Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Sacred Scripture

Breakdown is breakthrough! If Jesus redeems us from sin, the Spirit liberates us from oppression. In every age courageous people have found in adversity an opportunity to benefit the wellbeing of others. The Gospel of Matthew will be our guide.

Father Tom Bonacci, established the Institute for the Study of the Passion in 2011, which probes the issues of religion and violence. Father Tom ministers at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center of Citrus Heights, CA.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Sacred Scripture

Why did God become human? The typical answer is: “because of human sin,” suggesting the Word would not have become flesh if humanity had not sinned. However, a closer look at Scripture, the theological tradition, and the insights of key Christian thinkers such as St. Paul, Irenaeus of Lyons, John Duns Scotus, Thomas Merton, and Francis of Assisi, among others, offer an alternative, yet entirely orthodox, answer to this question: It was God’s plan from all eternity to become human regardless of human sin. This workshop explores the spirituality and theology of the Incarnation to renew our personal and pastoral understanding of Christology, especially following the Jubilee Year of Mercy!

Father Dan Horan, is a Franciscan friar, theologian, and columnist at America magazine, who teaches theology and spirituality at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. The author of numerous academic and popular articles, his recent books include God is Not Fair and Other Reasons for Gratitude (2016), The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton (2014), and The Last Words of Jesus (2013). He has previously taught at Boston College, Siena College, and St. Bonaventure University, and has lectured across North America and Europe. To learn more, visit: www.DanHoran.com or follow him at Facebook.com/DanHoranOFM

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Prayer & Spirituality

This workshop will provide hands on experiential practices to relieve stress, anxiety, restlessness and violence in our world and within ourselves. Learn some exercises that you can teach your students, family and catechists.

Sister Kathleen Bryant, is a Religious Sister of Charity. For twenty-one years, Sr. Kathleen served as a Talent Scout for God as a Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Sr. Kathleen grew up as a California beach girl who entered the convent in 1967 and served as a missionary in Zambia for 5 years. Sr. Kathleen earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation and a Master Degree in Spirituality from the University of San Francisco. Sr. Kathleen presently serves on the RSC Regional Leadership Team for California. Among her passions are being contemplative in a digital world, teaching discernment and prayer, and working for the abolition of human trafficking and slavery. Sister has been a speaker at the Religious Education Congress of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for many years.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Doctrine, Morality

Decision making at the end of life can be complicated and challenging. In this presentation, Father Tad explores key categories and criteria important to making morally sound bedside decisions for ourselves or our loved ones, and consider the elements of a good death, including proper pain management, palliative care, hospice, and other aspects of end of life planning such as living wills and health care proxies. He also discusses the epic failures and internal contradictions that arise in modern health care when it begins to accede to physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Father Tad Pacholczyk, after earning a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Yale University, Fr. Tad did post-doctoral research at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He subsequently studied in Rome where he did advanced studies in theology and in bioethics.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Sacrament & Liturgy

How well does our weekly eucharistic gathering faithfully and powerfully manifest God’s active presence in the world? What is our role as leaders at worship in encouraging and forming our assemblies to proclaim Christ’s death and resurrection in their lives? Let’s explore the movement of our faith communities from conscious to active to full participation in the paschal mystery for the life of the world.

Marty Haugen, is a liturgical composer, author and workshop presenter. For the past 30 years he has presented workshops on music and worship and concerts in North and Central America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. His music appears in the hymnals of numerous denominations around the world.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Methodology

The church is filled with believers and inquirers, however there is a big difference in being a disciple. Crossing the red line to discipleship embraces the call to be a leader in the community of faith. Inviting participants to explore their role as leaders in their respective faith communities will be central to the workshop and how to embrace the young church.

Paulist, Father John Hurley, was ordained in 1977. He is the former Executive Director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Evangelization, the National Pastoral Life Center and the Department of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In 2014, he launched a new Paulist initiative, NewEvangelizationStrategies.org where he serves as a consultant and missionary. In this position he works with dioceses and parishes in making the paradigm shift from maintenance to mission for the New Evangelization. He is based at Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco where he once served as pastor. In the great Jubilee Year of Mercy, he was appointed by Pope Francis to serve as a missionary of mercy.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Prayer & Spirituality

Jesus said to His Disciples, “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come…”(Mk 13: 33-37). Though we do not know the exact time or place, as a Christian Community, we do know that Jesus is coming back soon; therefore, we must encourage everyone to live their lives as if today were that day. Rather than thinking that we still have time, we ought to be thinking that it is already midnight. This interactive and fun workshop will focus on how we come to recognize Jesus in our midst and how we can better be prepared for His triumphant return.

Father Tony Ricard, is a Priest for the Archdiocese of New Orleans and is the Campus Minister at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. He is the Pastor of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish and is also a Core Instructor of Church Doctrine for the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana. Fr. Tony is the author of 10 awesome books which include “Don’t Be Stupid! Lessons You Should Already Know,” and “Diary of An Unapologetic Roman Catholic Priest”. Since the 2000 Season, Fr. Tony has served as the Catholic Chaplain of the NFL’s 2010 World Champions – the New Orleans Saints. He is a native of New Orleans and a proud graduate of St. Augustine High School. He is a former New Orleans Public School teacher who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Loyola University, a Master of Theology degree from Xavier University and a Master of Divinity degree from Notre Dame Seminary.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Methodology

Every Catholic parish in the world wants to grow and multiply, but few seem able to achieve it. Why? How can two parishes, in the same region with similar populations, produce such different levels of engagement? Both have the same ancestry, same sacraments, same love from God; the difference is behavioral. Tap into a few of the essential behaviors all growing parishes share. It’s not an accident, it’s courageous!

Richard Curran, is the founder and executive director of the Parish Success Group, a Catholic non-profit organization that provides professional skill and organizational development training and coaching to ministry leaders. The son of an Irish immigrant, he was born and raised on the south-side of Chicago. For more than 25 years he has served the Catholic Church within parishes, dioceses and, nationally on numerous boards, associations and as consulter to several Catholic publishers. Rich is known by his titles…father, husband, disciple, trainer and itinerant preacher. By occupation, he is a national Catholic speaker and ministry coach who addresses over 50,000 youth and adults each year.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Prayer & Spirituality

En este taller exploraremos la conexión esencial entre nuestra vida espiritual y los principios básicos de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia. Tendremos también la oportunidad de ahondar en las raíces bíblicas de nuestra búsqueda de Cristo a través del prójimo.

Roberto Rojas, completo sus estudios licenciaturas en Filosofía y Teología en Mendoza (Argentina) entre el 1989 y 1996. Curso estudios de Consejería Pastoral en la Universidad de Fu-Jen Taiwán (R.O.C) en 2004 y 2005 y completo estudios de Ministerio Pastoral Internacional en la Universidad Loyola Marymount de Los Angeles (2006). Su extensa carrera internacional incluye 20 años de experiencia docente y pastoral a varios niveles de enseñanza: Escuela Primaria, Secundaria, Colegio/Universidad, y Seminarios Católicos en Argentina, Taiwán, China, Papua Nueva Guinea y los Estados Unidos. Rojas ha sido parte del equipo docente del Instituto para el Liderazgo Ministerial en la Diócesis de San Jose, ensenando Moral, Ética, Justicia Social e Historia de la Iglesia entre el 2006 y el 2010. También fue designado miembro de la Comisión diocesana de Derechos Humanos. En el 2013, Rojas fue contratado por Catholic Relief Services como Gerente de Relaciones para la oficina del Oeste de los Estados Unidos. Desde el 2014 Catholic Relief Services (CRS) lo ha nombrado Consultor Nacional para Ministerio Hispano en los Estados Unidos.

Session 3: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Catechist re-certification credits: Methodology

Durante tres sesiones de trabajo y de manera procesual, profundizaremos la Exhortación Apostólica Amoris Laetitia, del Papa Francisco, en perspectiva de familia en su ser(vocación) y quehacer (servicio) en la comunidad parroquial. Presentaremos algunos lineamientos pastorales que podrían implementarse en el fortalecimiento o creación de una Pastoral Familiar Parroquial que responda a los desafíos de la sociedad actual implementando propuestas de trabajo pastoral desde la cultura del Encuentro y la Misericordia, bajo la guía de este Documento post-Sinodal de la Iglesia. Para más información, visite la página web: www.iglesiasdomesticas.com

Andrea & William Blanco-Cardona, son autores de programas de formación y liderazgo en Pastoral Familiar Hispana en los Estados Unidos. Han sido conferencistas en congresos y en el Encuentro Mundial de Familias, Philadelphia 2015. Actualizan los contenidos de la página web y blog: www.portuMatrimonio.org iniciativa de la Conferencia Episcopal de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos; recientemente elaboraron las Catequesis para las Familias bajo el tema de la Misericordia en coordinación con el Pontifico Consejo para la Nueva Evangelización. Actualmente trabajan con la Diócesis de Raleigh, NC. Para más información visite su página web: www.iglesiasdomesticas.com