Growing Disciples E-Newsletter
Evangelization in the Diocese of Des Moines
February 28, 2011 Edition
This week’s issue includes information on:
1. Two Successful Semester Structures for Adolescent Catechesis
2. Feeding Lots of People – Recipes for Large Groups Document Attached
3. Adolescent Catechesis Survey Reminder – Due March 4 – Also Attached
Successful Parish Structures for Adolescent Catechesis
This week I am bringing to you successful adolescent catechesis parish schedules that may be something you will wish to consider as you plan for this fall. These suggestions are only suggestions for adolescent catechesis and do not include confirmation preparation. Confirmation guidelines and suggested schedules will come out separately from our department at a later date.
Weekly Structure (Wednesday or Sunday Evenings 6:00 to 8:30)
· Ministry Structure
o Week 1 is catechetical regarding the USCCB Framework semester
o Week 2 is mission/service oriented
§ focused on planned activities within the parish such as
· creating blankets for Ronald MacDonald House
· visiting or performing at a retirement center
· working with shut-ins on home improvement projects
· creating birthday cards for senior citizens
· cooking food for homeless shelters, senior citizen shelters, funeral dinners
· create a tutoring hour for middle school students within the parish
· help with maintenance or on the grounds of the parish
· train for a liturgical role or music ministry role in the liturgy
· partnership with Catholic Charities in Des Moines/Council Bluffs
o Week 3 is catechetical regarding Catholic Social Teaching
o Week 4 is Youth Mass with a social component following (to build community)
o Week 5 (when it happens) Q&A session with questions focused on youth specific subjects
· St. Albert High School and Dowling Catholic High School Students are welcome to come to all week’s activities but are exempt from week 1 of each month. Public school students would participate every week.
· Structure of Evening
o 6:00 to 6:30 pm – light supper sponsored by different parish ministries or groups of parents (on Week 4 the Youth Mass is first followed by food and then the social activity)
o 6:30 to 6:45 pm – opening prayer
o 7:00 to 8:20 pm – Catechesis/Mission Activity/ Q&A Session
o 8:20 pm – closing prayer
Five-Week Mini-Sessions (Wednesday or Sunday Evenings 6:00 to 8:30 pm)
· Ministry Structure
o Week 1 – Mini Rally with Youth Mass/Music/Dinner and Activity
o Weeks 2-6 is catechetical regarding the USCCB Framework semester
o Weeks 7-8 is mission/service oriented (see list above)
o Week 9 is catechetical regarding Catholic Social Teaching
o Week 10 Q&A session with questions focused on youth specific subjects
o Week 11-15 – Repeat Weeks 2-6
o Week 16 is mission/service oriented
o Week 17 – Closing term celebration with Youth Mass/Music/Dinner and Activity
· St. Albert High School and Dowling Catholic High School Students are welcome to come to all week’s activities but are exempt from weeks 2-6 and 11-15. Public school students would participate in either weeks 2-6 or weeks 11-15. All students would participate in weeks 1, 7-10 and 16-17.
· Structure of Evening (same as above except nights that begin with the Youth Rally in Weeks 1 & 17)
**Please work closely with your school regarding key dates that interfere with the schedule including: conference nights, football play-offs, special concerts, the night before Thanksgiving, finals, Christmas break, ITBS schedule, spring break and graduation. It is also helpful to know the dates for dances in case you are meeting on weekends. I would suggest you ask each high school you work with to provide you with a school calendar.**
Upcoming Diocesan Events
· April 2 – Catechetical Summit – Celebrating Evangelizing – Topics Include:
o Bishop Richard Malone – A Vision of Lifelong Formation in Faith – Bishop Malone is the former Episcopal moderator of the NCCL and chairperson of the USSB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis
o Dr. Jackie Witter, Ed.D. – Parents and Parish Roles in Nurturing Family Faith Formation – Dr. Witter is recognized for her pastoral and catechetical work in forming strong Catholic families
o Michael Theisen – Adolescent Catechesis as a Transformative Process for Parishes – Michael is one of the nation’s leading voices on adolescent catechesis in his work with the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry and the National Initiative on Adolescent Catechesis.