Meetings & Weekly Updates

Accompanying Your Catechists

Pre-meeting Materials
Expressing Thanks to Catechists.pdf - Google Drive (very short resource to complete)
Leading DRE- How to Inspire Catechist Formation - CATECHIST Magazine.pdf - Google Drive
Ten ways to maintain enthusiasm-1.pdf - Google Drive

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September 2018 - We Come To Share Our Story

9/16/2018

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We Come To Share Our Story....

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March Meeting - Servant Leadership of the Beloved

3/5/2018

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January Meeting ... a little late!

2/5/2018

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EASTERN REGION AREA - SPRING GATHERINGS FOR AREA YOUTH
If you would like to add an event to share with other parishes in the region and bring youth together, please add the information to the chart or contact aslaven@syrdio.org

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND EDIT

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October Faith Formation Leaders' Meeting

10/16/2017

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October Prep Work & Updates

10/4/2017

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September 2017 Faith Formation Leaders' Gathering

9/19/2017

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August 16, 2017 Update

8/16/2017

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Living as Missionary Disciples

"To be a Missionary Disciple is to be a believer who puts these two things together: to experience Christ and to witness to Christ."
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz

Faith Formation Leaders' Meetings (CLs and YMs)
Our first meeting we will kick off the new catechetical year, focusing on how our ministry plays a part in making missionary disciples. During the year, we will be exploring several documents that relate to this theme for our own professional development, as well as starting to dive into the new NCCL/Loyola Press series, "The Effective Catechetical Leader'. I am also planning this year to have Paul Welch come to one of our meetings to share the partnership work with CRS. But most importantly, I want you to share the wonderful things you are doing or planning!
First Meeting - Mark your calendars!!!!
September 14 Evening Gathering (6:30PM) / September 15 Morning Gathering (9:30AM)
Both gatherings will include lite meals and snacks.

Please note the form to complete for Confirmation Retreats located at the top of the side bar. This form will be located here to complete all year. If you are looking for a retreat, please request access to the listings.

No, it's not All Saints Day yet, but....
How can you bring the saints into this year's catechetical theme?

Thursday, August 16 is the Feast of St. Stephen the Great, the patron saint of Hungary. Just a tidbit of info about me...I am half Hungarian! My great grandfather, Istvan, was named after the patron saint of his homeland.

This can be a fun activity for students to look up their heritage and learn about some of the customs from those countries.

As we talk this year about missionary disciples, who were some missionary saints? Have students research catholic missions today and ways to help them.

Missionary work has changed in the modern era as it prioritized social justice issues as various religious and lay associations in the church today are much more involved in an option for the poor. Jesuit missions, as in Africa and India, are more involved in educating and further assisting some of the poorest rural populations.
Websites:
Patron Saints http://www.catholic.org/saints/patron.php
Google Images for Saint Fun Facts (like the one pictured above)
Catholic Missionaries - List https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_Catholic_missionaries
Catholic World Missions - https://catholicworldmission.org/
Catholic Mission - Projects around the world http://www.catholicmission.org.au/catholicmission-projects
Catholic Relief Services - CRS.org
USCCB World Mission Organizations - www.usccb.org/about/evangelization-and-catechesis/world-missions/world-mission-organizations.cfm

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June 2017

6/7/2017

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Lots of info this month! Please scroll through completely to see:

Confirmation Requests
SuperGrant Updates from Dick Vetere for Collaborative Parish Initiative
Super Grant Upcoming Dates
CL Gatherings/Meetings for 2017-18
PCA Gatherings for 2017-18
Reaching out to Parents - Living as Missionary Families & Intergenerational approaches
Summer Sizzler with JoAnn Paradise "Standing in the In Between"
Save the Date - Fall Conference Event 11-11-2017
Technology in Ministry Workshops & Support
Office of Youth Ministry - Youth Rally & NCYC Trip

Confirmation Requests for Fall 2017

1) From Father Joe O'Connor:
Dear Pastors and Confirmation Coordinators,
As I begin ministry as a pastor this Fall, Bishop Cunningham is left without a full-time assistant. Aware of that, please consider your confirmation request carefully this year. In particular, please consider the time and day of your request and the number of candidates. You may consider a weeknight ceremony. This year, Wednesday nights are being made available in addition to Tuesday and Thursday. If you are not already doing so please consider working together with your PCA for Confirmation. Parishes who have a small number of candidates should come together for a larger ceremony.

To make your request for Confirmation at your parish in the upcoming school year, please use the online form found at this link:

https://goo.gl/forms/Qr6ewhDAJxEBqvXs1

If more than one parish will be part of the ceremony, please submit just one form from the host parish.
The Bishop's office will try to accommodate all requests, but some adjustments may be necessary this year. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Also, if you are planning a parish anniversary or other event and plan to invite Bishop Cunningham, please submit that request as soon as possible.
Please contact me if you have any trouble with the online form.

Fr. Joe O'Connor
315-470-1468

Super Grant Collaboration - Important Information From Dick Vetere
Regarding the Collaborative Parish Youth & Young Adult Initiative

Dick Vetere presented a short history of the Good News Super Grant and how it came to be in the Eastern Region. The grant is intended to encourage local parishes to collaborate on youth and young adult ministry. In 2015, prior to the grant, several parish catechetical leaders and youth ministers worked together to host a youth day and scheduled several young adult gatherings at Saranac Brewery. This year was very exciting for not only the sponsoring parishes, but for the entire eastern region. The parishes hosted the first concert/witness event for Jr/Sr high school teens, which brought in over 500 students… It was a huge success and was applauded by Good New Foundation. The Foundation recognized the success of these efforts and asked us to submit a proposal for funding.
After months of discussion and planning by a collaborative group of CL’s and Youth Ministers, a proposal was submitted to the Board of Directors of the Good News Foundation in June of 2016. The Board voted to create the Super Grant Fund for a three year period.

The grant targets collaboration in the following areas:

Regional Youth Events
Summer Youth Program (Brochures for this year are now available!)
Supporting participation in National Conferences (Notre Dame Visions, Steubenville, NCYC, etc.)
Young Adult Ministry (singles and married) Along with Theology on Tap, more Pre- evangelizing gatherings have been offered with socialization, networking and faith sharing. The Utica area parishes have partnered with the already existing and very vibrant young adult ministry at St. Lois Gonzaga Church.
Mini Grants- for local parishes or PCAs to collaborate in youth or young adult ministry. Once such mini grant was the “Ride for Faith” biking event in Utica this past spring.
The development of youth leadership and peer ministry through a regional Youth Council who will also have input to youth events and other leadership roles.
And a one-time grant for 64 Pearl (the renovation and re-visioning of the former convent to be a youth center in the New Hartford/Utica area.

A Stewardship Council is to be formed to discern regional needs, allocate funds, and review mini-grant proposals. Dick Vetere invited anyone interested in being part of the planning to email him at dvetere@syrdio.org

The first year brought successful events, listening sessions, and continued planning. Efforts to collaborate with the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Faith Formation and others are ongoing. The authors of the grant are committed to developing a partnership that allows the grant to enhance and supplement diocesan programs, not compete with them.

Another successful youth day took place in October 2016 as 500+ students participated in a retreat-like day led by Sophia Elacqua and filled a trailer with food items for area Veterans.
We partnered with St. Louis Gonzaga young adult ministry to sponsor a Young Adult Social at Zenia's Restaurant. The event was a very nice evening of food, prayer, short speaker presentation and much socializing. The event led to increased attendance at the monthly Theology on Tap gathering.
A mini-grant was given to the “Ride for Faith” which was a huge success and, will more than likely become an annual event.

Upcoming Youth & Young Adult events as we begin year two in the Super Grant are as follows:

The 22nd annual Summer Youth Program kicks off on July 2, 2017. Eighteen parishes have agreed to be participating sponsors. Brochures with the schedule are available at the regional office and a digital format will be available soon. Stay tuned! Lots of fun events this year!
The regional collaborative young adult ministry is hosting a Summer Social on Monday, June 19 at Aqua Vino in Utica. Tickets are $30. The event is opened to ANYONE...young, elderly, single, married. 100% of the money raised goes to The Abraham House.
The Fall Regional Youth Event is scheduled for October 22, 2017. Details will be forthcoming.
The diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry has scheduled an evening with Chris Padgett on Wed., October 18 at St. John the Evangelist. In light of this, most of those in attendance to the last meeting, supported the idea of having a “Celebrate Youth Week” in the Eastern Region to give parishes the option to promote both events. We are looking at other ways to highlight parish events and activities.

Dick Vetere concluded by stating, “Collaboration has been a longstanding tradition in the Eastern Region of the Diocese dating back decades, when the regional staff of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Faith Formation, Catholic Schools and Catholic Charities met regularly to vision and discuss ways in which we could work together. The collaboration begun by our regional leaders over 20 years ago is imperative today as we respond to Bishop Cunningham’s call to find new ways to work together. The effectiveness of our ministry to youth and young adults depends on this vision and our willingness to work together.”

Catechetical Leaders' Meetings for 2017-18
A schedule for regional area meetings will be available in August and may be only a partial calendar. I would like to keep some flexibility in the calendar at this time. However, we will have gatherings with our ministry leaders throughout the year. Gatherings next year will included a chance for further ministry development as we dive into the new "Effective Catechetical Leaders" books from Loyola Press, the newly released document, "The Joy of Adolescent Catechesis" from NCYC,NCEA & NCCL newly released worksheets from USSCB to use as we move through the Catechetical year, "Living as Missionary Disciples."
(http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/catechesis/catechetical-sunday/living-disciples/upload/7-571-missionary-disciples-ndc-worksheets.pdf)

PCA Meetings:
In addition to regular meetings in our central gathering space, I would like every PCA to schedule at least one meeting among themselves in which I may attend. I would prefer these meetings to be held sometime within the first half of the catechetical year. Please use my calendar listed on the front page of the Eastern Echo to search for available dates as you plan among yourselves. I do expect every PCA to schedule one small group meeting as such. If you do multiple meetings already within your PCA...that is AWESOME! I only need to come to one of your PCA meetings.

REACHING OUT TO PARENTS
One of the concerns that most parishes note when it comes to parents is the need to engage them more. The USCCB catechetical theme, Living as Missionary Disciples, can provide an opportunity to foster "missionary families" as Pope Francis describes in "Amoris Laetitia". In response to this, I would like to help parishes implement intergenerational events. You may want to first "look in" as other CLs plan, organize and implement an event. St. Bernard's in Waterville has been doing such events for the past few years and has offered to be a host parish. More details will come later. I would like a few other parishes to be host parishes, even if this is your first time, as I will help you every step of the way. Please email me soon to look at possible dates in December, January, or February to plan an event that other parishes may also "look in and or be a part of."

MARK YOUR CL CALENDARS!!!

Annual Summer Sizzler for Leaders:
Click here for the flyer seen below.

Fall Conference Event - Save the Date!
Click here for the flyer seen below

Technology for Ministry Workshops and Support

CLICK HERE FOR FLYER

From the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
(YAM)

No flyer. See Diocesan YAM website for more information.

RESOURCES AND MORE

When a Pastor Leaves, OSV - When it’s time for a pastor to leave a parish, it can be a difficult transition and even more difficult to say goodbye. This pamphlet explains the reasons why your pastor may be leaving and why that change may be necessary, even positive, in the life of the parish. While acknowledging the challenges that come with a pastor transition, this pamphlet guides you in how to respond in charity, giving ideas for you to help your pastor leave gracefully as well as tips for how to welcome your new pastor with an open heart.
Order packs of 50 for $16.95 through OSV

Also available in English.
For a non-reproducible PDF of this pamphlet, click here. The PDF is meant for review only and should not be reproduced in any form.

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<<Previous

October 2018

Accompanying Your Catechists

September 2018 - We Come To Share Our Story

We Come To Share Our Story....

April Meeting

March Meeting - Servant Leadership of the Beloved

January Meeting ... a little late!

October Faith Formation Leaders' Meeting

October Prep Work & Updates

September 2017 Faith Formation Leaders' Gathering

August 16, 2017 Update

Living as Missionary Disciples

Please note the form to complete for Confirmation Retreats located at the top of the side bar. This form will be located here to complete all year. If you are looking for a retreat, please request access to the listings.

June 2017

Confirmation Requests for Fall 2017

MARK YOUR CL CALENDARS!!!

Technology for Ministry Workshops and Support

CLICK HERE FOR FLYER

CLICK HERE FOR FLYER

From the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
(YAM)

CONFIRMATION RETREATS!

Archives

Categories

Contact Us

Location

Office Hours

Accompanying Your Catechists

We Come To Share Our Story.... ​

Living as Missionary Disciples

Please note the form to complete for Confirmation Retreats located at the top of the side bar. This form will be located here to complete all year. If you are looking for a retreat, please request access to the listings.

Confirmation Requests for Fall 2017

MARK YOUR CL CALENDARS!!!

Technology for Ministry Workshops and Support

​From the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry(YAM)

CONFIRMATION RETREATS!

Archives

Categories

Contact Us

Location

Office Hours

We Come To Share Our Story....

From the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry
(YAM)