Annual Catechetical Leader Day of Reflection

Called to Minister in Jesus' Name

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

9:30 am - 2;30 pm

Marywood in the Wisdom Center

Our retreat speaker will be Brian Lemoi, Executive Director of the Franciscan Center in Tampa. Brian has served in many areas of the Catholic Church, beginning in education, then parish life, and then to the Pastoral Center in the Diocese of St. Petersburg where he served for 27 years in the areas of faith formation, evangelization, family life, and lay ministry. You will enjoy Brian's presentation as well as his fun sense of humor.

The day is open to all parish ministers.

Jotform to register deadline to register is Thursday, August 6th by noon.

Second Edition of the Liturgy of the Hours



The new 4 volume set will begin to be available in January, 2027 with Volume II ready for prayer on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2027. Two companies have been given copyright permission to print the full 4 volumes, which will be distributed when ready over the next 2 years, with mandatory use at the end of 2028. You may have received several missives on this for Ascension Press and Word on Fire with pre-order specials. 

 I have negotiated pricing for a diocesan order with both companies, which of course is a bit better. The Jotform is the pre-order form if you choose to order through the OCF. Ascension is working on quantity orders (about 20% off depending with free shipping) and Word on Fire is working on a flat fee of 40% off plus shipping.  I recommend looking at each publication online before committing to one edition or the other. It certainly is a bit of personal choice.

Look at Ascension to get a feel for what that one will be like

Look at Word on Fire to get a feel for what that one will be like

Jotform to Pre-Order

Deadline for pre-orders through the OCF will be September 1, 2026

Sacramental Brochures

The OCF has revised each of its sacramental brochures to reflect new terminology and realities

These brochures are intended for your bookracks or for parent meetings to assist families and individuals to understand the formation that is involved with each of the sacraments. 

These are free downloads and are available in both Spanish and English. Limited numbers of print copies are available by request.

Sacraments

A Guide for parents Baptism Preparation

A Guide for Parents First Reconciliation Preparation

A Guide for Parents First Communion Preparation

A Guide for Parents Confirmation Preparation

OCIA

Order of Christian Initiation for Adults and Children of Catechetical Age

Preparing Catechists and Teachers for the new Formation Year

Every catechist and teacher should be provided with a copy of the curriculum that they are expected to teach. You may find each grade, Pre -K - 8 at the following link. The high school religion curriculum will be under review this coming year.

Documents: These are also all found on the www.dosaformation.com website.

Bishop Pohmeier Letter for Curriculum

Director Letter for Curriculum

A curriculum text is to be used at all grade levels. This consists of a series that is on the USSCB List found to be in conformity.

Conformity list as of July 1, 2026

Note, the series must be a K- 8 series with all parts (teacher manual and student book approved)

Curriculum (large file)

Make sure that at the parish you are providing the minimum of 30 hours of instruction. In addition, the hours of preparation for all for the sacraments is:

First Reconciliation 6 - 12 hours of immediate preparation

First Communion 6-12 hours of immediate preparation

Confirmation 18-24 hours of immediate preparation

Guide for Parents to the Curriculum

Grade Level Prayers

Developmental Stages of Children for teachers/catechists

Developmental Stages of Children for Parents

Child Photo Release

Adult Photo Release

Media release children (Spanish)

Media Release Adults (Spanish)



R.E. Policies 2023 Please note, these are in effect but will be studied this year for updating in 2027-2028.

Circle of Grace Safe Environment Lessons for Children and Youth

We have signed an agreement for another 5-year commitment to this program that satisfies the USCCB Standards for providing training to and for our students.

These lessons, provided by the Archdiocese of Omaha, are expected to be taught within the first few weeks of gatherings by certified religion teachers. The absolute deadline for providing is December 15, 2026. Reports go to your respective diocesan lead:

Catholic Schools ~ Rhonda Rose

Faith Formation ~ Erin McGeever

Youth Ministry ~ Robin Shipley

I have put in a request for 2 trainings again this year due to the large number of leaders that are being put into place. One training will be offered during the day, the other will be an evening event.

Nuts and Bolts of the OCIA Process

This workshop is the introduction to the process of OCIA for new team members or for those who need a refresher.

Saturday, August 15 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Hurley Auditorium

Topics will include:

Overview of the process

Sorting the people into categories

Terminology

Best Practices

Fee is $10 per person, 3/$25. 6?$50...yes, we want you to sign up the whole team.

Jotform to register

Some important documents ~ these are found on the office website as well as the diocesan website:

DOSA Supplement to the Order (just updated and approved to reflect new realities)

DOSA OCIA Handbook

Please note, as mentioned the norm (December,2024) for an unbaptized person to be in the catechumenate is a minimum of one year. See OCIA) When registering your catechumens for the Rites of Election in 2027, the date of entrance to the catechumenate will be part of the registration process. That date should be recorded in your Book of Catechumens that you are also required to have in your sacramental records.

Join us for this Webinar

Catechetical Sunday Beyond the Celebration—A Year-Round Tool for Evangelizing Catechesis

August 12, 2026

1:00-2:30 pm (eastern)

Join Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier, member off the USCCB Committee on Evangelization & Catechesis, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Catechism, and leaders from across the country for an engaging webinar that explores how Catechetical Sunday can become far more than a single day of recognition.

Together, we will reimagine Catechetical Sunday as a year-round opportunity to strengthen evangelization, foster lifelong faith formation, and renew the Church's catechetical mission.

As we prepare for this gathering, we would value your input. Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey so we can better support our shared mission.

This webinar will challenge participants to move beyond viewing catechesis as something that happens only in classrooms with children.

Instead, we will reflect on the many people who hand on the faith every day—parents, grandparents, sponsors, OCIA teams, youth ministers, Catholic school educators, parish staff, and countless others who accompany people on their journey of discipleship. Through inspiring parish examples and practical best practices from across the country, participants will discover creative ways to use the annual Catechetical Sunday theme throughout the year, engaging the entire parish in the work of evangelizing catechesis and forming missionary disciples.



Register here

8th Annual Homeschool Mass and Dinner

We look forward to welcoming the homeschool families of the Diocese of St. Augustine to a gathering on Monday, September 21 at San Jose Parish. Bishop Pohlmeier will celebrate Mass at 5:30 pm and a reception with entertainment for the children will follow.

In preparation for the liturgical ministries at Mass and the food that will be served at the reception, please fill out the following Jotform.

Jotform to register your family

Education and Formation of Catechetical Leaders

As the program year comes to a close, NCCL is looking forward to offering a variety of new formation programs for catechetical leaders in 2026-27. Here's what's coming soon:

 Welcome to Catechesis - a 4 Session Online Course on August 12th for beginning leaders

If you are a new DRE, please contact me for funding on this certificate program.



·    For information and registration go to: Welcome to Catechesis

.

Basic Certification (Level I)

Locations in the next academic year:



August: St. Patrick, Jacksonville

August 8, 2026 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Faith Development and Practical Skills

August 9, 2026 noon -5:30 pm Liturgy and Sacraments and Basic Beliefs

August 22, 2026 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Scripture and Church

August 23, 2026 noon - 5:30 pm Role of the Catechist and Practical Skills

Jotform to register

Registration will open soon:

September: Holy Family School and San Jose School

September 12 and 13 at San Jose School

September 26-27 at Holy Family School

Jotform to register



November: St. Matthew Parish

November 7 and 8

November 21 and 22

January: St. Anasatasia

January 9 and 10

January 23 and 24



June: St Patrick School, Gainesville

Standard certification is achieved either through courses through the McGrath Institute (STEP) or through the University of Dayton (VLCFF).

Standard Certification Options

STEP through the McGrath Institute

STEP Camino Courses Comprehensive list for the year.

Beginning with the Spring 2027 term, STEP (and our sister program in Spanish, Camino) will move to a revised calendar consisting of five sessions per year: two in the spring, one in the summer, and two in the fall. The remainder of this 2026 calendar will continue as usual, with the new calendar taking effect in Spring 2027.

For your reference, these are the dates for our 2026-2027 sessions:

• Fall 1: August 31 - October 16, 2026
• Fall 2: October 19 - December 4, 2026
• Spring 1: January 11 - February 26, 2027
• Spring 2: March 8 - April 30, 2027 (with a Holy Week break, March 22-28)
• Summer: June 7 - August 1, 2027 (with a summer break, July 5 - 11)

VLCFF through the University of Dayton

VLCFF Calendar

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass~ A Deeper Understanding

The Diocesan Liturgical Commission, in conversation with Bishop Pohlmeier, will be providing this workshop on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Bishop Pohlmeier will speak on the following 4 topics:

The Shape of the Sacrifice

The Assembly and the Priest

Full, Conscious, Active Participation

Silence and Reverence

This workshop will be offered twice in two different locations for the convenience of the faithful:

Saturday, August 22 9:00 am -12:30 pm at Holy Faith Parish, Gainesville in the Fr. John Phillips Family Life Center.

Saturday, September 19 9:00 am -12:30 pm at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Orange Park in the Family Life Center.

No registration is required and there is no fee.

The Window on Death Row

A film screening of "The Window on Death Row" will be held on Wednesday, August 5 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm in the Bishop Baker Center located next to Cathedral Parish School.

This documentary chronicles the story of Joaquin Jose Martinez, who after serving 5 years (3 on death row here in Florida) he was exonerated of the 2 murders he was accused of committing. The film explores his wrongful conviction, his Catholic Faith, and how his "near death" experience has led him to become an advocate for criminal justice reform and restorative justice.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion.

This event is free with no registration. It is being jointly sponsored by the FADP (Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty) and the Knights of Columbus Council 611 of St. Augustine.

Movie Trailer

Narrative and Literature as Elements of a Meaningful Presentation of the Catholic Faith

Thursday, August 13, 2026 / 1-2:30pm EST

In order for catechesis to be effective for Catholic formation, participants need to find the content meaningful and be able to integrate it into their lives. In this presentation, we will discuss how narrative elements and the use of imaginative literature are particularly effective in bridging the ‘meaning gap’ and providing ways for participants to assimilate what they are taught. A Q&A will be included in the latter part of the presentation.

This webinar is free and requires no registration. Join us at the Zoom link below:

Zoom link



Speaker

Holly Ordway is the Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the Word on Fire Institute, and Visiting Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is a subject editor for the Journal of Inklings Studies. She is the author of the award-winning Tolkien’s Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages, and her book Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography was released in 2023, in time for the 50th anniversary of Tolkien’s death.