Dear Pastoral Assistants of Faith Formation,
This month we want to share our achievements during our FY21-22:
FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED:
- Three in person and 2 virtual cohorts (four in English and one in Spanish) of the Catechetical Certification Program, certifying 57 new catechists for children and adults.
- Virtual series of the New Directory for Catechesis in English and 3 in-person courses in Spanish reaching more than 100 catechists.
- Offered ongoing formation courses:
- three "liturgical catechesis" courses in two different parishes. 46 participants completed the course of 7 classes of two hours.
- one “Catechist as a Leader” course at Sacred Heart parish In Tacoma. 52 participants completed the course of 6 classes.
- Offered two virtual series for RCIA coordinators and volunteers In English and Spanish. 75 participants completed these courses.
- Offered an Academy for Church Choir Directors In Spanish In collaboration with Oregon Catholic Press. 63 choir coordinators signed up for the Academy.
- Co-sponsored, with Our Sunday Visitor, a conference for Pastoral Assistants for Faith Formation, featuring speaker and author on Family Catechesis, Dr. Kathie Amidei. 56 PAFFs attended. Archbishop Etienne celebrated opening Mass for this event.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
- Offered a Lenten Annual Retreat In Collaboration with the Catholic Apostolate Center: 32 attended the Retreat.
- Provided a first Silent Retreat in Spanish facilitated by Cesar Prada of the Passionist Retreat Center. 41 participants had the opportunity to live this spiritual experience.
- Offered 4 Confirmation Retreats providing a spiritual space for youth preparing to receive this Sacrament, facilitated by Sr. Christine Still, Maria Murphree, and the Faith Formation team. 129 youth and 26 adults participated.
SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT:
- Launched a bilingual flipbook of Catholic Prayers for Children as well as a digital book on each language.
- Continued monthly online support meetings for pastoral assistants for faith formation, attracting about 15-20 attendees each month
- Our Resource Page had 9,487 visits and 14,980 page views and our Facebook page reached 14,118 users, with 834 page visits, and obtained 638 likes.
- Held 3 virtual and one In-person meetings with the Archdiocesan Faith Formation Commission with representatives of each of the 10 deaneries.
- Created a Task Force per Archbishop's request to review the RCIA Adapted for Children policy. 14 members participate in this task.
Thank you for your support and participation in our programs.
Office of Faith Formation Team.
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Confirmation Retreats 2022
Our next retreat will be held the weekend of September 24, 2022 at Camp Don Bosco in Carnation. We are working on confirming additional dates and locations for more retreats. We will send out updated information as it becomes available. If you are interested in bringing your youth, please contact Lisa at [email protected] for more information. |
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PAFF Support Meetings
Please see below for the dates for the PAFF Support meetings that will start back up in September. Please check back closer to September for the link to join the meetings. Any one working in Faith Formation can benefit from these meetings to network, share ideas, ask questions or just visit with others working in faith formation. If you know someone who could benefit from these meetings, please share the information.
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 867 9224 0747
Passcode: 793144
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,86792240747
# US (Tacoma)
+16694449171,,86792240747# US
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September 13
October 11
November 8
December 13
January 10
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February 14
March 14
April 11
May 9
June 13
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RCIA/OCIA Support Meetings
These meetings is for parish staff responsible for leading the RCIA/OCIA process. The goal is to provide a setting in which we can share good practices, ideas to improve current processes, suggestions in how to deal with difficult circumstances, and ideas to celebrate the Rites.
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Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 885 1883 5513
Passcode: 588252
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,88518835513
# US (Tacoma)
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September 20
October 18
November 15
December 20
January 17
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February 21
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
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Orientation for New RCIA Coordinators Sessions
Let us help you get off to a strong start, avoiding some of the common mistakes new coordinators sometimes make in those early years of their ministry. In this workshop, we will provide concrete, skills-based learning to equip you to minister effectively from day one. There will also be the chance to get answers to your specific questions from ministry experts with decades of experience in the field.
Presented by Michael Ruzicki, Rachel Espinoza and Simone Brosig
August 8, 15, and 22, 2022
10:00pm - 11:30pm ET / 7:00pm - 8:30pm PT
$45 per computer
Sponsored by Liturgy Training Publications
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New Minister Orientation - Save the Date! September 7, 2022. This year we are combining the New PAFF and New Youth & Young Adult orientations into one day of meeting together at the Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center in Federal Way. More details to come. |
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Faith Formation Job Opportunities
The Archdiocese is looking to fill the following two positions in Faith Formation. Please share and spread the word!
Director of Youth Ministry Services - The Director for Youth Ministry Services for the Archdiocese of Seattle develops and executes vision and plan for positively influencing, forming and engaging youth to become disciples of their Catholic faith. Develops, organizes and implements all youth ministry programming, supporting parishes and the Archdiocese in evangelization, forming, and supporting youth on their faith journey. Ensures all Archdiocesan youth ministry efforts extend the ministry of the Archbishop, are rooted in the New Evangelization and designed to support the mission and vision of the Archbishop and the Archdiocese. Particular importance is given to providing opportunities for, and supporting parishes in, their ministry to bring youth into a meaningful and transformative relationship with Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church. Please click here for a full job description and to apply.
Director of Young Adult Ministry - The Director of Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Seattle creates and executive a vision and strategy to engage young adults in the Liturgy and Catholic community of faith. Creates programs that support and form young adults as missionary disciples. Works collaboratively with parishes, and other identified groups to facilitate young adults developing and deepening their relationship with Jesus. Facilitates engagement of young adults in Catholic social teaching and furthering Pope Francis’ call to care for the environment. Please click here for a full job description and to apply.
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Catholic Prayer Book for Children
The digital flip book for the Catholic Prayer Book for Children is now available. This version is in both English and Spanish and can be downloaded and printed in PDF format. Please view the book here.
The link is also found on the Faith Formation resource PRAYER page along with additional prayer resources. Feel free to share the link with your parish families!
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Catechetical Sunday 2022
Catechetical Sunday is September 18, 2022. The theme this year is "This is my body given for you". Those who the parish community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. To learn more and find resources, visit the USCCB website.
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Accompanying the Church in Ukraine
Bishop Jeffrey Monforton and USCCB National Collections have shared an opportunity to show support to Ukrainian school children during this unsettling time of war. If your youth group or parish communities would like to send letters and cards to school children in Ukraine, please see below:
Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate UGCC
Pasichna 8
79038 Lviv
UKRAINE
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SIX TASKS ~ ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS ~ LITURGICAL CALENDAR |
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St. Alphonsus Liguori - August 1 |
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St. John Vianney -August 4 |
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Feast of the Transfiguration - August 6 |
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Solemnity of the Assumption - August 15 |
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St. Augustine - August 28 |
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ONLINE RESOURCES PAGE UPDATES |
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Be sure to check the Liturgical calendar pages in both English and Spanish. These pages will contain who and what the Church celebrates specifically in the month of August.
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Please note: If you receive this newsletter before the beginning of the next month, content on the webpage will not update until the 1st of each month. |
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New Year of Faith Formation Ideas
Catechist Journey has several helpful articles and videos to assist you in recruiting catechists and volunteers for the new year. Here are just a few!
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Focus on the Family Movie Reviews
Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live. This a great tool to share with families to help inform parents and guardians about a variety of media.
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Golf for Seminarians - August 2, 2022 at Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Club. Join Archbishop Etienne for a day of fellowship and “FUN” raising for seminarian education. Click here to learn more and register.
New Minister Orientation - September 7, 2022 at the Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way. This orientation is for any parish staff working in the areas of youth, young adult, and adult faith formation, hired within the last year.
Faith Formation Lenten Retreat - March 15-16, 2023 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center, Federal Way. More details to come!
PAFF Annual Conference - June 8, 2023 at Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center. More details to come!
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ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE
Office of Faith Formation
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