Webinar - Q&A on Maronite Topics

 

Up-dated and Stream-line Requirements for Catechist Certification

Franciscan At Home Catechist Training

This on-line Eparchial Certification of Catechists is an easy way to conveniently sharpen your faith knowledge, catechetical teaching skills, and it's free! 

We are now in the fourth year of utilizing this excellent program from Franciscan University, and with Bishop Gregory's permission, we are simplifying the requirements:

You may now receive Level One Certification as a catechist after viewing the 12 required one-hour workshops and only answering the last question. Please see our up-dated and stream-lined requirements here -LINK-

You are encouraged to give this formation program a try. Reach out to Mother Marla Marie if you need assistance.

Introduction to Syriac Spirituality Zoom Sessions

 Introduction to Syriac Spirituality 

with Chorbishop Seely Beggiani 

Zoom Series Hosted by the St. Sharbel Spiritual Life Center

Please register and received the Zoom link, its FREE

April 18: The Syriac World View

April 25: The Early Period (The Demonstrations of Aphraat and the Book of Steps)

May 2: The Foundations of Spirituality (Faith, Baptism, The Holy Spirit, Eucharist)

May 9: The Foundations of Spirituality Cont (Penitence, Humility, Hope, Charity, Mercy)

May 16: Stages of the Spiritual Life: The Corporeal Stage (Faith and "Fear of God", Observing the Commandments, Asceticism, Passionlessness)

May 23: Stages of the Spiritual Life Cont: Eight Major Temptations, Abstinence, Vigil, Almsgiving, Discernment

May 30: The Stage of the Soul (Private Prayer, Luminosity, Purity of Heart, Simplicity, Stillness and Solitude)

June 6: The Stage of the Soul Cont: (Contemplation, The Divine Presence in Creation, Divine Providence, Sacred Scriptures)

June 13: The Stage of the Spirit (Silent Prayer, The Spiritual Senses, Unknowing, Spiritual Wisdom, Ecstatic events)

June 20: Summaries and Conclusions

Maronite Faith Formation Opportunities

 

LINKS TO REGISTER click here:  

Register for the Catechist Orientation Webinar

What is Catechesis? How can we help our children to to foster a love of Christ? Join us for this webinar and learn how to deepen your special role as a Catechist.

Register Here

Catehist Orientation Webinar

Save the Date

Sunday October 1st 

7:00PM to 9:00PM via Zoom

More info to come...

What do we mean when we say we are catechists? 

To be a catechist is to have joined in the sacred efforts of the Church to live out the beautiful commission of Jesus to “Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” This work of catechesis is more than the passing on of information — it is assisting others into a relationship with Jesus. Catechesis is about encouraging a deep-seated understanding of Christ and conversion of our lives to follow His example. It is to foster a love of Christ.

Our goal as catechists is to model the master teacher – Jesus Christ. We learn to teach as Christ taught in a manner similar to an apprenticeship. An apprentice learns the work of a master so thoroughly that he or she mirrors how that master acts, thinks and talks.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

To teach as Jesus teaches requires us to know how He taught. This knowledge can only be built on our own deep relationship with Christ, in which we are striving each day to speak, act and love more like Him. Through teaching as Jesus taught, we then lead others to grow in relationship, and also apprenticeship, with Jesus.

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Great Lent Workshops for Catechists

 

2022 Webinar Series to Support Catechists

The Franciscan at Home Catechetical Institute is continuing  FREE and fantastic 2022 webinar series to support catechists, teachers, and leaders!

I invite you to register today using the links below and feel free to share it around with others! 

The trio of webinar topics in September will be:

Best Practices of Professionalism in Ministry Leadership
Tuesday, September 13 at 2:00pm (Eastern Time in the U.S.) 
Presented by Jayne Mondoy of the Diocese of Honolulu.
St. Paul lists administration as gift to build up the Church (1 Cor 12:28).  Ministry leadership and administration are often unsung and unnoticed, yet the harmony, communication, and collaboration necessary for effective ministry would suffer without excellence in these areas. What traits and practices make for success in a ministry leader’s life?  What forms of professionalism in ministry might be cultivated to ensure a better disciple relationship with Jesus and more effective outreach work?  This webinar explores characteristics of leadership and healthy interaction with others.

Click here to register for this webinar.

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Catechetically Serving Those with Disabilities and Their Families 
Tuesday, September 20 at 2:00pm (Eastern Time in the U.S.)
Presented by Charleen Katra, Julia Gilberto, and Esther Garcia of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and Chad Judice of the Diocese of Lafayette.

In his homily at the Jubilee of the Disabled, St. John Paul II beautifully stated: “How eloquent are your words for us . . . Lord of life and hope! Every human limitation is ransomed and redeemed in you. Thanks to you, disability is not the last word on life. Love is the last word; it is your love that gives meaning to life” (December 3, 2020). We also heard from St. John Paul II that “. . . the Church has always looked on catechesis as a sacred duty and an inalienable right” that needs to be available to all people, and this includes persons with disabilities (Apostolic Exhortation “On Catechesis in Our Time,” Catechesi tradendae 14). This webinar will discuss the Church’s teaching and practical guidance concerning catechesis for persons who have physical or developmental disabilities, and how to serve their families.

Click here to register for this webinar.

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Kerygmatic Catechesis: What It is and 

How to Apply Its Principles in Forming Others
Wednesday, September 28 at 2:00pm (Eastern Time in the U.S.)
Presented by Dr. Joseph White, Director of Catechetical Resources at Our Sunday Visitor Publishing.
“. . . thus says the Lord . . . ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1). The proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel, the kerygma, is the message we are called to share with all those we catechize, and the great story of God’s loving plan for our salvation and what He calls us to be. In order to proclaim the kerygma to any audience in a way that can be heard and inculcated — such that they desire to run to their Savior and return His love — it is important for us to understand the content of the kerygma, its different formulations, and the context in which we will be sharing it. This webinar will explore the essence of the kerygma and ways to effectively share it in a catechetical setting.

Click here to register for this webinar.
 

Healing of the Leper Sunday - Reflection

 Fr. Rudy Wakim, pastor at St. Stephen Maronite Mission in NC, walks us through the Gospel of the Healing of the Leper and offers spiritual insights to consider in our own healing journey.  

Great Lent Maronite Series

Benefit from reflections by our Maronite clergy during this season of Great Lent 2022.  

Great Lent Virtual Series starting February 24 to March 17 hosted by the Maronite Servants. See the attached flyer.

We are blessed to have our own clergy presenting these workshops via Zoom on Thursdays 8:00-9:00pm. 

To register please click on the following link or through the attached flyer. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the sisters via their website maroniteservants.org or email sister@maroniteservants.org.  

Preparing for Great Lent - Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

Fr. Rudy Wakim shares on three spiritual practices of Great Lent: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

History of the Ecumenical Councils

 

ORTHODOXY & HETERODOXY

The History of the Ecumenical Councils

 Wednesdays, January 12 - 26 & February 9 - 16 @ 8 - 9 PM ET

Join us as Rev. Christiaan Kappes leads us through the breathtaking story of the battle of the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils to preserve the integrity of the faith against heresy in the decisive first centuries of Church history. 

The Season of Announcement Explained

Fr. Boutros El-Hachem's talk ends at the 27 minute mark, then followed by questions and answers.  You will find this video helpful in understanding the six Sundays before the Glorious Birth and how they help us to spiritually prepare for celebration and worship.  

Syriac Maronite Themes in Passion Week

Father Aaron Sandbothe, pastor of St. George Maronite Church in Uniontown, PA presents on Syriac Themes in Passion Week.  You can access the series on this link.  These workshops are an excellent resource for catechist or adult on-going formation.  

 

NEW! Faith Formation Workshops

 

The NEW Directory for Catechesis - Webinar

 

Join Joe Paprocki and Julianne Stanz as they review and discuss the updated and revised Directory for Catechesis. Joe and Julianne will provide an overview of the revised Directory for Catechesis (2020) and explore the revised edition’s implications for how we think about, talk about, and go about doing the work of catechesis.  The NEW Directory for Catechesis  How it Will Change the Way We Think About, Talk About, and Go About Doing Catechesis  Tuesday, September 1, 2020  1:30-3:00 PM (CDT)    Register Today >   As the Catholic Church embarks on the mission of teaching the Christian faith, the new Directory for Catechesis (2020) lays the how-to guidelines for catechesis and presents universal norms to guide pastors and catechists in the work of evangelization. The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization presents the Directory to guide the proclamation of the Gospel by the Christian faithful to people of all ages and in all seasons of life. The Directory places catechetical instruction and formation of catechetical teachers clearly within the realm of evangelization. It offers guidelines to assist in the creation of local directories and catechisms and clarifies the importance of catechetical renewal in Christian communities. The Directory affirms the presentation of the Catholic faith articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as a sound point of reference for instruction while drawing deeply from Scripture and the writings of recent popes, especially Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium. These guidelines are important for bishops, who are the primary catechists in their local diocese. The Directory will also be indispensable for all those responsible for formal religious instruction, including pastors and parish priests, deacons, lay and religious catechists, and religious education teachers in dioceses, parishes, and schools. The Directory will furthermore aid directors of formation who train the faithful in the forms and means of catechesis, including seminary rectors, directors of formation for the permanent diaconate, and lay ecclesial minster formation program directors.  Order Your Copy Here