Volume XIV, Issue XXV June 23, 2025 | |
Echoes~
Your Weekly Catechetical News from the
Office of Christian Formation
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Exploring the Documents of Vatican II..
Pope St. John Paul II called them, "...a sure compass by which we take our bearings..." The Office of the Apostolic Penitentiary has provided a list of ways that the faithful can be granted a plenary indulgence during this Jubilee of Hope. Among them is a study of the Vatican II documents.
Next up will be Fr. David Keegan, Pastor of Holy Family Parish, Jacksonville. Fr. David will be sharing on the Declaration on Religious Freedom (Dignitatis Humanae) on Monday, July 7 at 6:30 pm
There will not be a Zoom option, but we will be taping this series as we did with the series on the Mass.
Yes, this would be counted for Level III Continuing Formation.
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In addition to this being a Jubilee Year, we are also celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the Creed that flowed from that Council. Every Sunday, we recite the creedal formula that the bishops devised and approved in 325 A.D. These words have great staying power and they remain a necessary marker for the orthodoxy of the Christian Faith. Christians should not see the Nicene Creed simply as a list of things they believe, but they should look at it with awe because it recounts the greatness of God’s love and the gift of salvation.
While there are may books and articles out there, Fr. Mike Schmitz, through his network, asked a variety of bishops to take a phrase or part of the Creed and expound on it. All of these videos are between 3 and 9 minutes, so ideal for small group sharing.
I Believe in God (Archbishop Richard G. Henry)
Who is Jesus (Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron)
The Incredible Story of the Nicene Creed ( Bishop James Massa)
Why God Became Man (Bishop David L. Toups)
Why Jesus Had to Die (bishop Robert J. Brennan...
All together, 12 videos.
The Nicene Creed Explained
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If you missed the early registration discount for the 90th Anniversary Conference, we have good news for you.
We can offer you a $100 discount through the end of the month. When you register add the Promo Code 100.
Conference Tickets
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The Transforming Power of the Liturgy
From February to November 2023, the Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship (BCDW) Newsletter presented a series of catechetical articles on the transforming power of participation in the liturgy. The six topics were related to migrants, refugees and the poor; mission; our common home; all races and ethnicities; the sick and the dying, and vocations.
These have now been assembled on the USCCB website for a free download! They may be reproduced free of charge in printed form (for non-commercial purposes and in publications not for sale, like bulletins)
USCCB Transforming Power of the Liturgy
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Evangelization from Concept to Connection
Complementary workshops sponsored by St. Marys' Seminary and University in collaboration with St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute
These are being offered onsite or online. $60 each.
Thursday, July 10, 2025 Theology of Friendship for Evangelization and Building Community 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Presenters for both are:
Emily Hicks, M.A., S.T.L.
Director of Language Resources and Intercultural Integration
St. Mary's Seminary and University
Rev. Evan Ponton, M.Div., S.T.L.
Associate Pastor, St. Mattthew Catholic Church, Baltimore (a cluster of 7 parishes in Baltimore)
Info and to register
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16 Tips to Improving Your Parish Hospitality
The Catholic Missionary Disciple group, an organization that exists to equip Catholics in sharing their faith. Centered in College Station, Texas, the group provides training for small parish groups,, but also some very good free resources. The first one listed is a very helpful article on hospitality.
16 Tips to Improving Your Parish Hospitality
Catholic Missionary Disciples
Free Downloadable E Book A Beginner's Guide to Missionary Discipleship
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The Heart of Discipleship with Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
Looking to deepen engagement with newcomers to your parish? Join Fr. Torres as he explores the richness of the Catholic Faith and how parishes can grow evangelization and discipleship. The webinar is filled with key insights and tools to prioritize evangelization during your busiest liturgical seasons. Sign up to watch our conversation on
“The Heart of Discipleship: How To Foster a Culture of Evangelization at Your Parish.”
Sponsored by Push Pay
Meet Our Evangelization Expert
Fr. Torres is a Catholic priest for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR). He joined the religious community in 1999 and now serves as a member of the General Council. He’s an accomplished author and the founder of Corazón Puro, an organization dedicated to forming youth. He also hosts two television series on EWTN: “Icons” and “Clic con Corazón Puro.”
The Heart of Discipleship
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Registration now open for:
San Juan del Rio
August 9 Liturgy and Sacraments and Basic Beliefs
August 10 Role of the Catechist and Practical Skills
August 16 Scripture and Church
August 17 Faith Development and Catechetical/Legal
Basic at SJDR
Christ the King
Sept 13-14
Sept 27-28
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Nov. 8 - 9
Nov. 22-23
Our Lady Star of the Sea
January 10-11
January 24-25
Next Summer:
Catholic School Special~ St. Paul, Jacksonville Beach, June 8-11, 2026
| | Continuing Formation (Level III) Opportunities | |
Boston College offers some very fine short courses that are excellent opportunities for spiritual and faith growth. Also suitable for level III.
July 30 - Aug 26, 2025 | $30
Who was Saint Mary Magdalene? What does scripture tell us about her ministry? What impact does her saintly life have on us today? This course explores the imagery of Saint Mary Magdalene, both positive and negative, that have shaped our view of the Apostle to the Apostles.
July 16 - Aug 26, 2025 | $60
How do we guide others on their faith journeys? Forming disciples requires attention to the whole person. Intellectual, social, ethical, and spiritual development are all needed for learners to make meaning and become the persons God calls them to be. This course, designed for faith formation educators (kindergarten to college), explores formative education in a theological context.
July 16 - Aug 19, 2025 | $60
Young people today are growing up into a world making complex demands of them: in school, the marketplace, personal relationships, and in the use of technology. Join us to explore the developing capacities and needs of adolescents. Draw from Scripture and Church teaching to increase your skills as a teacher (or parent) for helping teens understand and deepen their faith, strengthening them as they rise up to respond to the world around them. This course equips catechists and religion teachers with the resources and strategies needed to teach adolescents about the Catholic faith with inspiration and confidence.
More Information and Registration
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The Catholic Apostolate Center, a ministry of the Society of the Catholic Apostolates (Pallotines) provides opportunities for formation and growth of lay apostolates and individual ministers. Their library contains numerous "on demand" webinars on a variety of topics. Some examples:
Marriage Accompaniment: Tips and Suggestions for Successful Models
Growing as Disciples: Resources for Catholics
Disaffiliation, Belonging, and Believing
Toward participation: Unpacking the Leadership of the Laity (Bishop Flores)
Toward Community: The Role of the Laity Across Cultures and Generations (Bishop Silva)
Catholic Apostolate Webinars
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Active Learning Approaches to Early Childhood Religion Lessons - Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 2 PM ET
It's a perfect combination: young children learn best by doing AND our faith is a living, active faith! Come explore ways to involve the whole child in multisensory religion lessons—through child-directed activities, sensory-rich storytelling, music, movement and more! NSBECS Domain: Academic Excellence
The Pedagogy of the Holy Year of Hope - On-Demand
The Holy Year, also known as the Jubilee Year, is a special time in the Catholic Church that involves significant spiritual, pastoral and organizational activities. To assist Catholic school leaders in the celebration of the Holy Year 2025, the session is designed to ensure they are spiritually prepared, strategically planned and organizationally equipped to lead their school communities through this significant event. This preparation will help them foster a deeper spiritual experience for the faithful, ensuring the Holy Year’s objectives are successfully met.
NCEA Webinars
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