* The presentation of the content lends itself to easy planning for a variety of adult faith formation situations –retreats, R.C.I.A, sacramental preparation.
* Most chapters begin with the story of a Catholic from the United States and are practical, engaging and relatable.
* The teachings engage both the positive and negative features of our culture.
* Learners are involved in the content through faith sharing discussion questions that connect faith learning to faith living.
* Each chapter concludes with brief doctrinal statements and suggestions for meditation and prayer.
* A helpful glossary at the end of the Catechism provides assistance with unfamiliar terminology.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Deepening Your Faith Life Through the Use of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Commentary by Julianne Donlon, Adult Faith Formation Director, Diocese of Green Bay
“We will first, like Jesus, join people in their daily concerns and walk side by side with them on the pathway of life.”
Our Hearts Were Burning #8
The publication of Bishop Ricken’s first pastoral letter “A New Moment for Catechesis In the Diocese of Green Bay” coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the United States Catholic Bishops’ document “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. Both of these documents emphasize that we must renew our commitment to adult faith formation and utilize the teachings of the Church to bring people into a deeper relationship with Christ. Each one of us, by our baptism, is called to share the faith, to evangelize our culture and to bring what we believe into the world. Ideally, Catholics should be able to explain their faith, defend it when it is attacked and to feel comfortable in knowing the basic beliefs that bind us to the church.
I am often asked to recommend resources to adults who are seeking clarity in their own lives, resources to help parents talk to their children about the faith or to young adults who are truly curious about the teachings of the Catholic Church. Without a doubt, I recommend the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) as an accessible, interesting and straightforward presentation of the faith. The U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults is exactly that: Catholic and for adults. It is a reference, a resource and a refresher for all Catholics (especially young adults) but is oriented toward those who might never have studied the faith in a systematic matter. Regardless of your knowledge of the faith this work has something for everyone!
You will find the USCCA to be easy reading. It sets forth in an appealing and engaging manner all that the Church believes (the creed in Chapters 1-13), what the Church celebrates (the sacraments in Chapters 14-22), what the Church lives (Christian morality in Chapters 23-34) and how the Church prays (Christian prayer in Chapters 35-36). Doctrine applied to cultural challenges is one of the unique features of this “local Catechism”. The themes of human dignity, respect, solidarity and justice are among those treated. The USCCA identifies positive aspects of our culture and also addresses the challenges subjectivism, relativism and consumerism in our society. “Hot button” issues are discussed and the reflection questions encourage the reader to make the connection between faith learning and faith living.
The US Catholic Catechism for Adults is a user-friendly resource. If any of the following apply, you will want to make this distinctly American Catholic resource part of your life.
• You are inspired by reading about people who have witnessed to the faith in their own life are roles models for Catholic living.
• You are curious about the traditions and history of the Church in the United States
• You have a desire to grow in your understanding of the Catholic faith
• You wish to better connect your Catholic faith to life in our cultural context.
• You are seeking ways to deepen your prayer life.
Consider finding ways to study the USCCA r with other adults with whom you relate, interested parishioners, or family and friends. Share what you have learned and if you have specific questions consider approaching a trusted priest friend. The USCCA will be an invaluable resource for priests and deacons in their preaching and teaching ministry, and for all who desire to come to a deeper understanding of this wonderful gift of our Catholic faith. It will surely become a staple of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, both for its teaching teams and for inquirers. It will be a stimulating resource for parish study groups, who may choose to focus on the discussion questions. It could become a powerful Lenten project, with a chapter a day nearly covering that holy season. It can also be used as a self-directed retreat as you pray with the stories in the work or focus on the prayers and meditations offered.
This resource is designed for exploration and integration of our faith in a manner that is dialogic and relatable. In the give and take of faith sharing, the deep truths of the Catechism will meet the rich, graced insights of people’s experience. The result can be truly transformative!
“We will first, like Jesus, join people in their daily concerns and walk side by side with them on the pathway of life.”
Our Hearts Were Burning #8
The publication of Bishop Ricken’s first pastoral letter “A New Moment for Catechesis In the Diocese of Green Bay” coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the United States Catholic Bishops’ document “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”. Both of these documents emphasize that we must renew our commitment to adult faith formation and utilize the teachings of the Church to bring people into a deeper relationship with Christ. Each one of us, by our baptism, is called to share the faith, to evangelize our culture and to bring what we believe into the world. Ideally, Catholics should be able to explain their faith, defend it when it is attacked and to feel comfortable in knowing the basic beliefs that bind us to the church.
I am often asked to recommend resources to adults who are seeking clarity in their own lives, resources to help parents talk to their children about the faith or to young adults who are truly curious about the teachings of the Catholic Church. Without a doubt, I recommend the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) as an accessible, interesting and straightforward presentation of the faith. The U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults is exactly that: Catholic and for adults. It is a reference, a resource and a refresher for all Catholics (especially young adults) but is oriented toward those who might never have studied the faith in a systematic matter. Regardless of your knowledge of the faith this work has something for everyone!
You will find the USCCA to be easy reading. It sets forth in an appealing and engaging manner all that the Church believes (the creed in Chapters 1-13), what the Church celebrates (the sacraments in Chapters 14-22), what the Church lives (Christian morality in Chapters 23-34) and how the Church prays (Christian prayer in Chapters 35-36). Doctrine applied to cultural challenges is one of the unique features of this “local Catechism”. The themes of human dignity, respect, solidarity and justice are among those treated. The USCCA identifies positive aspects of our culture and also addresses the challenges subjectivism, relativism and consumerism in our society. “Hot button” issues are discussed and the reflection questions encourage the reader to make the connection between faith learning and faith living.
The US Catholic Catechism for Adults is a user-friendly resource. If any of the following apply, you will want to make this distinctly American Catholic resource part of your life.
• You are inspired by reading about people who have witnessed to the faith in their own life are roles models for Catholic living.
• You are curious about the traditions and history of the Church in the United States
• You have a desire to grow in your understanding of the Catholic faith
• You wish to better connect your Catholic faith to life in our cultural context.
• You are seeking ways to deepen your prayer life.
Consider finding ways to study the USCCA r with other adults with whom you relate, interested parishioners, or family and friends. Share what you have learned and if you have specific questions consider approaching a trusted priest friend. The USCCA will be an invaluable resource for priests and deacons in their preaching and teaching ministry, and for all who desire to come to a deeper understanding of this wonderful gift of our Catholic faith. It will surely become a staple of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, both for its teaching teams and for inquirers. It will be a stimulating resource for parish study groups, who may choose to focus on the discussion questions. It could become a powerful Lenten project, with a chapter a day nearly covering that holy season. It can also be used as a self-directed retreat as you pray with the stories in the work or focus on the prayers and meditations offered.
This resource is designed for exploration and integration of our faith in a manner that is dialogic and relatable. In the give and take of faith sharing, the deep truths of the Catechism will meet the rich, graced insights of people’s experience. The result can be truly transformative!
A Defining Moment In History
Rosie Bartel, Religious Education Director at the Diocese of Green Bay, comments on publication of Bishop David Ricken's first Pastoral Letter:
Some may ask why this is a defining moment in the history of catechesis in our country and in the Diocese of Green Bay. Bishop David Ricken’s pastoral letter on the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and its use in the Diocese of Green Bay follows a long history of strong catechetical movements for our diocese. I am old enough to remember the use of the Baltimore Catechism in our parishes and schools. Even though some people like to joke about those days, it gave many of us a solid foundation to start our faith formation. I was here for the start of Vatican II and all the changes that brought to our parishes and how we catechized the faithful.
In the Diocese of Green Bay many of us were involved in the development and use of the Green Bay Plan. I remember being a part of the diocese as it rolled and how everyone across the country was looking to Green Bay and wanting to know about the Green Bay Plan.
As time went on we need more to guide the catechesis of our youth and again Green Bay led the way with the development of a curriculum and a strong religion certification program. During this same time they also were the first diocese to have an accredited commission ministry program.
Three years ago when the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults was published the Diocese of Green Bay immediately looked at ways to share this with our people in the parishes and schools. It became the guiding text for the development of our standard-based religion curriculum for our religious education programs and schools. This curriculum is now on-line and will be interactive. Parishes and schools will be able to share lesson plans and how the implement the curriculum.
The next area that began being reviewed was how we handled religion certification in our diocese. The Wisconsin Catholic Conference had set forth a newly revised set of minimum standards for certification. We looked closely at these new standards and decided to revise our certification process using the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Today our catechists and teachers are all expected to receive basic, intermediate and advanced certification. The new syllabi for these levels use the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as the primary text. This leads to a systematic plan for the training for the catechists and teachers. This certification process will help our catechists and teachers past on the faith and also integrate the faith into all subjects.
I sometimes think we have come full circle. We started with a basic catechism in the Baltimore Catechism and now we have the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. The things that make this new catechism different is the way the catechism is set up and how it uses the communion of saints and holy people to help better understand the teaching. It also applies the teachings to the issues that confronts many United States citizens. The more I work with the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults the more I appreciate the wealth of information it contains and how it will help all Catholics better understand the teaching of the Catholic Church. This is the best gift we can give to our faithful during this moment in history when many are questioning their faith or are being questioned about their faith by others.
If you have not pick up a copy of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, I encourage you to do that soon. I would also suggest you take one of the overview classes for the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults or enroll in the new certification process to help you better understand the catechism.
Some may ask why this is a defining moment in the history of catechesis in our country and in the Diocese of Green Bay. Bishop David Ricken’s pastoral letter on the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and its use in the Diocese of Green Bay follows a long history of strong catechetical movements for our diocese. I am old enough to remember the use of the Baltimore Catechism in our parishes and schools. Even though some people like to joke about those days, it gave many of us a solid foundation to start our faith formation. I was here for the start of Vatican II and all the changes that brought to our parishes and how we catechized the faithful.
In the Diocese of Green Bay many of us were involved in the development and use of the Green Bay Plan. I remember being a part of the diocese as it rolled and how everyone across the country was looking to Green Bay and wanting to know about the Green Bay Plan.
As time went on we need more to guide the catechesis of our youth and again Green Bay led the way with the development of a curriculum and a strong religion certification program. During this same time they also were the first diocese to have an accredited commission ministry program.
Three years ago when the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults was published the Diocese of Green Bay immediately looked at ways to share this with our people in the parishes and schools. It became the guiding text for the development of our standard-based religion curriculum for our religious education programs and schools. This curriculum is now on-line and will be interactive. Parishes and schools will be able to share lesson plans and how the implement the curriculum.
The next area that began being reviewed was how we handled religion certification in our diocese. The Wisconsin Catholic Conference had set forth a newly revised set of minimum standards for certification. We looked closely at these new standards and decided to revise our certification process using the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Today our catechists and teachers are all expected to receive basic, intermediate and advanced certification. The new syllabi for these levels use the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as the primary text. This leads to a systematic plan for the training for the catechists and teachers. This certification process will help our catechists and teachers past on the faith and also integrate the faith into all subjects.
I sometimes think we have come full circle. We started with a basic catechism in the Baltimore Catechism and now we have the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. The things that make this new catechism different is the way the catechism is set up and how it uses the communion of saints and holy people to help better understand the teaching. It also applies the teachings to the issues that confronts many United States citizens. The more I work with the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults the more I appreciate the wealth of information it contains and how it will help all Catholics better understand the teaching of the Catholic Church. This is the best gift we can give to our faithful during this moment in history when many are questioning their faith or are being questioned about their faith by others.
If you have not pick up a copy of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, I encourage you to do that soon. I would also suggest you take one of the overview classes for the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults or enroll in the new certification process to help you better understand the catechism.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Department of Education Accomplishments 2008/2009: A Real Team Effort!
Looking back at the 2008/2009 fiscal year, Dr. Joe Bound, Diocese of Green Bay Director of Catholic Education provides a synopsis of the year's activities:
Adult Faith Formation. We offered a number of adult faith formation courses throughout the Diocese. Between the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults classes, W.O.W! The Sacraments, presentations, the Pope Benedict XVI courses, and the Know Your Faith program more than 1,500 people participated in these programs. The Adult Faith Formation division of the Department also produced a booklet celebrating the 10th anniversary of the USCCB document Our Hearts Were Burning, provided guidance to a number of parishes in how to establish adult faith formation programs on the local level. We also started a state-wide adult faith formation organization.
Catholic Schools. The Schools division, with the assistance of a committee composed of system presidents and school principals, developed a new school administrator evaluation process and a set of standards for faith integration in all aspects of Catholic school operations. In addition, the Diocesan Board of Education Finance Committee developed and disseminated a new budgetary and financial planning manual and corresponding DVD to all of our schools. The division also sponsored five Leadership Days for all school administrators this year and provided 11 regional in-services, five initial educators’ in-services, five new administrators’ in-services, as well as a number of meetings regarding the Supportive Consultants program. The division also made a little bit of history this year by hosting the first meeting of Catholic school athletic directors since 1992. On May 15, 2009 we conducted the first ever meeting between a Bishop of Green Bay and Catholic school athletic directors.
Religious Education. Supporting catechetical and sacramental preparation programs on the parish level, our Religious Education division worked extensively on the new K-12 religion curriculum project, strengthened the religion certification program requirements for all school and parish religious education personnel, and started work on developing the nation’s first ever accreditation program for parish religion education programs. This division also sponsored five leadership days for catechetical leaders, 11 regional in-services, and a host of catechist training sessions throughout the four corners of the Diocese. In addition this division sponsored Theology of the Body workshops for catechists and catechetical leaders.
Also during 2008-2009 the Department of Education developed the Alive! A Witness to Love program, a new chastity education initiative based closely on the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ chastity education guidelines. This program is designed to help parents teach their children about chastity at an age appropriate level. The program consists of parents teaching other parents how to utilize the new Department of Education-produced set of DVDs for boys, girls, and parents; a manual including a number of helpful tips and bits of practical information; as well as books and pamphlets. This Spring, the Department held peer-parent ambassador training sessions for 35 parents preparing them for a fall 2009 roll out in the parishes. More news about this program will appear in future editions of this Compass insert.
Promotional Services. Our Promotional Services division continued to produce the popular monthly Department of Education Compass insert. This division also spearheaded a collaborative marketing effort this past January with a number of school systems in producing TV ads on WFRV-TV highlighting Catholic Schools Week throughout the Diocese. These ads which ran for three weeks sparked interest in our Catholic schools and some schools were able to track increases in enrollment in February to traffic generated by these ads. This division also worked collaboratively with the Power of Life organization in promoting the Power of Life Event held at Xavier High School this past October. Currently this division is in the process of developing a number of ads promoting our extensive July through August Theology on Tap program as well as the upcoming Lifest event in Oshkosh, and a celebration of Catechetical Week in the Fall.
Curriculum and Instruction. The Department of Education Curriculum and Instruction division continued working with the Link4Learning project, the largest single curriculum project in public or private K-12 education in Wisconsin. The K-8 religion, math, and physical education standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations were completed this year as well as the K-12 guidance counseling standards. A tremendous amount of progress was made in a number of other disciplines as well. This division also assisted in the accreditation or re-accreditation of eight Catholic schools.
Earlier in the school year, around November, the Diocese transferred youth ministry and young adult ministry from the Evangelization and Worship Department into the Department of Education. This internal restructuring resulted in the Department of Education providing more services to schools and parishes without the assistance of additional personnel. To assist the Department in providing services to youth and young adults, two advisory councils were established to help us with planning and providing events for these very important segments of our Church.
Youth Ministry is under the direction of Rosie Bartel, our Religious Education Director who has been extremely busy this past eight months working with the Youth Ministry Advisory Council, providing services for the Catholic parish Scouting programs, conducting the Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference in April at St. Pius X Parish in Appleton, preparing to send a delegation of youth to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City, sponsoring Youth Jam held in February at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard, developing strong connections with the diocesan Vocations office, as well as providing consultation to parish youth ministers.
Young Adult Ministry is under the direction of Julianne Donlon, our Adult Faith Formation Director. She has also been extremely busy working with the Young Adults Ministry Advisory Council, organizing this summer’s Theology on Tap program, preparing to send a delegation of young adults to Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day 2011, as well as consulting with young adult groups throughout the Diocese.
Administrative Services. The Administrative Services division conducted a number of regional board in-services this year, conducted a board retreat for the Kaukauna Catholic School System (KCSS), attended a number of Total Catholic Education (TCE) board or school board meetings, and published a new boards, committees, and commissions manual. This division also facilitated the strategic planning process for KCSS, conducted information sessions on strategic planning at a number of schools as well as at all 11 regional in-services, and did a follow up evaluation of the St. Rose, Clintonville & St. Mary’s, Bear Creek TCE strategic plan in January 2009.
Board of Education. The Diocesan Board of Education developed and rolled out new personnel policies for schools and parish religious education programs, expanded its committees from the original Catechesis, Executive, Finance, Nominations, and Policy & Personnel Committees to now include the new Athletics, Development, Leadership, and Marketing Committees.
As you can see, we have had a very busy year. All of this would not have been achieved without the assistance of a large number of people working on boards, committees and councils, a number of parents stepping forward to help with the new chastity education program, a Diocesan strategic plan for adult faith formation, parish religious education, and schools, the tremendous support of Bishop David Ricken, your prayers, and the dedication of the nine members of the Department of Education team.
Please know that I am deeply appreciative of the collaborative efforts of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the Diocese of Green Bay who are working diligently to improve Catholic education in its five forms: adult faith formation, parish religious education, schools, youth ministry and young adult ministry. Wait until you see what’s in store for 2090-10. In the meantime, enjoy the summer weather and get a little rest and relaxation. Fall will be here sooner than you think. Take good care and God bless.
Adult Faith Formation. We offered a number of adult faith formation courses throughout the Diocese. Between the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults classes, W.O.W! The Sacraments, presentations, the Pope Benedict XVI courses, and the Know Your Faith program more than 1,500 people participated in these programs. The Adult Faith Formation division of the Department also produced a booklet celebrating the 10th anniversary of the USCCB document Our Hearts Were Burning, provided guidance to a number of parishes in how to establish adult faith formation programs on the local level. We also started a state-wide adult faith formation organization.
Catholic Schools. The Schools division, with the assistance of a committee composed of system presidents and school principals, developed a new school administrator evaluation process and a set of standards for faith integration in all aspects of Catholic school operations. In addition, the Diocesan Board of Education Finance Committee developed and disseminated a new budgetary and financial planning manual and corresponding DVD to all of our schools. The division also sponsored five Leadership Days for all school administrators this year and provided 11 regional in-services, five initial educators’ in-services, five new administrators’ in-services, as well as a number of meetings regarding the Supportive Consultants program. The division also made a little bit of history this year by hosting the first meeting of Catholic school athletic directors since 1992. On May 15, 2009 we conducted the first ever meeting between a Bishop of Green Bay and Catholic school athletic directors.
Religious Education. Supporting catechetical and sacramental preparation programs on the parish level, our Religious Education division worked extensively on the new K-12 religion curriculum project, strengthened the religion certification program requirements for all school and parish religious education personnel, and started work on developing the nation’s first ever accreditation program for parish religion education programs. This division also sponsored five leadership days for catechetical leaders, 11 regional in-services, and a host of catechist training sessions throughout the four corners of the Diocese. In addition this division sponsored Theology of the Body workshops for catechists and catechetical leaders.
Also during 2008-2009 the Department of Education developed the Alive! A Witness to Love program, a new chastity education initiative based closely on the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ chastity education guidelines. This program is designed to help parents teach their children about chastity at an age appropriate level. The program consists of parents teaching other parents how to utilize the new Department of Education-produced set of DVDs for boys, girls, and parents; a manual including a number of helpful tips and bits of practical information; as well as books and pamphlets. This Spring, the Department held peer-parent ambassador training sessions for 35 parents preparing them for a fall 2009 roll out in the parishes. More news about this program will appear in future editions of this Compass insert.
Promotional Services. Our Promotional Services division continued to produce the popular monthly Department of Education Compass insert. This division also spearheaded a collaborative marketing effort this past January with a number of school systems in producing TV ads on WFRV-TV highlighting Catholic Schools Week throughout the Diocese. These ads which ran for three weeks sparked interest in our Catholic schools and some schools were able to track increases in enrollment in February to traffic generated by these ads. This division also worked collaboratively with the Power of Life organization in promoting the Power of Life Event held at Xavier High School this past October. Currently this division is in the process of developing a number of ads promoting our extensive July through August Theology on Tap program as well as the upcoming Lifest event in Oshkosh, and a celebration of Catechetical Week in the Fall.
Curriculum and Instruction. The Department of Education Curriculum and Instruction division continued working with the Link4Learning project, the largest single curriculum project in public or private K-12 education in Wisconsin. The K-8 religion, math, and physical education standards, benchmarks, and grade level expectations were completed this year as well as the K-12 guidance counseling standards. A tremendous amount of progress was made in a number of other disciplines as well. This division also assisted in the accreditation or re-accreditation of eight Catholic schools.
Earlier in the school year, around November, the Diocese transferred youth ministry and young adult ministry from the Evangelization and Worship Department into the Department of Education. This internal restructuring resulted in the Department of Education providing more services to schools and parishes without the assistance of additional personnel. To assist the Department in providing services to youth and young adults, two advisory councils were established to help us with planning and providing events for these very important segments of our Church.
Youth Ministry is under the direction of Rosie Bartel, our Religious Education Director who has been extremely busy this past eight months working with the Youth Ministry Advisory Council, providing services for the Catholic parish Scouting programs, conducting the Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference in April at St. Pius X Parish in Appleton, preparing to send a delegation of youth to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Kansas City, sponsoring Youth Jam held in February at St. John the Baptist Parish in Howard, developing strong connections with the diocesan Vocations office, as well as providing consultation to parish youth ministers.
Young Adult Ministry is under the direction of Julianne Donlon, our Adult Faith Formation Director. She has also been extremely busy working with the Young Adults Ministry Advisory Council, organizing this summer’s Theology on Tap program, preparing to send a delegation of young adults to Madrid, Spain for World Youth Day 2011, as well as consulting with young adult groups throughout the Diocese.
Administrative Services. The Administrative Services division conducted a number of regional board in-services this year, conducted a board retreat for the Kaukauna Catholic School System (KCSS), attended a number of Total Catholic Education (TCE) board or school board meetings, and published a new boards, committees, and commissions manual. This division also facilitated the strategic planning process for KCSS, conducted information sessions on strategic planning at a number of schools as well as at all 11 regional in-services, and did a follow up evaluation of the St. Rose, Clintonville & St. Mary’s, Bear Creek TCE strategic plan in January 2009.
Board of Education. The Diocesan Board of Education developed and rolled out new personnel policies for schools and parish religious education programs, expanded its committees from the original Catechesis, Executive, Finance, Nominations, and Policy & Personnel Committees to now include the new Athletics, Development, Leadership, and Marketing Committees.
As you can see, we have had a very busy year. All of this would not have been achieved without the assistance of a large number of people working on boards, committees and councils, a number of parents stepping forward to help with the new chastity education program, a Diocesan strategic plan for adult faith formation, parish religious education, and schools, the tremendous support of Bishop David Ricken, your prayers, and the dedication of the nine members of the Department of Education team.
Please know that I am deeply appreciative of the collaborative efforts of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the Diocese of Green Bay who are working diligently to improve Catholic education in its five forms: adult faith formation, parish religious education, schools, youth ministry and young adult ministry. Wait until you see what’s in store for 2090-10. In the meantime, enjoy the summer weather and get a little rest and relaxation. Fall will be here sooner than you think. Take good care and God bless.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Why We Chose Catholic Schools
As another school year comes to a close, Deacon Ray DuBois, diocesan promotional services director, reflects on his family's decision to send their children to a Catholic school.
It’s June. The last tasseled cap has been tossed into the gym rafters, end-of-year transcripts are on their way to colleges, and final tuition payments are clearing in banks throughout the Diocese. For my wife and me, this month marks another milestone: our son has graduated from high school, thus bringing to a close 14 years of Catholic school education from preschool through high school.
If I chose to do the math I suppose that all those tuition payments, candy bars, fruit baskets, book fairs, field trips, and band fees could have bought some serious upgrades to our house, a big new boat, a beefed-up investment portfolio, or a heckuva SUV.
But instead, like thousands of other parents in the Diocese of Green Bay, Anita and I chose to send our son to Catholic school. Why? There’s no single reason. Although he received outstanding academic preparation for college, that’s not what it’s all about.
Not long ago I came across a profile of graduates from Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Twp, NJ. I believe that their profile captures the essence of why we chose Catholic school. So with thanks to the folks at IHA, here’s what we believe a Catholic education gave to our son. As an 18-year old heading off to college he believes that:
· To discover God in his life is to discover his life’s purpose.
· His life and all human life have dignity and worth.
· Service to others expresses God’s love in his life, and that freedom brings responsibilities.
· Reaching valid judgments requires questioning assumptions.
· Both the world in general and the Church in particular are in need of his gifts.
· His education doesn’t end at graduation but is a lifelong pursuit.
And so, as he moves on to college we are confident that he and those who journey with him are becoming young men and women of competence who are prepared with the intellectual, spiritual, technological, and personal skills that are necessary for success in the 21st century. He has been taught to recognize his gifts and is willing to share them with others.
He gained the confidence to meet the challenges of life and is open to new experiences without being judgmental. His classroom instruction and extracurricular activities integrated Catholic values into all aspects of his day-to-day life. He is gradually transforming into a young man of justice and peace who will continue to work for the promotion of those values in his life and in the lives of others.
Most important of all, his Catholic school education taught him the meaning of the words of St. Paul: “Faith, hope, and love. These three, but the greatest is love.”
14 years of tuition: we got our money’s worth!
It’s June. The last tasseled cap has been tossed into the gym rafters, end-of-year transcripts are on their way to colleges, and final tuition payments are clearing in banks throughout the Diocese. For my wife and me, this month marks another milestone: our son has graduated from high school, thus bringing to a close 14 years of Catholic school education from preschool through high school.
If I chose to do the math I suppose that all those tuition payments, candy bars, fruit baskets, book fairs, field trips, and band fees could have bought some serious upgrades to our house, a big new boat, a beefed-up investment portfolio, or a heckuva SUV.
But instead, like thousands of other parents in the Diocese of Green Bay, Anita and I chose to send our son to Catholic school. Why? There’s no single reason. Although he received outstanding academic preparation for college, that’s not what it’s all about.
Not long ago I came across a profile of graduates from Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Twp, NJ. I believe that their profile captures the essence of why we chose Catholic school. So with thanks to the folks at IHA, here’s what we believe a Catholic education gave to our son. As an 18-year old heading off to college he believes that:
· To discover God in his life is to discover his life’s purpose.
· His life and all human life have dignity and worth.
· Service to others expresses God’s love in his life, and that freedom brings responsibilities.
· Reaching valid judgments requires questioning assumptions.
· Both the world in general and the Church in particular are in need of his gifts.
· His education doesn’t end at graduation but is a lifelong pursuit.
And so, as he moves on to college we are confident that he and those who journey with him are becoming young men and women of competence who are prepared with the intellectual, spiritual, technological, and personal skills that are necessary for success in the 21st century. He has been taught to recognize his gifts and is willing to share them with others.
He gained the confidence to meet the challenges of life and is open to new experiences without being judgmental. His classroom instruction and extracurricular activities integrated Catholic values into all aspects of his day-to-day life. He is gradually transforming into a young man of justice and peace who will continue to work for the promotion of those values in his life and in the lives of others.
Most important of all, his Catholic school education taught him the meaning of the words of St. Paul: “Faith, hope, and love. These three, but the greatest is love.”
14 years of tuition: we got our money’s worth!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Planting the Seeds of Faith
Here's a fresh look at the meaning of summer vacation, compliments of Diane Walters, diocesan curriculum & instruction director.
With the school year ending and the warm weather finally approaching us, I am reminded of a summer hobby that many enjoy: gardening. It makes me recall the parable Jesus shared about sowing seeds:
A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell
among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.
(Matthew 13:1-9)
While the literal accomplishment of planting a seed and harvesting it is one of God’s many miracles, the message in this parable holds a deeper meaning that can be applied to our lives.
Jesus wants us to be proud of our Catholic faith and embrace it by planting the Word of God and God’s promises in our own garden of life. This can include our role as students, parents, members of a parish or community. When seeds of faith are planted and have time to grow, they produce a bountiful crop. That crop, in turn, produces more seeds, which can be passed along to others. This is our call to be evangelizers, to tell others about how welcoming Jesus into their lives and having a relationship with Him can change their lives forever.
An experienced gardener, however, knows that abundant growth is dependent on the quality of the soil, weather, weed control, and fertilizer all working together. Therefore, we must be sure to provide good soil to enrich our faith development. Keeping an open mind and heart provides rich soil in our lives.
By reading Scripture, praying and experiencing the sacraments, we allow our faith to take root, rather than remaining on the surface or shallow. This is a dangerous place to be in the world because having a shallow faith does not equip us with the necessary tools and confidence needed to respond when our Catholic faith is challenged.
Similarly, many individuals are faced with unexpected challenges and roadblocks on their faith journey. These “weeds” appear in our hectic world and often prevent us from letting God into our lives or nurturing each other. We need to cultivate our soil through prayer, quiet moments for reflection and control the “weeds” that prevent us from producing fruit.
The many blessings, successes, and accomplishments achieved throughout the year, reflect the seeds which have produced much fruit. These can be in the form of spiritual, academic, athletic or community achievements. We must understand that the seed we sow often takes time, patience, nourishment and the interaction of God’s love to produce faith-filled individuals. Unlike the farmer who harvests a crop annually, we may not see the fruits of our efforts for years. In the end, though, the time and dedication will be worth the wait. When we sow the seeds of life, with God’s help our harvest will be plentiful.
With the school year ending and the warm weather finally approaching us, I am reminded of a summer hobby that many enjoy: gardening. It makes me recall the parable Jesus shared about sowing seeds:
A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell
among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.
(Matthew 13:1-9)
While the literal accomplishment of planting a seed and harvesting it is one of God’s many miracles, the message in this parable holds a deeper meaning that can be applied to our lives.
Jesus wants us to be proud of our Catholic faith and embrace it by planting the Word of God and God’s promises in our own garden of life. This can include our role as students, parents, members of a parish or community. When seeds of faith are planted and have time to grow, they produce a bountiful crop. That crop, in turn, produces more seeds, which can be passed along to others. This is our call to be evangelizers, to tell others about how welcoming Jesus into their lives and having a relationship with Him can change their lives forever.
An experienced gardener, however, knows that abundant growth is dependent on the quality of the soil, weather, weed control, and fertilizer all working together. Therefore, we must be sure to provide good soil to enrich our faith development. Keeping an open mind and heart provides rich soil in our lives.
By reading Scripture, praying and experiencing the sacraments, we allow our faith to take root, rather than remaining on the surface or shallow. This is a dangerous place to be in the world because having a shallow faith does not equip us with the necessary tools and confidence needed to respond when our Catholic faith is challenged.
Similarly, many individuals are faced with unexpected challenges and roadblocks on their faith journey. These “weeds” appear in our hectic world and often prevent us from letting God into our lives or nurturing each other. We need to cultivate our soil through prayer, quiet moments for reflection and control the “weeds” that prevent us from producing fruit.
The many blessings, successes, and accomplishments achieved throughout the year, reflect the seeds which have produced much fruit. These can be in the form of spiritual, academic, athletic or community achievements. We must understand that the seed we sow often takes time, patience, nourishment and the interaction of God’s love to produce faith-filled individuals. Unlike the farmer who harvests a crop annually, we may not see the fruits of our efforts for years. In the end, though, the time and dedication will be worth the wait. When we sow the seeds of life, with God’s help our harvest will be plentiful.
"Do Not Be Afraid" to Use Technology to Communicate
Rosie Bartel, diocesan religious education director, takes a look at the challenges and benefits of adapting technology to catechesis.
In this 21st century of global satellite imaging, iPhone communication, podcasting, e-mail and “tweeting”, the Catholic Church can not operate in a vacuum. These creative communication tools are crucial to help us encounter Jesus Christ and to remain in communion with Christ. Jesus himself used countless creative communication tools to teach the disciples through parables.
Today the leadership of the Church needs to continue using technology to share the Word with the faithful. Daily, and often with mind-numbing speed, we are confronted with different options for communication. We need to know which technology to use and how to use it. Yet at the same time, it’s essential that we bring the human touch to these technology tools. We must bridge the gap between one place and the next through technology while still respecting the human person.
In order for the Church to be on the top of its game in this world of technology and continue to honor the past, it must learn how to take what is working and make it better. For the church today, research, knowledge and preparation are very important in both institutional and personal communication. At the same time there are theological principles of communication that are present in the Church. These principles have existed through the ages, and they are the foundation for all communication in the church, beginning with Christ as the model communicator. These principles become more important as the new technology age advances all forms of communication. We see that the dynamic dialogue that existed when Christ was teaching needs to exist between the Church and its people today. This communication needs to be engaging and meaningful.
The Second Vatican Council identified the need for the Church to bring the message of Christ into the world by utilizing all the new technological tools of communication. This bold request was made with the understanding that technology would assist the Church in bringing the Word of God to the world. All discussions about how we carry out this request must start with the person of Jesus Christ. Christ manifests the principles of communication, which are freedom and truth, the dignity of the human person and the promotion of the common good. These three principles become, for all members of the Catholic Church, moral imperatives for communication. The use of these principles will assist the Church is developing a plan for the use of technology for the fulfillment of the missionary mandate of Christ in the New Evangelization.
Pope John Paul II was known as one of the world’s great communicators. Using modern technology effectively, he gave the Church a plan to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a split second one can literally bring the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. Through the use of technology, we are able to see the Church in the 21st century fulfilling the mandate of her Savior to preach the Word “to the ends of the earth”.
In face of these new and rapid developments in the world of communication technologies, we may feel small, insignificant and sometimes just a little overwhelmed. John Paul II anticipated our feelings. So we will let him have the last word on this topic. The following text is taken from a special letter he wrote on the 40th anniversary of the promulgation Second Vatican Council Decree on Social Communication. The letter was entitled “The Rapid Development” and in it he said:
“I extend the invitation which, from the beginning of my ministry as Pastor of the Universal Church, I have wished to express to the entire world, ‘Do not be afraid!’ Do not be afraid of new technology!. . .Do not be afraid of being opposed by the world! Jesus has assured us, ‘I have conquered the world!’ (Jn 16: 33). Do not be afraid even of your own weakness and inadequacy! The Divine Master has said, ‘I am with you always, until the end of the world’ (Mt 28: 20). Communicate the message of Christ’s hope, grace and love, keeping always alive, in this passing world, the eternal perspective of heaven, a perspective which no communications medium can ever directly communicate, ‘What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him’ (1 Cor 2: 9).”
In this 21st century of global satellite imaging, iPhone communication, podcasting, e-mail and “tweeting”, the Catholic Church can not operate in a vacuum. These creative communication tools are crucial to help us encounter Jesus Christ and to remain in communion with Christ. Jesus himself used countless creative communication tools to teach the disciples through parables.
Today the leadership of the Church needs to continue using technology to share the Word with the faithful. Daily, and often with mind-numbing speed, we are confronted with different options for communication. We need to know which technology to use and how to use it. Yet at the same time, it’s essential that we bring the human touch to these technology tools. We must bridge the gap between one place and the next through technology while still respecting the human person.
In order for the Church to be on the top of its game in this world of technology and continue to honor the past, it must learn how to take what is working and make it better. For the church today, research, knowledge and preparation are very important in both institutional and personal communication. At the same time there are theological principles of communication that are present in the Church. These principles have existed through the ages, and they are the foundation for all communication in the church, beginning with Christ as the model communicator. These principles become more important as the new technology age advances all forms of communication. We see that the dynamic dialogue that existed when Christ was teaching needs to exist between the Church and its people today. This communication needs to be engaging and meaningful.
The Second Vatican Council identified the need for the Church to bring the message of Christ into the world by utilizing all the new technological tools of communication. This bold request was made with the understanding that technology would assist the Church in bringing the Word of God to the world. All discussions about how we carry out this request must start with the person of Jesus Christ. Christ manifests the principles of communication, which are freedom and truth, the dignity of the human person and the promotion of the common good. These three principles become, for all members of the Catholic Church, moral imperatives for communication. The use of these principles will assist the Church is developing a plan for the use of technology for the fulfillment of the missionary mandate of Christ in the New Evangelization.
Pope John Paul II was known as one of the world’s great communicators. Using modern technology effectively, he gave the Church a plan to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In a split second one can literally bring the Gospel message to the ends of the earth. Through the use of technology, we are able to see the Church in the 21st century fulfilling the mandate of her Savior to preach the Word “to the ends of the earth”.
In face of these new and rapid developments in the world of communication technologies, we may feel small, insignificant and sometimes just a little overwhelmed. John Paul II anticipated our feelings. So we will let him have the last word on this topic. The following text is taken from a special letter he wrote on the 40th anniversary of the promulgation Second Vatican Council Decree on Social Communication. The letter was entitled “The Rapid Development” and in it he said:
“I extend the invitation which, from the beginning of my ministry as Pastor of the Universal Church, I have wished to express to the entire world, ‘Do not be afraid!’ Do not be afraid of new technology!. . .Do not be afraid of being opposed by the world! Jesus has assured us, ‘I have conquered the world!’ (Jn 16: 33). Do not be afraid even of your own weakness and inadequacy! The Divine Master has said, ‘I am with you always, until the end of the world’ (Mt 28: 20). Communicate the message of Christ’s hope, grace and love, keeping always alive, in this passing world, the eternal perspective of heaven, a perspective which no communications medium can ever directly communicate, ‘What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him’ (1 Cor 2: 9).”
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Powerful Intercession of St. Joseph the Worker and Our Lady of Fatima – Lessons in Catholic Education
by Dr. Joseph Bound
Director of Catholic Education
Diocese of Green Bay
For those of us who can remember the Cold War, May Day, May 1st, was an important day in all socialist and communist countries. Military, government officials, workers, and Young Pioneers paraded through the major squares of major cities to celebrate the glories of communism and the ‘workers’ paradise’. These May Day celebrations were major productions involving precision marching to patriotic music, banner and flag waving, lines of military equipment and missiles, and floats extolling industrial might, socialist labor, communism, and solidarity with the proletariat of the world. In essence, they were celebrations of the triumph of man over God. The religious icons of the past were replaced in these celebrations by pictures of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and other communist leaders – all atheists. Many of these former celebrations can be viewed on YouTube today.
These celebrations were not only found in Eastern Europe and Asia. Many countries in western Europe, principally France and Italy, also staged similar celebrations. In response to those celebrations of labor, in 1955 Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, a date that coincided with Labor Day celebrations around the world, in democratic as well as communist countries. He did this so that Catholics would look to the example of St. Joseph as the model worker and see labor as our participation in God’s creative processes. It was the Church’s way of extolling the dignity of labor. It was also a way to counter the influence of communism throughout the world.
May is an interesting month in recent Church history. Prior to the Russian Revolution of October 1917, and the advent of the communist government in Russia, Our Lady began a series of appearances to three children in Fatima, Portugal on May 13, 1917. She warned of hell and the spreading of Russia’s errors, while promoting the necessity for prayer for the consecration and eventual conversion of Russia.
In 1952, Pope Pius XII reminded the Russian people who were suffering under communism that Mary would help them and that the errors of communism and atheism would eventually be overcome with her assistance and God’s grace. In 1984, Pope John Paul II consecrated the entire world to Mary and on December 25, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which had included Russia, ceased to exist. A free Russian Federation was established in its place instead. Today Russia sees a revival of religious practice and freedom. Catholic and Orthodox churches are being built, seminaries are full, religion is taught in public schools, and monastic centers for men and women are being restored or established.
What does this have to do with Catholic education? I believe a lot. We are currently experiencing in western society the spread of what is called the new atheism. Popular writers in America and Europe are debunking belief in God, the soul, and the afterlife. In some cities in Europe signs have appeared on the sides of buses poking fun at the belief in God.
We should never forget that the fundamental philosophical underpinning of communism was atheism. Key principles of Communism were: that man could solve all of his problems by himself; the supreme importance of materialism; the centrality of science; and the supremacy of the state over the individual. As we look at what is happening in western society today, do we see a shift in people’s thinking in these directions? That gives us all the more reason to counter these trends through Catholic education in the love of God, in the importance and dignity of the individual, the need for God in our lives, and the importance of the soul and spirit in each person.
Through Catholic education adults and youth come to know, love, and serve God and their fellow citizens of the world. They learn how to balance science with faith, materialism with spirituality, and labor with leisure. They learn that humankind was not created to serve the state but that the state was created to protect each person’s freedom: freedom to worship God, reap the rewards of his or her labor, practice stewardship, and protect and defend one’s family and property.
During this lovely month of May let us contemplate the wonderful example of St. Joseph the Worker and Our Lady of Fatima. Through their intercession and example we can restore and strengthen belief in the dignity of labor, the power of prayer, as well as the importance of the individual and family.
Director of Catholic Education
Diocese of Green Bay
For those of us who can remember the Cold War, May Day, May 1st, was an important day in all socialist and communist countries. Military, government officials, workers, and Young Pioneers paraded through the major squares of major cities to celebrate the glories of communism and the ‘workers’ paradise’. These May Day celebrations were major productions involving precision marching to patriotic music, banner and flag waving, lines of military equipment and missiles, and floats extolling industrial might, socialist labor, communism, and solidarity with the proletariat of the world. In essence, they were celebrations of the triumph of man over God. The religious icons of the past were replaced in these celebrations by pictures of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and other communist leaders – all atheists. Many of these former celebrations can be viewed on YouTube today.
These celebrations were not only found in Eastern Europe and Asia. Many countries in western Europe, principally France and Italy, also staged similar celebrations. In response to those celebrations of labor, in 1955 Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, a date that coincided with Labor Day celebrations around the world, in democratic as well as communist countries. He did this so that Catholics would look to the example of St. Joseph as the model worker and see labor as our participation in God’s creative processes. It was the Church’s way of extolling the dignity of labor. It was also a way to counter the influence of communism throughout the world.
May is an interesting month in recent Church history. Prior to the Russian Revolution of October 1917, and the advent of the communist government in Russia, Our Lady began a series of appearances to three children in Fatima, Portugal on May 13, 1917. She warned of hell and the spreading of Russia’s errors, while promoting the necessity for prayer for the consecration and eventual conversion of Russia.
In 1952, Pope Pius XII reminded the Russian people who were suffering under communism that Mary would help them and that the errors of communism and atheism would eventually be overcome with her assistance and God’s grace. In 1984, Pope John Paul II consecrated the entire world to Mary and on December 25, 1991, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which had included Russia, ceased to exist. A free Russian Federation was established in its place instead. Today Russia sees a revival of religious practice and freedom. Catholic and Orthodox churches are being built, seminaries are full, religion is taught in public schools, and monastic centers for men and women are being restored or established.
What does this have to do with Catholic education? I believe a lot. We are currently experiencing in western society the spread of what is called the new atheism. Popular writers in America and Europe are debunking belief in God, the soul, and the afterlife. In some cities in Europe signs have appeared on the sides of buses poking fun at the belief in God.
We should never forget that the fundamental philosophical underpinning of communism was atheism. Key principles of Communism were: that man could solve all of his problems by himself; the supreme importance of materialism; the centrality of science; and the supremacy of the state over the individual. As we look at what is happening in western society today, do we see a shift in people’s thinking in these directions? That gives us all the more reason to counter these trends through Catholic education in the love of God, in the importance and dignity of the individual, the need for God in our lives, and the importance of the soul and spirit in each person.
Through Catholic education adults and youth come to know, love, and serve God and their fellow citizens of the world. They learn how to balance science with faith, materialism with spirituality, and labor with leisure. They learn that humankind was not created to serve the state but that the state was created to protect each person’s freedom: freedom to worship God, reap the rewards of his or her labor, practice stewardship, and protect and defend one’s family and property.
During this lovely month of May let us contemplate the wonderful example of St. Joseph the Worker and Our Lady of Fatima. Through their intercession and example we can restore and strengthen belief in the dignity of labor, the power of prayer, as well as the importance of the individual and family.
Behold Your Mother -- An Irish Treasure
by Julianne Donlon, Adult Faith Formation Director for the Diocese of Green Bay
Mother’s Day was a particularly special time for my husband Wayne and I this year as we await the arrival of our first child. A strong devotion to the Blessed Mother has always been a part of our relationship; indeed we married on the Feast Day of the Blessed Mother- January 1st 2008. This devotion to Our Lady has always been a strong part of my Irish heritage and is at the deepest core of my faith. Through many centuries of persecution the Mother of God’s intercession has assisted and comforted the Catholic people of Ireland. The Irish suffered greatly for the one, true Catholic Faith, and they encountered especially bleak times in defense of their faith.
As a child, I was taught that St. Dominic was given the Rosary by the Blessed Virgin, and accepted this story of invention by divine intervention. Many years later, I learned that anecdote was only an austere version of the true story, simplified for young minds. The true origin of the Rosary is quite different, more interesting, and predates St. Dominic!
Theologians have traced the origin of the Rosary back to the ninth century, and a form of prayer that evolved in the monasteries of the early Irish church. Prayer and labor filled the days of the Irish monks, and one of the most important forms of monastic prayer was the daily chanting of the 150 psalms of David. Laypeople around the monastery would hear the psalms every day as they were sung or recited, and the beauty of this form of prayer intrigued them. They yearned to join in, but the psalms were too long to memorize, copies could not be found since printing was rare, and few knew how to read Latin anyway. The laypeople were however, determined to adapt this prayer form for their own use.
Sometime around A.D. 800, the people's desire to participate led to their reciting The Lord's Prayer in response to every psalm recited by the monks. As this form of devotion became popular, people began to carry leather pouches of 150 pebbles, in order that they might keep count of their daily prayers when they were not in hearing distance of the monastery. A thin rope with 150 knots became less of a burden and soon replaced the bag of stones. The Celtic infatuation with the number three soon saw the prayer rope evolve into a rope of 50 knots to be said three times, and this became an accepted standard.
When the Irish missionary monks began to travel and evangelize Europe they brought this form of devotion with them. In some areas, clergy and laypeople began to recite the Angelic Salutation which makes up the first part of the Hail Mary in response to the psalms. St. Peter Damien, who died in 1072, was the first to mention this form of prayer, the popularity of which led to the daily recitation of 50 Angelic Salutations on a knotted or beaded prayer string.
During the 13th century, medieval theologians began to interpret the 150 psalms as veiled mysteries about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They began to write a series of Psalters, or praises, in honor of Jesus for each interpretation of the psalms. In addition, 150 Psalters honoring Mary were also composed. In order to fit the existing prayer string, these Psalters were divided into groups of 50 and were referred to as "Rosariums". Although "rosarium" refers to roses and rose gardens, it was used to signify a collection of prayers which could be compared to a bouquet of roses.
With the Church's emphasis on unity, it was inevitable that a planned combination of all the prayer forms was prescribed as a standard. The first step toward that standard took place about 1365 when Henry of Kalkar, Visitator of the Carthusian Order, divided the 150 salutations into decades of 10, with an Our Father preceding each. Around 1409, another Carthusian named Dominic the Prussian, wrote a book which attached a Psalter of 50 thoughts, about the lives of Jesus and Mary, to a Rosarium of 50 Hail Marys. The division of the 50 Hail Marys into five groups of ten, or decades, with an Our Father before each, gave the modern Rosary its form, yet the evolution was not over.
In 1470, the Dominican, Alan of Rupe, founded the first Rosary Confraternity, thereby establishing the Dominican Order as the foremost missionaries of the Rosary. During the Renaissance, the medieval form of a thought for each bead was abandoned in favor of a shorter version with a thought for each of the fifteen decades. These thoughts took the form of narratives, one of the most popular sets of which was written by St, Louis de Montfort around 1700. The fifteen narratives were divided into five Joyful, five Sorrowful, and five Glorious Mysteries in the lives of Jesus and Mary, and the Rosary itself became a string of 50 beads to be prayed three times, with each time representing one of the three sets of Mysteries.
In spite of centuries of evolution and change, the Rosary's Irish origins are still evident. The number of Hail Marys in the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries still total 150 - the exact number of psalms chanted by the early Irish monks in their monasteries, and answered by the faithful Irish outside in a responsorial pattern that became today's most popular form of devotion. Pope John Paul II assured us that Mary was the first of Christ's disciples. She was the first in time, because even when she found her adolescent Son in the temple, she received from Him lessons that she kept in her heart. No only was she the first of Christ's disciples, she was the greatest. No one else had been taught by him to such depth as the Mother who lived with Him for most of His earthly years.
Mother’s Day was a particularly special time for my husband Wayne and I this year as we await the arrival of our first child. A strong devotion to the Blessed Mother has always been a part of our relationship; indeed we married on the Feast Day of the Blessed Mother- January 1st 2008. This devotion to Our Lady has always been a strong part of my Irish heritage and is at the deepest core of my faith. Through many centuries of persecution the Mother of God’s intercession has assisted and comforted the Catholic people of Ireland. The Irish suffered greatly for the one, true Catholic Faith, and they encountered especially bleak times in defense of their faith.
As a child, I was taught that St. Dominic was given the Rosary by the Blessed Virgin, and accepted this story of invention by divine intervention. Many years later, I learned that anecdote was only an austere version of the true story, simplified for young minds. The true origin of the Rosary is quite different, more interesting, and predates St. Dominic!
Theologians have traced the origin of the Rosary back to the ninth century, and a form of prayer that evolved in the monasteries of the early Irish church. Prayer and labor filled the days of the Irish monks, and one of the most important forms of monastic prayer was the daily chanting of the 150 psalms of David. Laypeople around the monastery would hear the psalms every day as they were sung or recited, and the beauty of this form of prayer intrigued them. They yearned to join in, but the psalms were too long to memorize, copies could not be found since printing was rare, and few knew how to read Latin anyway. The laypeople were however, determined to adapt this prayer form for their own use.
Sometime around A.D. 800, the people's desire to participate led to their reciting The Lord's Prayer in response to every psalm recited by the monks. As this form of devotion became popular, people began to carry leather pouches of 150 pebbles, in order that they might keep count of their daily prayers when they were not in hearing distance of the monastery. A thin rope with 150 knots became less of a burden and soon replaced the bag of stones. The Celtic infatuation with the number three soon saw the prayer rope evolve into a rope of 50 knots to be said three times, and this became an accepted standard.
When the Irish missionary monks began to travel and evangelize Europe they brought this form of devotion with them. In some areas, clergy and laypeople began to recite the Angelic Salutation which makes up the first part of the Hail Mary in response to the psalms. St. Peter Damien, who died in 1072, was the first to mention this form of prayer, the popularity of which led to the daily recitation of 50 Angelic Salutations on a knotted or beaded prayer string.
During the 13th century, medieval theologians began to interpret the 150 psalms as veiled mysteries about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They began to write a series of Psalters, or praises, in honor of Jesus for each interpretation of the psalms. In addition, 150 Psalters honoring Mary were also composed. In order to fit the existing prayer string, these Psalters were divided into groups of 50 and were referred to as "Rosariums". Although "rosarium" refers to roses and rose gardens, it was used to signify a collection of prayers which could be compared to a bouquet of roses.
With the Church's emphasis on unity, it was inevitable that a planned combination of all the prayer forms was prescribed as a standard. The first step toward that standard took place about 1365 when Henry of Kalkar, Visitator of the Carthusian Order, divided the 150 salutations into decades of 10, with an Our Father preceding each. Around 1409, another Carthusian named Dominic the Prussian, wrote a book which attached a Psalter of 50 thoughts, about the lives of Jesus and Mary, to a Rosarium of 50 Hail Marys. The division of the 50 Hail Marys into five groups of ten, or decades, with an Our Father before each, gave the modern Rosary its form, yet the evolution was not over.
In 1470, the Dominican, Alan of Rupe, founded the first Rosary Confraternity, thereby establishing the Dominican Order as the foremost missionaries of the Rosary. During the Renaissance, the medieval form of a thought for each bead was abandoned in favor of a shorter version with a thought for each of the fifteen decades. These thoughts took the form of narratives, one of the most popular sets of which was written by St, Louis de Montfort around 1700. The fifteen narratives were divided into five Joyful, five Sorrowful, and five Glorious Mysteries in the lives of Jesus and Mary, and the Rosary itself became a string of 50 beads to be prayed three times, with each time representing one of the three sets of Mysteries.
In spite of centuries of evolution and change, the Rosary's Irish origins are still evident. The number of Hail Marys in the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries still total 150 - the exact number of psalms chanted by the early Irish monks in their monasteries, and answered by the faithful Irish outside in a responsorial pattern that became today's most popular form of devotion. Pope John Paul II assured us that Mary was the first of Christ's disciples. She was the first in time, because even when she found her adolescent Son in the temple, she received from Him lessons that she kept in her heart. No only was she the first of Christ's disciples, she was the greatest. No one else had been taught by him to such depth as the Mother who lived with Him for most of His earthly years.
The Recession, Mary, Joseph, and Voices From My Childhood
Here's a thought-provoking article by Rosie Bartel, Religious Education Director for the Diocese of Green Bay:
As families and others are struggling with recent situations due to the economy, worry and fear take over our thinking. It is tempting to turn inward and take a “me first” approach to life. This attitude makes me uncomfortable and as I reflect on these issues, I was drawn to thoughts of Mary and Joseph and the voices from my Catholic grade school days. Here is what keeps coming to me:
“Look at the brighter side.” Mary and Joseph did not have a place to stay on the night Jesus was born but a bright star not only helped them find a place but it showed others the way.
Life was not easy for Mary and Joseph the day Jesus was born. The government decided to take a census and everyone need to go their hometown. I am sure Mary and Joseph had a better plan for the birth of Jesus yet they had not control over the time. They definitely did not put their own needs first.
This is true in these times of struggle. Many of us had great plans for our future but many lost their jobs, move their families or just had to find a different place to call home. Every one of these situations has a bright star if we have faith like Mary and Joseph had on the night of Jesus’ birth. That bright star might be finding more time for God and family. It might be reaching out to help someone who has a worst situation. This is a time to follow bright stars.
“Share.” Growing up, each of the children in my family received a really nice gift when we made our First Eucharist. The tradition was that my parents would try to give us something we really liked. I told my teacher, Sister Gordon, about the watch I knew I would get for First Eucharist and she asked, “That is wonderful, Rosemary, but what are you giving on that day?” Sister calling me “Rosemary” meant that I better think about what she was saying and I needed to do something.
It is easy to believe there are times that are just about us, that we are the most important person in the world. It is especially easy to believe this when times are tough and we are receiving a lot of attention. Those are the times that Sister Gordon believed we should be giving to most. For many of us grocery shopping is stressful right now, but we still need to remember to put something in the bin for the food pantry on our way out of the store. We need to be just as attentive to what we give to our parish as when times were good. We should count our blessings and share with others first. Then our life will not look so troubled.
“Play Fair” Sister Euphrata was the toughest teacher I ever had. She was the one who---when boys dangled worms in the face of the girls on the playground---instructed each boy to go and get a worm. When they returned, she said in front of the whole class, “now eat them.”
When every other story is about a bailout or a Ponzi scheme, we can get the message that it is OK to cut corners, to pad an expense report, to peek at a classmate’s test, or to abuse another person’s trust because of our own fear and insecurity. While none of the boys in my class ever had to eat worms, we did understand, firsthand, the “and how would you like it?” feeling. We learned an even bigger lesson that day: When we have, in our hands, the power to diminish someone else in order to prop ourselves up, it is the bigger person who resists that temptation. Today, when we feel cheated and scared, remember that the bigger person will always “play fair”.
“Do not be afraid to ask for help.” During one of our many Catholic school processions, I fell and hurt my knee. Sister Ann Marie, who had a first aid wagon, asked me if I wanted to ride in the wagon. I said, “No thanks.” Who wants to get into a baby wagon? She asked again. I said no again. Finally she would not take no for an answer. I climbed in and, embarrassed, rode back to school in the little red wagon.
When it comes to money matters, it can be humiliating to ask for help. Just as we have to remember that the world does not revolve around us, it is equally important to recognize the times when we need and ask for help. Many of our parishes have an unemployment ministry to help members network during these tough times. Sometimes for the good of your family, you have to swallow hard and ask for help from any corner that might offer it. You will be amazed at how generous people are and how willing they are to help. Remember, Mary and Joseph had to keep asking for a place to stay.So, in these economic times, keep your faith community close to you.
Share what you can and especially during these times to play fair. There is a bright star around the corner. It might just look differently from what you thought it should be, but it will help you find your way.
As families and others are struggling with recent situations due to the economy, worry and fear take over our thinking. It is tempting to turn inward and take a “me first” approach to life. This attitude makes me uncomfortable and as I reflect on these issues, I was drawn to thoughts of Mary and Joseph and the voices from my Catholic grade school days. Here is what keeps coming to me:
“Look at the brighter side.” Mary and Joseph did not have a place to stay on the night Jesus was born but a bright star not only helped them find a place but it showed others the way.
Life was not easy for Mary and Joseph the day Jesus was born. The government decided to take a census and everyone need to go their hometown. I am sure Mary and Joseph had a better plan for the birth of Jesus yet they had not control over the time. They definitely did not put their own needs first.
This is true in these times of struggle. Many of us had great plans for our future but many lost their jobs, move their families or just had to find a different place to call home. Every one of these situations has a bright star if we have faith like Mary and Joseph had on the night of Jesus’ birth. That bright star might be finding more time for God and family. It might be reaching out to help someone who has a worst situation. This is a time to follow bright stars.
“Share.” Growing up, each of the children in my family received a really nice gift when we made our First Eucharist. The tradition was that my parents would try to give us something we really liked. I told my teacher, Sister Gordon, about the watch I knew I would get for First Eucharist and she asked, “That is wonderful, Rosemary, but what are you giving on that day?” Sister calling me “Rosemary” meant that I better think about what she was saying and I needed to do something.
It is easy to believe there are times that are just about us, that we are the most important person in the world. It is especially easy to believe this when times are tough and we are receiving a lot of attention. Those are the times that Sister Gordon believed we should be giving to most. For many of us grocery shopping is stressful right now, but we still need to remember to put something in the bin for the food pantry on our way out of the store. We need to be just as attentive to what we give to our parish as when times were good. We should count our blessings and share with others first. Then our life will not look so troubled.
“Play Fair” Sister Euphrata was the toughest teacher I ever had. She was the one who---when boys dangled worms in the face of the girls on the playground---instructed each boy to go and get a worm. When they returned, she said in front of the whole class, “now eat them.”
When every other story is about a bailout or a Ponzi scheme, we can get the message that it is OK to cut corners, to pad an expense report, to peek at a classmate’s test, or to abuse another person’s trust because of our own fear and insecurity. While none of the boys in my class ever had to eat worms, we did understand, firsthand, the “and how would you like it?” feeling. We learned an even bigger lesson that day: When we have, in our hands, the power to diminish someone else in order to prop ourselves up, it is the bigger person who resists that temptation. Today, when we feel cheated and scared, remember that the bigger person will always “play fair”.
“Do not be afraid to ask for help.” During one of our many Catholic school processions, I fell and hurt my knee. Sister Ann Marie, who had a first aid wagon, asked me if I wanted to ride in the wagon. I said, “No thanks.” Who wants to get into a baby wagon? She asked again. I said no again. Finally she would not take no for an answer. I climbed in and, embarrassed, rode back to school in the little red wagon.
When it comes to money matters, it can be humiliating to ask for help. Just as we have to remember that the world does not revolve around us, it is equally important to recognize the times when we need and ask for help. Many of our parishes have an unemployment ministry to help members network during these tough times. Sometimes for the good of your family, you have to swallow hard and ask for help from any corner that might offer it. You will be amazed at how generous people are and how willing they are to help. Remember, Mary and Joseph had to keep asking for a place to stay.So, in these economic times, keep your faith community close to you.
Share what you can and especially during these times to play fair. There is a bright star around the corner. It might just look differently from what you thought it should be, but it will help you find your way.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
New Initiatives in Adult Faith Formation
by Julianne Donlon, Adult Faith Formation Director
“For too long as a Church, I think we have been tired and unimaginative in responding to the reality that is happening around us….We can ignite the faith if we stop fighting one another and put our energy into listening and responding to God’s people, who are as hungry as ever for the gospel.”
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
Forward to American Catholics Today
In an age of uncertainty and increasing cynicism the Catholic Church must seize the opportunity to reach out to the marginalized, the searching and the hungry and renew the commitment to catechizing and evangelizing engaging our adults and young adults. This is a time of unparalleled opportunity and possibility. We see in this society a widespread spiritual hunger – a quest for meaning and for a deeply personal experience of God and of community.
“The churches of America, in these opening years of the twenty-first century, face a historic moment of opportunity. Surveys record an unprecedented desire for religious and spiritual growth among people in all walks of life and in every region of the nation. There is an intense searching for spiritual moorings, a hunger for God. It is for churches to seize the moment and to direct this often vague and free-floating spirituality into a solid and lived-out faith.” (Reality Check for 21st Century Churches – Gallup)
The Pew Forum Study of 2007 presents the following statistics which may help us to understand our Catholic population and the changing face of Catholicism in the United States.
Catholics represent 25% of the U.S. population which has remained steady in recent decades due to immigration. Latinos represent 45% of all Catholics 18 – 29 years of age. One in three adult Catholics is Latino.
The church has retained 70% of native-born American Catholics. 10% of Americans are former Catholics. About half of those who have left the Church describe themselves as “unaffiliated”.
44% of U.S. adults have switched religious affiliations. 2.6% of Catholics are converts. Fluidity of religious affiliation is striking.
These statistics are not meant to alarm us but to enkindle in us the fervent desire to minister with energy and vibrancy as we confront the problems of living in a secular world. 2009 marks the 10th Anniversary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops document “Our Hearts Were Burning” and with it, a renewed commitment to adult faith formation in the Diocese of Green Bay. To celebrate the progress that has been made in our Diocese and to pose solutions to the challenges we face, a booklet called “Hearts on Fire- Shared Wisdom in Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Green Bay” has been created by the Department of Education. This booklet represents a kaleidoscope of the diversity of catechesis in our Diocese and includes reflections from Bishop Ricken, Bishop Morneau, Fr. Alfred McBride, Fr. John Girotti, Sister Diane Baumann, Carlos Hernandez, Mary Sedlacek and Carol Wilda among others.
The booklet includes submissions from 22 individuals who have experience in ministering to adults in our Diocese. The authors of the individual articles were asked to reflect upon a facet of adult faith formation that they have personally encountered or have focused upon in their ministry. As such, this booklet reflects the hard work and dedication of those in this Diocese who reach out to our adult community. There are practical tips for ministering to adults, proven strategies that have borne the test of time and new and innovative ways of reaching the adult community within our parishes. It is my hope that this booklet will continue to inspire us to renew the commitment to working with adults in a vibrant and intentional manner.
If you would like an e-copy of this booklet please contact the Department of Education at the Diocese of Green Bay for more information.
“For too long as a Church, I think we have been tired and unimaginative in responding to the reality that is happening around us….We can ignite the faith if we stop fighting one another and put our energy into listening and responding to God’s people, who are as hungry as ever for the gospel.”
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas
Forward to American Catholics Today
In an age of uncertainty and increasing cynicism the Catholic Church must seize the opportunity to reach out to the marginalized, the searching and the hungry and renew the commitment to catechizing and evangelizing engaging our adults and young adults. This is a time of unparalleled opportunity and possibility. We see in this society a widespread spiritual hunger – a quest for meaning and for a deeply personal experience of God and of community.
“The churches of America, in these opening years of the twenty-first century, face a historic moment of opportunity. Surveys record an unprecedented desire for religious and spiritual growth among people in all walks of life and in every region of the nation. There is an intense searching for spiritual moorings, a hunger for God. It is for churches to seize the moment and to direct this often vague and free-floating spirituality into a solid and lived-out faith.” (Reality Check for 21st Century Churches – Gallup)
The Pew Forum Study of 2007 presents the following statistics which may help us to understand our Catholic population and the changing face of Catholicism in the United States.
Catholics represent 25% of the U.S. population which has remained steady in recent decades due to immigration. Latinos represent 45% of all Catholics 18 – 29 years of age. One in three adult Catholics is Latino.
The church has retained 70% of native-born American Catholics. 10% of Americans are former Catholics. About half of those who have left the Church describe themselves as “unaffiliated”.
44% of U.S. adults have switched religious affiliations. 2.6% of Catholics are converts. Fluidity of religious affiliation is striking.
These statistics are not meant to alarm us but to enkindle in us the fervent desire to minister with energy and vibrancy as we confront the problems of living in a secular world. 2009 marks the 10th Anniversary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops document “Our Hearts Were Burning” and with it, a renewed commitment to adult faith formation in the Diocese of Green Bay. To celebrate the progress that has been made in our Diocese and to pose solutions to the challenges we face, a booklet called “Hearts on Fire- Shared Wisdom in Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Green Bay” has been created by the Department of Education. This booklet represents a kaleidoscope of the diversity of catechesis in our Diocese and includes reflections from Bishop Ricken, Bishop Morneau, Fr. Alfred McBride, Fr. John Girotti, Sister Diane Baumann, Carlos Hernandez, Mary Sedlacek and Carol Wilda among others.
The booklet includes submissions from 22 individuals who have experience in ministering to adults in our Diocese. The authors of the individual articles were asked to reflect upon a facet of adult faith formation that they have personally encountered or have focused upon in their ministry. As such, this booklet reflects the hard work and dedication of those in this Diocese who reach out to our adult community. There are practical tips for ministering to adults, proven strategies that have borne the test of time and new and innovative ways of reaching the adult community within our parishes. It is my hope that this booklet will continue to inspire us to renew the commitment to working with adults in a vibrant and intentional manner.
If you would like an e-copy of this booklet please contact the Department of Education at the Diocese of Green Bay for more information.
Find Jesus and Easter Hope in Hard Times
Let’s face it, these are tough times. During these times we need to remember that we are called to be a sign of the resurrected Christ to the world. Diocesan religious education director Rosie Bartel takes a moment to consider how we can find hope even in hard times. Easter is a time to find hope in the glorious resurrection of Christ. You can find this hope in the midst of bunnies, eggs, jellybeans and Easter baskets.
The key to using these “secular” Easter traditions to understand the hope of Easter is that these traditions are meaningful ways to celebrate the good news that Jesus rose from the dead. These simple traditions can be used to help families understand the hope that Easter brings to all of us.
The Easter Bunny: The Pennsylvania Dutch started the tradition of the Oschter Haws or Easter Hare, who brought colored eggs to children on Easter morning. The bunny was a symbol of celebration and new life in Christ.
Colored Eggs: Eggs were a pagan symbol of spring. Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of the new life of the Resurrection. During the Middle Ages, dying eggs became popular. Coloring eggs is a great family activity. This year would be a good time to add symbols to our colored eggs that represent the love of God. You can add symbols like a cross or heart with a crayon before you dip it in the dye.
Jellybeans: These popular egg-shaped candies were invented in the 1800s, but they did not become part of the Easter tradition until the 1930s. This was another tough time in the history of our country. Because of their shape, they are considered a symbol of new life and spiritual rebirth. It might be fun to have a jellybean tasting contest with your family.
Easter Basket: This tradition began in Eastern Europe. People would bring the food they would be eating on Easter Sunday to the church on the morning of Holy Saturday for a special blessing. This tradition is practiced in many of our parishes today.
Spring Cleaning: In some cultures, the families give their homes an extra special cleaning on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. This tradition comes from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover. This might be the year to try this tradition. It can be fun to do this cleaning of your home as a family. Then you can celebrate Easter without worrying about cleaning chores.
Easter Lilies: Using white lilies in our churches and homes during the Easter season came into practice during the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity. The trumpet shape of the lily heralds the triumph of Jesus over death. Lilies are inexpensive at this time of the year. It is a great symbol to share with your children. You might decorate the pot with ribbon and the words, “Jesus Lives!” or “Happy Easter!”
Easter Candle: The candle represents the light of Christ, which has overcome darkness. You might want to get a white pillar candle and decorate it with stickers, markers and push pins. It will be your family’s Easter candle. Every time you have a family meal during the Easter season, you would light your Easter candle. This will remind your family of the hope that Easter offers all of us.
It is not too late to bring these Easter traditions and symbols back to life and to celebrate the hope of Christ’s resurrection.
The key to using these “secular” Easter traditions to understand the hope of Easter is that these traditions are meaningful ways to celebrate the good news that Jesus rose from the dead. These simple traditions can be used to help families understand the hope that Easter brings to all of us.
The Easter Bunny: The Pennsylvania Dutch started the tradition of the Oschter Haws or Easter Hare, who brought colored eggs to children on Easter morning. The bunny was a symbol of celebration and new life in Christ.
Colored Eggs: Eggs were a pagan symbol of spring. Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of the new life of the Resurrection. During the Middle Ages, dying eggs became popular. Coloring eggs is a great family activity. This year would be a good time to add symbols to our colored eggs that represent the love of God. You can add symbols like a cross or heart with a crayon before you dip it in the dye.
Jellybeans: These popular egg-shaped candies were invented in the 1800s, but they did not become part of the Easter tradition until the 1930s. This was another tough time in the history of our country. Because of their shape, they are considered a symbol of new life and spiritual rebirth. It might be fun to have a jellybean tasting contest with your family.
Easter Basket: This tradition began in Eastern Europe. People would bring the food they would be eating on Easter Sunday to the church on the morning of Holy Saturday for a special blessing. This tradition is practiced in many of our parishes today.
Spring Cleaning: In some cultures, the families give their homes an extra special cleaning on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. This tradition comes from the Jewish custom of ritual cleaning before Passover. This might be the year to try this tradition. It can be fun to do this cleaning of your home as a family. Then you can celebrate Easter without worrying about cleaning chores.
Easter Lilies: Using white lilies in our churches and homes during the Easter season came into practice during the 1800s. The white flower is a symbol of purity. The trumpet shape of the lily heralds the triumph of Jesus over death. Lilies are inexpensive at this time of the year. It is a great symbol to share with your children. You might decorate the pot with ribbon and the words, “Jesus Lives!” or “Happy Easter!”
Easter Candle: The candle represents the light of Christ, which has overcome darkness. You might want to get a white pillar candle and decorate it with stickers, markers and push pins. It will be your family’s Easter candle. Every time you have a family meal during the Easter season, you would light your Easter candle. This will remind your family of the hope that Easter offers all of us.
It is not too late to bring these Easter traditions and symbols back to life and to celebrate the hope of Christ’s resurrection.
Monday, January 12, 2009
"Multi-Parishional" Young Adults -- The Nomads of Parish Life
The times they are a changin' in the way our young adults look at parish boundaries. Here's a view by Julianne Donlon, diocesan adult faith formation director, at attitudes and ministry boundaries for young adults in our parishes today.
According to sociologists William V. D’Antonio, James Davidson, Dean Hoge and Mary Gautier, authors of the book Catholics in America: Their Faith and Their Church (Sheed & Ward), only 24 percent of young adult Catholics attend Mass every week, while 21 percent attend two to three times per month, They also report that 80 percent of young adult Catholics believe they can be a good Catholic without attending Mass weekly. It’s a belief that differentiates them from their parents’ generation.
A positive figure in the midst of all of this gloom is that Catholic young adults have the lowest conversion rate (18%) among all Christian denominations. Unlike their parents’ generation, many of whom enjoyed the cultural support of Irish, Polish, and Italian Catholic neighborhoods, today’s young adults inhabit locales that are far more socially and religiously diverse. Ethan Watters reported in his 2004 book Urban Tribes (Bloomsbury), that college-educated young adults often draw support from close-knit communities of friends—often from diverse religious or non-religious backgrounds—that form during the years between college and married life. Young adults often live, work, share meals, and vacation with these groups, which often function as family for twenty- and thirty-somethings living far from home.
Recently, a friend when asked to name the parish that she was a member of described herself as “multi-parishional”. This was a term that I had never heard before and I asked her why and how she could be a member of multiple parishes. She explained that a certain parish offered a monthly get-together for young adults so she often went there for Adoration and game nights. Across the city, another parish offered evenings of reflection that she enjoyed so she joined that parish for these opportunities. At what she called her “home parish” she is very active as a catechist and is engaged with the parish youth through the religious education program.
At a gathering of young adults I asked many of them if they belonged to multiple parishes and the overwhelming response was yes. In terms of planning and executing young adult ministry in the Diocese, this “multi-parishonal” status presents some obstacles but also opportunities for us to work collaboratively and regionally in order to reach young adults.
The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership project, a joint effort of six national Catholic associations funded by the Lilly Endowment, commissioned a survey of Catholic young adults and published the results in the summer of 2008. Here are some strategies that were effective in reaching out to young adults:
Involvement in the Faith.
We can no longer assume young adults will be active in the life of the church. The survey reported that when young people are actively involved in the church, the likelihood that they will consider ministerial roles increases and the likelihood that they will stay connected to the Church increases. Young adults want to feel connected and involved in parish life. Find ways to involve young adults in liturgy, education and evangelization efforts.
Connecting with Young Adults through Technology:
The church needs to find ways to connect with young adults. An important way for parishes to reach young adults is through the use of technology. Parishes need active web sites. Some pastoral leaders record their homilies or classes as podcasts for young adults to listen to when they have time. Many young adults seek information on the faith through websites such as Busted Halo .
There is much cause for hope in our Diocese as groups of “multi-parishional” young adults have come together to reach out to their peers. What is most heartening is how these young adults describe themselves and what they are trying to achieve in their outreach efforts. One young adult group describe themselves as follows:
“We are Catholic young adults and college students in the northeastern Wisconsin area and beyond working together to spread the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in the spirit of John Paul the Great's call to the New Evangelization”.
According to sociologists William V. D’Antonio, James Davidson, Dean Hoge and Mary Gautier, authors of the book Catholics in America: Their Faith and Their Church (Sheed & Ward), only 24 percent of young adult Catholics attend Mass every week, while 21 percent attend two to three times per month, They also report that 80 percent of young adult Catholics believe they can be a good Catholic without attending Mass weekly. It’s a belief that differentiates them from their parents’ generation.
A positive figure in the midst of all of this gloom is that Catholic young adults have the lowest conversion rate (18%) among all Christian denominations. Unlike their parents’ generation, many of whom enjoyed the cultural support of Irish, Polish, and Italian Catholic neighborhoods, today’s young adults inhabit locales that are far more socially and religiously diverse. Ethan Watters reported in his 2004 book Urban Tribes (Bloomsbury), that college-educated young adults often draw support from close-knit communities of friends—often from diverse religious or non-religious backgrounds—that form during the years between college and married life. Young adults often live, work, share meals, and vacation with these groups, which often function as family for twenty- and thirty-somethings living far from home.
Recently, a friend when asked to name the parish that she was a member of described herself as “multi-parishional”. This was a term that I had never heard before and I asked her why and how she could be a member of multiple parishes. She explained that a certain parish offered a monthly get-together for young adults so she often went there for Adoration and game nights. Across the city, another parish offered evenings of reflection that she enjoyed so she joined that parish for these opportunities. At what she called her “home parish” she is very active as a catechist and is engaged with the parish youth through the religious education program.
At a gathering of young adults I asked many of them if they belonged to multiple parishes and the overwhelming response was yes. In terms of planning and executing young adult ministry in the Diocese, this “multi-parishonal” status presents some obstacles but also opportunities for us to work collaboratively and regionally in order to reach young adults.
The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership project, a joint effort of six national Catholic associations funded by the Lilly Endowment, commissioned a survey of Catholic young adults and published the results in the summer of 2008. Here are some strategies that were effective in reaching out to young adults:
Involvement in the Faith.
We can no longer assume young adults will be active in the life of the church. The survey reported that when young people are actively involved in the church, the likelihood that they will consider ministerial roles increases and the likelihood that they will stay connected to the Church increases. Young adults want to feel connected and involved in parish life. Find ways to involve young adults in liturgy, education and evangelization efforts.
Connecting with Young Adults through Technology:
The church needs to find ways to connect with young adults. An important way for parishes to reach young adults is through the use of technology. Parishes need active web sites. Some pastoral leaders record their homilies or classes as podcasts for young adults to listen to when they have time. Many young adults seek information on the faith through websites such as Busted Halo .
There is much cause for hope in our Diocese as groups of “multi-parishional” young adults have come together to reach out to their peers. What is most heartening is how these young adults describe themselves and what they are trying to achieve in their outreach efforts. One young adult group describe themselves as follows:
“We are Catholic young adults and college students in the northeastern Wisconsin area and beyond working together to spread the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in the spirit of John Paul the Great's call to the New Evangelization”.
Let's "Stay In The Day" During 2009
As winter begins to hit full stride, and the days are short, Green Bay diocesan religious education director Rosie Bartel gives us some tips we can use to keep our spirits up.
Let’s face it: sometimes the month of January can seem not much fun. You can feel stressed, irritable, overextended, sick of snow and so tired. Christmas is over and you may be feeling pangs of regret that you did not make them as enjoyable and meaningful as you planned.
There is a solution to this January plight that plagues many of us each year. The answer is to learn to live in the moment.
We all know people who are always looking back at the past or are stressing about the future. Both types lose the joy of the present moment and they do not even realize what they are missing.
My three year old granddaughter showed our family on Christmas Eve how important it is to “stay in the day” and live in the moment. As we were all hustling and bustling about the “tasks of Christmas preparation” she stopped all of us to announce loudly: “It is Jesus’ birthday!” After she had all of our attention, she quietly went back to playing her little-girl games. It left all of us, who were not so focused on the real importance of the moment, a little surprised that the youngest among us had the real meaning of Christmas down to a few words. The other surprise was that she knew the meaning of the day and was staying in the day.
This led me to think about ten tips on how to cultivate a “stay in the day” way of living.
Adjust Your Attitude. We are often our own worst enemy. We put unrealistic goals on ourselves with the idea that everything must be “perfect”. But what if you thought the exact opposite? What if you gave up on perfectionism and decided to just let life happen? The key to success is finding ways to appreciate each moment of every day. The answer is in “letting God”.
Eat Slowly. Savor your every bite you take. Appreciate those provided and prepared the food you eat. It is also wise to pay attention to what you eat. Moderation is key to good health.
Keep Moving. If you do not exercise, start slowly today. Go outside, fill your lungs with fresh air and appreciate God’s gift of nature.
Breathe. When people are stressed, they tend to hold their breath or hyperventilate. Neither one is good for you. The best way to regulate your breathing is to turn to prayer. Imagine that you are breathing in God’s love, then breath out tension, frustration or anything else that is troubling you.
Take Prayer Naps. A prayer nap is a lot like a catnap. The difference is that you imagine that you are resting in the arms of the Lord. Just find a quiet place and take a 10-15 minute prayer nap. You will notice a difference right away.
Relax. Set aside some “alone” time with God everyday. Concentrate on letting go of tension and relax every part of your body. Read an inspirational book or mediate on the daily scripture passage.
Laugh. Look for the humor in things that happen. Instead of complaining about something, make a conscience effort to laugh---even if you have to fake it until it comes naturally. Studies show that laughter reduces stress and elevates your mood. Learn to laugh at yourself. Remember, God has a great sense of humor.
Strive For Flexibility. Some of the greatest saints assure us that the duty of the moment is the will of God. That means you do not get upset by interruptions or changes in plans. You see these things as God’s way of directing you to whatever is important in the present moment.
Remind Yourself How Happy You Are. Cultivate feelings of gratitude for all of the good things in your life. Then look in the mirror and smile. Assure yourself that all is well. Thank God for the many gifts you have been given.
Make Memories. Treasure in your heart all the wonderful things that happen every day. These are the joys that you will carry with you throughout the years and way beyond 2009.
As you “stay in the day” in 2009, remember that the day is given to you by God. It is your opportunity to share your gift of Christ by sharing each moment with those you come in contact with each day.
Let’s face it: sometimes the month of January can seem not much fun. You can feel stressed, irritable, overextended, sick of snow and so tired. Christmas is over and you may be feeling pangs of regret that you did not make them as enjoyable and meaningful as you planned.
There is a solution to this January plight that plagues many of us each year. The answer is to learn to live in the moment.
We all know people who are always looking back at the past or are stressing about the future. Both types lose the joy of the present moment and they do not even realize what they are missing.
My three year old granddaughter showed our family on Christmas Eve how important it is to “stay in the day” and live in the moment. As we were all hustling and bustling about the “tasks of Christmas preparation” she stopped all of us to announce loudly: “It is Jesus’ birthday!” After she had all of our attention, she quietly went back to playing her little-girl games. It left all of us, who were not so focused on the real importance of the moment, a little surprised that the youngest among us had the real meaning of Christmas down to a few words. The other surprise was that she knew the meaning of the day and was staying in the day.
This led me to think about ten tips on how to cultivate a “stay in the day” way of living.
Adjust Your Attitude. We are often our own worst enemy. We put unrealistic goals on ourselves with the idea that everything must be “perfect”. But what if you thought the exact opposite? What if you gave up on perfectionism and decided to just let life happen? The key to success is finding ways to appreciate each moment of every day. The answer is in “letting God”.
Eat Slowly. Savor your every bite you take. Appreciate those provided and prepared the food you eat. It is also wise to pay attention to what you eat. Moderation is key to good health.
Keep Moving. If you do not exercise, start slowly today. Go outside, fill your lungs with fresh air and appreciate God’s gift of nature.
Breathe. When people are stressed, they tend to hold their breath or hyperventilate. Neither one is good for you. The best way to regulate your breathing is to turn to prayer. Imagine that you are breathing in God’s love, then breath out tension, frustration or anything else that is troubling you.
Take Prayer Naps. A prayer nap is a lot like a catnap. The difference is that you imagine that you are resting in the arms of the Lord. Just find a quiet place and take a 10-15 minute prayer nap. You will notice a difference right away.
Relax. Set aside some “alone” time with God everyday. Concentrate on letting go of tension and relax every part of your body. Read an inspirational book or mediate on the daily scripture passage.
Laugh. Look for the humor in things that happen. Instead of complaining about something, make a conscience effort to laugh---even if you have to fake it until it comes naturally. Studies show that laughter reduces stress and elevates your mood. Learn to laugh at yourself. Remember, God has a great sense of humor.
Strive For Flexibility. Some of the greatest saints assure us that the duty of the moment is the will of God. That means you do not get upset by interruptions or changes in plans. You see these things as God’s way of directing you to whatever is important in the present moment.
Remind Yourself How Happy You Are. Cultivate feelings of gratitude for all of the good things in your life. Then look in the mirror and smile. Assure yourself that all is well. Thank God for the many gifts you have been given.
Make Memories. Treasure in your heart all the wonderful things that happen every day. These are the joys that you will carry with you throughout the years and way beyond 2009.
As you “stay in the day” in 2009, remember that the day is given to you by God. It is your opportunity to share your gift of Christ by sharing each moment with those you come in contact with each day.
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