Conference focus: How to spread faith

Catechesis is more than the classroom, and evangelization is more than education.

That was one message offered at the "Heralds of Faith" conference, held in the Diocese of Brooklyn and attended by more than 100 Catholics from across New York State.

The two dozen attendees from the Albany Diocese included Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, representatives from the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC), deacons, priests, parish directors of faith formation, and diocesan staff.

NDC's ABCs

The focus of the conference was the new National Directory for Catechesis (NDC), published last year by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The volume is a guide on effective strategies for evangelizing and catechizing Catholics of all ages.

Participants prayed together; attended workshops on social justice, the RCIA and inculturation; and listened to speakers on strategies for putting the document into practice.

The conference was "a chance to see how the Directory impacts on all ministries," said Joyce Solimini, associate director of sacramental and intergenerational catechesis at the OEC. "Everybody catechizes in their ministries in some shape or form."

In the culture

Bishop Joseph Malone of Portland, Maine, the keynote speaker, said, "We do not evangelize in a vacuum. In the Incarnation, God plunged right into the specific cultural situation. The insertion of the Gospel message into culture is necessary."

The importance of evangelizing within a specific cultural situation is new to this directory, said Michelle Stefanik, assistant director of youth ministry at the OEC.

"The Catholic Church can provide a sense of perspective that's a very good tool, especially with teenagers. We say, 'Let me meet you where you are, and walk this walk with you.'"

Training

The Directory also emphasizes proper formation and education for Catholics involved in catechesis.

Marie Venaglia, campus minister at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Christ Sun of Justice parish in Troy, agrees with that.

"I believe that is essential for every parish to have trained people in catechesis," she said, "so that people will feel comfortable going to them as a resource."

Reaction

Two people who attended the conference offered their reaction. Doreen Wright, faith formation director at St. Luke's Church in Schenectady, is looking to the NDC for guidance on how to help inactive and uninvolved Catholics feel "comfortable and welcomed" in the Church.

"How can I reach out to the community and help them learn about their faith?" she asked.

Kathie Sousa, director of spiritual care at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy and parish council president of Our Lady of Victory Church there, called the conference "wonderful and just what I needed. We need to live the life, walk the walk and not be afraid to tell it."

(12/15/05) [[In-content Ad]]