Families & Schools of Discipleship

Office of Children & Youth Faith Formation

December 2022

Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Update

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This monthly e-newsletter serves catechetical and youth ministry leaders in the Diocese of Green Bay by furnishing them with updates, events and other resources helpful to them in their ministry of fostering households and communities of discipleship.

Discover Jesus. Follow Jesus. Worship Jesus. Share Jesus with others.
Notices, Updates, Events
Generally Useful Information

Thank You! / Still Time to Report-In!


To all those who have turned in their annual report, a great big Thank You!


In case, it has slipped your mind, or you were just too busy before Thanksgiving to do it, please gather your enrollment numbers now and take 10-15 minutes to complete this report.


Soon, we'll reach out by phone to the parishes we haven't heard from so that we have 100% response by the end of the calendar year. Please save us both a phone call by responding as soon as possible.

Again, Thank you!!

2022-23 RE/YM Annual Report

Nuts & Bolts for New Administrators

November 17th Recording now Available


In case you missed it, please feel free to visit the recording of the 3rd (of 4) in the Nuts & Bolts series.


Our final installment will be via Zoom on March 23rd from 9a-11:15am.

November 17 Recording
November 17 Handouts

Looking Beyond Christmas. . .

Hispanic CRE Meeting: Listening Session & Formation


Please save the date, Thursday, February 23, 2023; 10am-2pm (including Mass & lunch) for a day for Coordinators of Religious Education (CRE) in bi-lingual communities.


More information to follow next month. Stay tuned!

Next Summer:

Steubenville Trip 2023: Preliminary Registration Page is Open!

Rochester, MN July 14-16, 2023


Our office invites you to join us as we return to Steubenville Conferences this summer. The cost is set at $470/person, with a $50 non-refundable deposit (per ticket ordered) due December 14th.


Registration will be done by group leaders via our GB Resources website.


Please start praying about inviting students now. The trip will be open to all high school students (including graduating seniors). 


Parishes will be required to provide VIRTUS and background checked chaperones (over the age of 21) to accompany students on the trip.  

Read More & Register  

In the meantime, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manitowoc will be hosting a Steubenville Parish Mission in March. Read more below.

Two events from the Vocations Office

St. Andrew Dinner

December 27, 2022


The Vocation Office is hosting an Andrew Dinner on Tuesday, December 27th at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral for young men who are open to the priesthood. We would like you to personally invite those young men that you think have the qualities that make for a great priest.


This is a great event to accompany those young men as they discern God's will. It is also a great way to get your pastor or deacon involved in their lives and invite them to accompany the young men as well. Please see the provided link for more information, a downloadable liability form (for all participants), and online registration.

St. Andrew Dinner

Duc In Altum

Put Out Into the Deep

January 13-15, 2023


Fr. John LoCoco of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and collaborating vocation directors for other dioceses will lead our annual Duc in Altum retreat on Friday, January 13th - Sunday, January 15th.


This silent discernment retreat will be available for young adult men (ages 18-35) and takes place at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. In a world of great distractions, this retreat is a perfect opportunity for young men who are discerning the priesthood to enter into silence and allow God to speak to their hearts.

Duc In Altum

In the New Year . . .

February 7:

Mental Health & the Hispanic Community

2022-23 Mental Health Webinar Series

Next up: Harm Reduction Strategies, December 13


Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay presents the 2022-2023 Mental Health Webinar Series. These are one-hour webinars addressing key issues facing the mental health of our students. Zoom link below. All webinars are at 10:30am and will be recorded. Next up:


  • December 13: "Understanding Harm Reduction Strategies" featuring Jane DePrey, Hospital Sisters Health System.  With fentanyl and other drugs significantly on the rise with youth, this presentation will incorporate a spectrum of strategies to help with those who may have an addiction. Topics include abstinence, meeting people “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.  Because harm reduction demands that interventions and policies designed to serve people reflect specific individual and community needs, there is no universal definition of or formula for implementing harm reduction.  


This webinar series is for Catholic school teachers, principals, guidance counselors, campus ministers, youth ministers, catechetical leaders, and catechists.

Zoom Link for Dec. 13 Mental Health Webinar

Franciscan at Home: Not Just for Catechists

Letting Folks Know About It!

In addition to serving as the Diocese' method of forming catechists/teachers, Franciscan at Home is also available to parents, parishioners and anyone who wants to grow in their relationship to Jesus Christ.


Topics include: 

  • Guide to Loving Parenting
  • Key Moments in the Liturgy
  • Living the Faith as Wife and Mother
  • Parent Saints
  • Praying with Scripture; Lectio Divina
  • Many, many more; invite your families to check it out!


For your information and reference, here are some helpful links to get started as a catechetical leader:


Just for you in December:


The Catechetical Institute is continuing its FREE 2022 webinar series to support catechists, teachers, and leaders. This month:

  • Fostering Eucharistic Renewal in the Church (Tuesday, December 13th 1pm CST)


 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR..

More information coming in January!

Salt & Light: An Ecumenical Event Invite to Catehcehtical/Youth Ministry Leaders & Clergy

February 16th, 2023, 10:30AM to 2:15PM at the Chancery on the Diocese of Green Bay’s diocesan campus in Green Bay.


Join Bishop Ricken and the bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s East Central Synod, the Reverend Anne Edison-Albright. As part of our ecumenical dialog, we are hosting a joint event with speakers from both denominations sharing how in our respective denominations we live out our baptismal calling to be missionary disciples. Please consider joining us for “Our Baptismal Calling: Salt and Light”. More information about the day and about how to register will be released early in January!


Steubenville Parish Mission in Manitowoc

March 5, 6, 7, 2023


At this special 3-day event, enter into a deeper experience of Christ through inspiring talks by renowned speaker, Oscar Rivera, powerful praise and worship, and Eucharistic adoration. Each evening will be followed by refreshments and a time for fellowship. 


* Night 1: “Knowing the Love of God”

* Night 2: “Knowing my purpose”

* Night 3: “Living in the power of the Holy Spirit” 


Location: St. Francis of Assisi Parish on Waldo,

1121 North 14th Street, Manitowoc, WI, 54220

Calendar
Upcoming dates you should know about.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RE/YM CALENDAR FOR 2022-23



Dates to Keep in Mind:


Dec 1: Catholic Foundation Grant Application Window Closes

Dec 2: Just for Kids Art/Essay Contest Entires Due

Dec 13: Mental Health Webinar: Harm Reduction Strategies

Dec 13: Catechetical Institute Webinar: Fostering Eucharistic Renewal in the Church

Dec 14: Non-refundable Deposit for Steubenville Trip Due

Dec 26-January 3: Diocesan Offices Closed for Christmas Observance

Feb 16: Salt & Light Ecumenical Presentation

Feb 23: Hispanic CRE Meeting

Mar 5-7: Steubenville Parish Mission in Manitowoc

Apr 20: Hebrews 10:25 - A Day of Formation: Five Alive!

Resources
Studies, media, and materials to help you do what you do.

Bayard Faith Resources offers Advent materials to supplement your curriculum. Many are bundled for cost savings.  Visit Bayard.



Ignatius Press' Advent collection is on sale. Includes books, music and the Little Lamb Advent Calendar.  



Joe Paprocki's Catechists' Journey website offers a myriad of articles and resources about sharing the joy of Advent with our catechists, students and families. 



"The Wisemen Who Found Christmas" by Raymond Arroyo is one of the featured Advent/Christmas resources from Sophia Institute.  


Jared Dees, on his Religion Teacher website, offers many Advent resources to subscribers. They include Activity Sheets, Calendars, John the Baptist Activities/Worksheets, an Advent Wreath Word Search and several videos on Advent and Incarnation.

Sophia Institute is promoting the latest Buliding Blocks of Faith Series, "The Holy Mass: On Earth As It Is in Heaven", a Lego-inspired hard-covered book for children of all ages about God's plan of salvation and how the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is at the very heart of our Faith. $34.95.



NCCL (National Community of Catechetical Leaders) has been transformed and continues its work as a community of catechetical leaders to creatively address the new challenges and opportunities facing the ministries of evangelization and catechesis in today's world. Membership, which is free, gives you access to services, resources and events to support you in your ministry through its new website.

Share Your Wisdom!
Have a resource that you've found helpful in training staff or engaging students? Watched a video that deepened your faith and led you closer to Jesus?

Email us at education@gbdioc.org with articles, videos, books, & more.


If you need anything; prayers, a listening ear, or other support, please do not hesitate to contact us. We appreciate ALL that you are doing to advance His kingdom!!


Maximus Cabey, Director

Child & Youth Faith Formation

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Families & Schools of Discipleship | Diocese of Green Bay
920.272.8309 | education@gbdioc.org