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Make Plans to Join the 25th Annual
Diocesan Youth Conference!!!
Parish leaders should have their registration forms and payment turned in to the Office of Youth Formation by March 2, 2018 for the discounted rate.
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Diocesan RCIA Institute Rescheduled
Due to hazardous weather conditions on February 9-10, our diocesan RCIA Institute had to be postponed. The new dates are now set for April 20-21. If you have were previously registered for the February dates, please contact the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis to inform us if you would like to attend in April or if you are unable to attend and need a refund for your registration fee. We are now accepting NEW REGISTRANTS. If you were unable to join us in February but are now able to join us in April,
CLICK HERE
to register.
Would you like to learn more about the RCIA process? The National Gathering on Christian Initiation will be held on July 5-6 in Chicago, Illinois. For more information on this national conference,
CLICK HERE.
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Spring Catechetical Workshops for all Pastors and Catechetical Leaders:
Practical and Practiced Ways to
Accompany Families in Faith Formation
Re-imagine faith formation! There are many ways to accompany families on the journey of faith: gathered together, coaching parents, digital outreach, flipped classrooms, and more. Which way is best for your parish? Learn how to reach parents and integrate families in a way that fits your community. With her practical experience, Denise Utter will give you the confidence you need to begin to implement an approach that is life-giving and transforming, for families, for your parish, and for you.
Our Workshop presenter, Denise Utter,
is the Director of Parish Faith
Formation at the Catholic Community of St. Jude in New Lenox, Illinois (since early 2007), and worked for the Religious Education Office of the Diocese of Joliet from 2010-2017 helping leaders re-imagine faith formation in their own parish.
She is a writer, educator, and speaker who presents on topics of faith and evangelization at national, regional, and diocesan conferences.
Her experience at both the parish and diocesan levels shapes her work as a consultant for the organizations of Strong Catholic Families and Vibrant Faith.
Denise's passion in ministry lies in empowering pastoral and catechetical leaders to envision dynamic, systematic and intentional faith formation focused on families growing in and living out their faith.
In an attempt to meet the needs of the various schedules of our clergy and ministry leaders, we are offering four workshop sessions to choose from:
Tuesday, May 1 - Catholic Center in Springfield 9:00am-12noon
Tuesday, May 1 - Catholic Center in Springfield 6:00 - 9:00pm
Thursday, May 3 - St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau 9:00am-12noon
Thursday, May 3 - St. Francis Xavier, Sikeston 6:00-9:00pm
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E
VANGELIZATION AND CATECHESIS
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
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A Partnership for Adolescent Catechesis Webinar Series
V
ision, Preparation & Action:
Moving Forward in Hope with the
Joy of Adolescent Catechesis
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The Catholic Answer Newsletter
The Catholic Answer newsletter is a weekly email published by Our Sunday Visitor. It is filled with timely, relevant content about the Church, culture, theology, and prayer. It features content from bishops, theologians, and other experts, including a regular monthly column by Bishop Donald J. Hying of the Diocese of Gary, Indiana. It's designed to provide formation and clarity about the Catholic faith. It's free, it's orthodox, and it's sent directly to you every week. If interested in receiving this free weekly resource,
CLICK HERE.
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Retain Catechists and help them be more effective!
41 Parishes and 22 Schools are well on their way to becoming certified. Are the catechists and teachers at your parish or school enrolled?
Need help? Call us!
After the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis page opens, click on the image similar to this one to find information and forms
for the new process.
If you are unable to print this information, please contact Rick Barnhart at
[email protected] or Kim Brayman at
[email protected]
or call (417) 866-0841 to request copies of the booklet or forms.
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Bulletin Announcement
Put this in your bulletin now! Registering now for Cycle 7, 2017
Catechist Certification and Adult Faith Formation courses online!
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) is a program of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at the University of Dayton. The VLCFF offers online adult religious education and faith formation courses in support of the Church's catechetical ministry. This means that you can deepen your faith at a time and place convenient to you via the internet.
The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau partners with the VLCFF to extend these opportunities to all the faithful in our diocese at $50.00 per course. Courses may be taken for undergraduate credit
(for an additional fee) and courses qualify for credit in our diocesan Catechist Formation Process.
Classes held:
April 8th - May 12, 2018 (Seminar only)
Sample Courses for Cycle 3include
:
- Bible Basics**
- Catholic Beliefs**
- Faith and Human Development**
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- Images of Jesus**
- Introduction to Scripture**
- Sacraments**
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**Courses recommended for catechist certification by our diocese
*You may apply for a diocesan Lay Endowment Grant for reimbursement upon successful completion of a course. This newsletter has more information about the grant.
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Diocesan Lay Endowment Grant
You may be eligible to apply for a Lay Endowment Grant to receive a reimbursement for course fees for the University of Dayton VLCFF. Click the links below for more information.
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Please help us to get the word out:
CAMP RE-NEW-ALL NEEDS ADULT VOLUNTEERS! 
We are excitedly gearing up for Camp Re-NEW-All 2018! Much of the success of our diocesan camps can be attributed to the generous assistance of our many wonderful adult volunteers. Please consider joining in a week of fun at camp by donating a week of your time and talent at one of our diocesan camp locations this summer.
CLICK HERE for a full listing of available volunteer staff positions
CLICK HERE for an adult staff application
(anyone 18 and older at time of camp)
The following applications should be printed on LEGAL sized paper:
Camper Applications -
PLEASE SEND IN CAMPER APPLICATIONS BY MARCH 15. Camps will fill up and registrations received after March 15 may be put on a waiting list.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RESPECT LIFE
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
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World of Life
The March 2018
Word of Life
is now available! This month's special feature is on conscience protection.
Current and previous Word of Life issues can be
In Christ,
The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities
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UPCOMING MARRIAGE PREPARATION SEMINARS
for couples who are civilly married
Civilly married couples in your communities who seek the Sacrament of Marriage within the Church are invited to an upcoming day-long marriage seminar that will satisfy the Diocesan Marriage Preparation Guidelines for those preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Please remember we only schedule these sessions after receiving the marriage prep form from the Priest along with the $25 program fee to the Office of Family Life.
We encourage pastors and those walking with these couples to affirm that we long to assist them and welcome them as they undertake the steps necessary for a sacramental marriage. For more information, please contact Kim Brayman, (417) 866-0841
, [email protected]
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SEMINAR ON FERTILITY AWARENESS
A Woman's Biology
Do you want to know about your gynecological health and/or fertility? This system of fertility awareness is 100% natural and will instruct on the factors related to one's own biology in order to educate participants on a host of issues that may assist you in achieving pregnancy or in avoiding pregnancy. The CREIGHTON MODEL OF FERTILITYCARE seminar is open to single women, including those in high school and middle school with a parent, engaged couples, and married couples. Cost: $40 per woman/couple and full scholarships for this program are available through the diocesan Office of Family Life until June 1, 2018. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Caitlin Blaine, FCI, at (417) 234-2612
or Email her at
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2018 Code of Conduct/Children's Virtus Lessons
2017 Code of Conduct
Each year all parish/school employees (whether or not they work with children), and all volunteers who work with children (i.e. catechists, youth group adult members, Knights of Columbus members, etc.) must complete the current Diocesan Code of Conduct. Hopefully, all of your volunteers and employees would have completed that. Please ensure that volunteers complete the questions and sign page 4 of the document. Turn page 4 only into your local safe environment coordinator. He/she will in turn send the form to our office via mail or fax
Due date was December 1, 2017.
Mail to:
Office of Child & Youth Protection
601 S Jefferson Ave
Springfield, MO 65806
Fax: 888-820-6032
If you are in charge of a program such as the Parish School of Religion, Youth Program, Confirmation, etc. please turn in your list of volunteers to the local safe environment coordinator at your parish along with the signed Codes of Conduct from your volunteers.
Click here for Local Safe Environment Coordinator list.
Children's Virtus Lessons
Lesson 2 is to be taught by during the 2017-2018 school year. Please note that the lesson has enough material that it can be split into two sessions. It is suggested that Lesson 2 is taught before December 16, 2017 and during the spring, review Lesson 2 with the children and include activities not covered during the fall session. The second part should be completed by March 16, 2018. The lessons are required for each child in Kindergarten through 12th grade who attends Catholic School or any parish religious education class. VIRTUS lessons are available to those who have the "Educator" tab on their VIRTUS accounts. If you need help with the VIRTUS lessons for children contact the our office. The lessons are new. Please destroy copies of previous lessons. Principals and Parish Catechetical leaders should insure teachers and catechists use the new lessons this year.
Report of Completion and Employee/Volunteer List (Due April 15)
School Report of Completion
click here
Parish Report of Completion
click here
Compliance Guidelines for Training
For further explanation on required training,
click here for a Guidelines.
This information and more can be found on The Office of Child and Youth Protection
Web Page
Thank you all for the continued support of this mission and Ministry. If you have any questions please contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection at (417) 866-0841 or the Director, William Holtmeyer, Jr., MS, NCC, LPC, CEAP at [email protected] or Rosie Francka [email protected].
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List of Upcoming VIRTUS Trainings
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Contact Us:
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Office of Evangelization, Catechesis,
and
Youth Formation
Director: Lynn Melendez
Assoc. Director: RickBarnhart
Assistant: Kim Brayman
Assistant: Katie Newton
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Office of Child and Youth Protection
Director: William Holtmeyer
Assistant: Rosie Francka
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