CNE Newsletter - October 8, 2026

You're invited to join us on Saturday, February 6, for the annual CNE Appreciation Banquet! Each year, we gather to celebrate the incredible work of passionate evangelists serving across the Archdiocese. It’s an evening dedicated to recognizing their commitment, celebrating the impact they’re making, and looking ahead to the year to come.

We’ll also present the 2027 Radiate Christ Awards, honoring those who are helping bring the light of Christ to others in meaningful ways. Mark your calendars and join us at our new location this year!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

All married couples, family, and friends are invited to the annual St. Gerard Mass of Hope for the Blessing of Children. Hosted by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, this free event provides an opportunity for prayerful support for married couples experiencing infertility or pregnancy loss. It includes Holy Mass on the feast day of St. Gerard Majella, the patron saint of expectant mothers, followed by a reception with fellowship, delicious hors d’oeuvres and resources. For more information contact Dcn. David Ulmer at dulmer@catholicaoc.org

Some timely ARK Reminders…All catechists, volunteer and professional, and parish staff are required to take ARK annually. Check out our webpage for a timeline of important dates for the 2026-2027 school year:
ARK - Center for New Evangelization.

New users, should fill out the information found here https://arktest.online/ReligionOnBoarding. Once your data is received, you will get an automated email from ARK to set up your account.

Those returning to ARK should only fill out the link above if your numbers have changed by 20 percent or more since last year.

If you weren’t able to attend the webinar held in September or need to refer to any information that was presented during that time, check this out https://vimeo.com/arktest/cincinnati-parishes-sept2026.

For any ARK related questions, please contact Christine Baumgardner at cbaumgardner@catholicaoc.org. She is happy to assist you.

With this edition of the OCIA Corner, I thought I’d bring together some resources I have come across recently that might be of help to you:

The Catechetical Institute from FUS has a new Mentoring in Ministry podcast that’s all about “Growing You in God and Growing You Towards Mission.” You can check it out on YouTube and Spotify.

In November, NCCL is providing a 4-session online course called Welcome to Catechesis for parish leaders and catechists who want to learn more about the Church’s vision for catechesis today.
Friendship is a privileged place of honesty and vulnerability where people’s real concerns and timid hopes can come out of hiding. Jason Simon, the Founder of the apostolate Evangelical Catholic has a new book on this topic that would be great for initiation ministry leaders. It’s called Mission Ready Friendship: A Blueprint for Deeper Relationships and Life-Changing Faith.
Michael White and Tom Corcoran, the authors of Rebuilt, also have a new book out. It’s called Jesus, the Rich Young Man, and the Meaning of Life: 6 Spiritual Disciplines for Finding Heaven – Even Now. Looks like it would be good for anyone who is contemplating the decision to go all-in as a disciple of Jesus.

LPT has a great Facebook group for OCIA Coordinators and Catechists that I’m a part of. It’s a great way to network with other initiation ministry leaders and to get your questions answered. Check it out here

Finally, some resources from Team Initiation:

Free webinar: “Move to an Ongoing Catechumenate: Accompany Seekers Year-Round,” Thurs., Oct. 15, 2:00 p.m.
Article: “What if Jesus Said, ‘Come Back Later’”?
Article: “Making Room for Parish Events”

I hope you find these to be beneficial, and as always, if you need any help with your initiation process or have any questions, just let me know.

The Peace of Christ to you,

Nicholas Hardesty, Assoc. Dir. of Adult Evangelization & OCIA

nhardesty@catholicaoc.org

Please join us in welcoming Mary Henthorn, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s new Associate Director for Disability and Mental Wellness. A member of St. Susanna Parish, Mary has called the Cincinnati area home for the past 16 years and brings with her 16 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist, working with children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. As a mother of five, Mary is passionate about helping individuals and families feel truly welcomed and valued within the Church. She looks forward to drawing on her professional experience and Catholic faith to help cultivate communities where people of every ability know they belong, their gifts matter, and they have a meaningful place in the Body of Christ. Mary can be reached at mhenthorn@catholicaoc.org.