March 2020
Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Update
This monthly e-newsletter serves catechetical and youth ministry leaders in the Diocese of Green Bay by furnishing them with updates, events and other resources helpful to them in their ministry of fostering households and communities of discipleship.
Discover Jesus. Follow Jesus. Worship Jesus. Share Jesus with others.
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Notices, Updates, Events
Generally useful information.
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An Invitation from Bishop Ricken:
Year of St. Joseph in the Diocese of Green Bay
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"
On December 8, 1870, Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, and this year marks the 150th anniversary of that declaration. After much prayer and consultation, I have discerned the need to declare
a special year of prayer in honor of St. Joseph
.
St. Joseph has proven himself a miracle worker throughout the history of the church and also today. He answers prayers simply, humbly and thoroughly.
It is with great excitement and confidence that I invite you to celebrate this year in honor of St. Joseph with me
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"
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Prayer cards will be distributed in the coming weeks to all parishes/schools. Bishop hopes that schools and parish religious education programs will pray the prayer each time they meet.
Be creative and share ideas of how we can invoke St. Joseph in our prayers and RE/YM activities during the year.
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March = ACRE; Thanks for your Cooperation!
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All parishes and Diocesan schools are required to administer the ACRE assessment to students in 5th, 8th and 11/12th grades in the month of March. NCEA is working with partner Catholic Faith Technologies in administering IFG:ACRE. Helpful Links:
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2020-2021 Child & Youth Faith Formation Calendar Published
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The calendar of events for 2020-2021 Child & Youth Formation includes dates for Nuts & Bolts and Hebrews 10:25 professional development events as well as youth ministry trips & programs, and special events (think Scout Mass; GBYC).
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Awareity is a new, web-based incident reporting system that's been launched diocesan wide.
A full explanation and support documents were sent to all parishes last month (look for an e-mail sent on Feb. 18th), but in case you missed it . . .
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Final Hebrews 10:25 Event: A Day of Reflection at the Abbey
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DATE:
Thursday, April 2, 2020
PLACE:
St. Norbert Spirituality Center
TIME:
9am-2pm
COST:
$17/person (incl lunch)
PRESENTER
: Fr. Brad Vanden Branden, O. Praem
Words matter. We use them all the time. This day of reflection offers a chance to meditate on Seven Words that really mattered as they were uttered from the Cross. Unplug from the daily grind, from the phone, e-mail and social media for a quiet, yet powerful day of reflection and prayer. Registration closes March 26th.
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Regarding Trip Chaperones and Safe Environment Requirements
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Reminders from the Safe Environment Office regarding trip chaperones:
- All adults attending mission trips or trips with youth as chaperones must be Safe Environment compliant before trip departure.
- This means that each adult needs to successfully complete a background check and VIRTUS training.
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- We highly suggest that Safe Environment compliance be a part of the initial planning stages for the trip, including initial informational meetings you host, or initial material that goes out to perspective chaperones.
- Time frames can be difficult, especially if you have last minute replacements, but it is encouraged that all adults acting as trip chaperones complete the necessary steps to be Safe Environment compliant at least two weeks before trip departure in order ensure proper processing time for background checks and VIRTUS training.
- Those that need to submit a criminal background check or attend VIRTUS training should attend to that promptly and not wait to the last minute because exceptions are not always granted.
- Please keep in mind that each parish has a designated LoSEC person who can assist you with the proper steps for Safe Environment compliance. The Safe Environment Office suggests that you connect with your parish LoSEC person before contacting Deb Knaus at the Safe Environment Office.
- The LoSEC person can also verify Safe Environment records for your people at your parish
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A Professional Development Day for Administrative Assistants
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Open wide the doors! As the first person many encounter when they enter your parish or school, an Administrative Assistant is critical in providing amazing hospitality and building relationships. This day will be dedicated to giving him/her the tools needed to provide great customer service, help keep your parish and school families happy and engaged, and help grow our parishes and schools.
Save the Date:
Thursday, April 30
Time:
9am-2:30pm
Location:
Green Bay Distillery
Cost:
$20/person (incl. lunch, materials)
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Please pass this Save the Date along to your support team!
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Once again this year, the Diocese of Green Bay will purchase a Diocesan-wide membership to the NCCL, meaning
individual parishes will not have to have their own membership.
Instructions to getting (re)established were sent via e-mail on February 20th.
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Rural Life Scholarship: Free Money!
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The Rural Life Scholarship is a scholarship worth $500 sponsored by the Rural Life Committee of the Diocese of Green Bay.
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial aid for an aspiring student going into the agricultural field.
To qualify for this scholarship, the applicant must meet certain criteria, and to be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must submit both the application and the Pastoral Recommendation Form. The application deadline is March 15.
Send all entries & inquiries to:
Peter Weiss; Catholic Charities & Living Justice; 1825 Riverside Drive; Green Bay, WI 54301 or
pweiss@gbdioc.org
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Lent Continues . . . Resources
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The Diocesan Office of World Mission Services offers a wealth of Lenten resources, most of them FREE. Check out these websites:
For questions or assistance, please contact Cindy St. Aubin at 920-272-8192.
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See RESOURCES, below, for more Lenten materials, from publishers.
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Sophia Institute This Summer
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The Office of Families & Schools would like to recognize, in thanksgiving and prayer, anyone retiring from the ministries of Catechetical Leader or Youth Minister in our Diocese. Is there someone in those roles at your parish who will be retiring this spring/summer? Please let us know!
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Our Revised LBH Schedule:
- Middle School 1 –St Bernard-Appleton-June 7-10
- High School 1-St Bernard-Green Bay-June 21-25
- Middle School 2-Antigo-SS Mary & Hyacinth-June 28-July1
- Middle School 3-Shiocton-St Denis-July 6-9
- High School 2-Kaukauna-Holy Cross July 12-16
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Due to overwhelming response
we have opened up a second High School week for Love Begins Here and moved our original week to a larger venue in Green Bay.
Please consider sending your high school students to the Kaukauna week as our Green Bay week is very full.
Registration Links for Love Begins Here is open!
Thanks for your patience as we were finalizing changes to our calendar.
We are also still looking for a few more Love Begins Here Core Team members.
If you know of a spirit-filled, energetic, 21 year old student who would love sharing their faith with the youth in our Diocese please have them apply for a position:
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Summer Steubenville Trips
Two Dates, Two Destinations!
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Mini Trip Details:
- July 24-26, 2020
- 69 spots still available as of 2/19/2020
- First come, first serve until filled
- $300/student or chaperone
- Registration open NOW
Extended Trip Details:
- July 15-21, 2020
- 100 spots available
- First-come, first-serve
- $570/student; $450/chaperone
- Registration opens later this month
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Exploring Vocations: Camp Franciscan 2020
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Celebrating the Call . . .
grateful for the ties of love which Jesus binds us together.
WHO:
Young women in college or high school
WHEN:
Begins June 15 at 10 am; Closes after lunch on June 18, at 12:30pm
WHERE:
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity; 2409 S. Alverno Road; Manitowoc
COST:
$45
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The world needs you.
God calls you. We invite you.
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Calendar
Upcoming dates you should know about.
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Dates to Keep in Mind:
Mar 9: 1st Session of "The Bible & Spirituality" (Ongoing) at St. Joseph, Wautoma**
Mar 15: Deadline for employment contracts to be offered (see Feb. 20 e-mail)
Mar 19: Feast of St. Joseph in the Year of St. Joseph!
Mar 26: Nuts & Bolts (Final session of 2019-20 series)
Apr 4: Hebrews 10:25 Retreat at the Abbey
Apr 15: Employment contracts submission deadline (see Feb. 20 e-mail)
**FCC and Ongoing Formation schedules are available through www.gbdioc.org/fcc Please contact hosting parish/school to register for a class or get more information about location, parking, etc.
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Catechetical Certification
Discover Jesus: One course per year for steady growth!
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Want to Offer a Live FCC Course?
Here's How . . .
- Find a trainer willing to come to your location.
- Negotiate dates, classroom space, expenses.
- Have instructor send in a Request to Teach form.
- Advertise, advertise, advertise! Invite, invite, invite!
- Copy handouts, put the coffee on.
- At the conclusion, send in attendance sheet, evals, completion forms.
- Reap the benefits and fruits of strong catechists!
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Building Christian Faith w/Science:
Two Program Opportunities
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Dr. Warren Johnson has graciously offered to present courses that navigate the truths of faith and science and how Christians can boldly purse science without reservation. He has two formats:
- Science & Christianity (90 minutes) for students (grades 6 and up) and adults
- Integrating Science & Christianity: (five, 2-hour sessions). This has been approved to serve as Ongoing Formation. Textbook required.
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Rather Go Online?
Links to Online Courses
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Online courses follow the same lesson plan as classroom sessions and may be used to take the entire course or specific sessions as make-ups. Participants are responsible for submitting completion form.
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Resources
Studies, media, and materials to help you do what you do.
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New Resource for Lent (or anytime!):
Live Your Faith
by Fr. John Girotti
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Each DVD contains one segment of Father's series of 15 presentations, which was recorded at St. John the Baptist Parish, Howard during the past year. Topics include:
- How to Become a Saint
- Virtues; 7 Habits of Holiness
- And Who Is My Neighbor: Catholic Social Teaching
- Suffering & Hope in the Christian Life
- Prayer Changes Things
- Living Our Faith Today
- And More!
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If you plan to show this series to a parish group, Fr. Girotti has graciously offered to come to your group and make either the first or last presentation live and in-person based on his availability. Call Carol at 920-272-8309 to learn more.
Cost is $75/set of all 15 DVD's (+ $5 shipping if mailed). Available through the Office of Families & Schools. E-mail: education@gbdioc.org to order, or use printable order form.
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The Catechists' Journal, hosted by Loyola Press has a series of articles on the topic of Vacation Bible School including articles titled:
- VBS Week
- 4 Tips How to Survive VBS and Still Have Fun
- 4 Ways to Keep Faith in VBS
- 3 Promises for VBS Week
- Gifts of the Community in VBS
- Lessons from Teaching VBS
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Augustine Institute offers
"Trouble with Lent"
a children's book about Lent told through story, the chapters of which follow the Lenten calendar and leads into the joy of Easter Sunday.
Rediscover Lent
by Matthew Kelly is on sale for $16.95 (free shipping) from Dynamic Catholic.
Order Here.
Augustine Institute is promoting
Salvation: What Every Catholic Should Know
at bulk rate prices for parish use during Lent.
Read more
. They are also promoting the book
The Tears of Christ: Meditations for Lent
drawn from the sermons of recently canonized St. John Henry Newman.
St. Joseph Communications presents the VCAT (Video Catechism), a series of 60-minute films that tackle relevant questions of faith. Four volumes follow the pillars of the Catechism. See a
sample episode.
See
sample discussion guide
. See
more.
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Jeff Cavins hosts the "40 Day Challenge" for Lent, called
The Activated Disciple.
It consists of a book, video, and journal to help participants re-orient their lives toward Jesus.
Read more. . .
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Share Your Wisdom!
Have a resource that you've found helpful in training staff or engaging students? Watched a video that deepened your faith and led you closer to Jesus?
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Find us on facebook!
"Diocese of Green Bay RE/YM"
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Families & Schools of Discipleship | Diocese of Green Bay
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