Volume XIV, Issue XIV June 16, 2025 | |
Echoes~
Your Weekly Catechetical News from the
Office of Christian Formation
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The neophyte Mass will be celebrated next Sunday, June 22 at a 5:00 pm Mass at Corpus Christi Parish in St. Augustine.
A Eucharistic Procession will follow the Mass.
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Choosing and Using Religion Textbooks in the Diocese of St. Augustine
It's that time of the year again to answer the question: "Should we stay or should we go?" discerning whether the current religion textbooks are meeting the needs of the youth and their catechists or not. Here are somethings to keep in mind:
The textbook is a road map in the hands of a trained catechist. It is not the catechist and does not take the place of someone who knows the Catholic faith and can share it with competence and compassion.
Any curriculum or sacramental textbook must be on the USCCB conformity list of textbooks found to be in conformity. This is a starting point for any search. The teacher manual and the student book must both have approval for all grades.
For schools: S and TM, for parishes P and CM.
The copyright should not be over 7 or 8 years old.
The list is updated regularly and can be found on the Office Website website and here is the direct link:
Conformity Review List
Parishes with schools should be using the same religion textbooks, by policy.
The same series should be used in all grade levels at one location.
Remember, the textbook is a tool. As such, each textbook series has its strengths and its weaknesses. The catechist is the key ingredient.
Here is an evaluation tool for religion textbooks:
Choosing the Right Catechetical Program
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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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17th Annual Summer School of Theology
Tuesday, June 17 is the last day register.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the speaker, topic and daily themes for our 17th Annual Summer School of Theology have changed. The location, dates, and times remain the same.
In keeping with the Jubilee Year of Hope, " A Pilgrimage to Hope: From Promise to New Creation" will be provided by Dr. Jack Daniels. Dr. Jack is on the Ministry Formation Faculty and is a retired adjunct professor and librarian from Flagler College.
June 23-27, 2025
Wisdom Center at Marywood
June 23-27, 2025
9:00 am - 3:00 pm daily with lunch provided/
The week will take us on a scriptural journey of hope, from the covenant of the Old Testament to the Incarnation, which is our hope.
For outlines of each day and to please go to the jotform:
Jotform to register
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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 opening soon for:
San Juan del Rio
August 9 - 10
August 16-17
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
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The next Class Rotations at STEP and VLCFF
As you know, the Office of Christian Formation maintains a relationship with both Notre Dame and the University of Dayton that provides everyone in the Diocese of St. Augustine to take classes at a 50% off rate through either STEP or VLCFF. The next rotations begin next week.
STEP Classes in Spanish and English. (next rotation is June 16)
Whether you need a class or two for certification or you want to just update yourself, there is a huge selection to choose from. For both programs, please use Diocese of St. Augustine as a partner to receive the discount.
Whether you need a class or two for certification or you want to just update yourself, there is a huge selection to choose from. For both programs, please use Diocese of St. Augustine as a partner to receive the discount.
VLCFF link to page in English and Spanish (Next rotation starts July 16)
What courses are required at each institute for Level II:
Standard Certification Courses
| | 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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