Volume XV, Issue VII February 16, 2026 | |
Echoes~
Your Weekly Catechetical News from the
Office of Christian Formation
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~Resources for Lent ~
General
Bishop Barron Daily Gospel reflections (free, but you have to sign up)
Creighton Online Preparing for Lent freed downloadable Stations of the Cross, online retreats, bulletin flyers.
Hallow: Complete Guide to Lent a full guide to all aspects of the season
40 Ideas or Living as a Disciple during Lent (Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP)
Novenas to Saints Lent 2026 Guide new on list, lots of prayer and good information
USCCB Lent Resources
Small Group Reflection Guide for Lent 2026 (free)
The Archdiocese of Seattle created a new Lent 2026 five-week small group reflection guide, which includes this year's Lenten Scripture readings, reflections from Pope Leo XIV from Dilexi te, On the Love for the Poor, prayers and reflection questions. Use this for your family or faith group.
Guide in English
Guide in Spanish
Youth and Families
Cross Catholic Activity Booklet for Lent 2026 free downloadable activity book. This is new on this list.
Diocese of Des Moines ~ Living Lent Activities for the whole family, available in Spanish and English.
Family Lenten "Chain" of Daily Activity Courtesy of Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP
Holy Heroes Lent Activity
Loyola Press Lenten Family Activities and Resources
NCCL Family Lent Resources
Project Nazareth Stations of the Cross for Families.
Sadlier Lent For classroom or home. Spanish and English
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Discover Your Path to Service, Leadership, and Faith Formation ~ the Diocesan Ministry Formation Program
The Diocesan Lay Ministry Program (MFP) is a path for those who desire to be recognized leaders in faith formation in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Now entering its 35th year, the MFP has formed several hundred of the faithful for service to the mission of Jesus Christ.
As we begin our initial recruitment for suitable candidates for the Class of 2029, we invite pastors and current leaders to help us look for these individuals and to invite them to at last learn about the benefits of commissioned lay ministry. if we are planning for the current and future mission of the Church, we need capable and formed people to lead the way.
The MFP Office is hosting 6 information sessions across the diocese for people to learn more about the program, its benefits, its requirements, and to begin a period of discernment for this upcoming year that begins in August.
Sessions will be held:
February 17 at San Sebastian Parish, St. Augustine 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
March 3 at Mary Queen of Heaven Parish 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
March 24 at Sacred Heart, Fleming Island 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm
A RSVP is very helpful, but not absolutely necessary. Please share.
Email Ann at Lay Ministry Email
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Adult Confirmation
The next celebration of adult Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop Pohlmeier in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine on Pentecost Sunday, May 24 at 2:00 pm.
This celebration is for Catholics who are baptized and received First Communion in their youth but for whatever reason were not confirmed. Formation sessions should start now and these begin with the verification of current sacramental status.
Completed, typed registrations are due 6 week prior to the celebration.
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Nominations are Open for the 10th Annual Sr. Celinie Catechetical Awards
Sr. Marie Celinie Joubert, SSJ, was one of the original 8 religious sisters who came to Florida at the request of Bishop Agustine Verot. Her ministry extended not only to the original mission of educating the African American population in St. Augustine but to some of the early outposts in Fernandina Beach as well as to Jacksonville’s north side. Her mission was to teach African American students first in St. Augustine, then at St. Catherine School on Main Street in Jacksonville. Over the years, this school moved often and eventually became the location we know today, St. Pius V (1921). Sr. Celinie and two other Sisters also went north to found St. Michael School in Fernandina Beach. When the yellow fever epidemic struck while the Sisters were on retreat in St. Augustine, they returned to visit and care for the sick in Fernandina. Sr. Celinie died on September 22, 1877, while tending to the needs of the victims of yellow fever.
Nominations of suitable candidates will be accepted from pastors, Directors of Religious Education, and Catholic School principals for this annual award for Excellence in Forming the Faithful.
The full letter of introduction to the award as well as the nomination form can be found below:
Letter of Explanation to pastors, DRES, and principals
Nomination Form
| | Parishes and Lay Groups: Get your banners ready for the procession at St. Joseph Parish! | |
Our Diocesan Eucharistic Encounter event will be held March 6 and 7, 2026 in two locations. On Friday night, we will be at Queen of Peace in Gainesville. On Saturday, we will be at St. Joseph Parish in Jacksonville. This Eucharistic Encounter will have at its heart an evangelization focus, particularly in how it the Eucharist draws us closer to Christ.
Our keynote speaker for both days will be Julianne Stanz. She will be joined by our other main speakers, Fr. Stephen Gadberry and Dr. Gerardo Salazar. This is a Level III opportunity.
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Julianne Stanz is the former
Director of Evangelization in the Diocese of Green Bay, a consultant to the USCCB Committee on Catechesis and Evangelization and the current Director of Evangelization and Formation for Loyola Press. Loyola is sponsoring some of the costs of Julianne’s visit here.
Sample Youtube
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Dr. Gerardo Salázar will present in the Spanish tracks at both locations. Dr. Salazar is the former Director of Evangelization and Catechesis with Hispanics for the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston. Gerardo is the National Bilingual Consultant for Sadlier Religion, who will sponsor him for us. He is a popular and engaging speaker on the topic of evangelizing catechesis.
Sample Youtube
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Fr. Stephen Gadberry will be speaking in both the English and Spanish tracks. He is a priest of the Diocese of Little Rock and a Fellow of the Word on Fire Institute. A man of many interests, he appeared on season 10 of American Ninja, enjoys making music, archery, and also preaching the Gospel.
Sample Youtube
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18th Annual Summer School of Theology will be held the week of June 22-26, 2026.
Fr. Gary McCloskey, O.S.A. will present on
Saint Augustine's Encounters with God Details coming in March.
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Our first installment of video recordings are now online: the keynote presentation by Zac Davis and Ashley McKinless, What We Are Seeing and Hearing the World of Faith, Culture, and Church and the keynote presentation by Nathalie Becquart, xmcj, Rethinking Catechesis in a Synodal Perspective. Click on the banner above to access the video or go to:
NCCL 90th handouts
You can also view the Conference videos and many other NCCL video presentations on YouTube:
NCCL Catholic Youtube
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A direct and compellOrder of the Anointing of the Sick
If you ordered the new Anointing of the Sick ordered through the OCF, there is a publishing error in the LP ones. I have stopped distributing until I have the corrected rite.
| | Basic Certification (Level I) | | |
Basic Certification (Level I)
Summer Offering:
Catholic School Special~ St. Paul, Jacksonville Beach, June 15 -18, 2026
Registration will open in April.
| | Standard Certification (Level II) | | Continuing Formation (Level III) Opportunities | | |
Boston College, Clough School of Theology and Ministry online courses
CSTM offers many quality short courses that are very suitable for Level III. They are reasonably priced and very current in focus. In general, they are 3- 6 week offerings.
Here are some of the upcoming offerings:
Faithful Unity Amid Polarization
Mar 4, 2026 - Mar 24, 2026 3 - week, $30
John in Holy Week and Easter
Mar 4, 2026 - Mar 24, 2026 3- week, $30
The Gift of Prayer
Mar 11, 2026 - Apr 21, 2026 6-week, $60
And there is more...
BC/CSTM online courses
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Beyond Translation: Unlocking the Evangelizing Power of Latino Culture
Deacon Charlie Echeverry
February 17, 2026
3:00 PM ET
Latinos may be the most influential cultural force in the Catholic Church in the U.S. today—and unlocking their potential could transform, even renew, the post-pandemic Church in America. Yet many parish efforts have focused primarily on translation, unintentionally creating “two churches within one parish” rather than a truly integrated community.
In this webinar, Deacon Charlie Echeverry, author of Blind Spot: The Evangelizing Power of Latino Culture, explores ministry strategies that move beyond language alone. He examines the shared responsibility of clergy and laity in this work and what it means for your parish and ministry—especially if you are not Latino.
Go to this Webinar
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