Missionary Disciples for the New Evangelization Course Descriptions for Ministries Day 2017

Transcription

1 Missionary Disciples for the New Evangelization Course Descriptions for Ministries Day 2017 From EVANGELII GAUDIUM: We are all missionary disciples 120. In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization, and it would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simply be passive recipients. The new evangelization calls for personal involvement on the part of each of the baptized. Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are disciples and missionaries, but rather that we are always missionary disciples. If we are not convinced, let us look at those first disciples, who, immediately after encountering the gaze of Jesus, went forth to proclaim him joyfully: We have found the Messiah! (Jn 1:41). The Samaritan woman became a missionary immediately after speaking with Jesus and many Samaritans come to believe in him because of the woman s testimony (Jn 4:39). So too, Saint Paul, after his encounter with Jesus Christ, immediately proclaimed Jesus (Acts 9:20; cf. 22:6-21). So what are we waiting for? Two Hour Afternoon Workshop: Catechist Orientation: (2 hour afternoon session) Summary: The Catechist Orientation serves as an introduction to the ministry of catechesis. Topics include: a brief historical perspective of catechesis in the Church, spirituality of the catechist, the catechetical process, and ecclesial methodology. This session is open to all adults and is a requirement for catechetical certification. Presenter: Jason Gale is the Director of the Catechist Formation Program at Aquinas College. He is married with 5 children and lives in Dickson, TN. He has earned degrees in Theology and Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville as well as a Master s Degree in Theology from the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, UK and has recently earned an Ecclesial License in Catechetics from Maryvale as well. One Hour Workshops: Apologetics I Session is FULL Summary: Apologetics (from the Greek word apologia meaning: speaking in defense) is the art of sharing the faith with those who are seeking the truth. In this first session, we will concentrate on how to share the faith with the growing number of people who have little or no religious background. We will also consider how to talk to those who have abandoned the Church, but have found the promises of secularism to be empty and void. We will seek to: Consider the essence of human nature, and learn what drives our desire for fulfillment. - Understand the forces in modern society that are causing a constant and growing drift away from the practice of religion. - Identify the primary substitutes chosen as replacements for God in our drive for fulfillment. - Review the principles that guide our encounters with those seeking the truth. - Establish the commonly accepted source material we may use in any discussion. - Present our Catholic faith in a way that respectfully but clearly separates us from Protestantism. - Clarify those foundational elements of the faith that satisfy the deepest of human needs. - Help those who seek the truth to find that truth in peace and in joy. Presenter: Father Michael Sweeney, pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Harriman, St. Ann Church in Lancing, and St. Christopher Church in Jamestown and Chaplain: State Prison Complex - Wartburg, Tennessee Apologetics II- Session is FULL Summary: In this second session of apologetics, we will concentrate on the more traditional aspects of sharing the faith in a culture where misinformation and lack of information about our Catholic faith is rife. We will begin by delving into the deepest truths of the faith that establishes a basic and fundamental difference between Catholic Christianity and non-catholic Christianity from which all other differences spring. With this understanding, we will examine in a respectful way some of the major principles of non- Catholic Christianity in order to gain a better appreciation of how to explain our Catholic faith in light of those differences. Most of this session will be dedicated to reviewing frequently asked questions about the faith and providing clear and easy ways to respond. We will focus on the resources shared by all Christians: Sacred Scripture, history, and common sense. Presenter: Father Michael Sweeney, pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Harriman, St. Ann Church in Lancing, and St. Christopher Church in Jamestown and Chaplain: State Prison Complex - Wartburg, Tennessee The almost Christian Formation of Teens Summary: How would one answer this question: "What are we teaching our young people about our Religion?" In this discussion we will explore a modern non-denominational 'religion' that has fastened itself onto 20th Century Christianity (including our Catholic Church). The effect is a wide disinterest in weekly Church attendance and Parish affiliation/participation. The name of this parasitic religious movement is "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" a fancy way of saying: Faith - Nice and Easy, or The Cult of Nice. We will explore how well intentioned but misguided religious instruction actually encourages our Teens to adopt this philosophy about their relationships with God and neighbor; and thus abandoning traditional Christian practice and thought. Lastly, we will discuss the

2 class's contention as to "What should we be teaching our young people about our Religion?" Some recent scholarly articles provided to encourage further study/reflection. Presenter: Thomas Franklin, Deacon at Notre Dame Catholic Church, Greeneville, Tennessee. Alpha Program Summary: Alpha is an eight week program built around a meal, an inspiring talk followed by a table discussion led by a table facilitator. The course originally designed as a tool of evangelization has proven to be so much more. If theology is defined as faith seeking understanding then Alpha can best be described and opening the heart of those who attend Alpha to burn with understanding. Once faith is moved from the head to the heart a significant transformation takes place as manifested in a deepening desire to pray, read scripture, offer service and a deepening love of the Church as well as a profound sense of knowing the depth of God s love. Presenter: Deacon Dave Pecot St. Thomas the Apostle Lenoir City. Deacon Dave has been presenting Alpha Courses since Over the 19 years of his service to the Church he has presented 50 Alpha Courses in various parishes in North East Ohio as well as here in the Diocese of Knoxville. Deacon Dave has been a sought after conference speaker while he was in North East Ohio as well as a guest presenter at days of renewal and retreats. He is the author of a homiletic blog and he conducts a monthly inspirational talk at his parish of St. Thomas titled 2 nd Tuesdays with Deacon Dave. The Best our Christian Authors Have to Offer Summary: From contemporary authors like Bishop Robert Barron, Scott Hahn, Matthew Kelly and Willam P. Young to authors of the past such as Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, and C. S. Lewis, Deacon David will present the very best they have to offer in their books and DVD's and attempt to "connect the dots" from their teachings. This session will be a great way to familiarize the attendee with materials available to both evangelize and form Catholic disciples, as well as provide insights from Deacon David on how to best offer these materials to parishioners in adult faith formation classes. Presenter: Deacon Dave Lucheon, assigned to All Saints Church, Knoxville, Diocese of Knoxville PT Special Advisor to the Bishop. Cross Catholic Outreach/ Box of Joy Summary: The Mission of Cross Catholic Outreach is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritual for the glory of Jesus Christ. As Catholics we have a calling to give to the poor and to evangelize by taking the Gospel to the World. Box of Joy is a beautiful way to do both to share Christ s hope with the least of these. The Box of Joy program is an annual Christmas gift campaign organized by local Catholic schools, parishes and groups across the United States and facilitated by Cross Catholic Outreach providing teachers, parish leaders and other Catholic groups a unique opportunity to participate in a simple and tangible service experience that impacts the poorest of the poor in developing countries. In this session you will participate in sharing the Joy of Christmas through simple gifts to convey the message of Christ at Christmas. Presenter: June Lawrence - Development Officer in the Church, School and Community Department. June is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, who for 12 years, has been a part of the Cross Catholic team. She also holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International University. June s work with Cross Catholic Outreach is centered on proactively delivering material and spiritual aid to those in the Developing world by extending help through mission partners. June has been married to Donald for 35 years and they have two sons. The Familial Approach to Evangelization and Discipleship Summary: Disciples have a common discipline that they live by. This discipline includes practices, customs, prayers, traditions, and overall attitudes and principles about life. The family is the natural place for this kind of relationship where members travel through life together toward heaven. The natural elements of trust and love are already present to be built upon. How can a parish operate to build up and support this familial approach? How can family members evangelize one another effectively? In this session, we will look at the ministry of the family as a true ministry in parish life, but one whose activities are not all held at the parish, nor run by volunteers, and whose statistics we cannot always measure. Presenter: Jason Gale is the Director of the Catechist Formation Program at Aquinas College. He is married with 5 children and lives in Dickson, TN. He has earned degrees in Theology and Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville as well as a Master s Degree in Theology from the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, UK and has recently earned an Ecclesial License in Catechetics from Maryvale as well. Evangelizing the Domestic Church Summary: "Evangelizing the Domestic Church": In Lumen Gentium, the document on the Church, the fathers of the Second Vatican Council said that, "The family is, so to speak, the domestic church." How do parents go about building and sustaining a domestic church in the home? This presentation will offer a foundational understanding of the domestic church and ideas on family spirituality, service, and passing on a knowledge of Catholic teaching and tradition to children in ways that will stick. Share ideas on how you can help your own family fulfill its mission as the first school of faith. Presenter: Bob Hunt is a Registered Nurse who has been teaching the Catholic faith for over thirty years, as a CCD teacher, RCIA instructor, Catholic school teacher, and homeschooling father. He is author of Thy Word: An Introduction to the Bible for People in the Pews, writes a monthly column for the Knoxville News Sentinel, and blogs at "thoughtsandprayersforthefaithful.wordpress.com." Bob lives in Knoxville with his wife and three daughters. The Corporal Works of Mercy: Practical Ways to Live Out God s Call for Mercy

3 Summary: This course will provide an overview of the Corporal Works of Mercy with practical suggestions as to how you can incorporate them into a busy lifestyle. Deacon Scott will also discuss how he started his Bridge Ministry which meets monthly to feed the homeless in Downtown Knoxville. Presenter: Deacon Scott Maentz, assigned to Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville Evangelization 2000 Years Later: The Mission and Its Challenges Summary: This presentation is on the "missionary mandate" at the end of Matthew's gospel: Matt 28:18-20 and its continued relevance in today's culture. What does the text say, and then how can we put into practice what Jesus is asking us to do? Any pastoral or missionary activity must be firmly grounded in God's word, because it is through the word that we "put on the mind of Christ". After we have prayed with and studied God's word, we move into action. Presenter: Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM, SSL, Director of the Office of Christian Formation, Diocese of Knoxville. Studied Theology and Sacred Scripture in Rome, finishing her license at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Evangelizing utilizing Technology Summary: Jesus gave us a commandment to Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every nation (Mk. 16:15). Two thousand years ago, the early disciples traveled through deserts and over mountains on foot, and crossed seas by boat, to bring the tenets of our faith to those who hadn t heard. The means of spreading the news is always evolving beginning with the spoken word, then with print, and later evangelization reached the airwaves. The evolution of evangelization continues in the new millennium. Imagine the ability to speak about Jesus to almost all the people living in China and India combined! In effect, that s what social media can do. Facebook recently announced it now has 2 billion subscribers. That s billion, with a b! The growth of social media and other technologies offers Catholics a great opportunity, but it also presents challenges. This session will focus on the ways we, as Christians and Catholics, can use technology to strengthen our faith, defend our beliefs, and catechize those who seek to know more. Presenter: Jim Wogan, Director of Communications, Diocese of Knoxville Evangelizing Ourselves, From Good To Better Summary: The Church calls for all of us to be a part of the New Evangelization. We are exploring new ways of evangelizing, to address the problems peculiar to our own age. To help prepare ourselves to be evangelizers, we must break free from our own spiritual "status quo," the deadly sin known as acedia. Let us explore some ways that we might recognize our habits of spiritual sloth, and turn away from them. Presenter: Deacon Bill Jacobs came to the Diocese of Knoxville from West Palm Beach, FL. He currently serves Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa. He and wife, Toni, are parents to three grown sons, who live in Nashville. Deacon Bill resides in Louisville, and works as a physician for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Knoxville. Forming Teen Disciples Summary: Do you remember when a mouse was simply a small, grey rodent that caused you to leap on Kitchen Counter? Do you remember when pot was something you cooked a roast in? Well, sometimes the meaning of words change. Disciples are certainly not unique to Christianity. The word Disciple comes from the Greek term mathletes, which means learner, apprentice, or pupil. A Disciple was a person who studied under a great teacher. Each of these great teachers would apply their own unique conditions for discipleship. Jesus was no exception. A disciple of Christ is a committed follower of the person, teachings, values and lifestyle of Jesus. This kind of Learner goes beyond theory and book knowledge. A Disciple of Christ can be thought of as a practitioner in the Kingdom of God. Jesus mathletes learn through action in the context of everyday living. The goal of this apprenticeship of life is to become like the teacher himself, Jesus. Discipleship is indeed normal Christianity. Come see how your youth ministry can help form disciples through a process of Youth Ministry, lived in the context of community while in relationship with Christ in every aspect of life. Our charge as Coordinators of Youth Ministry or those of us committed to youth is the whole process of conversion, establishing the person in their faith through catechesis, and training him / her to make an impact on the world. Presenter: Deacon Albert T. Forsythe, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Diocese of Knoxville Handmaids of the Precious Blood Summary: Come and learn about a very special group of cloistered contemplative nuns who recently moved to our diocese from New Mexico. The Handmaids of the Precious Blood are a pontifical community of cloistered nuns who pray for the protection and sanctification of priests around the world. We will share with you how they evangelize to Catholic Christians across the world without ever leaving the papal enclosure of their monastery Presenter: Jimmy Dee, Gisela Chaparro, Handmaid Advisory Team Hands-On Help for Catechists Summary: Join us for a lively, practical presentation of teaching tips that you can put to use immediately in your classroom. Arlene Webb will demonstrate easy to use ideas that will build your confidence, develop your skills and enable you to lead your students with joy and enthusiasm. This session will benefit both new and experienced catechists, as well as those who train them.

4 Presenter: Mrs. Arlene Webb has served as a religious educator for 43 years. She worked as a Director of Religious Education for the US Army for 33 years, both in Germany and the US. Her final assignments were at the US Military Academy, West Point, NY and Ft. Campbell, KY. Arlene has also worked as a religious educator in North Carolina at the parish and diocesan level. She retired from full time work in 2015, but still enjoys being a guest speaker and workshop presenter. Arlene is a graduate of Duke University and earned her master s in religious education from Boston College. She is parishioner at St. Stephen s Parish in Chattanooga. Introduction to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Summary: The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is not a religious education program or curriculum so much as it is a particular way for adults and children to contemplate and enjoy the presence of God together. In keeping with Jesus teaching that the children are the greatest in the kingdom and are richest in their capacity to embrace mystery and marvel over God s presence and gifts, CGS recognizes and honors the religious capacities of children and invites children to ponder and enjoy particular gifts from the Bible and liturgy, to perceive their deep unity. The Good Shepherd calls his sheep by name and gives them everything they need, including the greatest gift of his presence in the Eucharist. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd was developed by Dr. Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi in Rome beginning in It has roots in the work of Maria Montessori in the early 20 th century. CGS atria (the places prepared for the children s encounter with God) are found in over 35 countries on six continents! In 2009 it was adopted by Mother Teresa's order, The Missionaries of Charity, for their own formation as well as for their worldwide ministries to the poor of all ages. Presenter: Becky Frye- Preschool- 4th grade Religion Teacher at St. Mary School in Johnson City. Becky has received the level 1 and level 2 certification in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and helped coordinate a level 1 training for the Diocese of Knoxville. Mercy and End of Life Decisions Summary: The Christian meaning of mercy is quickly being eroded and substituted with various meanings much at odds with our Catholic faith, particularly as it is applied to suffering and death. Euthanasia, literally meaning good death, has gained in popularity such that we find passive and active measures of it in most living wills. This presentation will examine the Church teaching regarding the Christian and salvific meaning of human suffering, care for the seriously ill, and end of life decisions. Important distinctions will be made between what we call ordinary care (e.g., nutrition, hydration, basic care and comfort) from that which constitutes medical treatment and the principles that help us to discern between what is obligatory treatment and that which is optional. Discussions will include palliative care (treating pain). We will also examine a diocesan approved (free) Advance Care Plan (a Loving Will as opposed to a Living Will) and Assignment of a Health Care Agent (someone who can make medical decisions on your behalf should you be incapacitated). Throughout this presentation, the spiritual meaning of this important part of life s journey will be highlighted. Packets of information and resources will be provided. Presenter: Paul D. Simoneau LtCol USMC (Ret.), Vice Chancellor for Administration, and Director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Knoxville. Paul has a Masters degree in Theology with a concentration in Bioethics through Holy Apostles College and Seminary, receiving his certification through the National Catholic Bioethics Center. Missionary Discipleship: Local Action for a Global Impact Summary: Pope Francis invites us "to go out as missionary disciples, each generously offering their talents, creativity, wisdom and experience in order to bring the message of God s tenderness and compassion to the entire human family." Deacon Brian Edwards will share personal stories from his experience traveling overseas to witness the work of our global Church. Through this engaging presentation, he will share how your parishioners and students can lend their talents, creativity, wisdom and experience to respond to the needs of the world s poorest communities. Presenter: Deacon Brian Edwards was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Nashville in 1999, and serves at both St. Edward Church and as the Director of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Pope John Paul II High School. He also teaches theology. Prior to teaching, Deacon Edwards worked as a licensed clinical social worker in psychiatric hospital and clinical settings for more than 12 years. Currently, Deacon Edwards is a Global Fellow for Catholic Relief Services. He has been married to his wife, Cathye, for 23 years and they have three college-age children. Sacred Icons: Learning to See as God Sees Summary: Icons are more than decorative art; rather, they are sacred images which reveal and safeguard the doctrine of the Church. Since icons are theology in line and color, they communicate through image what Scripture communicates through words. Most importantly, by making present what they depict, icons are meant to change us by inviting us to be transformed by grace into the likeness of Christ. This session will introduce participants to the language of icons, their theology and role in Eastern Christian spirituality. Presenter: Fr. Richard Armstrong, Diocesan Assistant Director of Christian Formation and Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church in Knoxville. You had me at hello! Hospitality as the Gateway to Evangelization Summary: An evangelizing community gets involved in the word and deed in people s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. Pope Francis, Evangelii

5 Gaudium, n 25. This presentation will cover how hospitality can help bridge the gap between Domestic Church and the Ecclesial Church. Concrete tools to support marriage and families and meet them where they are will be discussed and shared. Presenter: Marian Christiana, Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Director, Diocese of Knoxville We are Called to Bear Much Fruit Summary: In this session we are going to explore the different stages of growth that a disciple must undergo in order to become a spiritually fruitful multiplier using the Discipleship Roadmap developed by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). You will identify where you are in your journey as a disciple of Christ and where the Lord is calling you to be. We will use Sacred Scripture and the Catechism as our points of reference to understand the different stages of discipleship. Presenter: Brittany Koepke, Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Minister, Diocese of Knoxville