NEWSLETTER


May 8, 2017
May Blessing
of All Who Work the Land
 
We share in God's work through our human labor. Work is not drudgery that our Creator has imposed on us, nor is it a penance for our sinfulness. Work is a gift: human participation in the creative activity of God.
 
In Church tradition, we have a beautiful partnership of work by the married farm couple, Isidore & Maria. These saints labored with their hands, cared for the land and its creatures, and brought a blessing to the poor of their day and the Church for all time.
 
All who have a part in helping bring food to the table are a precious treasure in the human community and especially in the Church. Their country lifestyle and the spirituality that flows from it is a witness to Biblical faith.
 
Work is our communion with God and is also our communion with people, our way of taking responsibility for the well-being of our neighbors, communities and the environment.
 
Click here to pray the May Blessing.
 
You Are Welcome! 
 
Parish catechetical leaders, safe environment coordinators, Virtus facilitators, Principals, and all others interested in attending are welcome!  This will also be one of your last opportunities to visit with Karen and Ken Pesek.  If you will be joining us for this meeting, please reply to Rosie Francka at rfrancka@dioscg.org or (417) 866-0841 by the RSVP date listed below.

DATE LOCATION TIME RSVP
Wednesday,
May 17
Joplin, St. Peter the Apostle
(Church Basement Meeting Room)
Gather at 6:00
Meeting 6:30-8:30
May 12

Save These Dates!!

2017 CATECHETICAL LEADER RETREAT
August 4-5
Friday Evening and Saturday, (location to be announced)
Loyola Press is sponsoring our presenter, Julianne Stanz.  More details will follow.   Click here to view a presentation from Julie.

Julianne Stanz
She is the Director of New Evangelization for the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin and is a consultant to the USCCB Committee on Catechesis and Evangelization. Born in Ireland and raised in a picturesque village set in the Wicklow Mountains, Julianne has been profoundly influenced by her life in Ireland and by the witness of saints such as St. Patrick and St. Brigid. She received her Bachelor's degree in Religious Science and History and a Master's Degree in Religion and Education from Mater Dei Institute of Education and is currently working on a Ph.D. She also holds certificates in religion and sexuality education and youth leadership. Julianne is the former Director of Adult Faith Formation and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Green Bay. She is currently an adjunct faculty member of Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Manitowoc, Wisconsin and serves on the NCCL Committee for adult faith formation. She is happily married to Wayne and they have two children, a son and a daughter.
Mark your calendars, more information to follow.
   
2017 CATECHIST INSTITUTES 

Our keynote speaker this year will be our own
Bishop Edward Rice!  It promises to be a wonderful day!  

Also in Springfield, back by popular demand, Oddwalk Ministries will be performing for us. (Oddwalk Ministries is also available on Friday, October 13 for a presentation or retreat at your school or parish.  If you would like more information contact Rosie Francka.)

Date Time Location
Saturday, October 14
7:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Holy Trinity Parish Center
Springfield
Sunday, October 22 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Parish
Cape Girardeau
(upper meeting room)

2018 RCIA INSTITUTE
Friday-Saturday, February 9-10, 2018
Presented by  Nick Wagner of TeamRCIA.  
Live presentation in Springfield, we hope to live stream the presentation to other locations within our diocese.
Mark your calendars, more information to follow.

Parish and School Report of Completions
DUE NOW!


This is a reminder that  Report of Completion is due to the diocese by April 15, 2017. For your convenience, the 2017 Report of Completion is attached.  If you need copies of the lessons, please contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection. 

School Report of Completion 2016-17
Parish Report of Completion 2016-17

Why have the TIPS reporting link on your parish or school website?

Make employees, volunteers, parents, and participants part of your risk management team. 

In many cases of abuse in organizations, someone reports noticing something suspicious or inappropriate but doesn't say anything-until after the fact!

  • We all joked about Bill spending so much time in the shower. After his arrest we realized he hung around the showers because that's where the campers were.
     
  • Other teachers thought it was odd, the students constantly coming to her classroom. She gave them nicknames and asked them to smell her perfume, but I never actually saw her doing anything illegal. And the students seemed to like it.
     
  • He acted more like a kid than a coach. But I was afraid if I complained, he would take it out on my son.
To maintain a culture of safety, you want everyone in your organization to be a part of your risk management team. When someone sees a co-worker behaving in a way that looks suspicious, you want that person to take action before it's too late. If a parent has a concern, the sooner you hear about it, the sooner you can respond. (Praesidium)

Contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection for instructions on how to place the diocesan TIPS logo and link on your parish or school website.  This is a free service from the diocese.  

Help Kids Navigate the Internet

Using Developmental Relationships to Help Teens Navigate the Internet
 
In the past, moms, dads, and other parenting adults could focus on ensuring that kids were spending their time in safe, healthy, and supportive places in their homes and neighborhoods.
But today's young people live in a world where digital media-websites, social media, cell phones, video games, and others-are parts of everyday life. This reality opens up new challenges and opportunities for parents, teens, and families. Like all parts of life, online environments have both benefits and risks...
 
Read More...
Social Media Safety

Have you reviewed this with your staff?   Click here for the Diocesan Guidelines for Interactions Through Technology
The Joy of Adolescent Catechesis

This is a new document, created after a long process of collaboration between the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), and the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL). It user friendly and easy to read and understand. Clergy, parish catechetical leaders, youth ministers, Catholic school personnel and catechists should read and study this document. Begin by watching this 1 hr webinar to get ideas for how to study the document with your school or parish:

The Joy of Adolescent Catechesis
Presenters: Ela Milewska, Dr. Bob Rice and Miriam Hidalgo - Moderated by Michael Theisen

A helpful examination of the newly published document by the Partnership for Adolescent Catechesis. "The Joy of Adolescent Catechesis" will be presented by its primary authors,who will break open the document and provide suggestions for how to best utilize the content locally to help parishes and catechists embrace the vision and components outlined in this document. Click here for webinar 

Retain Catechists and help them be more effective! 
 
40 Parishes and 22 Schools are well on their way to becoming certified.
 
Get Started and work on becoming certified this summer.  Need help? Call us! 
 
All the information you need is on our Website: http://dioscg.org/index.php/about/evangelizationand-catechesis/
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 Rosie Francka at rfrancka@dioscg.org or (417) 866-0841 to request copies of the booklet or forms.
Bulletin Announcement  
Put this in your bulletin now!  Registering now for Cycle 3, 2017
Dayton
Adult Faith Formation and Catechist Certification 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.

Cycle 4  2017: 
Registration:  April 26-May24   
Course Schedule & Listings:  English   Spanish
Classes held: May 28-July 1
Sample Courses for Cycle 4 include :
  • Bible Basics**
  • Introduction to Catechesis**
  • Survey of Catholic Doctrine** 
  • Introduction to Practical Morality**
**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.  
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. 
Available from the Diocesan Library 
Available to borrow from the diocesan library!
 
Means of Grace, Ways of Life Sacramental Theology
The Effective DRE: A Theology Series

The meaning of the sacraments as experienced in liturgical celebration, the function of grace, the power of sacramental words and symbols, and an examination of the theology behind each individual sacrament are presented to the reader with refreshing clarity. 

If you would like to borrow this from our Resource Library contact Rosie Francka at rfrancka@dioscg.org or (417) 866-0841.
Upcoming Webinars 
View this webinar before you plan adult faith formation for your parish next year.

Faith Formation for the Generations & Seasons of Adulthood

with John Roberto of Lifelong Faith Associates

One of the key features of twenty-first century adult faith formation is addressing the unique life tasks, needs, interests, and spiritual and faith journeys at each stage of adulthood: young adults (20s-30s), midlife adults (40s-50s), mature adults (mid 50s-mid 70s), and older adults (75+).

Given this great diversity across the adult stage of life, it is imperative that adult faith formation programs, activities, and resources are targeted and tailored to the lives of adults-at each stage of life and in each generation.

This webinar will provide practical approaches for addressing the four seasons of adulthood using new 21st century tools and methods.

Click here to view
Free Online Event for Ministry Leaders
Tuesday, May 23, 2017


Grow in How You Accompany Young People in Discernment
with This Free Online Event!

It's an exciting time for the Catholic Church as we prepare for the 2018 Synod themed on "Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment."  In preparation of this important event, join us as we explore some important facets of how we, as ministry leaders, can accompany young people in their discernment to hear God's voice in their busy lives. Join the ministry staff online via GoToWebinar at 1:00 pm Central Time or 7:30 pm Central Time on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. Seats to each event are limited - so hurry!

Click here to register for 1:00 p.m. Event

Click here to register for 7:30 p.m. Event
PaulistEvanMinistries
Imagination and Scripture
May 15th at 2:00pm CT
 
Imagination and Scripture: Imagination is an  essential dimension of the literacy needed to approach the Scripture. How does imagination help us grasp the Scriptures? How does it lead to deeper prayer life? Explore this theme as a way to enrich your involvement with God's Word. RCIA directors, catechists, spiritual directors, preachers will all benefit from this webinar.  

RENEW Scripture Series

Wednesday, May 17

1:00 p.m. Eastern time

Find out how you and your small group can experience each chapter of the Gospel in a deep and meaningful way. The RENEW Scripture Series brings the teaching of Jesus to everyday life with a unique combination of reflections, Old Testament background, and sharing questions. Series books on the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, written by Martin Lang, professor emeritus of religious studies at Fairfield University, are now available.


This webinar will be presented by Stephen J. Connor, who holds a master's degree in divinity from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Stephen has had 30 years of experience ministering in parishes and on campuses and facilitating workshops and
retreats.

Register here!
 The following is being provided as a courtesy for your information.
Feast Day of St. Isidore, May 15th 
Preparation For Your Family and Parish
 
Does your parish celebrate the patron saint of farm life? The virtues found in the lives of Isidore and his blessed wife Maria are exemplary for all farm couples: commitment to family, love for the land, service to the poor and a deep spirituality--qualities still very much needed for rural America.
 
This year, please consider reciting the Novena for St. Isidore, either in your parish or home with family. The nine days leading up to Isidore's feast day, May 7-15, is a most suitable time to recite the novena. 
 
Click here to download a version for easy use. On the feast day itself, recite  this Litany in Honor of St. Isidore.

Identify who before how when using digital media in family faith formation 

by Lori Dahlhoff, EdD 

In the processes of evangelization and catechesis, we are helping people fall in love more deeply with the person of Jesus Christ through the Catholic Church. Faith formation at its best equips individuals and families with tools to both hear and transmit the Word of God. It also provides means for men, women, and children to practice the skills of communicating with God and one another in the language of faith.

TheReligionTeacher
Have you seen the Holy Father's TED Talk?  Here are some resources to help you teach about it.    


TED is a conference for technology and science enthusiasts, but the talks given at this conference are distributed online and often go viral. TED's mission is to spread ideas and the format for their talks often make that possible.

Pope Francis gave an inspiring talk for the whole world to hear. Let's make this video go viral! Share the video here.

It may be something you will find helpful to show and discuss with your class. If so, this might help:

Lesson Plan: Pope Francis TED Talk

Within the post, you will see links to a couple of handouts that you can use with the video. One is a graphic organizer students can use to take notes and the other is a set of reflection/discussion questions to help students apply the message of the video to their lives.

Since you are already signed up on this email list, there is no reason to sign up again. You can download those worksheets here:

Pope Francis TED Talk Handouts

No matter what, I hope you take the time to watch the video. His words about Christian hope really hit home with me: "A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you."

May the Lord make you into a person of hope that inspires another "you" among your students that turns into an "us" and starts a "revolution of tenderness."

Thank you for all your hard work bringing the Gospel to young people today!
 
Breakthrough!

The Bible for Young Catholics is a visual Bible for a visual generation. Bold artwork, a clean design, and fresh content allow young teens between the ages of 10-13 to encounter Scripture like never before.

With key stories, timelines and reading plans, middle school-aged young people will discover how God is continually breaking through into their lives.
LOOK INSIDE

REQUEST A FREE SAMPLE

RCL
Celebrate the Easter Season

The Church's liturgical year continues with the joyful celebration of the Fifty Days of the Easter season. RCL Benziger invites you to celebrate this season with prayers, activities, and teachings about the saints and solemnities in
the Church's calendar from Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday. Here
are some suggestions and user-friendly resources to enrich your classroom
activity during the Easter season. Read more...


The May Issue of GEMS is available

Our previous two issues explored ministry with/for today's maturing adults.

This issue summarizes one specific method/activity that has been found to be helpful for people in their older years.

Inviting People to Spiritual Autobiography
Just 5 Days

Help us reach our goal of a small "army" of youth volunteers in all our locations this summer. Just imagine the impact of hundreds of Catholic youth
learning about their faith by serving the needs of others.
At Just5Days Middle School Missions, our youth are out in the community serving people and social service agencies and having FUN while doing it!
 
Yes! We have spaces open for your group to attend in select locations but hurry because sites are filling and closing quickly!

Small or large teams welcome!
 
Click here for an updated list of all open sites & locations!

Enable Teens to become missionaries.

If the teenagers you lead are anything like the ones we know, they have TONS of energy when they find something they are passionate about. Combine that with their love of social media and desire to make an impact on the world and you have the perfect MISSIO missionaries.

MISSIO, an online platform from the Pontifical Mission Societies launched by Pope Francis, allows you to:
  • Create a real life connection between your teens and people in need around the world.
  • Empower teens to exercise leadership while making a difference in the lives of their brothers and sister.
  • Enable teens to share the projects they feel passionate about through social media, emails and more
Invite teens and their parents to take part in a project that will not only dramatically impact the lives of others, but also help them grow in Christian solidarity, generosity and genuine charity.

Visit MISSIO. Choose a project to pray for, accompany and support! Change the world today!


Planning for Success in Catechesis

by Daniel S. Mulhall

I was recently talking with a friend who was in the midst of developing a curriculum for high school age students. He mentioned that his starting point was the high school framework the bishops created in 2008. Having worked on the high school framework while on the staff at the USCCB, I know them quite well and like them very much. My words to him may have come as a surprise: "Don't start with the framework. They are a means to accomplish a goal. First, determine your goal, and then decide how you will use the framework to accomplish your goal."  Read more...

Do you work in professional ministry? This podcast is for you.

Ascension Roundtable is a podcast where experts from Ascension host candid discussions about challenges facing ministry professionals and
solutions to those challenges.

Listen Now 

 


DANCING, PRAYING, CREATING, SINGING, & PLAYING  


God is Good VBS is proud of our Dance DVDs! Our dancers range from seven to seventeen years old. Steps are professionally performed, yet easy for little ones and enjoyable for older children. Purchased from WLP, our music features songs that build enthusiasm in the youngest of children to parents and grandparents. Mom and Dad gladly listen to John Angotti and Ed Bolduc as children cheer to listen to God is Good VBS songs all summer long. Most importantly, our music fits our Bible and Catechetical themes beautifully!


Click image to view 

Consider one of our complete Director's Kits, that includes
a VBS Dance DVD and CD, plus purchasing options, for children, today!
Try a unique VBS this year! Embark on a DISCOVERY MISSION! 

Help kids discover their mission in life-their vocation! Discover Mission VBS is filled with fun activities and meaningful content about marriage, priesthood, and religious life.   Click here for more information.
Tracking Mary:  Mysteries & Messages-Catholic Kidz Camp 2017

NO EXTRA COST!  NEW FAMILY HANDOUT IN ENGLISH & SPANISH. CATHOLIC VBS DESIGNED TO GET FAMILIES ACTIVE IN THEIR PARISHES - ALL ON BOARD!

The Queen of Heaven Express is Leaving the Station! Discover how Mary 
brings us closer to Jesus through the POWER of the Rosary.  Mysteries and Messages are revealed at each stop. Experience the wonder of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ou r Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Knock and Our Lady of Moun Carmel. Union Station Skits, Full Steam Faith, Boxcar Bible, Gondola Games, Caboos e Crafts, Switchback Snacks & Steam Whistle Music!  PLUS: All New Family Catechesis and much more are ALL INCLUDED!
 

Vacation Bible School

The Pastoral Center announces their brand new VBS,  Message Received . It's a great way to teach kids in your parish about how to be a disciple:
listening for and responding to God's call. And you'll all have a lot of fun doing so! 

They are also offering our  EarthKeepers VBS for a second year. It focuses on Pope Francis' On Care for Our Common Home (Laudauto Si') and how our faith teaches us to care for our planet and everything on it.

If your community has never hosted a Vacation Bible School, maybe this is the year to start. Check out our free VBS: What, Why, How? resource to learn what it can do for your community and how easy it can be.


The Catholic Center is now using this email system powered Constant Contact.  It has made it much easier for us to maintain email lists, and assure that your information remains private.  Within this system, the staff at The Catholic Center manages various email lists to ensure each person receives correspondence most relevant to them. Please do not "opt-out" or "unsubscribe" from this email. If you no longer desire to receive email from this particular office, please reply and let the sender know. They will remove you from that specific list. If you do "opt-out" or "unsubscribe," you will no longer receive ANY group correspondence from any of the offices at The Catholic Center.