Human and Pastoral Formation Workshops
These workshops are to assist candidates in the formation of quality personal and professional skills for
lay ministry.
The Challenge of Professional Leadership I: Personal Skills in Ministry Leadership – Offered again Spring 2011
This workshop will focus on enhancing personal skills necessary for successful pastoral leadership and maintaining appropriate ministerial relationships. Skills include self-care and self-expression, sensitivity and listening, and group dynamics and facilitation.
Stewardship and Lay Ministry – Offered again Summer 2011
Stewardship as a way of life! This is the common phrase used in the Catholic Church to describe how all Catholics should live – a life of stewardship. But what exactly does this mean and how, in practical terms, does one live such a life? How does a parish help parishioners come to understand stewardship, and more importantly, how to live a life of stewardship? This workshop will begin to answer these questions by looking to the theology of stewardship. We will use Sacred Scripture and Tradition to explore the meaning of stewardship. Once we have a firm foundation in what stewardship is, we will begin to look at how we can bring the theology of stewardship to our parish communities.
The Challenge of Professional Leadership II: Planning and Organization in the Parish – Offered again Summer 2013
Leadership is a process by which a person helps a group to set and attain its goals. It involves influence, decision making, problem solving, and motivating others. Communication skills are essential to good leadership. Leadership in a Christian community is always servant leadership which shares in Jesus’ mission of leading all people into God’s kingdom. This workshop aims to help Catholic Lay Ecclesial Ministers to gain needed knowledge and skills related to leadership in parish ministry. The workshop will be conducted as an adult learning experience and has been planned in light of the Indiana Standards of Pastoral Practices for Ecclesial Lay Ministers.
Lay Leadership of Liturgical Prayer – Offered again Summer 2012
This workshop will focus on the development of liturgical leadership skills appropriate to the Roman Catholic lay minister including differentiation between personal and public prayer and the general qualities and specific skills of effective presiding at prayer. The use of liturgical books, liturgical preparation and the employment of parish resources as well the personal liturgical spirituality of the lay minister will be explored. Participants will practice preparing and presiding at a prayer service.
Legal and Ethical Issues in Lay Ministry – Offered again Summer 2013
This course focuses on professional ethics for parish ministers and the function and parameters of canon law in pastoral ministry.
Serving the Local Church – Offered again Summer 2011
This workshop is designed to bring participants in the certification program together with the diocesan bishop and other personnel to focus on developing an understanding of Church government, policies, values and procedures. Candidates gain a more complete understanding of the local Church and its particular character.
Special Issues in Church Ministry
This workshop focuses on three areas of ministry: social ministry, ecumenical ministry and multicultural ministry. While the workshop focuses on specific ministerial issues, grounded in documents of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the workshop is also flexible enough to meet the particular ministerial issues faced by each diocese.
Roman Catholic Foundations in Social Ministry– January 16, 2010
The Roman Catholic tradition is steeped in theological foundations pointing to a theology of social ministry. Roman Catholic ecclesiology and liturgy point to right relationships necessarily stretching beyond ourselves. The Roman Catholic faith is not a solitary endeavor. The Eucharist calls us to conversion, to communion, and to solidarity with each other, with our surrounding community, and with our brothers and sisters around the globe. Incorporation into the sacrifice of Christ is hobbled if not lived beyond the Eucharistic celebration.
Catholic Social Teaching and an Introduction to Parish Social Ministry– Feb 13, 2010
Intrinsic to the Christian experience are issues of charity, justice and responsibility for one’s neighbor. The Old and New Testaments speak to issues of social responsibility. In recent times, these issues continue to be addressed in public and private ways, in secular and ecclesial settings. Roman Catholic social teaching is a compilation of ideas from Scripture, modern papal encyclicals, apostolic letters, documents from the Second Vatican Council, post-Conciliar documents and teachings from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. These writings provide foundational themes which form a cohesive teaching of social justice.
Introduction to Parish Social Ministry
Participants explore the ideas of Catholic Social Teaching in a meaningful context. Participants will examine their own parish in light of the ideas of social teaching: What are we doing well? Where are the gaps? What is our dream for meeting the needs of the parish and local community? As parishes begin to dream of ways to grow their social ministry, resources for a more systematic process are appropriate.
Diversity and Ecumenism – June 12, 2010
In the melting pot of the American culture, the range of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity represented demands address. The Church has a long and rich history of inculturation that continues to inform our response. This workshop seeks to hone a respect for differences and an appreciation and curiosity with regard to others’ beliefs, perspectives and experiences.