4-06 Witnessing to the Culture of Encounter:
The Individual Call to Social Justice
– Crystal Catalan
Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of cultivating a
“culture of encounter,” a vision that is only possible if we recognize
and affirm God’s presence with and within ourselves and others.
This session will focus on our individual call to social justice and service by
examining how we may be called to “step outside” and engage in new ministries,
re-commit ourselves to current areas of service, or discover new spaces that we
may be called to serve as witness. (Witness)
4-07 Planning a Christian Funeral
– Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of San Jose
The Vigil, the Funeral Mass and the Committal each have
distinct purposes in the journey toward healing and wholeness.
When we experience the death of a loved one, we have rituals and
prayers of our church to guide us. (Worship)
4-08 Alpha and the Evangelization in the Art
of Accompaniment – Joshua Danis
In this workshop, we will explore new dynamics for engaging
those both inside and outside our communities with a deeper
connection to Jesus Christ. Full of humor and engaging stories,
we will explore the simple but often counter-intuitive keys to really
be ourselves, rely on the Holy Spirit, and develop deep relationships with others
apart from judgment or expectation. (Witness)
4-09 Catechists/Teachers and Parents as
Partners – Dr. Carole Eipers
The catechesis we offer in parishes and schools builds on
the faith of the families we serve. How can we affirm parents’ role
and work with them to enhance the faith of their children and their
families? (Witness)
4-10 Loss – how do we respond when
everything falls apart? An individual/
communal spirituality of accompaniment
– Deacon David Ford and Lorie Ford
As ministers we often find those in our midst who experience
painful and sometimes traumatic losses: these include death, divorce, deportation
of a family member, broken relationships, serious illness and aging, loss of
employment, etc. What do we do and say, and not do and not say? We can feel
inadequate before such pain. Deacon David and Lorie will explore competent and
compassionate responses as individuals and communities (schools, parishes, etc.)
They will teach from their faith experience utilizing stories and Scriptures regarding
many avenues of help and support and also teach from their own experience of
personal loss. (Witness)
4-11 Connecting Technology,
Catholic Social Teaching, and
Choral Singing – Dr. Scot Hanna-Weir
and Christopher Wemp
How do smartphones, mason jars, and choirs
come together to make a new statement about
justice? How might you be able to use consumer technology yourself to enhance
communal reflections on social justice, both for your music ensembles and wider
worshipping communities? In this worship, see a showcase on cutting edge projects
that bring technology, Catholic Social Teaching, and choral singing together, and
then develop your own plan for what you can do in your context with the resources
you have available. (Worship)
4-12 Increase Your Parish Offertory and
Engage Your Community – Rosa Kadera-Redmond
Helping your parishioners understand the magnitude of
God’s great work in your parish can be frustrating. How do we
show parishioners that we are building up God’s Kingdom in
our community and encourage them to increase time, talent
and treasure in support of this great work? This workshop will cover our simple,
comprehensive program that has consistently helped parishes increase their
offertory by 10-30%. (Witness)
4-13 How to Talk with Young People about
God! – Bob McCarty, D.Min.
The call to discipleship is a response to the Word! This session
will provide participants with practical skills on how to use symbols,
analogy, and metaphors in developing God talk. These skills are
applicable to home, classes, youth ministry settings, and in our
conversatio ns. Further, this session will identify spiritual practices, faith skills, and
rituals that enable young people to ‘talk’ about God and faith and to live out their
discipleship. (Word)
4-14 God Walks With Us: The Catholic
Church’s Response to the Refugee Crisis
– Ken Preston
Pope Francis has made a strong call for Catholics to respond
to the refugee crisis. In this session, participants will learn the
scope and causes of the refugee crisis abroad and at home, what
the U.S. Catholic Church is doing to respond, and how U.S. Catholics can witness
to and participate in supporting refugees. (Witness)
4-15 Preparing School Masses with Children
– Michael Ruzicki
This workshop will assist school teachers (and others) in
teaching children the language of the liturgy by including them in
the preparation of the Mass. Doing so will reinforce their Catholic
identity by breaking open the Word, selecting music, preparing the
liturgical environment, and serving in liturgical ministries. Participants will gain (or
improve) the tools necessary for collaboration and communication while knowing
they are doing the “right thing” liturgically. (Worship)
4-16 Hope is Contagious – How to Find Hope
in Challenging Times – Anna Scally
If you want to connect in a relevant way with young people
in your ministry, challenge them to choose to live as a person of
hope. Learn practical ways to help them move from surviving to
thriving. Share ways that reveal that hope and trust result in real
joy. Remind them that even in the worst situations God is always at work and
that change is always possible, renewal is waiting and hope is never dead. In
this workshop you will not only walk away with ways to connect with teens, but
you will also be challenged, inspired and enjoy the soundtracks of your life and
theirs. (Witness)
Session 500
4:15 PM–5:15 PM, FRIDAY
5-01 Integration Session/Next
Topics/Action/Follow up
– Michael Brough and Jim Lundholm-Eades
(Invitation Only)
5-02 Developing Support for Catholic LGBT
Students: Training for Counselors and
Educators – Aaron Bianco
This session is designed to help teachers and student
counselors understand their Catholic LGBT students. To help the
educator provide a safe atmosphere to cultivate dialogue. (Witness)
5-03 The Sunday Eucharist: Transforming
Parishioners into Joyful Missionary Disciples
– Father Kenneth Boyack, CSP
Participants will learn how to encounter Christ more
completely in the Eucharist, and as a result, become more
intentional missionary disciples. They also will learn about Living
the Eucharist, a Lenten renewal ministry that enables individuals, small groups,
families, and the entire parish to better understand the Eucharist, participate
more fully in this sacrament, and then live the Eucharist each day as effective
witnesses for Christ. (Worship)
For more information on the speakers and workshops, visit www.scffc.org
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