An on-line learning opportunity for RCIA coordinators and catechists from Paulist Evangelization Ministries

Based on his book Why Not Consider Becoming Catholic?, Fr. Frank DeSiano, President of Paulist Evangelization Ministries, offers four presentations of 40 minutes each and invites participants to join in conversation that will help us speak about faith in a way that contemporary seekers can understand and find appealing.  Course runs online from February 20 to March 18, 2012.  Participate at your convenience, 24/7. Save 50% with groups of three or more.  Learn more and register at www.pemdc.org/considerbecomingcatholic.aspx.

AWAKENING...FROM PAULIST EVANGELIZATION MINISTRIES

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FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION!

Lent is coming...Let's Reach Out!!!

Parishes across the United States talk about the effectiveness of  Awakening Faith: Reconecting with your Catholic Faith for helping Catholics awaken a faith that is deep in their hearts.  We know that many Catholics do not practice regularly—not because they have no faith,  but because of a lack of priorities. You can invite and challenge these Catholics to reconnect with their  faith through Awakening Faith, an easy-to-use, inexpensive, discussion-based program used in thousands of parishes. Learn more. Order your materials today. CLICK THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION! http://www.pemdc.org/programs/awakeningfaith.aspx

Webinar Series from Ave Maria Press

This is a free offering that might appeal to you as we move closer to Lent. 
I have participated in the webinars offered by Ave Maria Press in the past and I have found them to be beneficial.  They generally last an hour and are true to the timing.

Hete is the basic information:  to register  click the button below!

In partnership with the National Association for Lay Ministry,   Ave Maria Press is pleased to present this FREE Webinar:      Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and hero of the "poorest of the poor" has much to teach modern-day families, especially during the season of Lent. Join bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and EWTN television host, Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, for a look at how her new booklet Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa equips families with the holy tools to together progress on their spiritual journeys while forging a blessed bond in the heart of the home. This is a must-attend webinar for parish ministers who are looking for new ways to reach families during the busy season of Lent. Donna Marie Cooper O'Boyle For a full schedule of presentations in the Ave Maria Press Professional Development Webinar series click here

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Father Ron Rolheiser to return to Iowa!

Save the Date!

Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

Living the Ups and Downs

           of our Faith:

Dark Nights and Doubt,

A Failure of Faith or

A Failure of Imagination?

Saturday, April 14, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: TBA

More information will be coming from your diocesan office soon!

Co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Dubuque and the
Dioceses of Davenport and Des Moines

Coming Home: Writing From the Soul

AN EARLY SPRING RETREAT FOR WOMEN

March 3-6, 2011


West Des Moines, Iowa - Hamilton's on Westown Parkway

Imagine gathering in a safe, quiet space with a group of vibrant women who have come to tend their souls with creative ritual, songs, dialogue and words. You will share your weekend with others who experience writing as an entrance to the deeper self. Take time to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate through greater discovery and celebration of your direction and purpose in life.

Joyce Rupp offers her extensive experience of spiritual growth through creative ritual and reflective conferences.  Mary Kay Shanley brings her respected skills of teaching at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival and other national writing workshops to lead the group through inventive processes that develop and hone writing abilities.
 
Total Fee:  $300 (includes snacks, beverages, 2 lunches, Saturday Evening dinner)
                    $50 payable with reservation assures your place at the retreat
                  $250 balance due by February 11, 2011
 
For more imformation email Mary Kay at mks@marykayshanley.com or call (515) 225-8425

Institute of Compassionate Presence Series to Begin!

The Institute of Compassionate Presence sponsored by the Servites (Sisters of Mary) will begin its 2011 series in April.  The purpose of the series is to "deepen the living of compassion in one's personal and professional life."

The ICP meets on the second Friday of the months from April through November; starting on April 8th.  Each day begins at 9:30 am and concludes at 3:30 pm.  The sessions are held at the Servite Center of Compassion in Omaha, NE.

Cost for the entire program in $500; a non-refundable deposit of $150 is due by March 1, 2011.  An early bird discount of $50 is available for those who register by February 1, 2011.

The program coordinators are Joyce Rupp, OSM and Mararet Stratman, OSM. 

For more information, contact Sr. Margaret Stratman, OSM at (402) 951-3026 or by email at scc@osms.org.  More details about the ICP can be found at http://www.osms.org/

Digital Catechesis?!

As the season of Advent winds down and we move more directly toward Christmas, I simply wanted to share a link to the The Digital Story of the Nativity  .  This is a creative representation of the Christmas story.  I hope you who are "digitally initiated" will find this intriguing and perhaps spur your reflection on the meaning of the Nativity anew!

Blessings!

ADVENT RESOURCES

Advent, the beginning of the new Church year will be here before we know it.  The Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation page of the Diocesan Website lists two very good resources for celebrating Advent and preparing for Christmas.  ( http://www.dmdiocese.org/evangelization-and-adult-faith-formation.cfm )

I would like to also draw your attention to the Center for Ministry Development website which is providing free resources linked to the Scriptures for each Sunday of Advent.  Here is the link.  http://www.fashioningfaith.org/index.php?option=com_ambrasubs&view=categories&categoryid=976&Itemid=131 

I do believe you will find these resources easy to use.

Roman Missal Coming in Advent, 2011

The Third Edition of the Roman Missal will replace the current Missal on November 27, 2011.  For more information about the Missal, please consult the Worship Office pages of the Diocese of Des Moines website (http://www.dmdiocese.org/) as well as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website (http://www.usccb.org/)

Fr. Robert Baron....WORD ON FIRE....now on WGN AMERICA!

Season Three to Begin!

On a Journey Together

Living in Christ is the title for the third season of our process of evangelization and renewal in the diocese of Des Moines. Parishes will be beginning this season within the next month or so. If you have not yet participated and are interested in doing so, please contact your local parish. If you have been an active participant, contact your Core Team for information about the first large group and the schedule for the small faith sharing groups.




If you need to order materials, please contact Sherri Simmer, the administrative secretary for the Department of Evangelization and Catechesis at ssimmer@dmdiocese.org or (515)237-5058.

For more information, please feel free to contact Dr. Cheryl Fournier, director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at cfournier@dmdiocese.org or (515)237-5006.

Dr. Ed Hahnenberg to Speak in Ames in March

Dr. Ed Hahnenberg, Ph.D


You may not know the name, but the person is well worth hearing!

Dr. Edward Hahnenberg, associate professor of theology at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio will be the presenter at the All-Iowa Faith Formation Conference to be held at the Gateway Center in Ames, March 14-15.

Dr. Hahnenberg has published many articles in various magazines and journals and also to his credit are two fine books, A Concise Guide to the Documents of Vatican Council II and Ministries: A Relational Approach.

Dr. Hahnenberg’s topic for the March conference is Ministries at the Margins: The Call to Serve Christ’s Mission. He will be addressing the cultural reality in which we minister and serve the Church today. In commenting on the presentations for his time with us in March, Dr. Hahnenberg has stated, “This time demands a new look at strategies that will adequately equip the minister for service to the people of God and also a renewed sense of spirituality that will sustain the minister and the ministry as we move forward.”

Plan now to join us in March!
Registration information is available at http://www.iowafaithformation.org/

Paulist National Catholic Evangelization E-Learning Opportunities

The Paulist National Catholic Evangelization AssociationWashington, DC
You don't have to travel to hear from the experts! You don't need to set aside large blocks of time to join in discussions and meetings with students from all over the U.S.!
With PNCEA's Paulist Evangelization Training Institute, online courses on parish-based evangelization bring presentations from experts on reaching out to seekers & inactive Catholics and on sharing your faith with others. Presentations and discussions are open 24/7 and the time for joining in is at your convenience, day or night.
Click to register now for coursesthat begin on January 25, 2010!

30th Anniversary of Pope John Paul II Visit to Des Moines

What God Has Given and Human Hands Have Made

On Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3rd we will celebrate the 30th anniverary of Pope John Paul's historic visit to Des Moines.

Three organizations- the Diocese of Des Moines, Living History Farms and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference-are sponsoring a commemoration of the Holy Father's visit, to express our gratitude and to explore agriculture, feeding the world, environmental ethics, and spirituality.

For more information about the symposium, please consult the diocesan website at http://www.dmdiocese.org/

On a Journey Together Blog Launched

On a Journey Together:

A Process of Evangelization

and Renewal in the

Diocese of Des Moines

http://onajourneytogether.blogspot.com/

The Blog for the Evangelization and Renewal process in the Diocese of Des Moines is up and running. You can find it at the address listed above. Please feel free to share the blog address with your communities and the groups who might be interested in pursuing on-line conversation about the process.

Fall Creighton Course Announced...Introduction to Christian Ethics

The Diocese of Des Moines in partnership with Creighton University are co-sponsoring

Introduction to Christian Ethics


Dates: Friday, August 28, 2009 Registration 5:00– 6:00 pm
First session follows, 6:00—9:00 pm

Six Saturdays, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm:
August 29, September 19, October 10
October 24, November 21, December 12
Location: All Saints Parish Center, Stuart, Iowa

Instructor

Todd Salzman, Ph.D., is professor of Christian ethics and Chair of the Theology Department at Creighton University. He completed his doctorate at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, in 1994 and has been teaching at Creighton University since 1997. He has published five books on fundamental moral theology, marriage, and sexual ethics, including his most recent book, The Sexual
Person: Towards a Renewed Catholic Anthropology (Georgetown University Press, 2008, co-authored with Michael Lawler) and over 35 scholarly articles.

Learning from a distance in your own home!

The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation through the University of Dayton offers adults the opportunity to learn more about their Catholic faith in the comfort of their own homes by way of the internet. Each course is limited to fourteen participants so that there is a sense of community among the learners as they embark on a five-week experience of learning, reflecting, sharing and responding to questions designed to reinforce the readings, discussion boards and exercises that are required for successful completion of the course.

The Diocese of Des Moines is a “partner diocese” which means that the per course cost is reduced from $90.00 to $40.00 for people within the diocese. Additional costs may be required for texts for each course (usually no more than $20.00).

For a list of courses being offered from May 24 through June 27, please visit the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation website at http://vlc.udayton.edu/ , or contact Cheryl Fournier in the Office of Adult Faith Formation at 515-237-5006 or by email at cfournier@dmdiocese.org.

On a Journey Together!

On a Journey Together is the name of the process of evangelization and renewal that is now underway in three pilot parishes in the Diocese of Des Moines. In the fall of this year, 2009, all of the parishes in the Diocese will be participating in this process as one means of preparing for the Diocesan Centennial in 2011. More information will be coming soon.

Advent Calendar on University of Dayton web

Here is the description they provide. “During the first fourteen days of Advent, we will explore what the Scriptures say about fourteen women of the First Testament and their parallels to Mary. Then we will look more closely at Mary as chosen daughter of Israel, at the Annunciation, and at the Visitation. Finally, we will concentrate on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, as the Catholic Church anticipates his birthday in the so-called O'Antiphons.”

http://campus.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/adventca.html

ADVENT IS COMING!

As Advent draws near I find myself wondering how I will "wait" for the Lord this year and then it occurred to me that many of you were probably asking the same question.. There are a few resources I would like to share with you that perhaps might be helpful.

Creighton University's On Line Ministries has an excellent Advent page...here is the link...check it out...perhaps link it to your parish website or publish the link in the bulletin....
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/

Fr. John Ludwig, pastor of St. John the Apostle in Norwalk prepares a discussion starter/study guide for Advent each year and then he makes it available for all who might be interested. I am posting it here on the blog, but if you would like it in your IN BOX, simply email me at cfournier@dmdiocese.org.
First Sunday of Advent Year B: Isaiah 63:16b-17; 64:1-9 · 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 · Mark 13:33-37



1. “Be watchful! Be alert!” Think about some times when you were waiting for someone or something: a package to arrive, a phone call to come in, news from a relative, the results of some medical test. What methods do you use to stay watchful and alert? Have you ever fallen asleep and missed an appointment? Can you think of times when the waiting was for something joyful? How about times when you were waiting for something frightening?

2. “Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways?” Have you ever felt as though you had wandered far from God’s ways? Do you have friends or relatives who you feel have wandered from God’s ways? What were the circumstances that slowly led you (or them) away from God’s ways? How did you find your way back? How did they find their way back? Were there important people involved in the process?

3. “No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him.” Have you ever felt God was answering your prayer in a most concrete way? What were you praying for? Have you spoken with anyone who felt as though God had almost directly answered a prayer for them? How about the reverse – have you ever felt as though God couldn’t be bothered with your needs or intentions? How do you reconcile those two different experiences?

4. “We are the clay and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hands.” What did you want to be when you grew up? Can you name several different things? Did any of them turn out to be what you have become? Do you feel that God was “molding” you as you made your choices? How do we figure out what God wants us to do? Have you found that easy or difficult to discover?

5. “He leaves home and places his servants in charge….” Can you remember when your parents left you “in charge?” What did they leave you in charge of? Did that make you feel important and grown up? Or did it make you feel burdened? Have you ever left someone else in charge of a situation? What led you to trust that they were the right ones to be in charge? Are there some people or some things that God has left you “in charge” of?

6. “I give thanks to God always on your account.” At Thanksgiving time we come up with all kinds of things that we are thankful for. What are some of those for you? Do you notice that some of them have changed since last year at this time? Can you name some people for whom you give God great thanks? Has anyone ever told you that they give God thanks for you or for something that you have done? Can you share that with the group?

7. “…You are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Gifted and Talented programs caught a lot of attention when they were first introduced. Do you feel as though you are gifted and talented in some respects? What are you good at? There seem to be times in our lives when we feel that we are lacking in all kinds of spiritual gifts! What do you think St. Paul might have been thinking of when he told the Corinthians this? Can you name some “spiritual gifts?”

8. “May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.” If today was you last day on earth, what are some of the things that you have left undone? Is there something that you would like to do but just haven’t gotten around to doing yet? What’s keeping you from working on that project? How many days, months, years do you think God will give you?
- Nov. 30, 2008
Second Sunday of Advent Year B: Isaiah 40:1-5; 9-11 · 2 Peter 3:8-14 · Mark 1:1-8

1. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Who do you remember being the first to tell you about your faith? Was it a parent? A relative? A teacher? Can you recall any of the feelings of those earliest memories? New Testament scholars believe that Mark’s gospel was the first of the four gospels to be written. It is clearly the shortest of the four. Do you have a favorite gospel? How about a favorite gospel passage or story? Try reading Mark all the way through during the next week or two – you’ll be surprised how quickly you can do it.

2. “John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.” John the Baptist must have been a strange character. Do you know some strange characters in your neighborhood or where you work? What about them is strange? Do you ever wonder if you are acting strange? Do you have some practices or tastes that are not in the mainstream? Do they sometimes “put off” other people? Has God ever used someone strange to make you look at things differently? Can you think of two or three very strange or eccentric people in your life?

3. “One mightier than I is coming after me.” John the Baptist realized that Jesus was going to do even greater things. We usually want our children and our grandchildren to “have things better than we did.” What are some of the wishes that you have for younger members of your family? Are they mostly material improvements or are there some less tangible things that we’d like them to have? What things are better for you and your generation than for your parents or grandparents?

4. “I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is literally a “dunking” in water. John dunked his followers in water, but Jesus “dunks” us in the Holy Spirit. What do you think that means – to be dunked in the Holy Spirit? Sometimes today we feel as though we have been dunked in consumerism, in materialism, in calories, etc. How would our lives be different if we were dunked in God’s Holy Spirit? Share some ideas with your group.

5. “Behold I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.” Have you ever sent someone on ahead to get things ready for something (a wedding, a picnic, a birthday party, a surprise gathering)? What were the circumstances? Did you pick the right person? Did they get things ready? Sometimes older members of a family feel that they have to “pave the way” for the younger members? Was that true in your family? Has anyone ever suggested that YOU go ahead to get things ready? How has that worked out?

6. “Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years….” Have you ever had a day that never seemed to end? Was this because of some terrible occurrence? What happened? Who were the people that were part of that day? Can you remember some of the details? Have you ever had a day that was over before you noticed? Was this because of some wonderful occurrence? Do the “good times” seem to pass more quickly than the “bad times?” St. Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuits) asked his followers to conclude each day with a review or “examen” of how God had been present in the many moments of the day. He suggested that we try to name the best part of the day and the worst part of the day, the moment of God’s greatest grace and the moment when we felt God’s absence most. Have you ever tried to end each day with this review or “examen?”

7. “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs.” Spend a few quiet moments with this image of God’s care for you. Can you picture God looking for you, feeding you, and leading you where you need to go? - Dec. 7, 2008
Third Sunday of Advent Year B: Isaiah 61:1-2a; 10-11 · 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 · John 1:6-8, 19-28



1. “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul.” What are some reasons that you rejoice—friends, relatives, new skills you’ve acquired, some big worry over and done with? Have others shown you how to rejoice? Have you ever shown anyone else how to rejoice in some wonderful event? Do you find it easier to find reasons NOT to rejoice? Talk this over with your group.

2. “There is one among you whom you do not recognize, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” How many times have we failed to recognize a friend or acquaintance if it’s been a long time since we’ve seen them? When someone is seriously ill or has been in an accident, have you barely been able to tell who it is? Have you discovered that sometimes people don’t always recognize you? Sometimes we tell others that they’ve done something that “is not like them” – usually something bad! Can you recall being told that you aren’t “acting like yourself?” What did they mean? Have you ever felt that you were in the presence of someone truly great (whose sandal strap you weren’t worthy to untie)? If you feel comfortable, tell the group about this occasion.

3. “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert.” Every now and then we feel like no one is listening to us. This is how John the Baptist is portrayed. What are some of the issues or concerns that you think people don’t pay enough attention to?

4. “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.” What do you think Paul meant when he said “pray without ceasing?” How would that be possible? Have you been at some religious service that seemed as though it would never end? Is this what Paul had in mind? When are the times that you find you pray the most? Do you pray in the morning? In the evening? At mealtime? On special anniversaries? When do you find it the most difficult to pray? Have you ever tried to teach someone how to pray? What is your favorite form of prayer? Are you familiar with the Jesus Prayer? Centering Prayer? The Rosary?

5. “Test everything; retain what is good.” Blessed Pope John XXIII was famous for a similar saying: “See everything. Overlook a great deal. Improve a little.” John meant that we should not be blind to the tough realities, but we are limited creatures capable of limited influence. What are some of the things that you see that you WISH you could do something about, that you have to “overlook?” Can you think back to one or two great improvements that you have made in your life?

6. “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.” This reading is often used at ordination ceremonies. It can be just as fitting, however, for the average person. How do you feel God has chosen you? What task or role does God have set for you in particular? Do you feel that the spirit of the Lord is upon you?

7. “I am not the Christ.” “The Christ” means “the anointed (or chosen) one.” Have people ever made you feel as though they considered you like the messiah, even figuratively? How did you feel when you discovered that this was how they viewed you or the role you were playing?

8. “In all circumstances give thanks.” Does Paul really mean ALL circumstances? Are there times when you simply haven’t been able to give thanks? Share some of these difficult situations if you feel comfortable. What are the times when you feel that it is easiest to give thanks? Each time we pray the Eucharistic Prayer, the invitation is given: “All powerful God, it is our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks.” It’s a lifelong project, isn’t it?
- Dec. 14, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Advent Year B: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 · Romans 16:25-27 · Luke 1:26-38



1. “The angel Gabriel was sent from God….” The angel’s name is Gabriel, or Gabri-el. There are many names that end in “El” (Elohim), one of the Old Testament names for God. For example: Micha-el, Rapha-el, Dani-el, Samu-el. “Gabriel” means “man of God.” Do you know what your name means? Theodore and Dorothy are two versions of the same name: “gift of God.” John, Joan, etc., mean “God has been gracious.” Many Native American names mean something very concrete, viz., “Crazy Horse,” “Sitting Bull,” “Dances with Wolves.” The word “angel” comes from the Greek which means a “messenger.” Have you ever felt like God had sent an “angel” into your life to help you with something or to open your eyes to something? What were the circumstances? Did anyone ever tell you that you were like an “angel” from God?

2. “Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Sometimes people who adopt a child become pregnant after they have their adopted child. Do you know anyone who has had trouble conceiving a child? Have they considered adoption? During the time of Jesus, having children was considered a blessing from God, and being “barren” was thought a sign of God’s disfavor. Do you think people still think that way about this subject? How might it be different?

3. “Let it be done to me according to your word.” The Beatles had a song based on this passage from St. Luke’s Gospel. Maybe you recall it: “Let It Be.” This prayer of openness to the will of God is still an example to us. It comes from the prayer we call the “Magnificat.” Have you ever prayed that you would be open to whatever God had in mind for you? What “reservations” might you have about praying a prayer that is like a “blank check?”

4. “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent.” A new church or a new home can tell us how we think about our faith or about our family. How do we design it? What do we think is important? What do we cut costs on? When you look at your home, are there things that you wish were different? If you were building a home from scratch, what would you definitely include? What churches have you visited that have caught your attention? Have you visited them when they are full of worshipers or when they are empty? What difference might that make?

5. “She was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” The angel announces to Mary that she is to be the mother of the Messiah (the Christ). But this is to happen in a very extraordinary way? Do you think that Mary’s misgivings remained after the angel left? Have you ever met someone who made you uneasy? Was it the message they brought to you or the person him/herself? If Mary is a model of discipleship for us, is it any wonder that we sometimes worry and are troubled at what God may be telling us?

6. “I will give you rest from all your enemies.” Sometimes we discover that our worst enemies are ourselves. Do you find that sometimes this is true for you? Explain. Do you think you have any big enemies? Do we have enemies within our companies, schools, organizations, etc.? Does our country have any real enemies? How do you come to your conclusion?

7. Christmas is only a few days away. Do you find yourself exhausted? If so, why? What difference does the birth of Christ make to your life this year? What would you say is the central meaning of the “Incarnation” means for our world? Our custom is to exchange gifts to celebrate our joy at the Lord’s birth. What other customs could we use to celebrate that joy?
- Dec. 21, 2008