Every month, Pope Benedict XVI focuses on a special prayer intention. For the month of October, the Pope’s prayer intention is ”that Catholic Universities may more and more be places where, in the light of the Gospel, it is possible to experience the harmonious unity existing between faith and reason.”
Pope’s Prayer Intention for October 2010
October 1, 2010
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Schedule of Catholic Conferences in November and December 2009
October 20, 2009The following Catholic organizations will be hosting a conference in November or December 2009:
10/29/2009 – 11/1/2009
La RED – National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana
La RED 2009 Annual Membership Meeting
Orlando, FL
A network of Catholic church-based organizations and pastoral ministers committed to the evangelization, holistic development, and ongoing support and formation of Hispanic jóvenes (teens and single young adults 18 to 26+). The mission of La Red is to promote the articulation of its members at the national and regional levels and to foster the creation of diocesan networks.
11/12/2009 – 11/15/2009
CNVS – Catholic Network of Volunteer Service
2009 CNVS National Conference
Durham, NC
A membership organization of domestic and international volunteer and lay mission programs. The mission of CNVS is to promote full-time national and international service opportunities by providing training and resources, networking opportunities, and national advocacy.
11/19/2009 – 11/21/2009
NFCYM – National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
NCYC – National Catholic Youth Conference
Kansas City, MO
The professional membership organization of diocesan directors for youth ministry. The mission of NFCYM is to serve those who serve the young Catholic Church.
12/28/2009 – 1/1/2010
NCSC – National Catholic Student Coalition
NCSC Annual Leadership Conference – Our Communities in Need
Philadelphia, PA
A membership organization that seeks to be the representative voice of Catholic collegians, providing students with the necessary resources, network, and partners to aid the formation of faith-filled Catholics.
Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.
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Schedule of Catholic Conferences in March and April 2009
February 27, 2009The following Catholic organizations will be hosting a conference in March or April:
3/16/2009 – 3/17/2009
NABCA – National Association of Black Catholic Administrators
2009 NABCA Spring Meeting – Building Relationships for the Future
Brimingham, AL
A professional organization devoted to strengthening African American persons involved in authentic roles in dioceses for community building. NABCA’s mission includes evangelizing faith communities, the unchurched and the wider community; developing members’ leadership skills; and collaborating with others to implement the National Black Catholic Pastoral Plan.
3/29/2009 – 4/1/2009
NACPA – National Association of Church Personnel Administrators
2009 NACPA Convocation
Chicago, IL
The membership organization for personnel and human resource professionals within the Church. NACPA’s mission is to advocate for workplace justice rooted in Gospel values by promoting comprehensive church personnel systems; strengthening working relationships among church leaders, ministers and employees; developing church personnel and human resources skills and competence; and identifying and addressing church and societal issues which affect the church in its role as employer.
4/14/2009 – 4/16/2009
NCEA – National Catholic Education Association
106th Annual NCEA Convention
Anaheim, CA
The official organization for Catholic educators in elementary schools, secondary schools, religious education programs, seminaries, chief administrators of Catholic education and boards/councils of Catholic education. NCEA’s mission is to advance the educational and catechetical mission of the Church.
4/14/2009 – 4/17/2009
CLA – Catholic Library Association
2009 CLA Convention – Leadership, Direction Service
Anaheim, CA
The membership association of individuals and organizations involved with Catholic libraries. The mission of CLA is to provide leadership for professional development, coordinate the exchange of ideas, offer spiritual support, promote Catholic and ecumenical literature, and foster community.
4/14/2009 – 4/16/2009
NPCD – National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors
17th NPCD Convocation: “Leadership. Direction. Service.”
Anaheim, CA
An organization within NCEA’s Department of Religious Education, NPCD is an association for parish catechetical leaders. It’s mission is to support members in their role of advancing the catechetical mission of the Church and to enhance the professional development of parish catechetical leaders.
4/22/2009 – 4/25/2009
NADD – National Association of Diaconate Directors
NADD Convention 2009
Chicago, IL
The membership association for directors of diaconate programs. NADD’s mission is to serve as a documentation and resource center, to develop professional expertise, promote research, training, and self-evaluation procedures, and to facilitate communication.
4/26/2009 – 4/29/2009
CPPCD – Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development
2009 CPPCD Annual Convention: Persevering in Mission to Build the Body of Christ
Plymouth, MI
The professional membership organization for Catholic Church leaders who are responsible for planning, research, and council development at the diocesan and parish levels. CPPCD’s mission is to promote and advocate consultative processes that foster effective planning for the pastoral life of the Church.
4/27/2009 – 4/30/2009
NCCL – National Conference for Catechetical Leadership
2009 NCCL Conference: Focus on Adult Faith Formation
Dearborn, MI
The official organization of diocesan, parish, academic, publishing,and other catechetical personnel. NCCL’s mission is to enrich and strengthen the ministry of catechesis throughout the Catholic dioceses of the US.
4/27/2009 – 4/30/2009
CADEIO – Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers
2009 CADEIO Annual Program
Phoenix, AZ
The official membership organization for diocesan ecumenical and interreligious officers. CADEIO seeks to stimulate an exchange of ideas, experiences and networking among the ecumenical officers of the dioceses, to promote programs that further work of Christian unity and interreligious cooperation, and to cooperate with other organizations.
4/27/2009 – 4/30/2009
NFPC – National Federation of Priests’ Councils
2009 NFPC Convention – The Parish of Tomorrow – Today!
San Antonio, TX
The membership association for priests’ councils. NFPC’s mission is to promote priestly unity and fraternity, to provide a national forum for priests to discuss pastoral matters, to enable priests councils to speak with a common voice and to promote pastoral research.
Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.
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Schedule of Catholic Conferences in January and February 2009
December 22, 2008The following Catholic organizations will be hosting a conference in January or February 2009:
12/31/2008 – 1/4/2009
NCSC – National Catholic Student Coalition
NCSC 25th Annual Leadership Conference – Our Catholic Faith, Our Nation in Need
Atlanta, GA
A membership organization that seeks to be the representative voice of Catholic collegians, providing students with the necessary resources, network, and partners to aid the formation of faith-filled Catholics.
1/6/2009 – 1/9/2009
CCMA – Catholic Campus Ministry Association and NADDCM – National Association of Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry
CCMA/NADDCM National Convention
Atlanta, GA
The national membership association for Catholic campus ministers who serve at Catholic and non-Catholic colleges and universities. CCMA’s mission is to empower Catholic campus ministers and the broader Church to become transforming instruments of Christ in the academic community and the world.
1/16/2009 – 1/21/2009
NCOD – National Catholic Office for the Deaf
NCOD Pastoral Week 2009 – 2009 National Conference for Pastoral Workers in Deaf Ministry: Bridging the Gap
San Mateo/San Francisco, CA
A membership association dedicated to the pastoral ministry with deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. The mission of NCOD is to spread God’s message through the support of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Pastoral Ministry so that we may all be one in Christ.
1/31/2009 – 2/2/2009
ACCU – Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities
ACCU Annual Meeting 2009 – Catholic Higher Education: Institutional Diversity Shared Purpose
Washington, DC
The official collective voice of Catholic higher education in the US. ACCU’s mission is to help foster a vibrant Catholic identity at member institutions and support cooperation among them for the greater good of society and the Church.
2/1/2009 – 2/4/2009
NACC – National Association of Catholic Chaplains
NACC 2009 Conference – Spiritual Care Summit ’09: Health and Hope: The Hard Reality of Living Intentionally in a Village of Care
Walt Disney World/Orlando, FL
The membership association for Catholic chaplains in the US of as a missionary in a developing country. NACC’s mission is to advocate for the profession of spiritual care and to educate, certify and support chaplains and clinical pastoral educators.
2/12/2009 – 2/15/2009
AGPIM – Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry
AGPIM Annual Meeting
Tucson, AZ
The official membership organization of Catholic schools offering graduate programs in ministry. AGPIM’s mission is to promote the quality of ministerial education in service of church and society.
2/16/2009 – 2/19/2009
NOCERCC – National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy
36th NOCERCC National Convention
Albuquerque, NM
A membership association of dioceses, religious communities and others committed to the Church’s mission to promote and support ongoing formation for priests. NOCERCC’s mission includes engaging in dialogue about contemporary pastoral needs and realities, sponsoring research on issues of presbyteral formation and offering educational opportunities.
2/21/2009 – 2/22/2009
The Roundtable – The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors
2009 Roundtable Annual Symposium: Engaging the Faithful on Food Justice
Washington, DC
The membership association of Catholic diocesan social action directors and their staff. The Roundtable’s mission is to deepen the capacity of social action directors to engage in the social mission of the church by providing education, formation, and professional development.
2/22/2009 – 2/25/2009
USCCB – US Conference of Catholic Bishops and 17 Other Catholic Organizations
2009 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
Washington, DC
A gathering of diocesan and national social ministry leaders who meet annually to celebrate and act on the social mission of the Catholic Church.
2/26/2009 – 2/28/2009
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
LA Religious Education Conference – Love Unfolding…Igniting Our Yes! Amor Revelador…Encendiendo Nuestro Si!
Anaheim, CA
Sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, this conference has become a national gathering for those involved in religious education. Attendance in previous years has exceeded 40,000 participants, including attendees from as far away as Australia and the UK.
Visit ActiveParishioner.com’ Calendar for more details and future events.
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Working Together in Catholic Schools – The Vatican’s Viewpoint
August 25, 2008This morning the traffic announcers on the radio reminded drivers to be cautious about young children walking down the street since the school season has begun. The start of a new school year can be very exciting for students attending Catholic school, whether their teachers are lay or religious. Things are no longer as they were 50 years ago when Catholic school students were almost exclusively taught by religious sisters, brothers and priests. Today it is more common to have students almost exclusively taught by lay teachers. If the teachers are good, does it really matter if they are lay or religious? The Vatican says it definitely matters. In fact, the Vatican goes a step further by claiming that it is very important for students to be taught by both lay and religious teachers in Catholic schools.
Last September, the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education issued a statement, “Educating Together in Catholic Schools” which has now been translated into English. In the statement, the Vatican focuses on the importance of Catholic education in helping with the full formation of students. It is “especially urgent to offer young people a course of scholastic formation which is not reduced to a simple individualistic and instrumental fruition of service with a view to obtaining a qualification. As well as gaining knowledge, students must also have a strong experience of sharing with their educators.”
The Vatican goes a step further in emphasizing the importance of having both lay persons and religious collaborating together in the school system. The statement highlights ”three fundamental aspects of cooperation between lay faithful and consecrated persons in the Catholic school: 1) Communion in the educational mission, 2) Necessary course of formation for communion…, [and] 3) Openness towards others as the fruit of that communion.” The statement gives many suggestions for improving and building upon each of these areas.
Catholic school students have much to gain from having lay teachers and from having religious teachers. As the Vatican statement recommends, it is very important for lay teachers and religious teachers to work together as they take on the responsibility of educating and forming the next generation of students.
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Catholic Conference Welcomes Persons with Disabilities
August 8, 2008In less than a month, one of my favorite organizations will be hosting its biennial conference. The National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry (NAfIM) will be meeting in Huron, OH on September 4-6, 2008. The theme of the conference is “Winds of Change, Spirit of Inclusion.”
NAfIM is a Catholic membership organization of parish ministers, diocesan leaders, university professionals, parents and persons with mental retardation, intellectual disability and other developmental differences. Anyone can join. NAfIM’s vision is based on the realization that “the universal call to holiness leads us to recognize that the Body of Christ suffers when some members are not invited to full participation.” NAfIM “envisions that every person with intellectual/developmental disabilities will be welcome to full inclusion into our Catholic communities.”
I had the opportunity to attend a NAfIM conference several years ago and found the experience to be both moving and enlightening. Everyone who attends, regardless of intellectual or developmental ability, is fully welcome to participate in the workshops, the prayer services and all parts of the conference.
The keynote address this year will be given by theologian Fr. Jim Bacik and is titled, “The Parish as a Welcoming Community: Fostering the Spirit of Inclusion.” This gentle and insightful pastor is adept at helping Catholics understand and live life from a theologically grounded perspective.
General sessions include “Faith-based Care in a Bureaucratic World,” ”Gospel Drama How-to’s: Sharing the Good News and Your Gifts,” “Marriage Panel: I Didn’t Sign Up for This!” where four couples share their marriage challenges and faith journey while raising their children with developmental disabilities, and “Sibling Panel: Riding the Bus and Beyond with my Sib!” where adult brothers and sisters share their relationships with their siblings with intellectual/developmental disability. Many other workshops are also scheduled during the conference. As you can see from this sampling, the conference is a family event where many attendees come as a family.
Whether you are a parish minister, a religious educator, or a parent who’s family is touched by intellectual/developmental disability, you will find this organization and its members to be a lifeline filled with love, wisdom, joy, and a welcoming attitude that would make Jesus proud.
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Theological Adult Education Vatican-Style
May 22, 2008The Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy periodically schedules talks or “conferences” on theological topics for priests around the world. The Vatican has recently published many of these talks and responses online at Congregation for the Clergy – Teleconference.
Although the target audience generally consists of priests, lay people can also benefit from viewing these presentations. In fact, these talks provide a unique glimpse into current thinking at the Vatican.
Categories for the talks are varied and include the following:
- Christology
- Ecclesiology
- Trinitarian
- Moral Theology
- Church and Women
- Bioethics
- Resurrection
- Marriage and Family
- The Lay Faithful
- Church and State
- Preaching
- Papal Magisterium
- Economy
There are many more topics available. Each topic includes presentations by noted experts from around the world, and usually an introduction and conclusion. Although many of these are not light reading, they can be very thought-provoking.
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