Info:
This is the annual gathering for catechists, youth ministers, catechetical leaders, and all other volunteers assisting in Parish Catechetical Ministry.  Please note the location change from previous years; this event will take place at the Church of the Epiphany (located behind the Catholic Pastoral Center) in OKC.  Hospitality and vendors open at 7:45am, program begins at 8:30am, Mass with the Archbishop is at Noon.  Before Mass, we will also recognize the nominees and name the Religious Educator of the Year Award recipient.

If you have participated in a workshop or presentation with ValLimar before, you know what a treat it is for us to be hosting her this year for Catechetical Congress and we look forward to your attendance.  For those who have not seen ValLimar before, plan on attending this morning of song, prayer, and words of insight as she focuses on "Faith Professed."  It is a WONDERFUL opportunity to come together for our shared ministry and gain inspiration for our journey ahead.

Reg:
No Charge!  This is a FREE event.  However, for planning purposes, in order to get an estimate for the number of participants, we do ask that you register though your parish Catechetical Leader (Director of Religious Education or Youth Ministry Coordinator).  The Catechetical Leader is then responsible for reporting their numbers to the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education.

Bio:
Blessed with an extraordinary voice, ValLimar Jansen is a highly regarded singer, cantor and recording artist. She is also a college professor, a leader of worship and prayer, and a workshop presenter at conferences across the United States and internationally. Trained in music and performance at Howard University in Washington, D.C., she holds professional degrees in the arts from California State University, San Bernardino, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has been a featured presenter and performer at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress and at catechetical conferences across the US. ValLimar is sponsored by RCL Benziger.

In the same section quoted in the previous article, the National Directory for Catechesis (no. 17:A) states that “The New Evangelization is aimed at personal transformation through the development of a personal relationship with God, participation in sacramental worship, the development of a mature ethical and social conscience, ongoing catechesis, and a deepening integration of faith into all areas of life.”  In this we see that evangelization and catechesis are not separate enterprises, rather they “integrate and compliment” each other.  The Catechist is an agent of evangelization whose role is so significant that the NDC also brings to our attention that "no material resource can ever replace the personal witness of the fully-formed Catechist to the person of Jesus Christ" (no. 71).  The Catechist is in a blessed and privileged position.  To be a Catechist is enter into a sacred place and share one of our most precious gifts, our faith.  This act is itself a gift.  During this Year of Faith, take a moment to reflect upon your role as a Catechist, agent of evangelization.

Some questions for reflection:

What does it mean for you to be a Catechist?  Do you embrace it as a gift from God?  In what ways has being a Catechist allowed you to grow in faith?

In what ways to you exhibit care and concern for the young people entrusted to you?

Do the young people you share your faith with know the joy that it has brought to your life?  How do you share that joy?

In what ways do you model our Catholic faith as a Catechist?

If you want to go a step beyond personal reflection, you can share your responses to these questions with your fellow Catechists or Catechetical Leader.  You can also share your insights by e-mailing the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of OKC at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Year of Faith was mentioned in a homily I recently heard. The insight that I gained from this homily is that the Year of Faith is not about programs, as such, but about being led to conversion. What we need to do to grow closer to Christ and the life of the Church. How we respond to the presence of Christ in our lives and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

This sentiment is reflected in a passage found in the National Directory for Catechesis, (no. 17:A.)  “The purpose of this evangelization is to bring about faith and conversion to Christ. Faith involves a profound change of mind and heart, a change of life, a “metanoia.” Such a change can only arise from deep within the interior of one’s being, where one faces the truly important questions about human life. Such a change, engendered by the action of the Holy Spirit, shows itself in the transformation of one’s life. One begins to live “in Christ” and is able to confess with St. Paul, ‘Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20).’”

It seems that what this year is calling us to do, beseeching us, maybe even demanding of us, is to make or renew our commitment to be more intentional about our faith. In these beginning months, we have the opportunity to review our commitments as to how we live our faith. We must ask ourselves, “What am I doing to grow closer to Christ and the life of the Church?”

In what ways can you commit to being intentional about this during the Year of Faith? Brainstorm some ideas and then commit to one or two of them.
I’ll get you started:

- join an adult faith formation group at the parish
- find a good spiritual book to read
- name and remove the distractions that are keeping you from conversion
- join a new ministry
- reflect on Sunday’s reading before Mass
- pick one day a month to bring items for the “poor box”
- make a financial commitment to contribute above what you currently do for a specific need

What can you add to this list? More importantly, what are you committed to do for this Year of Faith? Have a thought or idea about this that you want to share? E-mail Angela in the Office of Religious Education 

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a Year of Faith!  This will begin on October 11, 2012 and end on November 24, 2013.  In its Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith states that the intent of the Year of Faith is “to contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus and to the rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the Church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord in the world of today.”  In this Year of Faith, with its focus on the “New Evangelization,” we are ALL called to a joyful (re)discovery of our Faith through prayer, study and charity. 

• This year is to be marked with dedication to varied faith-filled activities and increased witness to our gift of Faith. 

• The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has a committee dedicated to assisting, guiding and supporting the people of this archdiocese through this Year of Faith. 

• Throughout the Year of Faith, there will be a monthly focus posted in this article section of the RE Office webpage 

• You can begin to prepare for this Year of Faith by reading and reflecting upon Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei

• For additional information, please visit the USCCB Year of Faith

• Information about the Year of Faith will be marked with this logo:
  

It has been a few months since the changes of the New Roman Missal have been implemented.  In some places these changes have taken root, in others, they are still finding their way into the soil.  Whatever the case may be, take a moment to reflect on the changes that have occurred.  You can do this as a personal reflection or as a small group.

- What has affected you the most?

- What remains a challenge for you personally?

- What remains a challenge for your parish?

- What do you find encouraging?

For the catechist:

Continual liturgical catechesis is important for the faithful.

The materials that were prepared to introduce the Roman Missal changes are still of use.  Many of them went to great lengths to creatively break open the rites, prayers and words of the Mass.  They not only give comparisons to what we once prayed, but provide catechetical insight into what we now pray.  You may want to take a moment to review these important meanings in your catechetical sessions.

A good resource is the “What’s New...” booklets from LTP.  Participant books and leader guides are available for different age groups.