GIFTS FOR THE KINGDOM 2012

Transcription

1 WORKSHOPS 1. Faith and Understanding: Helping Teens to Live and Love Their Catholic Faith Presenter: Rev. Bernard Bourgeois Are your teenage children or students rebelling at the thought of living their faith? This conference will explore ways parents, religious education classes and programs can assist teens in their search for truth, goodness, and God.. Rev. Bernard Bourgeois holds a BA in philosophy and Masters of Divinity and Arts in Theology from St. John s Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts. Ordained to the priesthood in 1995, he served parishes in Barre, Burlington, and Waterbury. He began teaching religion at Rice High School in 1998 and was appointed Principal in For several years he has written columns on faith for The Vermont Catholic Tribune and now Vermont Catholic. 2. Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Beauty of Faith Through the Eyes of St. Augustine Presenter: Dr. John Kenney Contemporary secular culture often regards religion as something to which unsophisticated people cling. Faith and reason are seen as opposed to each other. And faith seems like a weak substitute for knowledge, so that we believe in theological myths when we don t have scientific answers. But ancient Christians like St. Augustine understood faith differently. Believe so that you might understand was his motto. This workshop will reflect on St. Augustine s account of faith as a way towards knowledge of God. We will look at some short texts in which he explains how scripture and the sacraments can cure our souls so that we can come to know God. Dr. John Kenney, Ph.D. is a Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Michael s College in Colchester, VT. He is the author of The Mysticism of Saint Augustine (Routledge, 2005) and teaches courses on Ancient and Medieval Christianity. 3. Growing in Faith: Praying with the Scriptures for Children and Teens Presenter: Rev. James Dodson Page 1 of 5 This presentation considers how reading and meditating on the Sacred Scriptures can be used as a springboard for personal prayer and a way of growing in one's faith relationship with Jesus Christ. Special attention will be given to the events of the Mysteries of the Rosary as fleshed out in the Gospel accounts by which we come to know and love Jesus more deeply by learning about the significant moments of His life. As Jesus grew in age and wisdom, He prayed the Psalms during times of joy and those of great difficulty. We, like Jesus, can learn to use those same prayers to articulate to our heavenly Father how we are feeling spiritually at any given moment. To know that God shares our human condition in the person of Jesus Christ is a truly

2 consoling and reassuring thought not only for us, but especially for young people who struggle to address the challenges and trials of everyday life. Rev. James Dodson Fr. James C. Dodson is a native of Barre, Vermont. In 2004, he graduated from Concordia University in Montréal with a Bachelor's Degree in History and Minor in Theology. Upon finishing his undergraduate studies, Father Dodson began seminary formation at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland for two years. From 2007 until 2011, Father Dodson lived at the Pontifical North American College and studied at the Pontifical University of Thomas Aquinas where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Sacred Theology, and in 2011 completed a Master's Degree in Spiritual Theology. Father Dodson is presently assigned as Parochial Vicar at Christ the King Parish in Rutland, St. Patrick Parish in Wallingford, and Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Killington, and serves as chaplain and faculty member of Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Rutland, Vermont. 4. The Catechism of the Catholic Church: A Treasury of Church Teaching Presenter: Rev. Daniel White Rev. Daniel White is Vice-Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia of the Diocese of Burlington and the Diocesan Director of Vocations. 5. Women of Faith: Lives of Saints and Biblical Figures Presenter: Mrs. Lauren Patterson What is the vocation of woman? Blessed Pope John Paul II coined the now-familiar term "feminine genius" - what exactly is this genius of woman and how does it help effect God's plan for humanity? When we examine the lives of notable women in the Church's history, culminating with our Blessed Mother, we begin to see the incredible role that women can and have played in the life of the Church, the family, and the course of history. From the early days of the covenant to the female Doctors and more modern saints like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and St. Gianna Beretta Molla, we have a rich tradition to draw from in inspiring and informing our own journey to sainthood - the vocation of every human being. Come to explore and deepen your awareness of the beauty and power of these women of faith. Mrs. Lauren Patterson is the Director of Religious Education at St. John Vianney Parish in South Burlington. She holds a B.A. in Education Studies with minors in Music and Religion from The Catholic University of America and a M.T.S. from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington D.C. She is a wife and mother of two children ages 4 and 1 and is originally from upstate NY. She has also worked as a high school teacher and college campus minister. She loves serving the Church in Vermont and taking in the beauty and richness of the landscape here! Page 2 of 5

3 6. Living in Faith and Grace: The Power of the Sacraments Presenter: Dr. Alicia Jaramillo What is a sacrament? Why does the Church insist upon sacraments in God s plan for the salvation of mankind? This workshop is intended to help us think about these questions: to acquaint us with the meaning of the sacramental economy of salvation, to give us some insight into the importance of sacraments in making present the saving work of Christ in the Church. We will discuss how perceptible signs and symbols come to express divine realities and bring us into communion with the Living God; how, in the fundamental aspects of human living, the sacraments bring about Christ s union with the Church, which is the supreme sacrament of God s presence in the world; and how sacraments are wondrously fitted to the needs of man, who is by nature both physical and spiritual, and called to be partaker of the divine life. Dr. Alicia Jaramillo has a Master s Degree in Religious Studies from Yale University and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Boston College, and has written on St. Thomas Aquinas. She was formerly a professor of Philosophy at St. Michael s College in Colchester, Vermont. She is currently raising her two young boys, and this year will be teaching CCD at Ascension Parish in Georgia, Vermont and serving as a catechist for the Catechism of the Good Shepherd, a catechetical program for young children modeled on the Montessori method. 7. Living in God s Promise: Explaining Heaven and the Promise of Immortality to Children and Teens Presenter: Rev. Emmanuel Ajanma God, in a plan of sheer goodness, freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. He calls man to seek him, to love him with all his strength. (CCC) Therefore the purpose of creation is Everlasting Life with God in Heaven. It is only the possession of God in the Beatific Vision in Heaven that can completely satisfy man s desires. This presentation aims at instilling in our children and teens, powerfully motivating insights about Heaven and the Promise of Immortality and also inspires them to conform their lives to God s holy laws in order to ensure that their final destination is indeed life everlasting. Rev. Emmanuel Ajanma is the Administrator of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary-St. Louis Parish in Swanton, VT. Since his Sacerdotal Ordination in 2003, he has worked in different parishes and schools both here in the USA and in his native country, Nigeria. His priestly ministry has blessed the lives of many who have encountered him. Page 3 of 5

4 8. Faith and Dignity: Teaching Teens the Beauty and Importance of the Church s Respect Life Beliefs Presenter: Ms. Marie Antunes We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us (Encyclical Letter of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est). Confidence in our identity as children of God, beloved by the Father, is one of the greatest gifts we can bestow on the next generation. Join Marie Antunes, MA, to explore what we have come to know by faith and why the Church s teaching on the nature and dignity of the human person is so needed for the youth of today. Ms. Marie Antunes is the Marriage, Family & Respect Life Manager for Vermont Catholic Charities. She holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies with a concentration in Systematic Theology from the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. 9. Call to Faith and Service: Living Catholic Social Teaching Presenter: Rev. Dallas St. Peter What is Jesus asking of us in our time? He wants us to serve others, but how? This workshop will answer these necessary questions by looking to the foundational moral truths that help us to know how we can serve others in ways that will truly help them. It in turn will lead to building stronger families and through them strengthening society. Rev. Dallas St. Peter has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Vermont, a Master's in Divinity from Mount St. Mary's University and Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD and a Master's of Arts in Moral Theology also from Mount St. Mary's University and Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Burlington on June 9, Rev. St. Peter is currently serving as a full-time teacher at Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington, VT where he teaches Moral Theology, Catholic Social Teaching and Christian Decision Making. He resides at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Burlington. Page 4 of 5

5 WORKSHOPS OFFERED IN ROUND 1 ONLY 10. Discovering Anew Our Catholic Faith: The Year of Faith In Light of the New Evangelization Round 1 Only Presenter: The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Burlington The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Burlington received a Bachelor s Degree in Philosophy from Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick, RI and a Licentiate Degree in Sacred Theology (1972) and Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D) in 1983 from the Pontifical Gregorian University-Rome. He was ordained a priest in St. Peter s Basilica in Rome on December 17th, 1971 by James Cardinal Hickey and ordained to the Episcopacy as the 9th Bishop of Burlington on April 19, 2005 at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, Burlington, VT by The Most Reverend Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio of beloved memory. 11A.The Art of Teaching Religious Ed: Teaching Methodology Round 1 Only Presenter: Mrs. Lynn Mazza This workshop is designed for the Religious Ed teacher in grades K-6 with little or no professional teaching experience, or for anyone wanting to revitalize their lessons. The discussion will focus on maximizing the curriculum, including how to use the book interactively and the importance of review. Resources for enhancing your curriculum will be touched upon. Mrs. Lynn Mazza is a member of Our Lady of Grace Church in Colchester. She has taught Religious Education at both St. Ann s in Milton and Our Lady of Grace for a total of 14 years. She has also directed the Children s Liturgy of the Word program for nine years, and currently serves as a lector, on the Pastoral Council, and as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Professionally, she holds a Master s Degree in Education from Saint Michael s College, and holds 3 teaching endorsements from the University of Vermont in Early Childhood Elementary Education, and Reading. After six years in a classroom, she is currently a Reading Specialist in a K-2 school in Colchester, and teaches a graduate course in the evening for educators through the University of Vermont. WORKSHOP OFFERED IN ROUND 2 ONLY 11B.Lesson Planning and Classroom Management Round 2 Only Presenter: Mrs. Lynn Mazza This workshop will focus on lesson planning, enriching but sticking to the curriculum, class management techniques and discipline. Special focus will be given on resources available to enrich your curriculum. Some material from Round 1 will be reviewed, but this workshop stands independently and will go more in depth on using resources than in Round 1. Mrs. Lynn Mazza. See bio in Round 1 Workshop Listing. Page 5 of 5