May 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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Notices, Updates, Events
Generally useful information.
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GBYC: Registrations Due May 17th: |
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Green Bay Youth Conference at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help on June 5th, 2021
Exciting Speaker Update! Promo materials available!
Sr. Marie Therese, MW, a religious sister with the Missionaries of the Word will be joining us! She is originally from St. Louis, MO and entered with the Missionaries of the Word in 2016. Previously, Sr. Therese studied physical therapy at Saint Louis University. After graduation she was a missionary in Haiti with Life Teen and encountered there a deep love for Jesus and the missionary life of sharing His love. Living the religious life, the totality of belonging to Jesus, is the greatest joy of her life and quite the adventure!
REMINDER: 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.
Also, see the e-mail sent on April 15 with much more information.
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RE/YM COVID Safety Guidelines Updated for Summer, Fall 2021 |
With the guidance and approval af the Diocesan COVID Task Force, we have published an updated COVID safety guidelines for RE and YM activities this summer and into the Fall.
The revised guidelines are more succinct and address the current situation. Of course, if conditions change, these guidelines may be revised once again and without much notice.
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For now, and as always, we recommend following all CDC and local guidelines and keep abreast of the current Diocesan Covid Dashboard numbers for your local area when making programming decisions. |
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Camp Tek Clean-up Day
Fresh Air for the whole family!
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Follow-up: Hebrews 10:25 in April
Your Brainstorming on Paper
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There was lots of positive feedback about getting together in-person and working together on how parishes might take this opportunity to implement some of the implications of the new Directory for Catechesis.
Each table did some brainstorming, and the notes from those sessions are now available as a PDF list.
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Meeting ID: 869 9363 0041
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Next Office Hour: Thursday, May 13
Building off of the Hebrews Event
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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! Now that we've brainstormed ideas for the Fall and beyond, let's re-cap and then dig a little deeper.
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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Per our Office's review and request, Bishop Ricken has approved Life Teen's subscription-based Edge, Life, and Purpose programs to be used in the Diocese of Green Bay as a suitable religious education curriculum for our parishes for sixth through twelfth grade, with the understanding that coordinators of religious education will need to add approved and age appropriate Safe Environment supplemental material for each grade level.
Edge is approved for middle school, Life for high school, and Purpose for Confirmation.
Life Teen is subscription-based and bases their programs on the 8 pillars of the USCCB document, Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry and on the 4 pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Life Teen effectively blends catechesis with youth ministry.
For more information about Life Teen see:
We hope and pray that with the approval of this additional curriculum, parishes will have another effective tool for ministry to teens as they prayerfully consider the implications of the new Directory for Catechesis on religious education and youth ministry.
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Retirement on the Horizon? |
If you or someone you know in the Religious Education/Youth Ministry field is retiring after this academic year, please let us know, so we may express our appreciation and congratulations.
Please send us the peron's name, parish and length of service, so we may share this information with Bishop and offer our prayers of thanksgiving for his/her service.
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Congratulations, Certified Leaders
Emmaus Program Completed
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Congratulations to these folks who have completed the requirements for their Certificates through the Emmaus program:
- Barb Dehne, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Newton
- Candace Gehl, Tri-Parish Catholic Faith Community, Sherwood
- Barb Heiges, St. Mary Parish, Algoma
- Meredith Lauer, St. Gabriel Parish, Neenah
- Kelly McKibben, St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Waupaca
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They will be presented their certificates at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Ricken at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on May 6th. May God bless these folks as they put their learning and experience to good use in building the Kingdom! |
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A Society Dedicated to Praying for Vocations: No dues, no meetings, just PRAYER!
If something is not supported through the prayers of the faithful, it has little to no hope of bearing fruit. In the effort to continue to help young people hear and answer a call to a religious vocation, the Diocesan Office of Vocations knows it takes the prayers of many people in order to do that. Though not all are called to this particular vocation, all are encouraged to pray so that the ones whom the Lord is calling hear and say “yes!”
The Fiat Prayer Society is meant to help with this. Our goal is to have more and more of the faithful assist in our vocation efforts through their prayers and sacrifices to help bring forth more “yeses.”
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Parish Life Line: May 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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May 5: "Mary as the First & Best Disciple" w/ Fr. Edward Looney
May 19: "The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help" w/Don Warden, Chief Operations Officer
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Love Begins Here Updates! |
Registration deadline extended to May 7th!!!!
15-minute drive restrictions waived!!!!
For more explanations about these updates, please check the April 23 LBH e-mail, or contact Lynn Terrien.
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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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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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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:
May 5: Parish Life Line
May 7: Registrations due for LBH
May 13: RE/YM Office Hour
May 17: Registrations due for GBYC
May 23: Pentecost; Come, Holy Spirit!
May 31: Memorial Day; Diocesan Offices Closed
June 5: GBYC at the Shrine (see article above)
June 13-16: LBH in Two Rivers; St. Peter the Fisherman, pray for us!
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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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Pentecost & Marian Resources:
The USCCB has published a prayer card suitable for printing and distributing for the Pentecost Sequence (English and Spanish)
From the Diocesan World Mission Office (various grade levels):
The same Catechist Journey website offers the instructions for a Marian Treasure Hunt. Meant to be an at-home family activity, the clues lead children to think about the Annunciation, the Visitation, and more, as they follow directions to get to a final prize.
For families: Ignatius Press sells a book called "The Catholic All Year Compendium" in which author/mother Kendra Tierney shares how her family celebrates Catholic seasons and feasts—from Advent and Christmas, through Lent and Easter, to Pentecost and beyond. She provides ideas for stories, activities, foods, and decorations that will help families to celebrate their Catholic faith with without expertise or much advance planning.
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And more . . .
Last summer, Our Sunday Visitor adapted its Rocky Railway VBS program to an at-home version. Looking for at-home resources again this year? Hear/Read all about it HERE.
Ascension is taking pre-orders for its Great Adventures Kids Catholic Bible Chronicles. It is designed to help children ages 8-12 understand the greatest story of all time. It features 70 stories carefully chosen to capture the story of salvation history in its entirety from Adam and Eve to Christ and the Apostles.
The Sanctuary Course for Catholics, offered via Formed, is an eight-session course—designed for use in small groups—exploring the realities of mental health and illness, as well as the vital need for faith-based community conversations about these topics. Watch the trailer.
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. The Summer of Mercy is a challenge to students, friends and family to spread love and joy creating works of mercy!
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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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Quick Links
Information at your fingertips.
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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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