COREnotes
Q U A R T E R LY J O U R N A L O F T H E O F F I C E F O R C A T E C H E S I S The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul ISSUE 9 - JANUARY 2012
Ananias Restoring the Sight of St. Paul (c.1631) by Pietro da Cortona.
Mission We believe that through our ministry we continue the mission of Jesus Christ by enabling the people of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois to develop the gifts given them by the Spirit. In carrying out this mission, we strive to provide resources, service and leadership to all who are part of the educational mission of the Church: religious education, early childhood, elementary and secondary schools, and adult education. We do this in the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Staff Jonathan F. Sullivan Director for Catechetical Ministries jsullivan@dio.org Chris Malmevik Associate Director of Catechesis cmalmevik@dio.org Cynthia Callan Executive Secretary ccallan@dio.org Jean Johnson Superintendent of Catholic Schools jjohnson@dio.org Marilyn Missel Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools mmissel@dio.org Barbara Burris Associate Director of School Planning bburris@dio.org Kyle Holtgrave Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries kholtgrave@dio.org Beth Schmidt Secretary for School Personnel, Youth and Young Adult Ministries bschmidt@dio.org
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n October 11 of last year Pope Benedict XVI announced a Year of Faith to begin on October 11, 2012, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In Porta Fidei, his apostolic letter announcing the Year of Faith, the Holy Father says that “the Year of Faith… is a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the one Saviour of the world. In the mystery of his death and resurrection, God has revealed in its fullness the Love that saves and calls us to conversion of life through the forgiveness of sins.” This is the aim of all evangelization and catechesis: to bring people to faith in Christ and communion with his Church. We remember this aim in a special way today as we celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. That Paul, once one of the Church’s fiercest persecutors, could be brought to saving faith, reminds us that even the most hardened of hearts can be turned through God’s grace. As we prepare for the Year of Faith we will be looking for ways to build up the Church in central Illinois and open hearts so that people may experience their own “Paul moments.” Please pray with me that these efforts will be aided by the Holy Spirit and bear much fruit in our diocese.
In this issue . . . ... Why I HATE [and love] Letters . . . , page 2 ... A Year of Faith, page 5 ... Book Reviews, page 6 ... Is There Room for Introverts . . . , page 7 ... Save the Date, page 8 ... Listen While You Work, page 9 ... Calendar of Events, page 10
La conversion de Saint Paul (vers 1690), par Luca Giordano
Why I HATE (and love) Letters from Parents on Retreats By Paul Masek
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hen we include letters from parents as part of a retreat or other ministry event, we have the best intentions. We love to see teens touched by love, especially the love of their parents. It is powerful when teens cry, and there are always some tears when we hand out these letters. Some who work with teens even believe that teen’s tears are a sign God’s presence – and a sign that we have done our job well. It’s supposed to be a love letter and an affirmation letter. Many good people involved in youth ministry believe that it’s an essential part of retreats. In some places, it is a sacred tradition. So why do I hate letters from parents on retreats more than I love them? Because of what I have seen, heard and experienced: 1. They are an organizational nightmare. No matter how many letters, emails, texts, and phone calls are put out there to get letters from parents in on time, the organizers of this activity are almost always scrambling at the last minute to ensure that every kid has a letter. 2. Sometimes not every kid gets a letter. I have seen this happen and it is heartbreaking when everyone else gets a letter from at least one parent and there is a kid who gets a letter from a teacher or youth minister or campus minister instead; this causes more hurt than we can imagine. It is just not the same if you don’t get a letter from a parent when that is the goal of the activity. 3. Sometimes they don’t get a letter from the right person. One time on a retreat, a student received a huge stack of letters from her loving family and was still crying tears of pain after reading them - because she wanted a letter from her dad, and he is the only one who didn’t send one. This issue can be exacerbated by how many hurting families there are in our world. 4. The quantities of letters are often variable. I have seen students from large families receive stacks of letters that would take hours to read, and some students only receive one or two that can be read in a minute; this reality can make some students feel inferior or less loved, even if that’s not the case. 5. There is rarely any quality control, and what is in these letters can devastate teens. I once spoke to a teenage boy who told me (with tears in his eyes) that one of his letters was a tirade from his dad about all of the ways that he needed to improve his life – the letter lacked any loving affirmation. Another time a kid simply received a Hallmark card that was signed by his parents. Just because we tell parents that these letters should be affirming doesn’t
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mean that they will be, since some parents are quite dysfunctional in their interactions with their teens. I have to be honest, though. There can be a good side to these letters from parents: 1. Some organizers do a great job of ensuring that every kid gets a letter from at least one parent. 2. I have had teens tell me on numerous occasions that the letters from parents was the most touching, powerful, and memorable part of their retreat. 3. It is a great thing for parents; if they clearly know what such a letter should include, the overwhelming majority will rise to the occasion and express incredible love to their kids through these letters. 4. It puts a spotlight on parenting. Though we in youth ministry know that parents are the primary educators of their kids in matters of faith, this is easily forgotten in practice. 5. These letters can be a powerful reminder to teens about how much God loves them through their parents. In order for this activity to work well, then, I believe that we must count the cost before doing it and be willing to invest plenty of time and energy into making sure that it works well. If we follow a few practical guidelines, we can protect teens from potential hurt and pain, while ensuring - to the best of our ability - that this experience is incredibly positive. If you ever want to include letters from parents on future retreats or ministry events, I suggest that you hold a mandatory parent meeting where you discuss the importance of these letters (The problem with such a meeting, is, of course, that those who need the most guidance rarely show up. This adds another
layer to the organizational nightmare, requiring sign-in sheets and following up with those who were absent). Here are some things to seriously consider including in such a meeting: 1. Let parents know that if you do not receive their letters by a certain deadline, you will not distribute letters to anyone on the retreat. This rule must be uncompromising; the quality of the retreat experience cannot be diminished because of disorganized parents. 2. Give a serious deadline. I suggest two weeks in advance of the retreat, in light of what you will read in #5 below. 3. Give the parents some sample letters, both good and bad, so they will know clearly what to do and what not to do. If possible, you might want to have an older student attend the meeting and read a sample of a positive letter they received at a past retreat, highlighting what touched them and why. 4. Rather than general guidance like “write a love/affirmation letter” you might want to give more specific guidance like “write a letter about a specific time or moment that you were especially proud of your kid” or “write about your hopes for you child’s future”. 5. Tell parents that you will read every letter as soon as it is turned in and that you will check all letters for appropriateness – not only because of how poorly written letters can be hurtful to teens, but to ensure that the experience is as powerful as it can be. This may sound crazy and controversial and might meet some resistance, but I have a friend who instituted this practice several years ago. Though there was an initial negative reaction from parents - as there often is when you do something new - over the years
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the negativity has decreased and it is now just a normative part of the experience. By the way, my friend has rarely called parents to modify their letters; just the knowledge that letters will be scrutinized has insured that they are generally well-written. Let parents know that if any letter does not meet clear standards of excellence, it will be sent back to them with suggestions for revisions. If you ever need to send a letter back, affirm what is good but be very specific about anything that could be problematic and what exactly needs to be changed. 6. Again, if every student does not have an approved letter by a reasonable deadline, no letters will be distributed to anyone. No exceptions. Ever. I know that integrating these suggestions will require a serious commitment of time & energy from you and your staff, but anything worthwhile should be done well – not for our glory, but for God’s, and for the good of His kids. Finally, if you do distribute letters from parents on a ministry event, having the right environment can greatly enhance the experience. I would suggest: 1. Make sure that your venue has adequate space so that teens have privacy when reading these letters. 2. Play some quiet instrumental background music while letters are distributed and while they are reading. 3. Since some teens might cry, have leaders armed with plenty of tissues to distribute if needed; I call this ‘Kleenex ministry’. 4. Have several trusted adults available if any teen needs to talk, since some may need to process what they’ve read. 5. If you allocate a specific time frame for this activity, know that some teens will need more time, and some teens will need less than the allotted time. Therefore, you might want to distribute letters during a time that precedes a break, so that those who need more time can have it, and those who don’t aren’t sitting around bored and distracting others. I believe that letters from parents have great potential to be a powerful experience for the teens we reach in youth ministry, but this exercise must not be done flippantly. If we are going to include this activity, we need to devote plenty of time and energy to ensure that the experience is everything teens need it to be.
Paul Masek is the coordinator of the REAP Team (www.reapteam.org), a Catholic youth retreat ministry which is a division of the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ Office of Youth Ministry. He is married to Lisa, and they have four kids - Jacob, Audrey, Kyle, and Dominic. You can follow Paul on Twitter @clasekmasek.
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A Year of Faith O
n January 8 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released a “Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith.” This document outlines suggestions for celebrating and implementing the “Year of Faith” declared by the Holy Father which will begin on October 11. Some of the suggestions for parishes include: • The Year of Faith “will also be a good opportunity to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy, especially in the Eucharist.” In the Eucharist, mystery of faith and source of the new evangelization, the faith of the Church is proclaimed, celebrated and strengthened. All of the faithful are invited to participate in the Eucharist actively, fruitfully and with awareness, in order to be authentic witnesses of the Lord. • Catechists should hold more firmly to the doctrinal richness of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and, under the direction of their pastors, offer guidance in reading this precious document to groups of faithful, working toward a deeper common understanding thereof, with the goal of creating small communities of faith, and of giving witness to the Lord Jesus. • The promotion of missions and other popular programs in parishes and in the workplace can help the faithful to rediscover the gift of Baptismal faith and the task of giving witness, knowing that the Christian vocation “by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate.” • All of the faithful, called to renew the gift of faith, should try to communicate their own experience of faith and charity to their brothers and sisters of other religions, with those who do not believe, and with those who are just indifferent. In this way, it is hoped that the entire Christian people will begin a kind of mission toward those with whom they live and work, knowing that they “have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man.” The full list of pastoral recommendation is available on the Vatican’s web site. “We cannot accept that salt should become tasteless or the light be kept hidden (cf. Mt 5:13-16). The people of today can still experience the need to go to the well, like the Samaritan woman, in order to hear Jesus, who invites us to believe in him and to draw upon the source of living water welling up within him (cf. Jn 4:14). We must rediscover a taste for feeding ourselves on the word of God, faithfully handed down by the Church, and on the bread of life, offered as sustenance for his disciples (cf. Jn 6:51). Indeed, the teaching of Jesus still resounds in our day with the same power: ‘Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life’ (Jn 6:27). The question posed by his listeners is the same that we ask today: ‘What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ (Jn 6:28). We know Jesus’ reply: ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent’ (Jn 6:29). Belief in Jesus Christ, then, is the way to arrive definitively at salvation.” - Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei
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The Catholic Briefcase: Tools for Integrating Faith and Work Book Review by Jonathan F. Sullivan
How Catholics live their lives in the public square is one of the hot button issues in the Church. For evidence one need only look at the recent USCCB General Assembly, where issues of religious freedom and political pressure where at the forefront of the conversation. And while these macro-level conversations are vital for a Church that does so much public good, I sometimes wonder if we aren’t missing the boat by failing to talk about how the average Catholic lives their faith when they aren’t at Sunday Mass. Fortunately, Randy Hain’s The Catholic Briefcase: Tools for Integrating Faith and Work seeks to start that conversation, at least as it pertains to Catholics and their work lives. In doing so he draws both from his own experience as an executive seeking to integrate his faith with his work, and on the experience of other Catholics (through interviews included in the book) living their faith in the workplace. Of course there are many obstacles to being a person of faith in the modern business world, from concerns about policies (official or unofficial) against talking about faith in the workplace, to uncertainty about the best way to broach faith topics, to incongruities between faith and business culture. Hain acknowledges each of these and offers gentle suggestions and tips for overcoming them. He also offers practical advice for nurturing a spiritual life as a busy professional, reflections on the relationship between love and work behavior, examples of good stewardship in the business place, and advice for managers and executives on the Christian understanding of leadership. Each chapter includes several reflection questions, which makes this an ideal book for a small faith community or gathering of Catholic professionals. Hain also includes an excellent series of appendices with additional resources including recommended books and web sites, a “Daily Examen for Busy Business People,” and even a blueprint for starting a local Catholic business group. These resources will help people put the material from the book into practice. I would recommend The Catholic Briefcase for any Catholic professional interested in deepening their spiritual life and looking to integrate a Christian outlook in the business world. Disclaimer: I received a free manuscript of this book from Ligouri Publications.
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Is there room for INTROVERTS in your CATECHETICAL program by Jonathan F. Sullivan
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I recently read Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, which got me thinking about how we accommodate introverts in our catechetical programs. Many school activities and pedagogical methods, such as group work or presentations, are designed for extroverts. This is also true for many catechetical and faith formation programs. (Think of the typical small faith community of Bible study, which expects conversation, interaction, and the sharing of one’s personal faith.) With so many youth religious education programs working off a school model, we need to be careful that we allow room for introverts (who make up roughly 30% of the population) to explore and learn through their own particular gifts as well. Cain includes a whole chapter in her book for parents and educators on cultivating the particular gifts of introverted children; many of her suggestions are easily applicable to catechesis of children or adults. • Don’t force introverts to act like extroverts. Just because the “shy” child in your class keeps his head in the book and rarely answers questions aloud doesn’t mean he isn’t learning or absorbing the material. Allow introverted students to interact and talk at their own comfort level; forcing them may only increase their anxiety. If you do group work, try to keep the groups small (pairs or threes is good). • Try to seat introverts in low-distraction areas. This may mean keeping them away from the talkative kids or the class clown, who will only serve to distract introverts. • Be sensitive when taking students into unfamiliar situations. Be attentive to your students’ comfort levels when taking them on field trips or mission activities; some may feel awkward or nervous in new or overstimulating situations. As Cain writes, “The key is to expose [him] gradually to new situations and people — taking care to respect his limits, even when they seem extreme. This produces more-confident kids than either overprotection or pushing too hard. Let him know that his feelings are normal and natural, but, also that there’s nothing to be afraid of.” • Use introverts’ interests to make a connection. Many introverts are passionate about a few things. It may be music or science fiction or dancing, but it’s their thing. Praise them for these interests and try to use them in your curriculum to help your students make connections with the material. For instance, if you have an introvert who plays an instrument, have them play a hymn connected to Sunday’s readings. • Allow space for introverts to explore spirituality from their perspective. In the book Cain talks about going to a weekend designed for introverts — no expectation of chit-chat at dinner, lots of time for reflection and journaling, and minimal personal sharing with others. How many parishes do you know that offer a silent retreat or personal retreat experience? I’ll bet not many! Yet introverts may not be comfortable in the group participation/small group model that many retreats work from. Similarly, introverted teens may not be comfortable in a LifeTeen or similar setting. Don’t assume that everyone belongs in a “one size fits all” ministry; remember the particular needs of introverts when planning retreats and other formation experiences.
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E V A S E T A D E H T
On Saturday, March 3, 2012, the Office for Catechesis, in conjunction with Loyola Press, will offer a free professional development workshop for pastors, deacons, DREs, CREs, principals, and other catechetical leaders.
Connect, Awaken, and Share is a 2-and-a-half-hour workshop in which catechetical leaders are whisked through a series of activities, interactions, stories, reflections, and prayers, each one conveying a way or means to engage parents in the faith formation of their children. The facilitators model the approach and the energy that can work to be more inviting, honoring, and engaging with the parents—just as they hope the parents will be with them. Participants not only receive ideas they can share with their catechists, but also take home a booklet that gives a thorough explanation of each of the ideas and activities presented. Some ideas and activities presented during the workshop include: • Who Fanned your Faith?: This memory exercise helps participants recognize who shaped their faith and how. Perfect for family meetings at the opening of school. • Listen-Up Sponges: This fun do-it-yourself craft encourages family sharing while also helping everyone be a better listener. • Sacramental Connect-The-Dots: This interactive lesson helps parents make the connection between what goes on in family life and what happens in the sacraments we celebrate at church. • Family Sunday: This topic addresses how to help parents make the most of Sundays as a time to connect as a family and as a parish family at Mass. The workshop will be held from 10a-1p on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield. While the workshop is complimentary, registration is required by February 23, 2012. Lunch will be provided.
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“Catechesis: A Shared Responsibility.” On October 12 Chris Malmevik and Jonathan Sullivan offered a pilot workshop in Carlinville entitled “Catechesis: A Shared Responsibility.” This workshop, designed for parish catechists and parents, incorporated prayer, video, and shared reflection while focusing on • Helping parishioners understand the various catechetical roles in a parish • Reinforcing the family as the primary center of catechesis • Providing resources for integrating catechesis in the parish and family The feedback from the pilot session was very positive, and Jonathan and Chris would be happy to come to your parish to offer the workshop at no cost. Contact the Office for Catechesis at 217-698-8500 or jsullivan@dio.org for more information.
Listen While You Work Podcasts are an increasingly popular form of finding interesting Catholic information. Here’s a list of Catholic podcasts that might interest you: Best Youth Ministry Podcast Ever...Maybe www.dsj.org/ministries/youth-ministry/youth-ministry-podcast The Diocese of San Jose produces this podcast exploring various aspects of youth ministry such as “Pastoral Care Issues with Teens” and “Strategies to Collaborate with Other Ministries.” The Catholics Next Door TheCatholicsNextDoor.NewEvangelizers.com Greg and Jennifer Willits send out selections from their popular SiriusXM radio show. Jimmy Akin Podcast www.JimmyAkinPodcast.com The Catholic Answers apologist answers questions sent in by listeners such as “Did Mary receive Communion?” Among Women Podcast AmongWomenPodcast.blogspot.com Pat Gohn, who will be one of the speakers at this year’s DAEC, hosts this podcast for and about Catholic women! National Fellowship of Catholic Men catholicmentoday.org The NFCM posts presentations and reflections on Catholic masculine spirituality, inspiration, and general faith formation. Catechetical Leader Podcast www.CatecheticalLeader.org This podcast, sponsored by the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, includes interviews with catechists and DREs from across the country. It is hosted by our own Jonathan Sullivan.
What is a podcast? A podcast is an internet radio show that can be downloaded and played on your computer or MP3 player. Podcasts a can cover any subject imaginable, from board games to cooking, the stock market to technology!
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Catholic Schools Week “Catholic Schools: Faith. Academics. Service.” January 29 - February 5, 2012 Connect, Awaken & Share Workshop Saturday, March 3, 2012 Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Springfield, Illinois
National Conference of Catechetical Leadership Convention – “Embrace Grace” May 7-10, 2012 San Diego, California National Black Catholic Congress XI July 19-22, 2012 Indianapolis, Indiana
Why Catholic? Retreat March 18-24, 2012 Events held at various locations and times
Wading Deeper August 3-4, 2012 Holy Family Litchfield, Illinois
National Catholic Education Association Conference – “Leadership. Direction. Service.” April 11-13, 2012 Boston, Massachusetts
Year of Faith October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013
Illinois Catholic Principal Conference March 18-20, 2012 Bloomington, Illinois
Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference November 4-5, 2012 Pre-Conference November 3, 2012 Decatur Conference Center & Hotel Decatur, Illinois
Perhaps, brethren, our most pressing pastoral challenge today is to reclaim that truth, to restore the luster, the credibility, the beauty of the Church “ever ancient, ever new,” renewing her as the face of Jesus, just as He is the face of God. Maybe our most urgent pastoral priority is to lead our people to see, meet, hear and embrace anew Jesus in and through His Church. - Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Address to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (November 14, 2011)
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COREnotes January 2012 - Issue 9
The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
Office for Catechesis 1615 W. Washington • P.O. Box 3187• Springfield, IL 62708-3187 217.698.8500 ph • 217.698.8620 fax • dio.org/catechesis