Room: Library

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

There are things in life that you need to do by yourself, but ministry is NOT one of them. When Jesus sent the disciples out on mission, he sent them two by two. Many gifts are needed in ministry, and no one person has all of them! This workshop will give you a chance to try out some skills that will allow everyone to use their gifts and make your Youth Ministry team more effective.

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: 106 (moved from room 109)

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Just because you are a catechist, it doesn’t mean you are a disciple! Shocking words! After years of study and research, Sherry Weddell describes the process of conversion and true discipleship in her book “Forming Intentional Disciples.” This workshop will explore the thought provoking concepts from this research. In light of the New Evangelization, come and discern where you are in your spiritual journey and how you can lead others (children, families, and friends) into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Cristina Alba is the Director of Religious Education at St. John Vianney in Hacienda Heights as well as a Master Catechist. A wife and mother of two young children, she is passionate about family religious formation. Over the past 11 years, she has developed a successful Family Catechesis program at her parish. She also serves as a Young Adult Ministry Coordinator and Loyola Press Ministry Consultant.

Room: 102

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

The National Directory for Catechesis mentions learning by apprenticeship as one of the important elements in good catechesis. This workshop will look at apprenticeship as a model for service in Confirmation formation and as a method for better initiating young people into their local faith community.

Jared Anderson currently serves as Director of Confirmation and Youth Ministries at St. Bernard Church in Bellflower. He brings a unique style to his ministry, having been formed by the Carmelite Sisters, the Salesians, and Black Catholic Tradition. For the last 14 years, he has designed, assisted with, and led retreats, Comprehensive Youth & Young Adult ministries, Faith Formation programs, and workshops on Black Catholic Spirituality.

Room: 104

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Using the “Prayer of St. Francis,” this presentation offers practical tools and techniques to help teachers deal with bulling and disruptive behavior in the classroom. We look at bullying in both educational and family settings, from cognitive, neuropsychological, developmental and clinical viewpoints. Participants will learn how to become “instruments of peace” by using interventions to effectively reduce the episodes of bullying.

Paul Brogan, MFT is a Catholic Marriage and Family Therapist in Encino. He also teaches in the Psychology Department at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. He teaches classes on Loss and Grief, Trauma, Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Bullying and Truancy, and Spousal Abuse. Originally from Ireland, he has completed graduate studies in theology and psychology and he regularly presents at local schools and parishes.

Room: 107

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

In this workshop, catechists will have the opportunity to nurture their vocation as catechist and discover the essentials for their spiritual journey through prayer, art and music.

Lillian Cruces has been involved in Religious Education since 1977. She is a long time Catechist and has taught 5th grade and coordinated Religious activities in the Los Angeles area Catholic schools. She is currently the Coordinator of Elementary Catechesis at St. Mary’s Church in Whittier.

Room: 505

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

This course is designed to provide an introductory level of information regarding autism spectrum disorders, common characteristics, and behavioral functioning. Discussions will include practical techniques and behavioral management skills used to support these students in our religious education classes. Techniques focused upon will center around social stories, behavioral support strategies, contract based motivational systems, and strategies for the reduction of anxiety through the use of visual schedules.

Giorgia Diomedes is currently working as an assistant principal for Los Angeles Unified School District supervising special education at three elementary school sites. She has worked for nearly 18 years supporting teachers and paraprofessionals develop appropriate and helpful strategies for working with students with developmental and learning disabilities as well as other behavioral or physical difficulties. She is a Behavior Intervention Case Manager and has her Master’s degree in Special Education. She has developed a three-session Special Needs course for the improvement of delivery of services and education to catechumens with different abilities and needs.

Room: 601

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Handout: Science & Religion

Rabbi Lotker discusses how his religious faith is informed and strengthened by his scientific training and 30 year career as a physicist. He will discuss the evidence for God’s existence, the truth of the Bible, the question of how a good and loving God can allow evil and tragedy in the world and the question of why be religious.

Rabbi Michael Lotker is a Phi Beta Kappa/Magna Cum Laude physicist. He spent the bulk of his first career in the alternative energy business, working in wind power, solar and geothermal energy. In 2003, he was ordained as a rabbi at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, where he also received his Master of Hebrew Letters degree. He is presently Rabbi for the Jewish Community of Ojai, California and the Community Rabbi for the Jewish Federation of Ventura County.

Room: 503

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Through integrating faith and psychology, this workshop will explore how understanding our personality can help us in our relationships with others and in creating a life that honors God’s purpose for us. This workshop will take participants through a simple personality assessment based on the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory. Using this information, we will explore how personality impacts our lives and relationships in the areas of communication, decision making, stress management and sense of well-being. Resources will be provided to help build on the information discussed in the workshop.

Veronica Marchese, Ph.D. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Ventura County with 12 years in clinical practice. Veronica’s educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology, a M.A. in Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology with an emphasis in Somatics. Veronica offers online courses integrating faith and psychology through her website www.WholenessandHoliness.com. She is currently developing a premarital program for Catholic parishes bases on her dissertation research found at www.TheCatholicMarriageProject.com.

Room: 508

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

St. Luke tells us that the child Jesus grew in age, wisdom and grace. This is our challenge through all the seasons of our lives. When we are young we think we know everything. As we mature we wonder if we know anything. As we grow older, we realize that it’s what we learn after we think we know it all that counts!

Kay Murdy has a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary’s College, and is a Master Catechist for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Kay is the founder and member of the teaching team of the Catholic Bible Institute co-sponsored by the Archdiocese Office of Religious Education and Loyola Marymount University. Kay has written five books on scripture and spirituality for Liturgy Training Publications, and one for Ligouri Publications. Her novel, Song of the Dove, a story of Mary of Nazareth, was published by ACTA, 2014.

Room: 203

Session 3: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Are you interested in leading people to Christ? Why are some people more effective in this area than others? God chooses the F.A.T. to lead His people. As servants of The Lord, we need to be Faithful to God, Available to God, and always Teachable. Failing to do so means we will be in danger of leading others astray. A great problem in our parishes is that oftentimes we represent ourselves rather than Christ. If we want to lead the people of God, we need to remember Whom we are representing. I must decrease that He may increase!

Eddie Perez is the Southern California Curriculum Sales Representative for Our Sunday Visitor and has been active in various aspects of Catechetical Ministry, whether it is teaching Confirmation, leading Bible Studies, directing Retreats, or hosting Generation Connexion. Eddie has served as President of the Catholic Communicators of Southern California. He also founded and developed The Sower Ministries which continues to reach thousands of Catholics through Bible Studies and Community Outreach Programs. Eddie is a graduate from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations.