Image Source: http://www.clipartkid.com/images/147/3rd-week-of-advent-emmanuel-our-god-is-with-us-a-branch-in-the-odYYm8-clipart.jpg
Next Meeting: January 12 & 13 (Thur evening and Friday Morning)
Agenda: Remember that document I sent a while ago, “Engage vs Involve”?? Well, this will be the topic in January! I am re-sending it with this update. Scott Rutan from RCL Benziger will present a workshop based on this paper and how these concepts can be implemented in faith formation.
“Engage vs Involve”
Agenda: Remember that document I sent a while ago, “Engage vs Involve”?? Well, this will be the topic in January! I am re-sending it with this update. Scott Rutan from RCL Benziger will present a workshop based on this paper and how these concepts can be implemented in faith formation.
“Engage vs Involve”
Continuing Certification - “Faith Formation is Lifelong and Ongoing!!!” Say that ten times fast! There are so many opportunities to continue to grow in your ministry and the Diocese of Syracuse Office of Faith Formation is here to support you in all your endeavors! Our office provides ministerial development through regional meetings, workshops, online courses, webinars and conferences. Please take advantage of what we offer and encourage others to participate as well. Thanks to the diocesan Heritage Fund, we are able to provide free Foundational courses, free or minimal costs for workshops, scholarships up to $500 for courses and conferences. So take advantage of these opportunities. The Heritage Scholarship application for courses and conferences can be found at easternecho.org under “files”.
Are you due for “Recertification?” During the first two - three weeks of January, I would like to meet individually with all who may be completing requirements for recertification. Call for an appointment and we will go through your records. Please bring your copy of “Yearly Updates”. For more information regarding certification and re-certification, please refer to your Catechetical Leaders’ Handbook, (2013).
Foundational Certification - Last month we experienced “The Heart of the Catechist.” This month, CLs were invited to explore the “Echoes of Faith” program. If you missed the meeting, I will be more than happy to go through this with you. Or if you would like me to visit your parish, I would be happy to share this with your pastor and/or your catechists. Just call me to schedule a meeting.
Heart of the Catechist is the in-person piece of the NEW Foundational Catechetical Certification program for the Diocese of Syracuse. Heart of the Catechist is a 2.5hr workshop that leads participants into a full understanding of the call to and the mission of the catechetical ministry. It is based on the speech that Pope Francis gave to the International Congress on Catechesis.
I would like to have parishes and/or PCAs determine the best time and place to host this workshop for your catechists. Please provide me a few dates before the end of January. Dates can be scheduled anytime between January and May, but preferred to be scheduled before March 15.
I would like to have parishes and/or PCAs determine the best time and place to host this workshop for your catechists. Please provide me a few dates before the end of January. Dates can be scheduled anytime between January and May, but preferred to be scheduled before March 15.
Echoes of Faith - Registration is now open!
Please let your catechists know that registration is now open for the online courses! At this time we are just registering names. The Echoes of Faith online program will officially begin January 3rd. For more information and information regarding our special promotional give-aways, please visit faithformationevents.weebly.com (Foundational Certification)
Please let your catechists know that registration is now open for the online courses! At this time we are just registering names. The Echoes of Faith online program will officially begin January 3rd. For more information and information regarding our special promotional give-aways, please visit faithformationevents.weebly.com (Foundational Certification)
CL RETREAT - January 26-27
Give yourself a Christmas gift! Register for the CL Retreat! “Landscapes of the Heart, Exploring our Spiritual Geography,” with Sr. Laura Bufano, CSJ. More information and Registration can be found at faithformationevents.weebly.com
Added fun: Andrea Slaven and Cheryl Smith will teach line dances as part of the evening social fun! Come join us!
Flyer
Give yourself a Christmas gift! Register for the CL Retreat! “Landscapes of the Heart, Exploring our Spiritual Geography,” with Sr. Laura Bufano, CSJ. More information and Registration can be found at faithformationevents.weebly.com
Added fun: Andrea Slaven and Cheryl Smith will teach line dances as part of the evening social fun! Come join us!
Flyer
Families at the Center of Faith Formation
A workshop with John Roberto that you don’t want to miss! Bring a team from your parish if possible to begin thinking of faith formation in new ways! The workshop is being presented twice, a full version from 9am -3pm or an abbreviated version from 6-8:30pm, both on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.
See faithformationevents.weebly.com for more info.
Flyer is attached.
Specials on his book can be found at http://www.lifelongfaith.com/
A workshop with John Roberto that you don’t want to miss! Bring a team from your parish if possible to begin thinking of faith formation in new ways! The workshop is being presented twice, a full version from 9am -3pm or an abbreviated version from 6-8:30pm, both on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.
See faithformationevents.weebly.com for more info.
Flyer is attached.
Specials on his book can be found at http://www.lifelongfaith.com/
Mid Atlantic Congress - An all ministry conference!
The Diocese of Syracuse is once again organizing a “group rate” for those interested in attending the MAC in Baltimore, MD. Visit faithformationevents.weebly.com for more information and to let us know if you are interested!
The Diocese of Syracuse is once again organizing a “group rate” for those interested in attending the MAC in Baltimore, MD. Visit faithformationevents.weebly.com for more information and to let us know if you are interested!
Febrrrrrrrrrruary Eastern Region Collaborative Youth Update
Several parishes provided feedback from the October Youth Event. The favorite part of the event was the comedian; least liked was the rapper. Students did not like sitting for the entire two hours, they would have liked to have had a chance to interact with each other more.
So what is coming up? It looks like the musicians from last year’s October event will join us for the upcoming Febrrrrrrrrrruary event! Louis was well received last year and by student requests, will be back! Details will be available in January about the event and what service project might be included. Once again, we thank the Good News Foundation and all the contributing collaborative parishes for making these events possible for every parish in the Eastern Region and beyond!
Flyer is attached
Several parishes provided feedback from the October Youth Event. The favorite part of the event was the comedian; least liked was the rapper. Students did not like sitting for the entire two hours, they would have liked to have had a chance to interact with each other more.
So what is coming up? It looks like the musicians from last year’s October event will join us for the upcoming Febrrrrrrrrrruary event! Louis was well received last year and by student requests, will be back! Details will be available in January about the event and what service project might be included. Once again, we thank the Good News Foundation and all the contributing collaborative parishes for making these events possible for every parish in the Eastern Region and beyond!
Flyer is attached
Discussion Topic: New Federal Labor Law
Ten days before the new Federal Labor Law was passed, it has been appealed. However, during the time of preparing the diocese for the expected changes to occur, organizational changes were made that actually corrected the categorizing of employed positions from exempt to non-exempt. Therefore, even though the new law has not passed, HR has worked hard to bring the diocese within the previously existing labor laws. This may have affected you, had you been previously categorized as a full-time, exempt salary employee.
We had a little discussion about this, as I have heard from those affected that it feels like a demotion and that it is hard to work ministry in limited hours.
Let me take a moment to address these issues. One, it is not a “demotion”, but rather a protection for the employee to be paid fairly for the amount of work done. You must get paid a fair hourly wage and be paid overtime for any work time over 40 hours. Your employer can not tell you to work time that is not paid, and certainly not time over 40 hours.
Second, if you need to work within the time frame of 40 hours, but you are used to working many hours beyond that, it may be time to sit back and reflect on how you are completing your work and that it is important to bring balance into your work week.
Ministry work does not legally fit in the terms of exempt employment based on the “duties test”. That does not mean it is not worthy of a fair wage, however, so do not consider this a demotion.
We used to have a prayer sheet that reminded us of “Ministry vs. Work”. The work you do to pass on the faith is more valuable than you can imagine. You all have been called to lead, one way or another. Ministry needs workers like you, but workers like you should be compensated fairly. That is why this is so important… so as to be compensated justly and fairly for all the work you do.
Ten days before the new Federal Labor Law was passed, it has been appealed. However, during the time of preparing the diocese for the expected changes to occur, organizational changes were made that actually corrected the categorizing of employed positions from exempt to non-exempt. Therefore, even though the new law has not passed, HR has worked hard to bring the diocese within the previously existing labor laws. This may have affected you, had you been previously categorized as a full-time, exempt salary employee.
We had a little discussion about this, as I have heard from those affected that it feels like a demotion and that it is hard to work ministry in limited hours.
Let me take a moment to address these issues. One, it is not a “demotion”, but rather a protection for the employee to be paid fairly for the amount of work done. You must get paid a fair hourly wage and be paid overtime for any work time over 40 hours. Your employer can not tell you to work time that is not paid, and certainly not time over 40 hours.
Second, if you need to work within the time frame of 40 hours, but you are used to working many hours beyond that, it may be time to sit back and reflect on how you are completing your work and that it is important to bring balance into your work week.
Ministry work does not legally fit in the terms of exempt employment based on the “duties test”. That does not mean it is not worthy of a fair wage, however, so do not consider this a demotion.
We used to have a prayer sheet that reminded us of “Ministry vs. Work”. The work you do to pass on the faith is more valuable than you can imagine. You all have been called to lead, one way or another. Ministry needs workers like you, but workers like you should be compensated fairly. That is why this is so important… so as to be compensated justly and fairly for all the work you do.
Image Source: http://www.mountolivembchurch.org/files/956/Image/People%20__%20Ministry%20Work%201.png
On the flip side….your employer needs to make sure that at least a minimum fair wage is being paid and that the work scheduled and work expectations are able to be met within the 40 hour work week and must pay overtime if those expectations created a schedule of more than 40 hours. Knowing the financial strains many of our parishes are feeling today, this may have an effect on what a parish can afford to hire as far as full time or part time positions.
How is this affecting the Office of Faith Formation? I,too, am affected by these changes and will now be considered an “hourly, non-exempt” employee. This means, in order to stay within our budgeted salary lines, I need to keep my hours to 35 hours/week as much as possible. With the constant change in weekly schedules, evening workshops, etc, there may be times I am not available due to hourly restrictions now.
It is very important to always check the easternecho.org website to see the office schedule. Every item can be opened to see more details. I will always let you know where I am or why I am not available.
If you have any questions about the Federal Labor Law, you can call me. You can also talk to Rosemary Smith in the Diocese of Syracuse HR department.
How is this affecting the Office of Faith Formation? I,too, am affected by these changes and will now be considered an “hourly, non-exempt” employee. This means, in order to stay within our budgeted salary lines, I need to keep my hours to 35 hours/week as much as possible. With the constant change in weekly schedules, evening workshops, etc, there may be times I am not available due to hourly restrictions now.
It is very important to always check the easternecho.org website to see the office schedule. Every item can be opened to see more details. I will always let you know where I am or why I am not available.
If you have any questions about the Federal Labor Law, you can call me. You can also talk to Rosemary Smith in the Diocese of Syracuse HR department.
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Google Drive Folder: Click here to download folder into your google drive. |
