Monday, June 25, 2012

Catechism Now in E-Book Form



     An  e-Catechism  of the Catholic Church      



The Catechism of the Catholic Church is now available at the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) as an e-book. Available in English only, it can be accessed via: 

www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/index.cfm

 
This format will make the Catechism even more accessible to people, explained Bishop John Wester, chair of the USCCB Communications Committee. “It is free to anyone who has access to the Internet.”

 
Said Bishop David Ricken, Chair of the USCCB Evangelization and Catechesis Committee, "(This) means that millions will be able to find the Church’s teachings on their tablets, their smartphones, and their laptops.”


The new e-book version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church resides on the USCCB’s flagship website:


This webpage receives more than two million visitors per month, with approximately two trillion bytes of data delivered.





Friday, June 22, 2012

Two Dates to Note for the "Year of Faith"


Preparing for the Year of Faith

An Online Retreat  and  A Webinar
The Catholic Church will celebrate a Year of Faith from October 2012 through November 2013.  Dr. Joe Paprocki and Loyola Press offer two ways for catechists and catechetical leaders to prepare for the Year of Faith.


Joe Paprocki, D. Min.

Online Summer Retreat

Begins on Monday, July 30, 2012

Joe will lead a free, online retreat on his Loyola Press blog called "Catechist’s Journey" --

www.catechistsjourney.com


The retreat will be titled Preparing for a Year of Faith. Over the course of 4 weeks (July 30 through August 24), you will be invited to take a few minutes each day at your convenience to “gather” here on my blog as we seek to encounter Christ and to deepen our understanding of the truths of our faith as given to us in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We will also draw from my book A Well-Built Faith devoting one week to each of the 4 pillars of the Catechism: the Creed, Sacraments, Morality, and Prayer.

More information about this online retreat, Preparing for a Year of Faith, will appear on my blog soon.

@@@@@@@@@


• A Webinar:  Teaching During a Year of Faith

Tuesday, August 28, 2012, 7:00 PM Central Time

This free Webinar will help catechists to focus on teaching during the year of faith -- by fostering transformation of hearts and minds, not just the passing along of information. The Webinar will focus on how to make our catechesis more evangelizing. It should be a great opportunity for experienced catechists and even those who are new to catechetical ministry.

Registration information will be available soon on Dr. paprocki's blog!

 
Note: Joe Paprocki, D.Min., is the National Consultant for Faith Formation for Loyola Press, Chicago IL. He can be reached via e-mail at: paprocki@loyolapress.com  -- He will be in the Archdiocese of Louisville KY to give a workshop on Saturday, September 15, 2012. For information, contact the Archdiocesan Office of Lifelong Formation and Education (OLFE) at  OLFE@archlou.org  and/or 502.448.8581.




Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Catechist Formation Classes -- June 19 to August 9 (2012)


Catechist Formation Classes   --    Summer 2012


Archdiocese of Louisville Ministry Institute  (ALMI)


  Information and Pre-Registration:   
     
      Ms. Linda McLemore

      E-Mail: lmclemore@archlou.org
      Phone: (502) 448-8581, ext. 1324

June 19  and  August 6


Faith-Development

Class Dates: (Choose One)



Tuesday, June 19, 2012  --   1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.


Monday, August 6, 2012  --  1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Presenter:


June 19 --  Dr. Carole Goodwin, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Archdiocese of Louisville


August 6 --  Dawn Della Bella, Director of Lifelong Formation and Education, St. Albert the Great Parish

This is a study of the developmental nature of faith and the diverse expressions of faith formed by tradition, culture, and life experience.


Location:

Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive          http://www.archlou.org/flagetcenter/

Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)

Catechist Credit:
3 hours total: 2.5 hours applies toward the Associate Level in the content area of Faith Development and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation or 2.5 hours applies toward Catechetics and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation.



June 20  and  August 9

Introduction to Christology

 
Date:  Wednesday, June 20  -- 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Date:  Thursday, August 9  --  9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
 
Presenter:  Art Turner, Pastoral Associate, St. Stephen Martyr Parish

This class will provide a study of the Christian understanding of the person of Jesus and the impact it has on one’s practices.


Location:

Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive             http://www.archlou.org/flagetcenter/

Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)


Catechist Credit:
3 hours total: 2.5 hours applies toward the Associate Level in the content area of Introduction to Christology and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation or 2.5 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of Christology and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation







June 20

Sacraments of Initiation

Date: Wednesday, June 20 -- 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Presenter:  Thomas Malewitz
Theology Instructor, St. Xavier High School

This session is designed for high school religious educators, as a resource for the Bishops’ curriculum Introduction to the Sacraments course. This session will investigate the ritual prayers of the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist to come to a clearer understanding of these powerful sacraments for a high school student. In these transition years, of implementing the Bishops’ new curriculum, having a renewed sense of the Sacraments will help educators offer further and engaging activities on how to reach the students where they are and bring them to new and contemporary experiences of faith and grace in the lives.

Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)


Site:  Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive             www.archlou.org/flagetcenter/

Catechist Credit:
3 hours -- applies towards Theology in the content area of Sacraments






June 20  and  August 7



Overview of Catechetical Ministry  --  Part II


Class Dates:  (Choose One)



Wednesday, June 20, 2012 -- 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 -- 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.


Presenters:
Denise Puckett  --  Archdiocesan Consultant for Catechetical Ministry
Maureen Larison  --  Archdioc. Consultant for Adult Formation/Initiation

This course will focus on the catechetical process in passing on the faith, introduce some of the distinguishing characteristics of the Catholic Church, review the process of Catechist Formation, and introduce practical resources from the Media Center.


Location:  Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive        www.archlou.org/flagetcenter/


Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)





Catechist Credit:
3 hours total:  applies toward Associate Level (Required) in the content area of Overview of Catechetical Ministry






June 21  and  August 8

Introduction to Prayer

Class Dates: (Choose One)

Thursday, June 21, 2012  --  9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Wednesday, August 8, 2012  --  1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Presenter:  Denise Puckett
Archdiocesan Consultant for Catechetical Ministry

This will be a study of the diverse forms of individual and communal prayer and identification of one’s own preferred style of prayer.

 
Location: Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive        www.archlou.org/flagetcenter/

 
Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)


Catechist Credit:
3 hours total: 2.5 hours applies toward the Associate Level in the content area of Introduction to Prayer and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation or 2.5 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of Prayer and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation




June 21 and August 8


Introduction to the Sacraments

Class Dates: (Choose One)
Thursday, June 21, 2012 -- 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.


Wednesday, August 8, 2012 -- 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Presenter:  Maureen Larison -- Archdiocesan Consultant for Adult Formation and Initiation

Class members will explore the meaning of the sacraments, the role they have in the Church, and the principles of liturgical celebration of the sacraments.


Location:  Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive           www.archlou.org/flagetcenter/



Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)


Catechist Credit:
3 hours total: 2.5 hours applies toward the Associate Level in the content area of Introduction to Sacraments and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation or 2.5 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of Sacraments and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation



June 22
 
 
Catechist Retreat  Day:  The Calls of Our Lives


Friday, June 22, 2012



9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.


Location:   Epiphany Parish
Lighthouse
914 Old Harrods Creek Road

Louisville KY 40223

Retreat LeaderDeacon Lucio Caruso
Director of Case Management & Family Support Services,
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Louisville

Cost: $25.00 (Includes lunch. Check payable to ALMI.)


Please Pre-Register!

Linda McLemore --  E-Mail: lmclemore@archlou.org  --  Ph: (502) 448-8581, ext. 1324

Catechist Credit:   6 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of Spiritual Formation


Description
The heart of vocation is not so much a “call” that comes from outside of my life as much as an attentive listening to my life telling me who I am. It is from the fabric of my life’s experiences and relationships that God’s voice echoes and resounds. My personal history and God’s involvement with me unfolds in an individual narrative that is “my story” – a story different from every other story ever told. And from that story, comes God’s call, my personal vocation. Thomas Merton said it all so well: “Each one of us has a vocation and for each one of us, there is only one thing necessary: to fulfill our destiny, according to God’s will. To be what God wants us to be.” Our retreat day through a combination of prayer, reflections, and spiritual exercises will provide an opportunity to better name our personal vocation and gain some practical tools for discerning God’s unfolding purposes for our lives into the future.



June 25 and 26


Monday and Tuesday (6/25-26)  --

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day



Presenter: Sal Della Bella
Director of Faith-Formation, Archdiocese of Louisville

Utilizing the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, this course will provide an in depth look at current moral issues. Participants will gain a better understanding of Catholic Morality, Social Justice and ways to teach both to their learners. Practical contemporary methods will be provided to use in the classroom.

Location: Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive        www.archlou.org/flagetcenter


Cost: $20.00 (check payable to ALMI)

Catechist Credit:

12 hours total: 6 hours towards Theology in the content area of Morality and 6 hours towards Theology in the content area of Social Justice.





 August 6


Images of God

Date: Monday, August 6 -- 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Presenter:  Maureen Larison, Consultant for Adult Formation and Initiation, Archdiocese of Louisville



Partcipants will explore personal and communal images of God and how they impact our sense of community and ministry.

Location: Flaget Center, 1935 Lewiston Drive     www.archlou.org/flagetcenter

Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)

Catechist Credit:
3 hours total: 2.5 hours applies toward the Associate Level in the content area of Images of God and .5 hours applies toward Spiritual Formation or 2.5 hours in Theology in the content area of Spirituality and .5 applies toward Spiritual Formation




  *  See listings for August 7, 8, and 9 above!  










Monday, June 18, 2012

Fortnight for Freedom -- June 21 to July 4


    Fortnight For Freedom


The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced a special time for prayer and education throughout 14 days upcoming  --  from June 21, the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of religious persecution to July 4, Independence Day.

June 21 through July 4 will be called the “Fortnight for Freedom."  It will be dedicated to prayer, study, catechesis, and public action about both our Christian and American heritage of liberty.


For more information, click right, then left here  ---  http://www.archlou.org/fortnight/
 
For additional materials, check here --
 
http://www.archlou.org/liberty/
 
 
Fortnight for Freedom  --  A Letter from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

May God bless you! I write to you about an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith.
The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people—the Catholic population—and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced recently that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, some Catholic employers will be compelled either to violate their consciences or to drop health coverage for their employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give these institutions one year to comply.

We cannot—we will not—comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God-given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. I ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we should join together in prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice will prevail, and religious liberty will be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision. Thank you for your attention to this vital issue. You and your families are in my prayers.

Sincerely yours in our Lord,

+  Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D.
Archbishop of Louisville, Kentucky


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

More News re: Catechetical Sunday 2012


Get online materials for free download for Catechetical Sunday 2012.




Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated during the weekend of September 16 this year. The theme will be Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization.



“Before Catholics can go out and evangelize, they must be evangelized,” said Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis for the U.S. Catholic Bishops. “We celebrate catechists because . . . . they have a crucial role in the New Evangelization.”


New Evangelization


The New Evangelization is the effort to rekindle the faith in Catholics whether practicing or not.

It is a major focus of the Year of Faith, declared by Pope Benedict XVI to begin on October 11, 2012 and to conclude on November 24, 2013.



Catechetical Sunday -- Sunday, September 16 (2012)



The theme for Catechetical Sunday 2012 will be:

"Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization"

The National Conference on Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) has materials to assist catechists and Catholic school teachers in embracing Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to be evangelizers.

These resources will boost parish celebrations on Catechetical Sunday and throughout the 2012-2013 year. They are provided free of charge. Find them on the Catechetical Sunday 2012 Resources webpage 

http://tiny.cc/m10nfw

This week, a feature on this internet page is called  Reawakening Enthusiasm in the Baptized for the Gospel Mandate by Msgr. James C. Turro.

Download a PDF version of Fr. Turro's work at  http://tiny.cc/u20nfw


NCCL will sell copies of printed prayer cards, family commitment cards, posters, and certificates in English and Spanish. Check for these here when you are ready to order your Catechetical Sunday materials:

www.nccl.org 

Other free resources include


• Theological Reflection


• Catechist-in-service


• Teaching Aids


• Parish Resources (parish bulletin inserts)




##################