Talks:
 
Food and Strength for the Journey:  The Eucharist    
- Fr. Robert Greiner
 
Road Map, Sign Posts and Directions:  Sacraments of Initiation - Bishop William Skylstad
 
Embarking on the Journey: "Go out into the World"    
- Bishop William Skylstad
 
Don't Forget to Bring the: Top 5 Necessary Items for the Catholic Journey  
- Jill Schwartz
 

Are you a DRE, Catechist, or Youth Minister?  Have you checked out the Diocesan Religious Education website lately?  You can now find many useful tools on our website, including:
 

Flashcards   
Lesson Plans   
Templates    
Faith and Life downloads

Have anything you'd like to share?  E-mail Jill Schwartz at jill@dioceseofbaker.org.

 

 

The 2010 Ministry Training Conference surpassed everyone's expectations, including both the participants and the presenters.  One Director of Religious Education exclaimed "I am sending all my Catechists next year."  The Conference was held at the Powell Butte Retreat Center on August 27-29 in the John II Conference Center and was attended by more than 65 Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministers, and Catechists throughout the Diocese of Baker.
 
 Talks included "Where's That in the Bible" by Fr. Radloff, "Faith and Life Alive" by Jill Schwartz, Terri Nichols and Debra Garrett, "Teamwork:  Getting Parents Involved" by Angelica Corona, "Secrets to Effective Youth Ministry" by Michele Laughlin, and "Understanding the College and Young Adult Culture" by Jill Schwartz.
 
 Indications of the success of the Conference poured in with enthusiasm.  Here are a few of the comments we received:
 
 "All were great subjects, very informative and great tools for a teacher without training.  They inspired me to stay in CCD and grow with it."
 
 "I walked away with a strategic plan of how we can better improve our religious education program."
 
 "The presentations were quite helpful in providing concrete information I can apply at my parish to improve our youth ministry and religious education programs."
 
 "Overall, the conference provided me a real booster shot for the start of the new RE year."
 
 "As an adult catechist the discussion on parental involvement was helpful for me to better understand how I can support sacramental prep and CCD programs in training adults."
 
 "It was nice to hear from catechists from other parishes.  Makes for a feeling of Catholic community."
 
 "The presentations addressed my needs and I gained more than I expected."
 

July 4, 2010:

As a high-school student in a public school - and the only Catholic in my class - I was often challenged by my classmates and friends on the teachings of the Catholic Church.  "Why do you have to read out of those books during Mass; why don't you just bring the Bible?"  or "Are you saved? Those who aren't saved are going to Hell," were some of the questions I would receive.  Most of the time, I welcomed the challenge and enjoyed the opportunity to share my faith, especially when I was able to explain the answers quite well.  However, there were times when I was not able to give an answer "on the spot", and I had to try to find it later.  This experience in high school is probably very common in the unchurched Northwest.  To have some tools to help me know how to better defend my faith would have been helpful in my teenage years.
     This year at the Diocesan Summer Camps, we hope to offer the youth just that.  It will be a fun and exciting way to learn our faith:  studying why we believe what we believe and where these teachings come from in the Bible and tradition.  However, it's not too late to register middle schoolers and upper elementary children.  Their days will be packed with games and activities and they'll be some of the first to try out the new waterslide.  For more information and to print a registration form, click here

June 20, 2010:

Whew!  It’s hard to believe I am approaching my fifth month as Director of Religious Education.  Since February, I’ve been able to visit several parishes of  the Diocese, representing four of the five deaneries.  I have appreciated meeting  all those who are involved in Religious Education across the Diocese of Baker.
 

Thank You’s:   Each catechist, DRE and aid should have received a certificate of appreciation and a thank you letter expressing the gratitude the Diocese has towards all those who dedicate their time to ensure our youth grow up knowing the faith.  Again, thank you for all you do!
 

Catechist Retreat:   The second weekend in May marked our 1^st Catechist Retreat at our new retreat center at Powell Butte!  Our theme was “Love for Souls” and our motto was taken from John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  For some, it was their first time at the retreat center.  We heard only positive remarks about the accommodations and the food, not to mention the retreat.   Here’s what the participants had to say:

“The retreat was rewarding!”  
 
“Everything was a ‘gift.’  Those who were not here, missed it.”

“Quiet, peaceful, and prayerful.  I couldn’t ask for a better retreat.”

“[I was touched by] the respect and acknowledgement of the catechists.”

“It was an opportunity to pray in the Lord’s presence.“

“So glad I swallowed my pride and decided to go the last minute.”  

“Teaching religious education is not just getting children to learn, it is saving souls!”  
 

 Click here to return to the Religious Education Home Page.