration of contemplative life in a contemporary setting. How can we make time in the midst of the busyness of modern life to meet God in the interior place of the soul? Using reflections and musical settings based on the early desert pilgrims, the writings of the mystics – ancient and contemporary – come discover the eternal beauty of God’s presence.

Tony Alonso currently serves as Director of Liturgical Music at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. As one of the most prominent voices in contemporary liturgical music, he has shared his musical gifts and knowledge of liturgy at conferences across the United States, Canada and Europe. His music appears in numerous hymnals throughout the world. In addition to several published collections of liturgical music, Alonso is author of many books for youth and youth ministers about liturgy.

Fr. Liam Lawton is Director of Music for the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin in Ireland. His latest collection of music, released in the United States and Europe, is titled “Healing Song.” His music has achieved platinum status in Ireland and has been translated into a number of European languages. Fr. Lawton has appeared on many TV and radio programs in Ireland and has recorded two PBS specials. He has presented concerts and workshops throughout the world.

The core concerns of young adults – relationships, career, self-identity, service – are all part of the larger question of vocation. How do adults in their 20s and 30s “hear the call” of their life’s vocation? How do they respond and live out that call? A panel of young adults will speak about their vocational journey and we will discuss ways that the community can support them in that journey. Dr. Tom Beaudoin will moderate.

How do we hold firm to the ancient practices of our faith and, at the same time, trust the Spirit to lead us in ever-emergent ways? The ministry of movement can be fertile ground for this commingling of ancient and new. Explore how to deepen personal and communal prayer by embodying processions, gesturing psalms, enacting Scripture, and embracing ritual actions. By committing your whole self to embodied practices of faith, find renewed energy for catechesis and liturgy, prayer and play, as well as the dynamic proclamation of the Good News!

5-05 Dressed for Success or Set Up for Failure? Exploring the Use of Violence in the Bible (Workshop closed)

One of the most troubling aspects of biblical literature is its use of violence and violent images. As a people of faith who use the Bible in prayer and reflection, how are we to understand and make sense of the violent images we find in the biblical text and in the “Word of God”? This workshop explores and evaluates the use of this imagery in both the Old and New Testaments, with particular attention given to the Book of the Prophets.

5-06 Friendship, Family and Community: Building a Firm Foundation in Early Childhood Catechesis (Workshop closed)

This workshop will present an appreciation of the wonderful gifts of family, friends and community members through the eyes of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. In discovering how we are all interconnected, we can teach children to extend love, trust and concern to others while building a strong faith foundation in relationship to God.

Continuing the vision that has spanned over 35 years, the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Early Childhood Advisory Board, a group of multi-talented catechists, educators and professionals, strives to help others appreciate the importance of experiencing God’s love in concrete ways during the formative preschool years of children ages 3 through 5. Workshops offered by the Early Childhood Board are informative, with a “hands-on” approach to religious formation.

Is your parish really reaching out to Hispanic youth? Are you wondering how to really capture the enthusiasm of these jóvenes and make them part of your community? Would you like to empower them and encourage them to share their giftedness with the rest of the parish family? Do you see lots of Hispanic youth in your neighborhood but haven’t figured out how to welcome them and get them involved in the parish? This session will explore different approaches to pastoral juvenil that are sure to give you renewed determination to build a parish community that truly serves the needs of our growing young Hispanic population.

Santiago Fernández has been active in parish music ministry for the past 25 years and is currently Music Minister at St. Damien of Molokai Parish in Pontiac, Mich. He is also a clinician/composer for OCP and a frequent speaker and workshop presenter at events and conferences around the country. Fernández has been a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Advisory Council and a music director for the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry.

This workshop will explore the various major initiation rites (Acceptance, Sending, Scrutinies, Sacramental Initiation), explain their significance, and provide tips for presiding, ritual music and the effective use of liturgical space.

After a long and painful hiatus, the term “apologetics” (defense of the faith) has resurfaced recently in a seeming deluge of textbooks. The majority of the texts are written by Evangelical Protestants who wish to correct the errors of the Catholics. Sadly, many of those who use the term are unfamiliar with its lengthy history within the Roman Catholic tradition and our attempt to move from defense to a posture of welcome and dialogue. This session will address the historic tension between apologetics and ecumenism. It will offer insights into Evangelical Protestant understanding of apologetics and Roman Catholic understanding of interfaith dialogue.

Dr. Greer Gordon is Director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, La. A Roman Catholic theologian, author and lecturer, she has been a faculty member at Regis College and the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. She also served as Director of the Office for Black Catholics in the Boston Archdiocese. Among her publications are “Heritage ad Vision” and “Symphonies of the Heart. In 1995, Dr. Gordon was the keynote speaker at the L.A. Congress, and the first woman baccalaureate speaker at Boston University and Regis College.

This session will explore some central questions for the way in which the Church lives in and shapes contemporary cultures. It will also explore the foundations of the “creative poiesis” of the Christian life.

Fr. James Hanvey, a member of the Society of Jesus, is a Theological Advisor to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in the United Kingdom. He is also a Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Heythrop College at the University of London, England. A much traveled speaker and teacher in Europe, South Africa, Australia and the United States, Fr. Hanvey has lectured and taught widely in systematic theology and Ignatian spirituality and written about the church in postmodern culture.

The teaching of Jesus draws from a peculiar and – at the time – unimaginable claim that all people are our sisters and brothers. This fundamental tenet of our faith is the foundation for an ethic of radical compassion that is at the heart of all remarkable Christian witness and social ministry. Interestingly, at the heart of all faith-filled care for the poor and vulnerable is not political engagement but rather a spiritual transformation. The language of metanoia is a critical component of any adequate rendering of the Christian commitment to social renewal, healing and restoration.

5-12 Don’t Drink the Holy Water … Eucharist and the Hungers of the Human Heart

The Eucharist offers us more gift than we could ever imagine ... more challenge than we often like to realize. This session will provide a wonderful opportunity for participants to nurture their own faith. It will also offer ways to invite children to enter more deeply into this great mystery (including ideas for those who prepare children for first communion). Through video, demonstration and story, Fr. Joe Kempf offers a simple look at the great gift – and challenge – of the meal that feeds the deepest hungers of the human heart.

Learn through experiential exercises the pathway of peace with the same three steps of forgiveness Azim Khamisa used to forgive the murderer of his son.

This workshop unfolds the challenges of living a “faith walk” amid daily crises. It highlights biblical texts as the backdrop of the workshop and enables its participants to come into a deeper understanding of the activity of God in their lives. (This session includes meditation and a discussion.)

5-15 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The Real History of Jewish-Christian Relations

Jews and Christians, when considering the history of our relations, tend to focus on the negative, the pain and the suffering. In this workshop, we will look at the complete picture of the historic relations, including the times and places of cooperation, collaboration and constructive relations. While there have been difficulties, there have also been times when Jews and Christians lived together in peace and coexistence. This workshop will allow us to acknowledge the totality of our relations and put current relations in their proper historic perspective.

Rabbi Michael Mayersohn has been a rabbi for over 30 years, serving synagogues in Massachusetts and California. He is currently Director at the Alliance for Christian and Jewish Studies, based in Southern California. For the last seven years the former spiritual leader of Temple Beth David in Westminster, Calif., has devoted himself entirely to teaching in the interfaith community; he has taught at over 25 churches in Southern California and Arizona. This is his second appearance at the Religious Education Congress.

5-16 Structure for Success: Catechist Tips that Replace SURVIVE with THRIVE (Workshop closed)

Make the most effective use of time within the religious education class by structuring for success. Session participants will consider “housekeeping” tips, grouping activities, classroom routines, student behavior, teaching procedures, and ways to organize the classroom environment for success.

Dr. Patricia McCormack is Director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Office of Formative Support for Parents & Teachers, located in Arlington, Va. She is an international consultant to the China Institute of Technology and the Marymount Institute in Rome. With over 30 years as a teacher at the junior high through college levels, Dr. McCormack has written numerous articles, several books and is author of the “Parent Partnership Handbook” series of Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine.

5-17 Amazing Grace: A Story of Survival, Faith and Hope on America’s Death Row (Workshop closed)

In this workshop, Juan Meléndez will share his remarkable story of survival, faith and hope as an innocent man who spent nearly 18 years on Death Row. He will relate how he was touched by the grace of God even in his darkest moments of despair. He will speak to the powerfulness of his mother’s prayers as she prayed three rosaries on her knees every day – praying for a miracle that would prove her son’s innocence. He will explain how he finally found peace on Death Row when he learned to put all his faith and trust in God. Juan’s story will also highlight the many problems of the death penalty system.

Juan Meléndez spent nearly 18 years on Florida’s Death Row for a crime he did not commit. Since his exoneration and release on January 3, 2002, he has shared his inspirational story with tens of thousands of people across the United States, Canada and Europe. Meléndez’s story is featured in the internationally acclaimed documentary, “Juan Meléndez 6446.” He also serves as a member of the Board of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Witness to Innocence.

5-18 Biblical Apocalyptic Literature – Exploring the Richness of Dynamic Imagery

The aim of this session is to make the message and imagery of apocalyptic writings accessible to the average, church-going Catholic. We will begin with a discussion of frequently used symbols found in Scripture and then explore how Catholics understand apocalyptic imagery. We will discuss the apocalyptic images in the Book of Daniel and what they mean in light of Israelite history, and compare the images found throughout the Book of Revelation and their meaning in light of the Church’s mission. We will end with an example of how the Church continues to be apocalyptic in its spirituality, its liturgy and its sacramental life, continuing its mission to evangelize as it moves through history toward Christ’s return.

Southern California native Fr. William Nicholas was ordained for the San Francisco Archdiocese. He is presently Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Novato, Calif. Fr. Nicholas has participated in programs for continuing education of Catholic schoolteachers and presented numerous classes on Scripture and liturgy for both parishes and the archdiocese. He has also written Scripture reflections and guest commentaries for Catholic San Francisco, newspaper of the archdiocese.

Our God holds all creation firm and all of us. The stars of night and the planets hold firm. The seas and season hold firm (more or less). How do we hold firm? Who do we hold firmly? Where do we hold firm? What do we hold firmly and confront? The rhythm and the practice of holding firm yet trusting to move past borders and boundaries is essential to the meaning and expression of faith and love. It is nearly impossible to do alone – only in community with others can we hold onto our integrity and trust. Come hold onto others with grace.

5-20 Inter-Religious Dialogue and the Mission of the Church – An Asian Experience

For the Church in Asia, evangelization is by way of triple dialogue: dialogue with the poor, dialogue with cultures, dialogue with peoples of other religions. Such dialogue has been conducted in various ways by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, through its offices. Dialogue with the poor has led to bettering the task of human promotion. Dialogue with cultures has impelled the Church in Asia to foster inculturating the faith. Inter-religious dialogue with ancient religious and philosophical traditions has led to greater respect, harmony and a reduction of extremist violence in many Asian countries. Experiential cases demonstrate the positive impact, from dialogue of life to dialogue of theological exchange.

It used to be when our child turned 18, our parenting days were almost over. Not anymore. Today many 18- to 35-year-olds are still living at home or returning, unable to find work and having a difficult time moving into adulthood. This workshop will discuss the challenges we face parenting our young adults: supporting the transition into college or workplace; mentoring those not taking responsibility for their lives; dealing with children still living at home; and getting them to move out when appropriate and necessary.

How do I get into the mind of my fast-moving junior-high student? This workshop will show you that young people’s issues are found in their culture and expressed in popular music and media – and so are the solutions to their concerns. You will learn effective, practical and easy-to-use strategies to catechize through music they are already listening to. This approach works! Be prepared for a great inspiring workshop.

Anna Scally is President of Cornerstone Media, columnist for their Top Music Countdown online resource and host of their audio show, “Burning Issues.” She received the National Youth Ministry Performer/Artist/Author of the Year Award from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry. Scally has made over 2,100 public presentations at youth rallies, training events, retreats and adult education days, and has been a presenter at all the major conferences for religious educators in North America.

The pope and bishops are our teachers, the “official” Magisterium of the Church. We Catholics believe they can be “infallible” in a very-focused arena. But in other more case-specific matters, bishops are still our teachers, though not automatically right, e.g., Who should I vote for? Is this specific law or health-care reform moral or Catholic enough? In “good conscience” can I disagree with the bishops, and how free am I vs. how bound I am to obey? In this workshop we will discuss the boundaries of church authority and freedom of conscience. (For pastoral ministers, social justice advocates, teachers, catechists and interested public-minded citizens.)

5-24 Challenging and Encouraging Parents to Fulfill Their Primary Role in Faith Formation

Getting parents involved in faith formation can be a challenge. Many have just given up and take the we’ll-do-it-for-them approach. This rarely works. In this workshop we will explore the importance of parent involvement in faith formation and practical ways that we can teach, encourage and include parents in the character development of their children. The values we pass on and the faith we live make a difference in the lives of our children, not just here, but for eternity. Together we can encourage parents to take an active role in teaching values and faith to the next generation.

Wherever we work with parishes, the complaints are the same: “We can’t find people to volunteer”; “The young adults are nowhere to be found”; “Less than half of our people come to Mass anymore”; “Our contributions are down and we can’t make ends meet.” These are real concerns but there are solutions. We have helped staff teams and leaders create successful models for volunteer management, motivating young adults, connecting with inactives and increasing financial contributions. Every parish needs these but many don’t spend the time and energy necessary to make it happen. Discover which workable models might be implemented in your own parish.

So what characterizes the newest generation of young millennials? Having grown up in a post 9/11 world, they have soared to adolescence under a focus on safety, security, attention and technology. They expect both immediate reward and the ability for instant connection with the world at the tip of their fingers. What does all this have to do with ministry? That’s what this workshop will explore as we make connections between what’s going on inside and around these millennials and how it is challenging those in the Church to rethink how and who we should be ministering to today.

Choirs have a leading role in encouraging the Church to sing mindful of the new Roman Missal. Be ready to sing and experience how to make music come alive!

5-28 Feed the Shepherds or They’ll Eat the Sheep: Nurturing Healthy Ministers (Workshop closed)

Ministry is rewarding and life-giving but also challenging and, at times, difficult. Ordained and lay ecclesial ministers are as hungry to be nourished by God’s love, grace and wisdom as are the people they serve in ministry. Ignoring this hunger can lead to cynicism, apathy, burnout and … “sheep-eating”! This workshop will explore the practices and commitments that provide the rich nutrition ministers need to sustain and strengthen them as they strive to hold firm to their call to ministry.

Jacquelyne Witter is founding Director of “illuminare: Ministry to Ministers,” based in St. Paul, Minn., which provides church ministers with pastoral formation and spiritual renewal. Witter’s previous ministry experience includes serving as the Director of Ministerial Formation at St. John’s School of Theology-Seminary in Collegeville, Minn., and as Director of Catechesis and Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as well as parish and Catholic school ministry.

2011 RECongress Period 5

Religious Education Congress
March 19, 2011
1:00 - 2:30 pm

2011 RECongress Period 5

Religious Education Congress March 19, 2011 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Religious Education Congress
March 19, 2011
1:00 - 2:30 pm