January 2013

At the center of each one of us is a spark given to us by God at our baptism. This spark is the spirit of prayer, God's gift to each member of the Body of Christ. The matchstick given here to you represents this gift. The spark  of your imagination and dreams can be fanned into a flame if it is brought into Christ's community.

Think of the spark within you and how it becomes the fire of faith in the Church Community.

January's Meeting

Sparking the Flame: Communitas and Community

This month's agenda focused on the importance of sharing new ideas in the community to spark a new energy within our own parish communities.  Being that this month also celebrates vocations, we look to the gifts of those within our Church community to be those who spark new energy and/or sustain the flame.   

Please take time to reflect on this month's prayer service which includes paraphrased portions from Fr. Anthony Gittin's book titled, "A Presence that Disturbs: A Call to Radical Discipleship".   

The "Year of Faith" requires us to take a deeper look at how we are "sparking" the faith in others, and creating communities that meet the spiritual needs of  the faithful.  This book is an excellent read and challenges us to look at ways to stir up the dying fires that sometimes occur in our parishes so that we can build up new ideas, new excitement, and new communitas.  

Below you will find all the hand-outs from this month's meeting and a short video to summarize what was shared by those who attended the meeting.  

Please note next month's meeting date is changed from Friday, February 15 to TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 .  We will celebrate with a Mardi Gras breakfast and lead into a Lenten Reflection.

Opening Prayer

Echo Newsletter, Jan 3-4. Issue  

Level I Online Courses, Winter/Spring

"Delightful Disciple" with Theresa May

"Vatican II ~ The Flow From Scripture" with Paul Hanley

Western Region Workshop Day on January 17 

"Learn the Bible this New Year" with Fr. Kevin Bunger "Catechetical Leader's Retreat", with Meg Castillini

"Lord of the Rings:The Hidden Catholic Meanings" at Holy Trinity

Winter Hours for the Resource Center (important!)

FaithQuest, screenshot handout...pass on to your catechists!

Catechetical Leaders' Directory ~ Finally done and updated! Please check your info!

ALSO, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT...

The new VIRTUS handbooks were distributed at our meeting.  Every parish is to get two copies, one for the CL and one for the pastor.   If you did not attend the meeting, could you please stop in and pick yours up or have someone from your parish do so. 

AND...MORE AROUND TOWN:

*St. Paul's in Rome is hosting Sr. Katie Eiffe on March 12 at 7pm to do another segment on Vatican II.  Call St. Paul's rectory for more info at 336-3082.

*St. Joseph's in Lee Center is hosting Adult "Let it Snow" nights every Tuesday night to help make the winter months go by without getting cabin fever!  They are sending me information, but if you would like to know more before it comes to me, please call St. Joe's at 336-2661. Click here for a listing of the "Let it Snow"series of events.

* +St. Mary of Mount Carmel/Blessed Sacrament will be hosting a Father/Son Retreat at the Good News Foundation, March 9-10.  This is open to all parishes!  Please RSVP by February 25, 2013.  Lodging, food, fun and prayer for fathers and sons.  Click here to download the brochure...and pass it on to others!

SHARING OF IDEAS: Sparks of Creativity!

+Check out Terri Panuccio's parish facebook page!  She is constantly adding prayers, events happening in the parish, photos of student work.  Her "friends" list keeps growing everyday!  Not only does she have friends from her own parish, but other folks in the community are friending her facebook page!  What a great example of evangelization!  If you have facebook, check out St. Marys Mount Carmel/Blessed Sacrament, Utica NY.  To start your own parish page, contact Terri to talk to her about her experience in setting up and maintaining.  

+Sr. Martha shared her Service Work paperwork. The student form is to be completed after a service project is done.  Questions include, Who did you serve?  What did you like best?  least?  What was the experience of those you served?  The form is signed by the student and by the supervisor of the project. Mary LaForest also uses a service completion form, which also includes reflection questions.  If you would like a copy of either form, we have them in our resource files in the office.

+Kathy Sledziona of St. Paul's in Rome is using the Pflaum Sacramental prep series.  She shared with the group the fun games  that Pflaum includes that are web-based.  I checked with Dave Barosci to make sure I can share the websites for games, as they are not on the regular website.  He was very happy to give permission and wants these sites to be shared.  So, check out the games at these websites and pass them on to your students/families!
 www.pflaum.com/reconciliation and www.pflaum.com/eucharist
 
+Cheryl Smith shared a service project that can easily be implemented and adapted to meet your needs.  26 Acts of Kindness, which began with Anne Curry, students can reflect on violence and ways to counter violence by doing acts of kindness in memory of the 26 victims of Newtown, CT.   

+Anne Elacqua shared a new twist to visiting nursing homes with students.  Her students did a "Snowman Contest" outside of the nursing home.  The snowmen were able to be seen by the patients and it gave them great joy.  Patients were asked to judge the wide variety of snowmen.  Later, the students came inside and did service work for the facility and patients.  A mixture of fun and work made it a positive experience for all.

Video: Fast Wrap Meeting

December 2012

December 2012

The Crier is gone....but the ECHO is here, here, here, here, here! As most of us are well aware, "catechesis" means "to echo". Now that we are into our Year of Faith and emphasing our task and mission to evangelize, it is important to remember this root meaning of our ministry. Therefore, the Catechetical Crier is now transformed into our new newsletter for the Eastern Region, which will also be available as an "E-newsletter". E is for Echo, Evangelize, Educational, Energy, Enthusiasm, Enrich...well, you get the idea! 
The website will also soon become the Eastern Region Echo.  Keep a watchful eye for when the changes take place on the website....it will be an Extreme makeover!

This month's paperwork in your "virtual" folder:

• Echo Newsletter, December Issue
• Level II Workshop "Delightful Discipline" for all CL's & catechists
• Level I Online Course Schedule
• Five Things Catholics should know (Evangelization resource)
• Table Blessings for Families during Advent
• Upcoming National Conferences
• Holiday Hours for the Resource Center

Also, check out the NEW resource website developed by the 5 regional administrators.  RC Faithquest does the curating of resources for you.  Visit RC Faithquest today! http://rcfaithquest.weebly.com/  

October's Meeting

Blessed Ketari Tekakwitha

The Universal Gospel Of Life

This month's prayer service focused on the life of Blessed Ketari, her culture, her devotions, her love of nature.  She will be a patron saint of Ecology and Environment.  The prayer service led into a discussion on Cultural Diversity in Catechesis based on the Catechetical Leader in the Third Millennium.  (1 hour Social Justice credit).  

Below you will find the link to the powerpoint and all paperwork.  Please remember that Building Bridges Registration is well underway.  If you haven't registered, "Just do it!"   Encourage others!  

Sr. Lois will be presenting a Level II Course "Vatican II 2 Go".  Get a closer look at what led up to and took place in the Vatican II sessions, then take it back to you parish to share!  Lots of resources!!

Post on the blog!!!!  This month we are gathering favorite website resources to create a nice page for the next meeting.  Go to the tab above "Catechists Blog."  

Opening Prayer

Catechetical Leader in the Third Millennium (document)

CLITM Comprehensive Plan

CLITM Cultural Diversity Lesson

CLITM Technology- LinkedIn and Webinar Info

Level II: Vatican II 2 Go

Statistical Report

Powerpoint

 

 

All videos can be viewed full screen by going moving your cursor to the bottom right corner of the video and clicking the square-looking icon.  Use your computer's escape button when you are done viewing full screen.

 

This video shows the hand motions for E Na Lima Hana

This video is a summary of the September meeting. 

Please note that November and March are "cluster" gatherings.  This is NOT diocesan established clusters!! This is for convenience and networking so that ALL parish catechetical leaders will be able to attend one of the area group meetings.  I am striving for 100% participation!!!

All paperwork can be found below in Folder Links.

All websites discussed are found below in Featured Links

Folder Links
Welcome! Introduction and Opening Prayer            Prayer - Aloha
Building Bridges of Faith, Hope & Charity Building Bridges: Encourage Flier Buiilding Bridges Level II Workshop correlations Building Bridges Half Sheet Promotions
Evangelization Evangelization: One in a Million Google Map Activity
Catechetical Leader in the Third Millenium LiveStream Flier NCCL Membership Information(professional organization) NCCL Free Trial Flier
Catechist Leader - Formation Level I- Online Course Schedule Level II C21 Schedule (Boston College) Level II Retreat Christ the King flier
Scouting Badge Awards Correlated to Faith Formation Programs (brochures are being made and will be available soon)
Confirmation Schedule for Fall
Special Needs Cover Letter Individual Faith Formation Plan
Safe Environment Volunteer Application Form -NEW!!
Paperwork!!!! Statistical Report Instructions Statistical Report Form (Word Doc)
September's PowerPoint (note that music files and other files linked directly to my computer will not work.  All other hyperlinks should work)

Featured Links
Official Site for Blessed Mother Marianne Blessed Mother Marianne
Building Bridges Official Site Building Bridges
Evangelization Sites USCCB Evangelization Follow the Synod on New Evangelization with Fr. DiSianno One in a Million project...put your parish on the map!
Year of Faith Sites Year of Faith with Joe Paprocki Vibrant Faith Explore Our Catholic Faith (RCL) Diocese of Albany - Amazing God!
Catechetical Leadership NCCL DRE Talk  (a yahoo group serv-list) DRE Connect
Safe Environment Virtus Schedules Diocese of Syracuse Safe Environment Parish Policies and forms
All Links above listed - pdf file

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Monthly Meeting Archives Click Here

May 2012

May Folder: Bloom where you are planted!

1   May Cover Letter

2.   Prayer Service: A Garden of Gifts (MAY you be blessed...)
(video is in the side bar...May you be blessed)

3.  May Crier

4.   Flier for The Catechist: Call, Mission & Formation (Level 1)

5.   Flyer for The Word: Foundation for Catechesis (Level 1)

6.   Flyer Mobilizing Volunteers (May 17)
     ***The link does not work from the flier, there is a typo.  Please register using the following link:
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=t7vhojcab&oeidk=a07e5ga7e6r97f7474e

7.  Building Bridges: SAVE THE DATE!!!

8.  Eastern Region Celebrates at Pathways to Ministry!

9.  Leadership Evaluation (How am I doing as Regional Director?)

10.  Summer Hours

11  VIRTUS- Awareness Form for Parish Catechetical Programs-(must be completed annually)

12.  Dandelions (Lyrics to song below)

April 2012

April Folder
Happy Easter!  Jesus is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!!

1   Greetings Cover Letter

2   End of Year Calendar of Events

3  Catechist Certification Schedule

4   Flyer for The Word: Foundation for Catechesis (Level 1)

5   Flyer Social Media Workshop (May 10)

6   Flyer Mobilizing Volunteers (May 17)
***The link does not work from the flier, there is a typo.  Please register using the following link:
https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=t7vhojcab&oeidk=a07e5ga7e6r97f7474e

7   Seeds of Faith Award Nomination Information 

8   Flyer Eucharistic Moments Cover Letter, Photo Op Information

9   Flyer Eucharistic Moments Parish Invitation

10 Invitation for Catechists (cost is not listed, rsvp to CL) 
       The invitation with no cost listed was made for those who would like to give invitations to their catechists as a gift from the parish.  CL's can download, print and send these to catechists.  An earlier RSVP is listed to be directly to the CL who will then give reservations and check from the parish to our office.  I hope this works for everyone!

The following items were recently mailed from Cathy Cornue's Office of Faith Formation.  These are copies if you need them:
A.  Cover Letter

B.   Bishop Harrison Nomination Form for Pathways Celebration

C.  Seeds of Faith Nomination Form for Pathways Celebration

D.  VIRTUS- Awareness Form for Parish Catechetical Programs-(must be completed annually)

Did you miss Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Ministry?  Fr. James Martin was AMAZING!  The author of My Life with the Saints, Jesuits Guide to Almost Everything, and From Heaven to Mirth shared his spiritual humor with us as  a new way to see Hope.  If you missed the opportunity to see him in Baltimore, you still have a chance to see and hear him in Albany!  The Albany Spring Enrichment begins May 14th.  Four days of workshops and presenters that you can choose from!  Cheryl and I will be there on Wednesday.  It is a wonderful conference.  Check out some of the workshops:

Click Here to Visit the Albany Spring Enrichment Website 

February/March 2012

FEBRUARY MEETING!

I do not have a video slide made yet, but all the paperwork should be self explanatory.  If you did not make the meeting, please make sure you read everything!
Next month there is no meeting...we are in the OFF Season of Training!  There will be a catechist and catechetical leaders' workshop evening and morning...please encourage, encourage, encourage!  See the flyer below for more info!

Cover Letter/Minutes

Catechist Crier

Prayer Service

OFF Season Training!

Level One Certification Schedule

Level Two Online Courses Offered

Lenten Reflections Book Gathering

Formation for Ministry Schedule

February is Disabilities Awareness Month - Resources

More Resources