Spring Enrichment talks about love

They had gathered at The College of Saint Rose in Albany to hear her keynote address on this year's theme, "Love Beyond All Telling." The annual event is sponsored by the Albany diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC).

As she made her way up the aisle, Dr. Eipers turned in circles and spoke about "magic" and "love." But when she made her way onto the stage, she doffed the robe and said, "We don't need magic or a wizard's robe to talk about love beyond all telling. All we need to tell about is the Word becoming flesh. All we need to tell is Jesus Christ."

The keynoter, who is director of catechetics for a publisher of books for religious education programs, used humor, an energetic stage-presence and story-telling to drive home the key points of her address to the several hundred catechists and pastoral leaders who attended. She also asked probing questions:

* How do we proclaim what is beyond all telling?

* What means can be used to convey more effectively who Jesus is? * How can teachers overcome obstacles to call people to discipleship?

"God's love is creative and insightful, and that love adapts itself to people in different times so that others may know God's love," she said. "God asks us to love each other the way that Jesus loves us. As Catholics, we proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ. As catechists, we are asked by Jesus to 'walk our talk' and, as the kindergartners say, 'show and tell' what it is like to be somebody who knows Jesus Christ."

The speech drew praise from those at Spring Enrichment, including Suzanne Schultze, coordinator of religious education at St. Matthew's parish in Voorheesville.

"Dr. Eipers gave a wonderful presentation," she said. "Her humor really brought home the points she wanted to make in her speech. She has inspired me to go back to my parish and try to inspire our catechists to tell their stories to our students, to tell them of God's love for us all."

Barbara Urgento, from St. Henry's parish in Averill Park, said, "I appreciated Dr. Eipers' use of humor and stories to get her ideas across. Her use of stories and humor brought spirit into our hearts and made [her message] more tangible for all of us. We can use what she has told us to tell about God's love."

At the opening of Spring Enrichment, Mary Harrison, associate director of youth ministry in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, was presented with the 2002 Bishop Edwin B. Broderick Award.

Jeanne Schrempf, executive director of the OEC, cited Mrs. Harrison "for over 20 years of dedicated service to youth ministry."

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard noted that Mrs. Harrison's great "spirit and passion for her ministry with teens and youth in the Albany Diocese has been instrumental in the development of a strong, comprehensive diocesan youth ministry program. She has continually displayed leadership and compassion in her ministry of catechesis and pastoral care over the years."

(05-16-02) [[In-content Ad]]