Volume XV, Issue XIX May 18, 2026 | |
Echoes~
Your Weekly Catechetical News from the
Office of Christian Formation
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18th Annual Summer School of Theology
We have had to replace our speaker due to an unforeseen circumstance. We have found an equally engaging Augustinian to replace Fr. Gary ~ Fr. Art Purcaro.
Fr. Art Purcaro is an Augustinian priest who has spent many of his years ministering in the desert and the Andes of the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Peru (1971-2015). During some of that time, he served as a member of the General Council of the Order of St. Augustine in Rome. Fr. Art worked closely with Rev. Robert Prevost, O.S.A., now Pope Leo XIV in both Peru and in Rome.
Fr Art has been involved in the pastoral renewal program sponsored by the Better World Movement based on promoting the spirituality and ecclesiology of communion. He has taught in various formation programs and seminaries in many parts of the world. He is currently serving as Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Villanova University where he also teaches theology.
Schedule each day is 9:00 am - 3:30 pm with Mass celebrated each day prior to lunch.
Our new theme will be: "Building a Better World: A Contemporary Augustinian Perspective
A new outline is being developed.
Jotform to register
When you register, we will provide the book for the week
This is a Level III (Continuing Formation Opportunity)
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Ministry Formation Program
Mass and Certification of graduates
On Sunday, June 14, Bishop Pohlmeier will celebrate Mass with the Ministry Formation Program Class of 2026. These 10 lay ministers will assist the Bishop in carrying out his mission in the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Picture is of their orientation in August, 2023...they have come a long way!
Amanda Beltz ~ San Jose Parish
Ashleigh Bradley ~ St. Joseph Parish/Bishop Kenny High School
Alexandra Flott ~ Resurrection Parish
John Gilmore ~ St. John the Baptist, Atlantic Beach
Lawsikia Hodges ~ St. Catherine of Siena
Joanne Jones ~Resurrection Parish
Margaret Lewis ~ St. Patrick, Gainesville
Melissa Merrit ~ St. Matthew Parish
Laurel McDonald ~St. Catherine of Siena
Lacey Skinner ~ Cathedral Basilica
The Mass is at 2:00pm in the Cathedral Basilica with a reception to follow. This event is open to the public.
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Thank you, McGrath Institute and Echo 21
Our 3 Echo apprentices are finishing their service here in the Diocese of St. Augustine and moving on with their M.A. degrees in theology. We have been blessed to have Natalie Chevrel in service to Bishop Kenny High School for the past 2 years. We welcomed 2 new apprentices last summer who had been serving in the Diocese of Meath, Ireland. Katie Aldrich has been in service to St. Matthew Parish and School. Larissa York has been in service to San Jose Parish.
As part of our final assessments, I hosted the young women here at the Catholic Center for a Spring Day of Reflection.
The photo is: me, Katie, Natalie, and Larissa
All the best!
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Neophyte Mass~ Day of Reflection
Bishop Pohlmeier, in his role as Shepherd of the Diocese, oversees all sacraments, but in particular he is to take care that the newly baptized adults, children of catechetical age, are aware of his concern for them as they are "newly planted." (OCIA 247-251)
All catechumens who were initiated at the Easter Vigil this year are invited to an afternoon of Reflection on Sunday, June 21, 2026 at San José Parish 3619 Toledo Road Jacksonville, FL 32217
Schedule:
2:00 pm Gathering in the parish hall
Reflecting on the Journey with Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier
5:00 pm Celebration of the Mass inchurch
6:30 pm Dinner and Social
This invitation has been sent to all of the neophytes...please encourage them to respond to this invitation.
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For your planning: There will be 3 Rites of Election celebrated in 2027:
Sunday, February 14 at 2:00 pm
Saturday, February 20 at 1:00 pm
Sunday, February 21 at 2:00 pm
If we do not need all three, we will cancel on the Saturday.
From our friends at the Tribunal: Easter is early this coming year. Therefore, the deadline to submit all, that is all paperwork for a full annulment will be July 15, 2026. Recall, this also does not mean an annulment will be automatically granted after 8 months or that it will only take 8 months. This is a best guess.
A Workshop on Marriage Law for Parish Professionals
An Introduction for parish workers, particularly those who are involved in OCIA, on the annulment process will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in the St. Cahterine Room on Saturday, July 25 from 9:30 am - noon. This workshop will aid you in accompanying people through the annulment process, especially those in the OCIA, covering the following:
~ The basics of the process
~ Key terminology
~ A look at the various types of annulments
~The timeline
$5 donation for handouts taken at the door.
Jotform to register
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Adult Confirmation Dates for 2027:
Saturday, January 16 at 5:00 pm
(Epiphany Parish, Lake City)
Sunday, May 16 at 2:00 pm (Cathedral Basilica)
August 14 4:30 pm (Location TBD in Jacksonville)
A
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Vatican II Documents
Last year, during the Year of Hope, the Office of Christian Formation held a once-a-month series on the documents of Vatican II. This was one of the suggested activities for the year. We taped each one and promised to share them. When they are all ready, they will be on the diocesan website and on the YouTube channel. We have two of them ready via YouTube and I share them below.
Bishop Pohlmeier ~ Lumen Gentium (Church) 1 hour 38 minutes
Fr. Tom Willis ~ Sacrosanctum Concilium (Liturgy) 1 hour, 42 minutes
As a happy coincidence, Pope Leo XIV has chosen to use his Wednesday audiences for catechesis on the Vatican II documents. He explained during his January 7, 2026 audience that:
“It will be important to get to know [the Second Vatican Council] again closely, and to do so not through ‘hearsay’ or interpretations that have been given, but by rereading its documents and reflecting on their content.”
You can listen to these audiences on:
Spotify
Vatican News Agency
Vatican Youtube
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Catechetical Sunday, September 20, 2026
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to bring good news to the poor”
Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to bring good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1) reveals Jesus’ mission and identity. Anointed by the Holy Spirit, he is sent to bring hope, healing, and freedom—especially to the poor, the brokenhearted, and the forgotten.
This passage shows that the Messiah comes not with power or status, but with compassion, restoring dignity and proclaiming God’s mercy. It also becomes a model for the Church, us, which is called to continue Christ’s work by sharing the Good News and caring for those most in need.
Materials are posted on the USCCB website:
Certificate (English)
Certificate (Spanish)
Posters and Prayer Cards also available for free download.
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We Hold These Truths
As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, the USCCB joins this celebration by lifting up the contributions of Catholics and the impact of our faith on the history of this country.
In a historic moment, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 2026, and invite all parishes to join in this consecration.
Consecration and Prayer Resources
Livestream of the June 11th Consecration to the Sacred Heart
YouTube to watch live
The Consecration of the United States to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will take place in the context of a Votive Mass on June 11, in Orlando, with all the bishops gathered in Plenary Assembly. A livestream will be available on the USCCB YouTube channel.
Local Celebrations of the Consecration of the United States of America to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Local Celebrations
This resource is provided so that dioceses and parishes may unite themselves in prayer to the event of consecration done by the bishops. These local celebrations may take place on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, or on any day that a Votive Mass to the Most Sacred Heart may be celebrated.
The prayers in this resource have been adjusted to reflect that it is a celebration of the bishops having consecrated the country and is not the consecration itself. The resource includes a place to include a petition for the needs of the local community.
Reflection on the Consecration to the Sacred Heart, by Archbishop Alexander Sample
Reflection on the Sacred Heart~ Archbishop Sample
Consecration Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Prayer ~ Sacred Heart of Jesus
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Novena ~ Sacred Heart of Jesus
250 Hours of Adoration
250 Hours of Devotion
250 Works of Mercy
250 Hours of mercy
Knights of Columbus home enthronement materials
KofC enthronement materials
Pope’s Prayer Network materials
Popeprayerusa
| | Local Information on Pilgrimage | |
The Roman Missal in Large Print
Exciting news! Xavier Society for the Blind is delighted to announce that we will soon be providing the Roman Missal in large print! After 20 years of dedicated service, our friends at the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) are passing the torch on to us. This transition centralizes the production of accessible liturgical texts, ensuring that clergy with visual impairments and low vision can continue to lead the liturgy without barriers. As always, this resource will be provided free-of-charge thanks to our generous donors. (the OCF)
For a priest or deacon, being able to read the prayers of the Roman Missal is essential to "stewarding the mysteries of God." By taking over this ministry, Xavier Society ensures that:
- Clergy can maintain their independence at the altar.
- The Large-Print Roman Missal remains available as a standard resource.
- The legacy of accessibility started by the NCPD is preserved and potentially expanded into new formats.
If you are a priest or deacon in need, or know of anyone who may benefit from our free, large print offerings, please call us at 800-637-9193 or email info@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
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NCPD Summer Intensive on Accompanying Aging Populations
NCPD Summer Intensive on Accompanying Aging Populations
Mon, 06/08/2026 - 1:00pm EDT to Thu, 06/11/2026 - 4:00pm EDT
The Summer Intensive on Accompanying Aging Populations is for diocesan and parish leadership and anyone interested in this important topic.
The event is online via Zoom.
Day One - Session One
Topic: Spirituality and the Blessings of Aging
Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Archbishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Louisville
Day One - Session Two
Topic: Supporting Caregivers
Evelyn Fink, Ph.D., BCC Parish Volunteer Minister, St. Patrick's Parish Anchorage, AK
Day Two - Session One
Topic: Living at the End of Life
Rick Becker, DNP Assistant Professor of Nursing Science, Saint Mary's College
Day Two - Session Two
Topic: Supporting Parishioners with Dementia
Tom Hayes and Carolyn Klaver
Details coming soon!
Day Three - Session One
Topic: Voices of the Aging
Join us to learn from a panel of persons who are experiencing age-related limitations and changes to how they can participate in parish life.
Day Three - Session Two
Topic: Supporting Mental Well-Being of the Aging
Day Four - Session One
Topic: Ministry of Consolation
Ricardo Medina, Ph.D. Director of the Office of Family Life of the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston
Day Four - Session Two
Topic: Preparing for a Physically Aging Congregation
William Bonn, Chair, Art & Architecture Committee, Diocese of Salt Lake City
More info and to register we are an affiliate diocese and I am an individual donor
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Updated Certification Record Forms for Basic, Standard, and Continuing Formation (Level I, Level II, and Level III)
We have updated these forms to "fill-in-able" forms. This is in order help you create a more professional presentation when you submit them. Yes, many that we receive are difficult to decipher.
After May 31, only the "fill in able" forms will be accepted. Forms can be typed into, saved on your computer, and eventually printed and scanned in.
Basic (level I)
Standard (level II)
Continuing (Level III)
Requirements for Level III (Continuing Formation)
"Continuing Certification (Level III) A continuing professional development
component to help the catechist maintain his/her current level of certification. Every
three (3) years, a catechist, principal, DRE/CRE/Diocesan Formation staff member
must submit a record of thirty (30) hours of formation in the Catholic faith.
Professional continuing formation increases one’s knowledge of the Catholic Faith and
gives better skills in imparting that faith and sharing the Gospel more effectively.
Suggestions would be: workshops, online classes, Catechism Studies, approved Bible
studies"
Presenters of …
• Basic Certification theology courses must possess a B.A. in Religious
Education or Theology from an accredited Catholic institution or be graduates of
the Ministry Formation Program (MFP).
• Standard Certification courses must possess an M.A. in Religious Education
or Theology from an accredited Catholic institution.
• Continuing formation opportunities should be presented by those who
possess the same qualifications as someone who would present Basic or Standard
Certification.
| | Basic Certification (Level I) | | |
Basic Certification (Level I)
Summer Offering:
Catholic School Special~ St. Paul, Jacksonville Beach, June 15 -18, 2026
Registration is now open:
Jotform to register
Locations so far 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
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 (Level II) | | Continuing Formation (Level III) Opportunities | | |
A Trusting Heart & A World Too Small: Stories of Mother Cabrini
Jun 8, 2026 08:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Description
It's Sacred Heart Month! Which means we'll be talking about one of our FAVES -- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini! Join members of the CSI Team for 59-minutes or less to gather, pray, and reflect on what this great Italian-American immigrant has meant to our Catholic faith!
Link to register
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