Video Workshop -- Getting Ready for the Fall 2011 Season

Recently, the Archdiocesan department of Faith-Formation hosted a very good workshop on the Catholic Mass.  A workshop video was made.  It is called:


The Mass:  An Exploration of Our Catholic Identity


The video features Rev. Tom Richstatter, OFM.  -- It will be agreat resource for individuals or groups who are getting ready for the upcoming season of Why Catholic?, which will center on Liturgy and the New Roman Missal.

Find the Mass video here  -->  http://74.143.35.98/The%20Mass.wmv

Workshop on September 17: 'The Village @ Work'

The Archdiocesan Office of Lifelong Formation and Education (OLFE) will host a workshop on Saturday, September 17.

"The Village @ Work:

Faith-Formation in the Whole Community"

It will be held at St. Agnes Parish -- 1800 Newberg Road, in Louisville (link for directions below), from 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Presenter: Leisa Ainslinger, M.A.

All persons engaged in faith-formation ministry, on all levels in their local communities, are invited and urged to attend this special presentation.

Workshop Description: A proverb from Africa states that ‘it takes a village to raise a whole person.’ Never has this seemed more true! This workshop, by noted author and adult education specialist, Ms. Leisa Anslinger, will explore The Village at Work in the dynamic process of faith-formation in and for the whole local Church. During part one, Ms. Anslinger will focus – in conjunction with the theme of Catechetical Sunday 2011 -- on the critical and lifelong task of sacramental formation for all ages. Throughout part two of the workshop, she will center on practical dimensions of what parents, extended family members, and others (in the wider community) can do to nurture a lasting Catholic identity.

About Our Presenter: Leisa Anslinger is recognized widely as an expert on lifelong catechesis, faith-development, and Catholic stewardship. She holds a B.A. in Music Education, from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College; a Masters in Secondary-School Counseling, from Purdue University; and a M.A. in Religion from the Athenaeum of Ohio. She is the author of Here Comes Everybody! Whole Community Catechesis in the Parish – a practical guide about lifelong faith-formation programs in parish life today.

Register yourself and team members:

Office of Lifelong Formation & Education

Attention: Ms. Linda McLemore

Phone: 502-448-8584, ext. 1324

E-Mail: lmclemore@archlou.org     Cost: $35 per person (includes lunch)

Getting to the St. Agnes Parish's Pastoral Center: 
http://www.archlou.org/article126312.htm?img=1&imgsize=large&imgalign=right&wraptext=1&body=1

FAQs -- Why Catholic During Fall 2011 in the Archdiocese

The Why Catholic? program for Fall 2011 begins soon in the Archdiocese of Louisville. Here are frequently asked questions, and some answers:

Our parish or school did not take part in the Why Catholic? program during Spring 2011. Is it too late for us to get started?

No. You are most welcome to register with RENEW and begin this season!, even if you did participate during the first season of Why Catholic? during Lent 2011.

Is there a suggested start date for the upcoming season of Why Catholic?

Yes.  In the Archdiocese of Louisville, the recommended start for the Why Catholic? small groups is the week of October 2, 2011.  (This should allow time to complete your small group process before next Advent).

What is the theme for the upcoming season (Fall 2011)?

The theme for the 6-week season is "Lifting Up Our Hearts: Praying with the Third Edition of the Roman Missal."

How do we order Why Catholic? materials for our parish or school?

Books for your Why Catholic? groups can be ordered through the RENEW website -- www.renewintl.org --  

Use your web code to receive a discount. If you do not have a web code, or if you have not yet registered with RENEW, please seek assistance from:

Mr. Sal Della Bella
Director of Faith-Formation
Archdiocese of Louisville
Phone :  502.448.8581
E-Mail:  sdb@archlou.org

Is there a suggested overall timeline for the upcoming season of Why Catholic?

Yes. The Office of Faith-Formation recommends: 

Summer 2011  --  Recruit small group leaders (as needed)
September 11 and/or September 18  --  Sign up weekend(s)
Sept 24, 26, 28  --   Training sessions for new small group leaders
Week of October 2  --   Begin the 6 sessions of  "Lifting Up Our Hearts"


Can we get new small-group leaders trained for Why Catholic?

Small Community Leader Training will be provided "live" at these 3 times* and locations for new leaders or for anyone who did not attend the February 2011 sessions.

Saturday, September 24  –  Flaget Center 9:30-11:30 am
Monday, September 26  --  Holy Spirit Parish, 7:00-9:00 pm  – 
Wednesday, September 28  --  St. James in Elizabethtown, 7:00-9:00 pm

( * New group leaders need to attend only one of these.)

For those who prefer online training, use our internet model:

http://www.archlou.org/whycatholic

[ Click on Download Center and then WhyCatholic? Small Community Leader Training Videos ]

A use-it-yourself  DVD  of the small community leader training is also available at the Archdiocesan Office of Faith-Formation, at 502-448-8581.

What about other preparation steps?

Again, during this season, bulletin blurbs and supplemental catechetical resources will be provided by the Archdiocesan Office of Faith-Formation. These will be sent directly to your parish.

If your parish/school Why Catholic? coordinators and/or you have additional needs, please phone or e-mail the Office of Faith Fomration:

Mr. Sal Della Bella
Phone:  502.448.8581
E-Mail:  sdb@archlou.org

The Other 6

Need to find God today? Who knows where, who knows when? -- The Other 6  is an internet community dedicated 24/7 to helping people find the love of the Creator (and each other) in all places and in all things. Visit today.

http://www.other6.com/home.aspx

Pondering the Mystery of God

No thing, no person, and no cause will ever exhaust our human comprehension of the Mystery of the Creator!


Here's an invitation to take a few moments for reflection today about God, Ignatian spirituality style:

Click here  ---> http://ignatianspirituality.com/9879/finding-god-in-all-things-4/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dotMagis+%28dotMagis+-+Ignatian+Spirituality%29

Free Webinar -- The Changing Catholic Parish

The Changing Face of Catholic Parishes

Tuesday, May 17, 2011                    3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

Presenters:  Neil A. Parent and Mark M. Gray

According to the first major comprehensive study of Catholic parish life in 30 years, changes are occurring that are impacting the shape of pastoral leadership, ministry, and sacramental life. The research, conducted by CARA, is part of the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Project with funding from the Lilly Endowment. The webinar will describe the nature of the research and present the data most likely to affect pastoral leaders as they seek to remain relevant and effective in their respective roles. The presentation will draw on the first phase of research including survey responses from 850 randomly selected parishes in the United States.  

Mark M. Gray is the director of CARA Catholic Polls and a senior research associate at CARA. He has a Ph.D. in Political Science and a M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of California, Irvine. He has been a primary investigator for 13 national surveys of adult Catholics at CARA ranging from media use to sacramental practice.  

Neil A. Parent is director of Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership, a national project funded by the Lilly Endowment. Previously, he served as executive director of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and as representative for adult education at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In the latter capacity, Parent edited ten books on adult catechesis, all published by the USCCB. He is also the author of the book A Concise Guide to Adult Faith Formation, published by Ave Maria Press.

Register for this free webinar here:  https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/796535480

This free event is sponsored by Ave Maria Press – in partnership with the National Association for Lay Ministry (http://www.nalm.org/) and the National Conference of Catechetical Directors (http://www.nccl.org/).

Vatican Extols the Import of Catholic Bloggers

On Monday, May 2, 150 bloggers, who were chosen from hundreds of applicants, participated in a meeting, at the Vatican, that was organized by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Pontifical Council for Culture. As soon as all were seated, virtually every attendee opened their laptops or took out their mobile phones to connect to the internet. During the meeting, the discussions transmitted on Facebook and Twitter were very intense. Hence, it was both a physical and virtual meeting, allowing 750  registered bloggers "on the outside," who were unable to participate in person, to follow the proceedings closely.

The meeting was to be extremely open, as the said at the beginning of the session. Archbishop

Claudio Maria Celli, president of Pontifical Council for Social Communications, specified that it

was not "a meeting of Catholic bloggers, even though many of you are inspired by the values of

the Gospel, but will attempt to be above all -- and Pope Benedict invites us respectfully to this -- a

respectful dialogue: respectful of the truths of others as well as aware of what we bear in our hearts, in convinced and passionate adherence to Christ the Lord."

During the first round table discussion, a number of these bloggers stressed the importance of this type of communication on the Internet. Participants underlined the way in which faith can be transmitted through blogs and discussions.

Quoting the words of John Paul II, Andrés Beltramo, author of the Sacro y Profano [Sacred and

Profane] blog, and the Roman correspondent for Notimex agency, urged the Church not to fear these

debates. Mattia Marasco, an Italian blogger, also invited the Church to "dare more" in this field.

Five speakers stressed the missionary aspect of the blogs -- like the birth of a new pastoral presence on the internet. Father Marco Sanavio said today the figure of the "web-pastor" is necessary.

François Jeanne-Beylot stated, "If Christ came to preach today, he would not go up a mountain

or get into a boat, but he would go to Twitter or open a blog." Archbishop Celli stated that the May 2 meeting would be the start of other possible initiatives of greater scope. It has helped the Holy See, he acknowledged, to be officially conscious "of the existence and importance of the 'blogosphere'" today.

Wow. These people seem happy. Very much so. Why are they smiling?

Hint: It has to do with Why Catholic?

Between Seasons -- Let's Stay Together (Virtually)

We're officially between seasons in the Why Catholic? process. But don't go away till Fall. We're still active here on the blog, and want you to participate too! -- Our Facebook page will remain active too.

So, please, today, "Like" us on Facebook. Tell your small group members to do so too. -- Go to www.facebook.com, sign in, and in the Search box, type:  Louisville Why Catholic.

Tears, Hugs, Thanks, and See You Before the Fall Comes Along

As the St. Gabriel Tuesday night “Quilter’s Room” Why Catholic group wrapped up our final session on Sacraments, we reflected on the past six weeks.  The consensus was that we were not ready to end our meetings.  We felt saddened that we would not come together again in this format until the Fall session began!

Our group came together by choosing Tuesday evenings as a convenient time for each of us to meet on our sign-up sheets.  We started as a group of 13 people, some already acquainted with one another (4 members related to on another; a married couple, a mother and daughter, two friends) others just meeting each other for the first time.  At our very first meeting we all became bonded through conversation and discovering we had similar tender stories to share.  That first session ended with a few tears, lots of hugs and gratitude that the Holy Spirit brought us to this meeting with one another.

That first night allowed us to be more relaxed and open to sharing for the next five gatherings.  As we reflected on the program and the outcome of our sessions, we all proclaimed to return in the Fall for the Roman Missal faith sharing meetings and we all want to meet at the same place, same time and with the same group!  Before getting into our cars to drive home for the evening some of us even agreed to meet before Fall for lunch or dinner and to have a Summer get together with the entire group!

Lisa

Lisa Leister

Personnel Services Coordinator

Archdiocese of Louisville