Leaders to speak on religious education

"Heralds of Faith III: The Expanding Vision of Catechesis" will allow catechetical leaders from New York State to learn from nationally recognized experts in evangelization and catechesis. Bringing catechetical and youth ministry leadership together in one place is a wise undertaking, said Jeanne Schrempf, director of the Albany Diocese's Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC), because "it draws together all of the leadership of New York State and allows them to have an affordable conference. It also allows them to network with their peers in the state, build community and learn from one another."

Bases of meeting

That document, along with the Vatican's "General Directory of Catechesis" and the bishops' statement, "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us," calls for ongoing catechist formation as well as recognition by Catholics that catechesis is a life-long process. Speakers at the convocation will help catechetical and youth minister leadership develop creative catechetical programs.

The speakers include:

* Auxiliary Bishop Richard Malone of Boston, former secretary of education and director of religious education for the Archdiocese of Boston;

* Michael Corso, performer of the one-man show "The Gospel of Mark";

* Rev. John Hurley, CSP, executive director of the Secretariat for Evangelization of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops;

* Dianna Raiche, assistant executive director for Religious Education Assessment for the National Catholic Education Association's department of religious education;

* Kim Harris, Catholic musician;

* Judith Dunlap, founder of the Catechetical Renewal Network; and

* Carol Goodwin, director of youth ministry for the Louisville diocese and author of several books on youth ministry.

Adult education

Adult faith formation is more than a parish-sponsored lecture series, he said. He suggested strengthening sacramental preparation, and meetings with parents before and after a child's Baptism or First Communion, or with couples both before and after their wedding.

Other creative approaches are to use the parish bulletin for faith formation or to begin parish meetings with a reflection on Scripture or Church documents.

Formation

It is common for parents to put their children's faith formation before their own, she continued. While many adults will not attend a parish-sponsored lecture series, parents will come out in full force for meetings about sacramental preparation for their children. Because of that, parishes need to see such meetings as opportunities for adult faith formation.

Father Hurley said that Catholics need to learn to be comfortable sharing their faith with other people. "We don't even talk about faith in our own homes," he said.

(The convocation begins on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. with "The Gospel of Mark," a dramatic reading by Michael Corso. The event continues on Nov. 8 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. The fee is $35. For information, call 453-6630.)

(09-12-02) [[In-content Ad]]