Desarrollar la virtud de la fortaleza para ayudar a manejar y crecer a partir de las crisis de la vida.

¿Alguna vez te diste cuenta de como algunas personas son capaces de replantear las experiencias negativas de una manera que les da un nuevo propósito y energía? Te preguntas, ¿cómo puedes apoyarte en otros para que te ayuden a sobrellevar una crisis? ¿Deseas responder a la adversidad, trauma o tragedia de una manera elegante que te ayude a ayudar a los demás? Si no nos cuidamos a nosotros mismos no podremos hacer para los demás. Este taller te ayudará a utilizar recursos espirituales, psicológicos y emocionales para resolver las luchas imprevistas de la vida con la fortaleza y la esperanza.

Padre Bill Edens, CSP, actualmente sirve en la Catedral de San Andrés, ya lleva dos años. Le gusta ir de excursión al noroeste del Pacifico, de dónde es originario, y andar en bicicleta en el oeste de Michigan.

Dimensión: Evangelización  

También se ofrece en inglés B-18

A partir de algunas afirmaciones del Papa Francisco en su Exhortación Apostólica Gaudete et Exultate [Alegraos y Regocijaros], vamos a revisar, crear y reflexionar sobre “el hilo rojo de nuestras vidas” a la búsqueda de un camino de santidad, en el medio del torbellino del mundo contemporáneo. El taller tendrá un enfoque creativo, de exploración y reflexión personal.

Zulema Moret , PhD. Profesora en GVSU, Grand Valley State University. Escritora y Poeta . Directora Espiritual .    Especialista en idiomas expresivos, Soul Collage, Literaria Creativa y Cine.

Dimensión: Espiritualidad

Dios quiere la felicidad para el ser humano, no significa exento de dolor, pero es un camino donde el siempre quiere darnos la sanación interior para que seamos capaces del perdón y la libertad que nos brinda, el quiere que estemos sanaos para ser capaces de amar.

Hermana Maryud Milena Cortes, nació en Yarumal, Antioquia, Colombia, es la primera de 9 hermanos. Ingreso a la Congregación Hermanas Misioneras Siervas del Divino Espíritu el 30 de enero de 2006.

Tiene una experiencia Misionera de 11 anos en diferentes lugares de la geografía Colombiana y se ha desempeñado como misionera en Ecuador y Estados Unidos.

En este momento hace parte de una iniciativa de Catholic extensión, en un programa de intercambio de Hermanas latinas en Estados unidos, y realiza su labor misionera en la diócesis de Kalamazoo, Michigan en compañía de tres hermanas más de su congragación.

Dimensión: Teología

Are you wondering what all the hype is surrounding small groups? Might you be considering implementing small groups into your ministry? In this workshop we will weigh the pros and cons by age, grade, and number of participants. Explore how to engage others through verbal communication, learn the rules of small groups, how to carry the conversation home, and acquire alternative methods on leading and planning.

Christine McCarty studied Theology and Communications at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Chris enjoys spending time with her husband Ryan and her two children Aleisha and Jacob. Her favorite pastimes are reading, sports and games of all sorts.

Dimension: Theology 

Also offered as A-20

As consumers of television most of us get our idea of “witness and testify” from popular crime drama shows. A witness sees a crime and testifies in court. Does that same idea transfer to our idea of Christian Witness? And to what do we testify? In this workshop we will discuss the themes of what we are witnesses to. What do we see God doing in the world today? With an understanding of these themes we will consider our own personal testimony. Does what we witness line up with our testimony? And how does that play out in our ministry?

Dianna Rottiers is Pastoral Associate at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Comstock Park. Dianna and her husband Dave have three adult children, raise puppies for Paws With a Cause, and enjoy traveling, biking, and craft beers.

Dimension: Spirituality

Also offered as B-14

This session considers the third apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis calling us back to the basics of Christian faith—personal holiness and love of God and neighbor. After a brief introduction on the weight of official documents, we will consider key points of Francis’ GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE (Rejoice and Be Glad,) alluding to the office and style, of the Holy Father.

Dr. Robert Marko, a husband, father and grandfather, chairs Aquinas College’s Theology Department. A twice US Fulbright Scholar in Greco-Catholic Ukraine, he passionately argues for communion of all Christians with the Pope of Rome, the symbol of unity in Christ’s Church.

Dimension: Theology 

Also offered as B-20

In the shadow of the cross, with pain etched across the faces of Jesus and all humanity, let us contemplate sin, suffering, death and new life in resurrection. God’s love and mercy break forth as light in our darkness. We all long to be saved and God has sent a Savior to renew the face of the earth.

We will share in a theological reflection rooted in Ronald Rolheiser’s The Passion and the Cross, Elizabeth Johnson’s Creation and the Cross and Barbara Reid’s Wisdom’s Feast.

Sr. Diane Zerfas OP is a Grand Rapids Dominican Sister who has taught for many years in high schools, Aquinas College, in bible study and faith formation programs. She currently serves as Coordinator of Spirituality at Dominican Center, forming    spiritual directors, offering retreats and presenting in programs for women’s spirituality, mysticism, and prayer practices.

Also offered as B-9

Bob will take his audience on a journey of leadership unlike any other! His lessons and stories are both inspiring and fun-filled. The goal of the session will be to grow as leaders so that we can pass the loving leadership torch to our students…it starts with us…the adults. Bob will motivate his audience to lead from the heart and create a dynamic classroom, school or team based upon research-based principles.

Many strategies from his book, “Learn to Lead with Love”…a field guide to building a team with heart, will be used in his presentation. Bob will blend concepts from the book “The Leader in Me,” by Stephen Covey, and share concrete ways in which our children can learn to Lead with Love.

Bob (Robert) Siegel has been married for 37 years to Jane. They have two children, a daughter Katie who is a social worker in Chicago Public Schools, and a son Rob who is married to Kathryn and has twin sons. Bob has been a teacher for 20 years in grades first – sixth and a principal in Rockford for 20 years.

Dimension: Spirituality

Also offered as A-21

After hearing students substitute “my consciousness” for “my conscience tells me,” I became interested in Conscience Formation. This workshop will foster an informative adult conversation on our images of God and our formation of conscience. We meet people of all ages who live and face difficult choices, yet often are using an image of God and an understanding of conscience from their much earlier developmental understandings of these two graced realities. How do we as educators help to develop and nurture the growth of these essential understandings in ourselves and in young and older fellow Christians as we walk with, mentor or teach these faith understandings. And, how do these understandings affect our ongoing relationships with God and the Church?

Sr. Mary Kay Oosdyke, OP is a Dominican Sister, currently involved in itinerant ministry of Faith Education and Spiritual Formation for Adults. Her area of ministry has included theology and education on many levels from 2nd grade through higher education, including lay and ordained ministry education and spiritual formation.

Dimension: Evangelization 

Also offered as B-25