Room: Library

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Leadership. When you hear this word, many different things come to mind. But peer leaders, like other Youth Ministry leaders, are called to a particular type of leadership: Christian leadership. Do you know what that really means? What is it that sets Christian leaders apart from other leaders? How are you called to lived this out? Come explore these questions… and more!

Presenters: The Youth track will be presented by a team of adult leaders who have served the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as directors and small group leaders for Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) and other leadership programs for teens. The Youth Track team will be led by Katie Zeigler, Coordinator of Youth Ministry in the Office of Religious Education.

Room: 508

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

There is a crisis in the Church particularly affecting those in their 20s and 30s. This workshop will share practical help and also focus on what the good news is in spite of some of the challenging statistics for parishes wanting to start, restart or jump start ministry to those in their 20s and 30s.

Jason Coito is the Consultant for Young Adult Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education. He has been ministering with high school and college students for 13 years in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Jason, his wife Jen, and their two children are parishioners at St. Julie Billiart in Newbury Park.

Room: 505

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Powerpoint: Key to Classroom Management

Handout: Kite 1

Handout: Kite 2

Come and learn some practical ways to strengthen your relationship with and among your students to increase attendance, participation and smiles.

Mary Wedeking is the Director of Religious Education at St. Vincent Ferrer, Merifee, CA

Room: 209

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

In this workshop we will creatively explore bringing children to God in the Holy Ground of the classroom by expanding lessons with games, videos, and activities that are fun and hold the children’s interest and attention. Prayerfully bring yourself and your children to a deeper friendship with Jesus.

Eileen Fewless is the Director of Faith Formation at St. Bernardine in Woodland Hills, a Master Catechist, and travels to parishes giving catechetical talks for RCLBenziger.

Room: 106 (moved from room 109)

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Since we have been celebrating a Jubilee Year of Mercy, how has your parish/ministry been measuring up to the call of Pope Francis? Let’s look at some practical ways to respond to that call.

Sr. Gretchen Hailer, RSHM is a life-long adult catechist. She presents workshops and retreats on many topics and is the author of 6 books.

Room: 206

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Life-long learning and a personal commitment to catechesis in your parish inspires a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. This workshop will discuss aspects of personal and communal prayer as it relates to your ministry; ever growing in grace and sharing the gift of faith for decades to come.

Warren G. Kunkle III is presently an educational consultant for William H. Sadlier Inc. He is a Master Catechist and volunteers in his parish as the High School Confirmation Parent Formation Coordinator. He has also served as a Parish Administrator, Youth Minister/Confirmation Coordinator and a variety of other ministries over the past 25 years. With his wife, Elga and their three teen-age sons, he has a broader understanding of the realities of our “domestic” church and its unique challenges, will be forefront in this presentation.

Room: 506

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Often times the church teaching and lives of the saints seem so distant and dry to the woman in the pew. What if we could change that? Organizations like Endow are bringing women together in small, intimate groups, breaching topics and challenges many have never been exposed to in a digestible, relatable way. Come listen to how these small group studies have changed parishes, homes, careers, and families – and how you and your parish can benefit from their growth.

Katherine Meeks has been running the satellite office in the Diocese of L.A. since 2014. Katherine attended DePauw University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Conflict Studies with a concentration in Public Health. Katherine has worked in women’s prisons in Peru, researched forced eugenic procedures in South Africa, worked with the Archdiocese of Chicago on the city’s south side and among indigenous populations in the United States. Through her background in non-profit development and international experience, Katherine has witnessed the reality of women in many corners of the world, bringing a unique to our mission with Catholic women at Endow.

Room: 104

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Handout

Since the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has reached out to people on the margins  of our Church, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Catholics. In this Jubilee  year of Mercy, with its theme of “revolution of tenderness,” we will explore where Church Teachings meet reality for LGBT Catholics, especially for those in long term relationships who have children. Can the journeys of Gay and Lesbian people help broaden the Catholic concept of human sexuality and what it means to be a family?

The Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons (CMLGP), formerly called the Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics, was called into existence during a sermon given in February, 1986 by Archbishop Roger Mahony, then in office only a few months, who called for lesbians and gays to join together, supporting each other on their faith journey. Our mission: We believe that baptism empowers all persons to live a full, Catholic life in union with all members of the Church. We provide a safe and welcoming environment for lesbian and gay persons, their friends and family, through liturgy, outreach, education, and fellowship.

Room: 507

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

Your parish is filled with “Amazing Greys”! Watch the Holy Spirit bless your community with a Ministry not “for” Seniors, but “by” Seniors. God gives us the elderly, a mostly untapped source of His love, so open your arms and include them. Active senior parishioners are wise, spirit-filled, and they want to be useful to God and to your parish.

Bill Rider was one of the world’s first computer programmers at IBM. At age 93, he has loving served our Church his entire life, with much more love and joy to give.

Mary Stemmer is 87 and lets the Holy Spirit guide her life, especially in the Pro Sanctity Movement. Her greatest joy is bringing people closer to God.

Tom Nolan is a “revert” coming back to the Church in his late 20’s in an Alaskan cabin. Another conversion came 20 years ago on his Cursillo Weekend.

Room: 304

Session 1: 9:30 am – 11:00 am

During this Year of Mercy, we are asked to live and teach God’s Mercy. Based on Jesus’ Beatitudes, Matthew 5 and Jesus’ vision of the Kingdom (Matthew 25) we will explore ways to teach God’s Mercy based on our IMAGE OF GOD. The Anti-death penalty global movement is based on various reasons such as racism, innocence, geography, and money. But our faith demand’s us to see this as a pro-life, consistent with life, and a respect life understanding of living the Gospel of Jesus.

Fr. Christopher Ponnet was ordained for the Los Angeles Archdiocese in 1983, Fr. Ponnet is Pastor and chaplain at St. Camilus Center for Spiritual Care. He also serves as Director of Office of Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry, Board of Death Penalty Focus, Pax Christi Southern California, Angel Interfaith Network, Catholic Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons and Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.