Conference seeks to enhance those `echoing faith’ By Fabvienen Taylor
JACKSON — Everyone is a catechist.
“Catechist comes from `catechesis,’ which is a word from the Greek that means “to echo,” said Alice Hughes, director of the Offices of Faith Formation and Lay Ministry Development in the Diocese of Jackson.
“So everyone is called, obligated to echo the faith to which they have been called through their baptism,” she said.
Hughes wants people to know the upcoming catechetical conference is not only for catechists and/or persons working in adult faith formation ministry.
The primary purpose of the 2007 catechetical conference, “Catechesis: Encountering the Living Christ,” is to offer to catechists and those working in adult faith formation ministry various methods of enhancing what they do, according to Hughes.
“We want those to whom they minister, to really encounter Jesus in a living way,” she said.
“However, the conference is also for people not involved in those ministries directly,” said Hughes.
She stressed that parents of school-age children, as well as individuals currently not involved in any adult faith formation program, can attend the one-day conference at Madison St. Francis Church on Saturday, Sept. 15.
“Anybody can come to this,” Hughes said. “If you have small children, or children in middle or high school, you can come and learn about what they are being taught, in order to help them at home. Parents are their children’s primary educators, their first catechists.
“For those who don’t have children, or grown childrenwn, you can come to learn and/or explore what your parish may be able to do in terms of adult faith formation,” she said.
On the day of the conference, registration/exhibits/continental breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center.
At 10:15 a.m., Dr. Saundra Kennedy, national religion consultant for William H. Sadlier Publishing Company, will give the keynote address on the conference theme.
Kennedy holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from St. Mary Dominican College, New Orleans; a master of religious education from Loyola University, New Orleans; and a doctorate in education and religion from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary, New York City.
Lunch follows from 11:30 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. Afterwards, participants can attend two hour-long breakout sessions. The day ends at 3 p.m. with a closing prayer.
The cost is $20. People can register the day of the conference but are encouraged to pre-register by calling 601-960-8470.
This is the time of year parishes are gearing up their faith formation programs for all age groups, pre-K to adults.
In her keynote address, Kennedy will highlight that catechists, in their roles in parishes or Catholic schools, “are called to be the messengers or heralds of the Living Christ.
“Our personal encounter with Jesus motivates the evangelical spirit within each of us and challenges us to become the very best ‘heralds’ we can be,” according to Kennedy.
To that end, Hughes wanted the afternoon breakout sessions to be places “where people can come and learn how not to make God boring.
“That’s my whole philosophy — encountering the living Christ,” she said. “It’s an awesome theme but it’s not going to mean anything if we don’t show people, mentor people in how to encounter this living Christ.”
Lifeless programs and books do God an injustice, Hughes said.
“We’ve done a bang-up job of making God boring. And how can God be boring? God is God. God can’t be boring,” Hughes said.
There are eight break-out sessions and each will be offered twice.
“Saints Throughout the Seasons” (K-3rd grade) will be presented by Renee McAlister and Julie Brunet from Sadlier. It features hands-on activities to show ways to make the saints real and relevant to students.
Conde Canedy of Silver Burdett Ginn Publishing will lead “Answering the `How’ of Faith with Middle Schoolers.” This is a practical workshop that explores ways to proclaim, explain and celebrate the Good News of the Living Christ to 4th through 6th grades.
“Stop, Drop and Roll” will show participants how to be on fire with junior high (7th, 8th grades) without getting burned. The presenter will be Suzie Middleton, youth minister/director of religious education (DRE), Laurel Immaculate Conception Parish.
Exploring the tasks of catechists with youth, the roles of the catechists and the culture of the catechized will be Ken Richard, Gulf South Sales representitive with RCL Enterprises in “Catechists in Context of Comprehensive Youth Ministry.”
Those interested in finding out “What Does it Take to Have a Class Without Discipline Problems?” (K-8th) will discuss classroom management skills, developing a discipline plan, reaching children with different behavior styles and what it takes to have a great class.
Nancy Campeaux, consultant, Diocese of Baton Rouge, Child Protection Office and Sadlier will be the presenter.
“Adult Faith Formation Planning Strategies” will center on the adult learner, principles of learning, motivations, and concrete approaches to building a formal adult faith formation program.
Presented by Sister Marie Leonard, OSB (Benedictine), director of the Office of Lay Ministry, Diocese of Birmingham, this session is for DRE’s, Adult Faith Formation Teams, and persons wishing to enrich their programs.
“Evangelizing and Catechizing Through the RCIA Process” will explore ways to aid those going through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and team members to deepen their relationship with the living Christ.
Roy Jaeger, RCIA coordinator, Tupelo St. James Parish, is the presenter.
Ideas and suggestions for using music in the religious formation of children is the focus of “Integrating Music as a way to Effectively Engage Students,” which will be presented by Bernice “Bunny” Hatch, event presenter, OCP Publications.
means “to echo,” said Alice Hughes, director of the Offices of Faith Formation and Lay Ministry Development in the Diocese of Jackson.