Adult Faith Formation Enrichment Series Winter-Spring 2008
JANUARY
Teens and Faith DevelopmentDate: Thursday, January 17, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
To Register Call: 882-6491
Presenter: Gary Maccaroni
Description: This session examines adolescence through the lens of faith development and the church, asking the question, "Will our children have faith?" The point of emphasis is to gain a better understanding of what is going on inside teens, and give parents insights as they journey with teens through adolescence in a positive grace-filled way. We will also explore some common teen questions about God, church and mass attendance.
Parenting Your Catholic Teen Series
"Two Shall Become One" ~ God's sacred gift of fertility!
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
To Register: To register for this session, please go to www.dioceseoftrenton.org/go/nfp, or for questions, contact Donna Goodwin at 609-406-7400, ext 5592. There is no fee to attend but registration is required
Presenter: Diocese of Trenton Office of Family Life/Respect Life
Description: This is a fertility planning evening designed to reveal the sacred mysteries of God's gift of fertility. Through a positive, holistic approach, participants will explore the spiritual, psychological an biological dynamics of married sexuality and co-creation; be empowered to make informed decisions in planning their families responsibly; be introduced to a scientific understanding of natural biomarkers that indicate times of fertility and infertility; learn healthy, natural ways to identify and treat ovarian cysts, miscarriage, the underlying causes of infertility, and more.
FEBRUARY
Pope Benedict XVI: My Neighbor for Three MonthsDates: Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: Living next door to Saint Peter's Basilica provided an opportunity to see the pope often and to hear about him even more. This seminar will focus on the man who is Pope Benedict XVI
Sabbatical Seminar Series
Praying in a Relational Way
Date: Thursday, February 28, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Presenter: Sister Trudy Ahern, SSJ (Sr. Trudy serves at the Upper Room Spiritual Center, Neptune, NJ)
Description: God is closer to us than we are to ourselves! However, often God seems distant and beyond our reach. This session will explore and experience a concrete way to enter into a personal relationship with God: relation prayer. This heartfelt form of prayer includes four moments: looking at, listening to, sharing with, and responding to God. Come enjoy a quiet evening of reflection and prayer!
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
MARCH
Expecting Participation in Family LifeDates: Thursday, March 6, 2008
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Deanna Sass (Director of the Diocesan Office of Pastoral Care)
Description: As the mother of five children (now ages teen to adult), Deanna Sass will use her life experience to help parents gain control over family life, introducing ways to invite and encourage teens to full participation in family life.
Parenting Your Catholic Teen Series
The Cross in Theology and Art
Dates: Monday, March 10, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Deacon Ed Hoag, Regina Hoag
Description: The Cross is the primary symbol of Christian faith. It is a sign of contradiction to the world -- it is through human powerlessness that God's power is revealed. St. Paul, writing to the Church in Corinth, says that the Cross is the "foolishness of God" (1 Corinthians 1:25). Over the centuries, the Cross has been artistically depicted in various ways, at times, standing by itself and other times bearing the image o the dead or suffering Christ. During Holy Week, our Catholic liturgies invite us into the mystery of the Cross. This session gives a brief historical survey of the Cross in Christian thought and life from the Early Church to present day. We'll take a look at some art forms the Cross has taken over the centuries, with special attention to the Cross in iconography, and how these images have inspired Christian faith and enriched Christian spirituality. This session would be a good preparation for Holy Week.
Life at a Human Pace: What we can Learn from the Italians, French and Spanish
Dates: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: We have much to learn about life from the lifestyles of other cultures. Seeing things from a different perspective can help us to live, more fully, the life we have. It seems that older countries have a much less frantic approach to life.
Sabbatical Seminar Series
Why Wait? Because True Love Waits!
Dates: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Presenter: Ms. Lori Ann La Plante (Ms. La Plante serves at Holy Cross Church, Rumson, NJ)
Note: Please note that this session is for adults only!
Description: Come learn more about how the True Love Waits program can assist you in laying the foundation for a long term healthy lifestyle for the children in you life. The program offers middle school and high school students the facts they need about Catholic Church teaching, healthy relationships and the physical, psychological and emotional consequences of sexual activity before marriage, by promoting safe and responsible sexual attitudes and behavior using age-appropriate presentations and small group discussions.
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
Praying the Psalms
Dates: Monday, March 31, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Sister Beth Dempsey, RSM
Description: We pray the psalms at every mass we attend. What do we know about the psalms? They sometimes seem so violent. This session will explore who might have written the psalms, the historical context of these writings, and how we might use the psalms in our own personal prayer.
APRIL
Saint Vincent FerrerDates: Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: Saint Vincent Ferrer (1350 - 1419) was a Dominican priest who lived at a time of great turmoil in the Church. There were three popes at the time, each one claiming to be the true successor of Peter. Vincent’s involvement helped to bring an end to this crisis in the Church.
Sabbatical Seminar Series
Consumerism and Your Teen
New Date: Monday April 21, 2008
(originally scheduled Monday, April 7th)
Location: American Martyrs Room
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Steven Rodriguez (Financial Advisor, Citi Smith Barney)
Description: This session will develop a plan for parents to keep their teens from falling victim to the consumer values of our culture. It will outline the importance of consumer wisdom as it pertains to our culture and the social network of teens.
Parenting Your Catholic Teen Series
Faith Development
Dates: Thursday, April 10, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Presenter: Mrs. Jen Hinton (Adult Faith Formation Coordinator, St. Paul’s Church, Princeton)
Description: This session will examine some of the basic research in human development, cognitive and psychological growth and faith development. The point of emphasis will be to show how religious education is related to other influences in a person’s life.
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
Morality
Dates: Saturday, April 19, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Presenter: Deacon Jim Russo (Deacon Jim ministers at St. Gabriel’s Church, Marlbor, N.J.)
Description: Morality reflects the human capacity to freely choose actions which can be evaluated as good or evil. This session will explore major elements of the moral process: grace, human nature, conscience, natural law, virtues, sin, and theories of moral development.
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
Social Justice
Dates: Saturday, April 19, 2008
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Presenter: Deacon Jim Russo (Deacon Jim ministers at St. Gabriel’s Church, Marlbor, N.J.)
Description: Service of God compels the Church to work for a just society. This session will present an overview of Catholic Social Teaching, the contemporary challenges facing the Church, and ways to become more involved in the work of justice.
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
A Catholic Understaning of Human Sexuality
Dates: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Presenter: Deacon Dennis Slavin (Diocesan Office of Family Life/Respect Life)
Description: The purpose of education in human sexuality is to enable individuals to understand, value, develop and responsibly exercise their sexuality. This session will attempt to reinforce these qualities in the catechist so that s/he may present the educational content in a manner faithful to Catholic teaching using Church documents and age appropriate materials.
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
MAY
Changes in the LiturgyDates: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: The way the Church has celebrated the Liturgy (Roman Rite) has developed throughout history. That development continues even to this day. This seminar will look at some of the recent developments in the Church’s Liturgy.
Sabbatical Seminar Series
Children and Grief
Dates: Thursday, May 8, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Presenter: Ms. Marilyn Schipp (Diocesan Office of Pastoral Care)
Description: When traumatic loss enters a child’s family, whether through the death of a loved one, separation or divorce of parents, terminal illness, or abandonment, concerned adults often face the biggest challenges of their lives. How can we assure that the child will not become a “forgotten griever?” Through exploring the elements of the grief process in children and relevant suggestions to help them to cope with their pain, we may heed the healing message of Jesus, “Let the little children come to me.”
Qualifies for Catechist Certification Level II/III
Pope John XXIII
Dates: Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: Pope John XIII was the man that got the ball rolling. Elected as a “caretaker pope,” Angelo Roncali was inspired to call an ecumenical council shortly after his election to the papacy. In the face of strong opposition he persisted in carrying out what he felt called to do, and Vatican Council II has brought blessing to the Church because of his courage and holiness.
Sabbatical Seminar Series
Using Your Gifts for God
Dates: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Presenter: Ms. Jolynn Krempecki (Director of Lay Ministry, Diocesan Office of Parish Life)
Description: You have been blessed with a unique set of gifts and talents. You’re “one of a kind”! Come and learn about yourself and how you might use these gifts in service to the Kingdom of God.
JUNE
Eastern Rite Catholic ChurchesDates: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: What do you know about the Eastern Rite Churches? Because the Roman Rite is the largest and most familiar to us, we tend to forget about the beauty and richness of the Catholic Churches in the East. This seminar will help us to see some of the differences of these Catholic Churches as gifts.
Sabbatical Seminar Series
Financial Planning for Engaged and Newlyweds
Dates: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Presenter: Steven Rodriguez (Financial Advisor, Citi Smith Barney)
Description: Many couples spend months planning the wedding ceremony but little time or energy planning the financial aspects of their life together. While money can be an uncomfortable subject to discuss, ignoring it can lead to further discomfort and financial stress. This session will explore money attitudes, budgeting, financial and future planning, paying off debt, and developing a strategy that both can agree on.
The Popes Down Through the Centuries
Dates: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AND
Dates: Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Presenter: Father Vince
Description: 282 men have sat on the Chair of Peter as leader of the Catholic Church. They include a great variety of saint and sinner. This seminar will focus on apostolic succession and some of the colorful men who were part of this tradition.
Sabbatical Seminar Series
ADULT FAITH SERIES
Sabbatical Seminar Series are personal reflections by Fr. Vince, designed around his experience in Italy when he was on sabbatical last year.
Parenting Your Catholic Teen Series are parent forums designed to network parents with their peers to focus on the task of raising their teens. Considerable time is allocated at each seminar for parents to dialogue together about things that matter in raising teens with Christian values.
Catechist Certification Level II/III sessions are first and foremost designed to equip
catechists with the knowledge and skills they need to carry out their role in the catechetical mission
of the Church, and to assist those who serve in church ministries. Adults, who may be interested
in the topics are always welcome to attend these sessions.
For more information about these AFF opportunities, please call Gary Maccaroni at the parish office, 359-9966.