News and Views for Catechetical Leaders

GREETINGS FROM THE DIRECTOR

Each month, Sr. Joan Curtin, CND, director of the Catechetical Office, has a message for our readers, who are directors and coordinators of religious education, catechists, clergy and others interested in the catechetical ministry. You’ll find Sr. Joan’s most recent messages here.

Editor’s Note: A new look for Catechetical News and Views 

Throughout the past year, the Archdiocesan Marketing Department has been creating a unified visual presence for the Archdiocese.  The color violet and the shield bearing three lilies you see now identify the Department of Youth Faith Formation, to which both the Catechetical Office and the Office of Youth Ministry belong.

  The lily has long been identified with St. Aloysius Gonzaga, SJ, a patron saint of the young. The three lilies in our shield represent the head, the heart and the hand – all of which we employ to hand on the faith. We teach the truths of the faith (head), the merciful and limitless love of Jesus (heart), and the means by which we Catholics are to live out our faith in service to God’s people (hand).

FAMILY CATECHESIS

Pray and Play Day

When:  Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019

Where: Vincent Pallotti Retreat Center,

Resident Road, Monroe, New York

Time:     Gathering 9:30 a.m. Opening Prayer 10:00 am

Price:     $15.00 per family. Bring your own food or purchase at the site.

A day for families for families to be together and to meet other families. Games and other family-oriented activities will be available. The day will end with Liturgy at 4:00 pm

Offering:  $15.00 per family

Bring your own food or purchase food at the Center.

For more information, email Sr. Nancy Elizabeth Doran, SSC.

ALL IN MINISTRY

Forums for Catechesis and Youth Ministry

When and Where:  

Saturday, October 5 – Cardinal Spellman High School, Bronx
Saturday, October 26, Sacred Heart Church, Monroe

The words are those of Jesus and they come from the beginning of John’s Gospel, when Jesus began to gather his disciples.

We invite you, too, to come and see the host of workshops and exhibits we have for you. Join Bishop Gerald Walsh for the opening Liturgy at both sites and, in the Bronx, listen to two great keynoters. 

Rev. Anthony Ciorra, PhD, is vice president for Mission and Catholic Identity at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Ct. (English); and Rev. Joseph Espaillat II, is the pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Bronx (Spanish). Then choose your favorite from a sterling lineup of workshops in English and Spanish, and take some time to visit the Exhibit Hall. For registration and more details: visit the Forum webpage.

FORMED on Demand

The Archdiocese has made available to parishes a wonderful opportunity to adults to deepen their understanding of the Catholic Faith.

FORMED On Demand is a subscription service offering access to thousands of studies, films, audios, and eBooks. Discover great digital media from over 40 of the best Catholic content producers including the Augustine Institute, Ignatius Press, the USCCB, Catholic Answers, EWTN, St. Paul Center, Marian Press, Sophia Press, Knights of Columbus, FOCUS, and many more.

Through its online platform and free mobile apps for iOS and Android, FORMED has helped individuals and communities know, love, and share their Catholic faith.

For more information on accessing FORMED, check to see if your parish has a subscription. Or contact Elizabeth Guevara de Gonzalez, acting director of the Office of Adult Faith Formation.

CATECHIST FORMATION

The annual Award and Certification Ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 3, at the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Chapel, 55 Ryder Road in Ossining. We are happy that once again, Bishop Gerald T. Walsh will preside at this ceremony, which begins at 3:00 pm. A short reception will follow.

Last May, directors and coordinators of religious education received a letter, requesting that the names of all those to be certified at levels one, two, three and four be in the Catechetical Office by Sept. 1 in order for their certificates to be prepared and their names appear in the program. Please be sure to meet this deadline.

Online classes: the fall schedule and information regarding on-site classes are available at Catechist Formation.

SAVE THIS DATE: Saturday, February 22, 2020, for the Annual Catechists, Liturgy and Breakfast. Our speaker this time is the Rev. Francis Amodio, O. Carm., director of vocations for the Carmelite and one of our most popular presenters.

CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD FORMATION CLASSES

Depending on the availability of a certified formation leader, a Level One, Part I class may be offered in the fall.

A Level One, Part II, course will begin on Saturday, Sept 7, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm at St. Theresa of Avila Parish, 130 Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow, For more information and schedule of classes, please visit Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

FORMATION OF DIRECTORS AND COORDINATORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Basic Leadership Training

The Basic Leadership Training Course is required for all directors and coordinators of Religious Education who are new to the Archdiocese.  This course is required and must be completed within a 2-year period. This year’s course schedule begins on Saturday, Sept, 7, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (lunch included), at Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Building, Ossining New York. Ela Milewska, executive director of the Department of Youth Faith Formation, will lead the first part of what will be a joint session for parish directors/coordinators of religious education and youth ministers. Sr. Joan Curtin, CND, director of the Catechetical Office; Sr. Teresita Morse, RJM, director of formation; and Margaret Hoblin, regional director for Rockland, Northern Westchester and Putnam; will conduct the rest of the day for the directors. Cynthia Psencik, director of the Office of Youth Ministry, will work with the youth ministers.  For more information, including registration email Sr. Teresita Morse.

Catechetical Office salutes retiring directors/coordinators

At the May 29 Liturgy and Breakfast for Directors and Coordinators of Religious Education, the Catechetical Office paid tribute to four long-serving parish catechetical leaders who retired this year: Sara Koshofer, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Shrub Oak; Linda Affatato, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Staten Island; Jane Bunt, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Poughkeepsie; and Sr. Joan Quinn, IHM, St. Benedict, Bronx. We thank them for sharing their dedication and wisdom with the catechetical ministry. The retires are shown left to right with Sr. Joan and their regionals: Peg Hoblin, Sr. Mary Crucifix Pandullo, CSJB, and Linda Fitzsimmons.

Sara Koshofer	Linda Affatato	Jane Bunt	Sr. Joan Quinn, IHM

By Jim Connell, Webmaster

The catechetical ministry is well represented on social media!  Our Catechetical Office Facebook page offers daily quotes, thoughts, resources and images that inspire and support catechetical leaders, catechists and Catholic folks in general.  Since 2011 the catechetical community has been showing growing interest in our Facebook page.   We are now being challenged to increase our Facebook page “likes” by 25%.  In this regard I am asking for your help.  If you are on Facebook, would you please look at our page and if you think it looks good, would you please like our page?  In addition, would you also ask people you know or those in your ministry to give us a hand by liking the page as well?  This would be a big help in reaching our goal!  Give the page a look.  You may find you’ll like it as much as I enjoy posting each day. 

Our Facebook page can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/nyfaithformation

Note from the Webmaster: Our Catechetical app is discontinued for the time being. Stay tuned for further developments.

NEWS FROM YOUTH MINISTRY

Share this news with your parish youth minister.

 
New York Catholic Youth Day is October 19 at the Westchester County Center. There will be hundreds of other teens like you in attendance at this inspiring annual event that includes service, music, speakers, Mass and time to be with friends and make new ones. This year’s theme is all about using your voice for good. First, to speak up towards God! Pray to Him, ask Him for help, thank Him, challenge Him – He’s there for you no matter what. And then, speak up for injustice. Find the schedule and other details for the day, plus registration information, here.

Catechetical News and Views is published by the Catechetical Office

Department of Youth Faith Formation

Archdiocese of New York 

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Catechetical Office - Department of Youth Faith Formation
1011 First Avenue
New York, New York 10022
212-371-1000
www.nyfaithformation.org