Volume XV, Issue V February 2, 2026 | |
Echoes~
Your Weekly Catechetical News from the
Office of Christian Formation
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If your location is willing to welcome Confirmandi from other parishes to your parish Confirmation retreat,
please email me your details
Erin's Email
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Rites of Election
The 4 Celebrations of the Rite of Election are scheduled for: February 22, February 28 (2 x) and March 1. Please find here the instructional letter for pastors and OCIA Coordinators:
Next week, I will share the worship aid so that you can better prepare your folks for the celebration.
| | The power points from the OCIA Conference will be available to participants and also posted here. We are getting them all translated into Spanish. | | |
Registration of Initiation-Related Acts
(OCIA Norms 14-16)
The revised OCIA calls for sacramental registers for catechumens and those received into Full Communion. This is not new. These are kept, as all registers, in the parish archive. The revised rite, however, now calls for a Register of the Catechumens. This register is to record the name, date, time, and location of the unbaptized person into the catechumenate. This is now normative. This register has 3 purposes: to note the beginning of the catechumenate so that the parish is assuring the minimum of one year in the catechumenate, to assure that the ritual is not duplicated for an individual, and to guarantee the rights and obligations of these catechumens as described in norms 8 and 9.
There is only one company producing this new register at this time, Remey Church Goods. There sacramental registers are available at many other church supply stores. Link to purchase: https://remeychurchgoods.com/product/91 The OCF has obtained a 10% discount if you desire to purchase your register through the office. These registers are kept as official sacramental records in the parish archives. Starting with Lent of this year, all new catechumens should be entered in this register upon their entrance into the catechumenate.
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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:
Sunday, February 8 at Holy Faith, Gainesville 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (following 11:15 am Mass) and hours before the Super Bowl
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.
| | 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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Manna is a free, comprehensive digital app (website available as well) from the National Eucharistic Congress. Manna is designed to support the National Eucharistic Revival. It serves as a Catholic digital, content platform that provides talks, recordings, keynotes, etc from the Congress itself.
New to the app/website is a prayer study, The Heart of Prayer, with Bishop Andrew Cozzens. This study might be a good activity for Lent. It is put together in conjunction with the Augustine Institute.
Manna
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Accompanying Parents of Young Children is designed to assist parishes in developing a plan and learning the processes and skills to accompany parents from Baptism to First Eucharist using an intergenerational mentoring approach which connects parents of young children with an adult from the parish community for support, encouragement, and faith sharing.
This program of training and program development is led by Ron DeVries and Anna Radcliffe who lead the Generation Spark Project, funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Generation Spark partners with church leaders to provide a research-based action plan that builds successful, authentic, and safe intergenerational mentoring relationships that spark intimacy with Jesus, a sense of mission, and meaningful connection.
A Five-Session Online Training Program: Wednesdays, February 11 – April 8, 2026 from 1-2:30 pm ET on Zoom
Your parish will need to register in order to participate in the Accompaniment/ Mentoring Program. Your registration includes the five-session online program and the facilitated design work.
Register on Zoom. You will receive a Zoom link that will be used for all five sessions.
Zoom to register
The Program - Led by on DeVries and Anna Radcliffe
Session 1. Understanding Today’s Parents
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 @ 1 pm ET on Zoom (90 minutes)
Session 2. Forming Intergenerational Relationships of Mentoring and Accompaniment
February 25, 2026 @ 1 pm ET on Zoom (90 minutes)
Session 3. Developing a Practical Approach to Mentoring
March 11, 2026 @ 1 pm ET on Zoom (90 minutes)
Session 4. Engaging in Storytelling
March 25, 2026 @ 1 pm ET on Zoom (90 minutes)
Session 5. Designing Parent and Family Faith Formation – with Mentoring - from Baptism to First Eucharist
April 8 @ 1 pm ET on Zoom (90 minutes)
This series is a part of our NCCL Grant Program, but it is open to all catechetical leaders and their volunteers.
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Spring Lecture Series
The Loyola Institute for Ministry invites you to its Spring 2026 Virtual Lecture Series,
Walking with the Migrant: Jubilee, Justice, and Hope. This three-part series is designed for all who seek to reflect more deeply on the spiritual, scriptural, and ecological dimensions of migration through the lens of Catholic faith. Together, we will explore migration as both a lived human experience and a call to solidarity, justice, and hope in today’s world.
Each one-hour lecture, presented via Zoom Webinar, will explore a different aspect of migration, offering theological insight, real-world context, and practical applications for ministry:
- Stranger and Sojourner: Scripture's Migration Narratives
- Explore how stories of migration in Scripture reveal God's presence among those on the move.
- Creation on the Move: Ecological Migration in an Integral Ecology
- Examine how climate change and ecological degradation drive migration, and how Catholic social teaching calls us to respond.
- Encountering Christ at the Border: Contemporary Migration Stories
- Hear firsthand accounts and pastoral reflections that reveal Christ in today’s migrants and refugees.
Level III suitable
Register for the Zooms (free)
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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, these books are trickling in and distribution has begun. You may use them beginning on February 11, 2026, and must use them by April 5, 2026 (Easter Sunday). If you did not order, we will have a few extras.
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FDLC FREE WEBINARS – ORDER OF THE Anointing of the Sick AND THEIR PASTORAL CARE
The FDLC is pleased to provide another series of free webinars on the latest liturgical text to be released. Each session will air live at 1:30 (eastern) and will be 75 minutes in length. As before, they will be recorded for further viewing. Plan now to register attend and invite others to join you!
Part Two: Wednesday, February 11
A Theology of the Care of the Sick
Featuring Father Jan Michael Joncas
With Scriptural and pastoral insights, we will examine the role of the Sick within our parish community and our obligation (and privilege) to care for them.
Part Three: Wednesday, March 4
Pastoral Issues
Featuring Ms. Tish O’Hagan (Diocese of Boise) and Msgr. Rick Hilgartner (Archdiocese of Baltimore)
A look at some practical matters of visiting the sick -- including visiting a sick child, a sick adult, home visits, hospital visits, and nursing homes. Who are the proper ministers of the rites? What can a Deacon do? What can a lay person do? What can only a Priest do?
FREE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: Register for these
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Lent Book Program from Ave Maria Press
Ash Wednesday is only 3 weeks away!
Our newest Lenten offerings include the following titles:
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What Wondrous Love – $2.95 (bulk discount available) - Draw closer to Christ through the transformative power of prayer and song in our newest Ave devotional. This title includes a meditation, morning and evening prayers, and a question to ponder throughout the day. QR codes throughout the book link to individual songs and a full seasonal playlist.
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Praying with the Psalms – $3.25 (bulk discount available) - In just three meaningful minutes each day, you’ll be invited to lay down your burdens, open your heart to God’s mercy, and prepare your soul for the joy of Easter. This compact resource by author Emily Mae Mentock offers a beautiful and practical way to encounter God in the sacred poetry of the psalms—and to be transformed by his Word.
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Witness - $14.95 ($9.95 for 10+ copies / $7.00 for 100+ copies) - Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, is your guide on a Lenten journey, bringing you face-to-face with the people of the Bible who encountered Christ in his Passion—saints and sinners, friends and enemies, the faithful and the afraid. Each day features a meditation, reflection questions, prayers, and space for journaling. Free companion videos and a downloadable leader’s guide are available. Watch the video trailer here!
We also recently released 3 new Special Edition books under our Bulk Rate Program. All of these titles are excellent resources for book clubs, small groups, OCIA, and gifts for Lent studies and Easter. These books are $2.99 each for 100+ and FREE shipping!
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Why I Am Catholic - Best-selling title from Brandon Vogt. Free Study Guide and Teacher Resource Guide available. Vogt shares his own conversion story and presents a compelling, twenty-first-century case for Catholicism.
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Praying with the Popes - This recent release gathers quotes and timeless teachings from twelve modern popes into one powerful prayer book.
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Bible Basics for Catholics Expanded Edition - Best-selling title from Dr. John Bergsma is an easy-to-read, straightforward, and thorough look at the “big picture” of salvation history. Also included are chapter-by-chapter study questions and a seven-week program for small groups. Companion videos for deeper understanding are also available from Dr. Bergsma.
To order:
· Phone: (800) 282-1865, ext. 1
· Fax: (574) 239-2908
· Email: avemariapress.1@nd.edu
Have a blessed day.
Kindest Regards,
Julie Melchior
| | Basic Certification (Level I) | |
Dear Principals and Catechetical Leaders~
Recently, we have had a rash of "no shows" at our Level I (Basic Certifications). Following that is the issue that many teachers and catechists want to attend other sessions without paying as "they already paid."
Here is the reality. Each session is like a ticket. That ticket is good for the session they registered for. Instructor, materials, and food are prepared for them for that session. Unless there has been a reported emergency absence, a no-show is a no-show. No refunds or "pay it forward." Please share this information with your staffs.
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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 | |
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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Forming Good Men, Not Just Nice Guys
February 3, 2026
3:00 PM EST
Pete Burak
Vice President of Renewal Ministries
and Co-Director of Pine Hills Boys Camp
This webinar is a compelling, hope-filled conversation for parish leaders, pastors, catechists, youth ministers, and
parents who are committed to forming boys and young men with conviction, courage, and clarity of purpose. Drawing on lived experience, scripture, and timeless wisdom, Pete Burak—author of A Man on Purpose—will explore what it truly means to form and mentor boys and young men—moving them from passivity to responsibility, from comfort to calling, and from cultural confusion to a confident, faith-filled identity.
This session challenges the idea that being “nice” is enough and instead casts a bold, practical vision for raising men who know who they are, whose they are, and why they are here. Participants will gain insight into how families and parish communities can work together to form men of God who lead with strength and humility, love with sacrifice, and live with purpose—for the good of their families, the Church, and the world.
Go to this webinar
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