Annual conference provides training, faith formation

Religious education is essential for the faith and growth of young parishioners across the globe. Catechists, or faith teachers, are essential in that education. Catechists throughout the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City are invited to a special conference in September for their own faith training – further equipping them to serve their parishes.

The 2022 Catechetical Conference is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School, 801 N.W. 50 St. in Oklahoma City. The theme is, “This is My Body,” the heart of the Eucharist in the Gospels, with two focuses.

“The Eucharist theme is focused on The Last Supper and Bread of Life Discourse,” Larann Wilson, associate director of the department of evangelization and discipleship for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, said. “The second focus is on St. John Paul II’s ‘Theology of the Body,’ which is our proper understanding of our dignity, according to God’s plan as human persons.”

Catechetical ministries at the conference include parent, young adult ministries, marriage and family, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), children’s ministries, small discipleship groups, youth ministry as well as priestly ministry.

“This is a conference that supports anyone in faith formation ministries. People who work within ministries, anybody who are coordinators in the leadership, as well as team leaders,” Wilson said. “We also have people attend from the Diocese of Tulsa, as well.”

Parents with young will have a special focus.

“This year we’re also opening it up to parents, because parents are the first faith formators,” Wilson said.

The conference begins with Mass, followed by numerous breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon. Those sessions include Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist; Spirituality of the Catechist; Engaging Youth in Confirmation Preparation; Leading Children in Adoration; Recognizing Anxiety and Depression within Ministry; Discover Your Spiritual Gifts; Accompaniment: Walking with Others in Faith and Raising up a Virtuous Generation, among others.

There will be morning and breakout sessions to allow for more opportunities for catechetical training.

“This allows them to attend a breakout session that speaks to their own personal development for ministries, or equipping them with tools for ministry,” Wilson said.

Several speakers throughout the day will also address participants’ needs.

Father William Novak will be the celebrant at the conference. He is the pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and vicar general for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

Homilist and keynote speaker, Father Jerome Krug serves as parochial vicar of Saint Eugene Catholic Church and chaplain at Mount Saint Mary Catholic High School in Oklahoma City.

Monica Ashour, co-founder of the Body Evangelization Team, holds two master’s degrees from the University of Dallas and is an author of a Theology of the Body curriculum for religious education and Catholic schools.

“There is an opportunity for networking with people in ministry,” Wilson said. “We also provide vendors so the participants can look at different resources available, different publishers or other tools in ministry.”

The goal of the conference is to teach catechists new concepts in being a faith leader as well as advancing a devotion to the Eucharist.

“We’re growing in our own faith in order to share with others,” Wilson said. “We look at the Eucharist, which this year, coincides with the Eucharistic Revival, which was initiated by the bishops. It is a three-year ministry, to help people grow in their love of the Eucharist.”

For more information about the 2022 Catechetical Conference, visit archokc.org/catcon.

Everett Brazil is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.