Beacons of Light Phase 2: Build your Evangelization Team
Many Families of Parishes are entering Phase 2 of the Beacons of Light Pastoral Planning Process. The main goal of Phase 2 for the Evangelization principal is the establishment of the Evangelization Team under the Director of Evangelization.
The purpose of the evangelization team is to break down ministerial silos and form an evangelizing community of Parish Evangelists who will work together to prayerfully discern, plan, promote, and coordinate a parish evangelization plan. The Evangelization Team should be compiled of paid ministerial staff, full time or part time. This could include positions such as DRE’s, CRE’s, ARE’s, Adult Formation, RCIA Coordinators, Youth and Young Adult Ministers, Pastoral Associates, and the like.
Phase 2 is an opportunity to not only establish the Evangelization Team, but to prayerfully reimagine job descriptions that better align with the vision of the Family of
Parishes, and is ordered to the implementation of the evangelization plan for the parish.
For consultation in forming your Evangelization Team and in creating new job descriptions, please contact the Center for the New Evangelization at cne@catholicaoc.org.
Sean Ater
Director, Center for the New Evangelization sater@catholicaoc.org
CNE Spotlight: Marriage & Family Evangelization Events
Mark your calendars! The Marriage & Family Evangelization Team is hosting several events during the month of October:
The Gift of Fertility
Moms and their young daughters (ages 10-13) are invited to attend The Gift of Fertility Workshop on October 7, 2023 at St. Gertrude in Madeira.
Starting with Holy Mass at 8:00 a.m., this half-day workshop will include coffee/refreshments, dynamic presentations on God’s beautiful plan for puberty, time for moms and daughters to talk, and a light lunch. Featured speakers include Sr. Karolyn Nunes, FSGM, Geneva Ulmer of Pregnancy Center Plus, and certified NFP instructors.
The cost is $30 per family. For more information and to register, please click here. The deadline to register is September 30, 2023.
Marriage & Family In-Service
All clergy, parish evangelists, marriage prep mentor couples, and NFP instructors are invited to our second annual Marriage & Family In-Service. This year we will offer a full day in-service on Oct. 12th from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tipp City and two evening sessions on Oct. 24 and 26 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist in West Chester.
This year the theme will be the implementation of the Marriage Catechumenate. Presentations will be offered by archdiocesan staff from the Marriage & Family Evangelization team, as well as local pastors. There will also be break-out sessions and time for brainstorming creative ways to implement the marriage catechumenate in parish life. The day will begin with Mass and include a light breakfast and lunch.
Please note that the evening sessions in West
Chester (on 10/24 and 10/26) will include the same content as the day-long in-service in Tipp City.
Visit the Marriage & Family webpage for all of the links and information to register. Please contact Adriana Vásquez at avasquez@catholicaoc.org with any questions.
St. Gerard Morning of Reflection
Married couples experiencing a season of infertility are invited to attend the third annual St. Gerard Morning of Reflection on October 14, 2023 at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Anderson Township.
Starting with Holy Mass at 8:15 a.m., this morning event will include the opportunity to venerate a first class relic of St. Gerard, the patron saint of mothers, presentations, and fellowship. This is a free event and couples can RSVP or just come as a walk-in.
For more information and to register, please visit here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
ARK Testing
The Archdiocese is currently piloting ARK in Catholic Parishes and Schools. ARK will replace ACRE as the required Religious Education Assessment for all Parish Religion Programs beginning in August 2024. ARK is the first comprehensive assessment of Catholic Religious Education.
We invite you to consider joining the ARK pilot this current school year. ARK pilot parishes will not be required to administer the ACRE during the pilot phase. The Archdiocese will subsidize the cost of ARK in the pilot phase.
ARK Features:
Individual reporting to see changes over time and discover unique needs
Aggregate data to analyze trending and general success
Annual data normalization for national comparison
Easy rostering and administration to allow you to focus on teaching
To register as a ARK pilot parish please complete the registration form by Friday September 29, 2023.
Study Day on Engaging Families with Young Children in Worship
Catechists, school principals, DREs, religion teachers, as well as parish liturgical leaders and clergy, are invited to a Study Day on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at the Hilton Netherland Hotel in Cincinnati as part of the annual meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.
The meeting’s theme is "Sign and Pledge of Communion: Masses with Children." For a discounted day rate, you can take part in the keynote talks, breakouts, and Mass at this national meeting focused on Masses with children and engaging young families in the worship of the Church.
All catechetical leaders are invited to CREA's kickoff event on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Valley in Cincinnati. The theme for the meeting will be A New Vision for Networking: We are the Branches. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVPhere.
