April 2021
Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Update
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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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First things first . . .
He IS Risen!
Easter Blessings!
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Good Saint Joseph, Continue to Pray for Us!
Bishop Ricken is encouraging our Catholic school and RE students to pray this shorter version of the prayer to St Joseph between now and Dec. 8 when the year of St Joseph that Pope Francis has called for ends.
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The image chosen for the Year of St. Joseph is “St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus" (1861, Pontifical University of Salamanca) by Ricardo Balaca. |
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Good Saint Joseph,
As you led the Holy Family,
watch over our families.
Help our family and all families
to know and share God's Love.
As foster father of Jesus,
watch over all who serve as spiritual fathers.
In a special way, bless our Holy Father, our Bishop and our Priests.
With Mary, you raised Jesus, the High Priest. Please raise up good and holy priests from our families to serve the people of our Diocese.
Good Saint Joseph, Pray for Us!
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Notices, Updates, Events
Generally useful information.
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What We Heard in Our Parish Visits |
We met with over 60 parishes and asked each one "What's exciting/energizing you about your ministry these days?"
We heard about upcoming First Communion, Confirmation celebrations and the hope for an end of the pandemic and resumption of "normal" and even improved programming!
And we compiled a summary of all the other things we heard about.
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Feel free to look over the summary, and if you'd like to know more about anything in particular, let us know so we can connect you with the innovator. |
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Travel Recommendations from the CDC (3-15-2021) |
The Diocese of Green Bay continues to follow the safety protocols issued by the CDC, including travel recommendations.
This document contains links to CDC guidelines on travel, quarantine, vaccination and general COVID safety measures.
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Hebrews In-Person
If you've registered to attend, we look forward to seeing you there . . .
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Registration is now closed for this in-person event (for COVID-safety planning reasons).
But the virtual series on the new Directory for Catechesis is available for viewing, and a summary of the brainstorming sessions from the Hebrews event will be published after April 8th on gbresources.org.
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Ecumenical Prayer Opportunity for Leaders
2021 Pray for Our City
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24 hours of prayer from 6:00 am on Saturday, April 10, 2021 until 6:00am the following day. Once again, each Prayer Leader (area pastors, priests, preachers, leaders, and teachers) will take 15-minute shifts throughout the day to log-in to an internet stream and pray (teach, worship, reflect).
This is an opportunity to take on the mantel of prayer and ecumenism together. In 2020 it was truly astonishing and beautiful to watch faith leaders from all over our city (and the world) and from all different faith communities lead our city in prayer. Beautiful. Watch a video from 2020 (link below); you'll probably recognize some of the Prayer Leaders!
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Meeting ID: 869 9363 0041
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Office Hour on April 8th: Cancelled
Next Office Hour: Thursday, May 13
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Looking forward to seeing you in May!: We'll start with prayer and check-in's, then rely on the Holy Spirit like our ministry depends on it -- because it does!
There'll be time for networking, Q&A and a look at what's ahead this summer for catechetical leaders and youth ministers. Join us!
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Parish Life Line: April Topics
Twice Monthly; Wednesday 9:30am; via Zoom
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Looking for some creative ministry ideas? Hoping to re-connect with colleagues and parishioners? The Parish Life Line is a forum where connections are made and best practices are shared. Gather virtually with parish leaders throughout the diocese every other Wednesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 to pray together, network, and share creative ideas. |
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April 7: "Fostering & Nurturing Vocations w/ Fr. Mark Mleziva
April 21: "A Parish on Mission: Most Blessed Sacrament, Oshkosh"
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Looking for a summer experience to share with your students? Camp Tekakwitha summer camp is open and filling fast! Gather a group or encourage individual registrations … we would love to welcome your students to Camp for a Catholic summer experience on Loon Lake. Please email camptekakwitha@gbdioc.org or visit camptekakwitha.org for questions and further information. Come join us!
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Summer Courses from Sophia Institute
at the Shrine in August: For all Teachers, Catechists, Leaders
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Wednesday, August 11, 2021
9am-3pm
No Fee (incl. breakfast, lunch)
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Thursday, August 12, 2021
9am-3pm
No Fee (incl. breakfast & lunch)
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At These Workshops:
- Inspirational presentations by two dynamic presenters
- Teacher-written and tested supplemental resources
- Catered breakfast, lunch and opportunities for collaboration, prayer and reflection
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Green Bay Youth Conference at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help on June 5th, 2021. The day will follow a similar format to Steubenville with dynamic speakers and topics, engaging in the Sacraments with Adoration and Mass.
Details:
• Topic: The Joy of the Call
Featuring GB Vocations Office, Missionaries of the Word Sisters, and SONAR Worship Band
• Price: $25/person; lunch is included!
• Diocesan social distancing guidelines will be followed; and space is relatively limited due to following the guidelines.
• Students are encouraged to register with their parish through a specified leader: DRE, YM, or adult chaperone, then the parish leader will register the full group online at: http://www.gbresources.org/gbyc.
- Leaders will be responsible for collecting individual payment and sending in one group payment. They will also be responsible for collecting liability forms from each student--these will not be turned in, just kept on the parish leader, as well as providing enough chaperone coverage and proper travel.
Registrations are due by May 7th; promo materials will be available on our website SOON!
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KREWE: Teen Leaders & Disciples |
Do you have teen leaders and disciples who have "stepped" up or have been seeking "more" of their faith in this last year?
Do you have a desire to accompany and disciple those teens on a deeper level?
Consider joining the KREWE process this summer!
- We offer 3 training summits per year (Summer, Fall, Winter) joining efforts with other parishes across the Diocese to promote the larger Church mission.
- We also provide additional content, resources, and evangelization team planning for ongoing parish follow up year-round.
- This process is meant to accompany teens as a parish leader, forming them as disciples, and then sending them into your parish community to evangelize and accompany their peers.
Our Summer Summit is June 25-27 at Camp Tekakwitha and we are taking reservations for parish teams!
Cost per person per year is typically: $200; but due to a Catholic Foundation grant, we are able to accept parish teams at NO COST for the 2021-2022 school year.
If you are interested in joining the process or finding out more, please reach out to Callie at ckowalski@gbdioc.org.
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Future Steubenville Trips |
While we are not offering 2021 pilgrimages to Steubenville Mini in MN or Steubenville Extended to St Louis as a Diocesan group, we want to reassure you that we are hoping to bring them back for 2022. As many of you know, our budgets were severely affected by the COVID pandemic shut downs, but we are working with our leadership to bring this pilgrimage back!
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We want to make sure parishes are still interested in this sort of diocesan-sponsored pilgrimage; if you are a parish that would be interested in a 2022 pilgrimage, (mini or extended), please email Callie: ckowalski@gbdioc.org with a brief note. Thank you!
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Calendar
Upcoming dates you should know about.
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Our upcoming events have been updated and will continue to be updated throughout the year.)
Dates to Keep in Mind:
Apr 1-5: Diocesan Offices closed in observance of Triduum, Easter
Apr 7: Parish Life Line
Apr 8: Hebrews 10:25 Live! (see article above)
May 7: Registrations for GBYC deadline (see article above)
May 13: RE/YM Office Hour
**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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Looking for Something to Do Online?
Links to Online FCC 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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Our at-home resource page can be found HERE!
it gets updated as new information becomes available.
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Easter/Pentecost Resources:
From Loyola Press: Easter lesson plans, activities and black-line masters.
RCL Benziger offers free, downloadable Easter prayers, activities and suggestions for classroom or home use, in English and Spanish languages.
Family activities for Easter (activities, skit, prayer service) are free and printable from this Sadlier website, and this one, too.
Sophia Institute has a free, downloadable Easter lesson plan for upper elementary/middle school students called, "The Joy of Easter". It's dated 2018, but the readings are the same as 2021, so should be very adaptaable.
Joe Paprocki's Catechists Journey website offers a pop-up Easter lesson and a host of other Easter season resources for leaders and classroom use.
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And more . . .
RCL Benziger has updated its Echoes of Faith catechist formation series (Emmaus edition) and makes it available in various platforms for parish leadership.
"Parent Chat with Sr. Pat" is a new video series available from Bayard Faith Resources. $49 for the entire series which is suitable for individual or group viewing. Practical support for the whole-person formation of children. Watch the trailer and sample.
Catholic Current is your one-stop-shop for ministry needs that gives your parish/organization access to an incredible online library filled with relevant, reliable content that supports the liturgical calendar and more. From prayers to social media graphics, you’ll find everything you need on this project of the USCCB.
Don't forget that the Compass offers worksheets and other resources for use by teachers and catechists as part of Compass in the Classroom. See a video explanation and testimony.
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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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If you need anything; prayers, a listening ear, or other support, please do not hesitate to contact us. We appreciate ALL that you are doing to advance His kingdom!! May God bless you this Easter season!
Maximus Cabey, Director
Callie Kowalski, Assistant Director
Child & Youth Faith Formation
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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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