Session C | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
C-01
Witness to Life: Young People Advocating for Human Dignity
Molly Sheahan
Through her personal testimony, Molly shares about the way the message of human dignity saved her life and helped her overcome adversity. She describes how each person from every walk of life and in every circumstance has inherent value, and why the Church fights for every single person. From this foundation, Molly invites the audience to consider practical ways each of us can advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable - and why it's incumbent on young people to take up the mantle and fight for life.
About the Presenter: Molly C. Sheahan is Associate Director for Life & Family Advocacy for the California Catholic Conference.
A Sacramento native, Molly is a passionate advocate for the dignity of the human person. She once ran OneLife LA, the walk for life in Los Angeles, worked on Capitol Hill, and has a Master of Theological Studies in Marriage and Family from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute.
Witness to Life: Young People Advocating for Human Dignity
Molly Sheahan
Through her personal testimony, Molly shares about the way the message of human dignity saved her life and helped her overcome adversity. She describes how each person from every walk of life and in every circumstance has inherent value, and why the Church fights for every single person. From this foundation, Molly invites the audience to consider practical ways each of us can advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable - and why it's incumbent on young people to take up the mantle and fight for life.
About the Presenter: Molly C. Sheahan is Associate Director for Life & Family Advocacy for the California Catholic Conference.
A Sacramento native, Molly is a passionate advocate for the dignity of the human person. She once ran OneLife LA, the walk for life in Los Angeles, worked on Capitol Hill, and has a Master of Theological Studies in Marriage and Family from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute.
C-02
Reuniting Faith and Science
Deacon Ken Crawford
A false dichotomy has been created between the sciences and religion. Come learn the history behind this unfortunate and unnecessary conflict and how as Catholics we can be a voice of reason both for the Church and for the sciences.
About the Presenter: Deacon Ken Crawford grew up as an atheist and converted to the Catholic faith in his 20's. Between his conversion experience, his engineering background and his diaconal formation, Deacon Ken has a unique perspective that he enjoys sharing with others. His monthly Faithful Questions talks are posted on YouTube and cover a wide range of topics, from war to prayer life to vaccines.
Reuniting Faith and Science
Deacon Ken Crawford
A false dichotomy has been created between the sciences and religion. Come learn the history behind this unfortunate and unnecessary conflict and how as Catholics we can be a voice of reason both for the Church and for the sciences.
About the Presenter: Deacon Ken Crawford grew up as an atheist and converted to the Catholic faith in his 20's. Between his conversion experience, his engineering background and his diaconal formation, Deacon Ken has a unique perspective that he enjoys sharing with others. His monthly Faithful Questions talks are posted on YouTube and cover a wide range of topics, from war to prayer life to vaccines.
C-03
The Eucharist for Children and Youth with disAbilities
Ana Barraza
Starting with an adaptive prayer, this workshop focuses on how to set up your program and classroom where children and youth with disAbilities have a meaningful participation in the Eucharist. Learn about valuable resources available as you prepare a Sensory-friendly mass. A prayer with ASL keywords will serve as a conclusion.
About the presenter: Ana Barraza is an international Catholic bilingual speaker, certified Special Education teacher, and digital evangelizer and entrepreneur. She chairs the diocesan committee for Catholics with disAbilities and is part of the Loyola Press Speaker Corps. Ana presents workshops on how to catechize and evangelize persons with disAbilities. Catholicus.info is her contribution to Adaptive Catechesis.
The Eucharist for Children and Youth with disAbilities
Ana Barraza
Starting with an adaptive prayer, this workshop focuses on how to set up your program and classroom where children and youth with disAbilities have a meaningful participation in the Eucharist. Learn about valuable resources available as you prepare a Sensory-friendly mass. A prayer with ASL keywords will serve as a conclusion.
About the presenter: Ana Barraza is an international Catholic bilingual speaker, certified Special Education teacher, and digital evangelizer and entrepreneur. She chairs the diocesan committee for Catholics with disAbilities and is part of the Loyola Press Speaker Corps. Ana presents workshops on how to catechize and evangelize persons with disAbilities. Catholicus.info is her contribution to Adaptive Catechesis.
C-04
Best Practices in Accompanying LGBTQ+ Youth
Cara Morales
As numbers of young people identifying as LGTBQ+ rise continuously, those of us in ministry are often left wondering how to best accompany and disciple the tweens & teens we meet. This workshop will explore current trends among youth, the culture they are immersed in, and how the Church can respond pastorally and authentically to help people in their journey towards Christ.
About the presenter: Cara has worked with teens and their parents for 20 years: in youth ministry, campus ministry, and teaching theology at the high school level. For the last decade she worked as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Parenting Coach, helping young people and their families navigate the many storms of life that come their way.
Best Practices in Accompanying LGBTQ+ Youth
Cara Morales
As numbers of young people identifying as LGTBQ+ rise continuously, those of us in ministry are often left wondering how to best accompany and disciple the tweens & teens we meet. This workshop will explore current trends among youth, the culture they are immersed in, and how the Church can respond pastorally and authentically to help people in their journey towards Christ.
About the presenter: Cara has worked with teens and their parents for 20 years: in youth ministry, campus ministry, and teaching theology at the high school level. For the last decade she worked as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Parenting Coach, helping young people and their families navigate the many storms of life that come their way.
C-05
How Adult Faith Formation can become great Family Faith Formation
Dr. Bill Keimig
How to develop adult formation to effectively reach parents and truly enable them, not just exhort them. This presentation will be answering questions such as... How can we attract parents to overcome their busyness and seek the help that the Church can provide? What are best practices in moving towards family-based formation? What are some strategies to engage families better in specific areas like First Communion, Confirmation, Children's Catechumenate, and Schools? What are two key areas of engaging families that most parishes overlook, that if developed that will produce strong results in the life of the parish?
About the presenter: Dr. Bill Keimig is the Assistant Director of the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. For 15 years, he served as the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary's of Piscataway Catholic Church in Clinton, MD. Along with this work, Dr. Keimig has served as a speaker in many other settings in over 70 dioceses. He and his wife, Heather, have six children.
How Adult Faith Formation can become great Family Faith Formation
Dr. Bill Keimig
How to develop adult formation to effectively reach parents and truly enable them, not just exhort them. This presentation will be answering questions such as... How can we attract parents to overcome their busyness and seek the help that the Church can provide? What are best practices in moving towards family-based formation? What are some strategies to engage families better in specific areas like First Communion, Confirmation, Children's Catechumenate, and Schools? What are two key areas of engaging families that most parishes overlook, that if developed that will produce strong results in the life of the parish?
About the presenter: Dr. Bill Keimig is the Assistant Director of the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. For 15 years, he served as the Director of Religious Education at St. Mary's of Piscataway Catholic Church in Clinton, MD. Along with this work, Dr. Keimig has served as a speaker in many other settings in over 70 dioceses. He and his wife, Heather, have six children.
C-06
Do All Lives Matter?: Eucharistic Solidarity and Catholic Social Teaching
Greg Walgenbach
Political and cultural debates reveal record levels of polarization and we are experiencing incredible fragmentation of the human family. In this Eucharistic Revival year, we have a need to revisit the deep, inextricable connections between the Eucharist we receive and the Eucharist we become. As Pope Benedict XVI reminded us in Deus Caritas Est, "A Eucharist which does not pass over into the concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented." In this workshop, we will discuss some of the most contentious issues of our day (abortion, climate, racism, migration, assisted suicide) through the lens of our call to be the Body of Christ and to support the life and dignity of all.
About the presenter: Greg Walgenbach has served 10 years as Director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace (and more recently also the Mission Office) for the Diocese of Orange. Greg earned a MDiv and PhD in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is passionate about encountering and helping others encounter Jesus and become formed in the Gospel, organized for action, and rooted in prayer.
Do All Lives Matter?: Eucharistic Solidarity and Catholic Social Teaching
Greg Walgenbach
Political and cultural debates reveal record levels of polarization and we are experiencing incredible fragmentation of the human family. In this Eucharistic Revival year, we have a need to revisit the deep, inextricable connections between the Eucharist we receive and the Eucharist we become. As Pope Benedict XVI reminded us in Deus Caritas Est, "A Eucharist which does not pass over into the concrete practice of love is intrinsically fragmented." In this workshop, we will discuss some of the most contentious issues of our day (abortion, climate, racism, migration, assisted suicide) through the lens of our call to be the Body of Christ and to support the life and dignity of all.
About the presenter: Greg Walgenbach has served 10 years as Director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace (and more recently also the Mission Office) for the Diocese of Orange. Greg earned a MDiv and PhD in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is passionate about encountering and helping others encounter Jesus and become formed in the Gospel, organized for action, and rooted in prayer.
C-07
A Family Approach to the RCIA for Unbaptized Children of Catechetical Age
Lori Smith
RCIA Adapted for Children and Teens is every bit as much about the parents as it is the children. This workshop will walk you through the steps to provide evangelization and catechesis for the adults that parallels the RCIA model for their children as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. Best practices and resources will be shared to help realize the goal of forming Catholic families of disciples who pray, worship, serve and build the Kingdom of God together.
About the presenter: Lori is the Formation chair of the Diocesan RCIA Committee and serves as the Christian Initiation for Families Director at St. John the Baptist parish in Chico. Former RCIA Director at SJB Chico (for 11 years). She is also a mentor and task writer for the Catechetical Institute as well as a member of the RCIA Track Faculty for the St. John Bosco Conference at Franciscan University where she presents workshops.
A Family Approach to the RCIA for Unbaptized Children of Catechetical Age
Lori Smith
RCIA Adapted for Children and Teens is every bit as much about the parents as it is the children. This workshop will walk you through the steps to provide evangelization and catechesis for the adults that parallels the RCIA model for their children as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. Best practices and resources will be shared to help realize the goal of forming Catholic families of disciples who pray, worship, serve and build the Kingdom of God together.
About the presenter: Lori is the Formation chair of the Diocesan RCIA Committee and serves as the Christian Initiation for Families Director at St. John the Baptist parish in Chico. Former RCIA Director at SJB Chico (for 11 years). She is also a mentor and task writer for the Catechetical Institute as well as a member of the RCIA Track Faculty for the St. John Bosco Conference at Franciscan University where she presents workshops.
C-08
Family Faith Formation in The Directory for Catechesis
Fr Tim Donovan
"The family is a proclamation of faith in that it is the natural place in which faith can be lived in a simple and spontaneous manner. It 'has an unique privilege: transmitting the Gospel by rooting it in the context of profound human values. On this human base, Christian initiation is more profound: the awakening of the sense of God; the first steps in prayer; education of the moral conscience; formation in the Christian sense of human love, understood as a reflection of the love of God the Father, the Creator'" (Directory for Catechesis 227). Join Fr. Tim Donovan for an honest look at the state of traditional classroom models of catechesis and be invited into the vision of the Church beautifully laid out in the new Directory of Catechesis for a family centric model of catechesis.
About the presenter: Fr. Tim Donovan was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange in the summer of 2017. Before entering the seminary he was a youth minister and continues to have a heart for young people and their families. He loves the Church, spending time with his family, cooking, playing music, and his two French bulldogs. He is the Founder and President of Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries.
Family Faith Formation in The Directory for Catechesis
Fr Tim Donovan
"The family is a proclamation of faith in that it is the natural place in which faith can be lived in a simple and spontaneous manner. It 'has an unique privilege: transmitting the Gospel by rooting it in the context of profound human values. On this human base, Christian initiation is more profound: the awakening of the sense of God; the first steps in prayer; education of the moral conscience; formation in the Christian sense of human love, understood as a reflection of the love of God the Father, the Creator'" (Directory for Catechesis 227). Join Fr. Tim Donovan for an honest look at the state of traditional classroom models of catechesis and be invited into the vision of the Church beautifully laid out in the new Directory of Catechesis for a family centric model of catechesis.
About the presenter: Fr. Tim Donovan was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orange in the summer of 2017. Before entering the seminary he was a youth minister and continues to have a heart for young people and their families. He loves the Church, spending time with his family, cooking, playing music, and his two French bulldogs. He is the Founder and President of Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries.
C-09
How to build a great Marriage Prep program & Best Practices
Andreya Arevalo & Fr. Blaise Berg
This workshop will highlight the important key aspects a marriage formation program should incorporate. We will discuss the different methods and materials that meet the requirements from the diocese as well as strongly encouraged supplemental subjects. We will finish with suggestions to make a better post-pandemic future for your parish.
About the presenter: Andreya has been the Marriage Prep Classes and Wedding Coordinator at St. Mary Parish in Vacaville since June 2016. She is also a Certified Fertility Care Practitioner since Feb 2019.
Fr. Blaise is a priest with the Diocese of Sacramento (former pastor at St. Mary Parish in Vacaville) and a professor at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park
How to build a great Marriage Prep program & Best Practices
Andreya Arevalo & Fr. Blaise Berg
This workshop will highlight the important key aspects a marriage formation program should incorporate. We will discuss the different methods and materials that meet the requirements from the diocese as well as strongly encouraged supplemental subjects. We will finish with suggestions to make a better post-pandemic future for your parish.
About the presenter: Andreya has been the Marriage Prep Classes and Wedding Coordinator at St. Mary Parish in Vacaville since June 2016. She is also a Certified Fertility Care Practitioner since Feb 2019.
Fr. Blaise is a priest with the Diocese of Sacramento (former pastor at St. Mary Parish in Vacaville) and a professor at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park
C-10
A Way toward equality in education in the Faith
Fr. Bart Landry
About the presenter:
A Way toward equality in education in the Faith
Fr. Bart Landry
About the presenter:
C-11
Circle of Grace
Katita Schloeman
The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and youth to actively participate in a safe environment for themselves and others. Children and youth will understand they are created by God and live in the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
About the presenter: Katita is the Safe Environment Coordinator with the Diocese of Sacramento
Circle of Grace
Katita Schloeman
The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and youth to actively participate in a safe environment for themselves and others. Children and youth will understand they are created by God and live in the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
About the presenter: Katita is the Safe Environment Coordinator with the Diocese of Sacramento
C-12
Last Things First: How, why and when to teach about death, judgment, heaven and hell
Steve Patton
No matter how long your life on earth might be, you're going to be dead a whole lot longer. What's "now" is only temporary. What's coming "next" is eternal. This is why keeping our hearts and minds - and the hearts and minds of our students - focused on death and what follows it is of utmost importance. This is what Jesus was all about. In fact, the sole purpose for which he was born, taught, suffered, died and rose again was to gain heaven for us and save us from eternal damnation. That same purpose should animate everything we think, say and do as Christians, parents and teachers.
About the presenter: Steve Patton is a Family Service Advisor for Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Sacramento. A former trial lawyer, he received an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University in 1997 and has worked full time for the Catholic Church ever since. For many years he has given parish-based RCIA program presentations about the Church's teachings on "The Last Things".
Last Things First: How, why and when to teach about death, judgment, heaven and hell
Steve Patton
No matter how long your life on earth might be, you're going to be dead a whole lot longer. What's "now" is only temporary. What's coming "next" is eternal. This is why keeping our hearts and minds - and the hearts and minds of our students - focused on death and what follows it is of utmost importance. This is what Jesus was all about. In fact, the sole purpose for which he was born, taught, suffered, died and rose again was to gain heaven for us and save us from eternal damnation. That same purpose should animate everything we think, say and do as Christians, parents and teachers.
About the presenter: Steve Patton is a Family Service Advisor for Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services of the Diocese of Sacramento. A former trial lawyer, he received an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University in 1997 and has worked full time for the Catholic Church ever since. For many years he has given parish-based RCIA program presentations about the Church's teachings on "The Last Things".
C-13
Vocation Ministry for Everyone
Lupe Delgadillo
We will share in this workshop how we have worked in our parish creating a culture of vocations and what we have done that has given us excellent results. We will show a short video with samples of our work done to promote Priestly, Religious, Matrimonial and Committed Laity vocations.
We recommend this workshop to all those who want to start a Vocations Ministry in their Parish, or who already have one but want to learn practical advice.
About the presenter: We are Vocations Ministry Coordinators for Sacred Heart Parish in Turlock, CA in the Diocese of Stockton. Our job is to promote Priestly, Religious, Matrimonial and Committed Lay vocations by creating a culture of vocations in our parish. We started in August 2020 after having attended a vocation workshop with Rhonda Gruenewald.
Vocation Ministry for Everyone
Lupe Delgadillo
We will share in this workshop how we have worked in our parish creating a culture of vocations and what we have done that has given us excellent results. We will show a short video with samples of our work done to promote Priestly, Religious, Matrimonial and Committed Laity vocations.
We recommend this workshop to all those who want to start a Vocations Ministry in their Parish, or who already have one but want to learn practical advice.
About the presenter: We are Vocations Ministry Coordinators for Sacred Heart Parish in Turlock, CA in the Diocese of Stockton. Our job is to promote Priestly, Religious, Matrimonial and Committed Lay vocations by creating a culture of vocations in our parish. We started in August 2020 after having attended a vocation workshop with Rhonda Gruenewald.
C-14
First Eucharist REVIVAL
Mike Aliscad
First Eucharist, a joyful sacrament received at a confusing time. For many receiving Jesus the first time arrives with excitement and fanfare. Unfortunately, that fades swiftly and, in some cases, never comes at all. How is it possible to go from the loud and proud AMEN as a young second grader to the quite nonchalant amen so many adults express today? How can we keep our young church burning with the desire to receive Jesus week after week, year after year? It’s about time that changed, and it starts with your sacramental prep. Come on a journey with the Holy Spirit as we revive and reinvigorate our First Eucharist programs.
About the presenters: For over 25 years Mike Aliscad has been involved in the catechism of youth. Starting with his first class of 5th graders to the high school teens he ministers to today he’s sought ways to make learning about the faith exciting and fun. This has led him to his latest endeavor as founder of Messenger Bag ministries, working to develop a 1-year activity-based Confirmation preparation program based on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the charisms of the fist Apostles. He concurrently serves the mission of Christ as the Youth Ministry and Confirmation Coordinator at Christ the King in Pleasant Hill.
First Eucharist REVIVAL
Mike Aliscad
First Eucharist, a joyful sacrament received at a confusing time. For many receiving Jesus the first time arrives with excitement and fanfare. Unfortunately, that fades swiftly and, in some cases, never comes at all. How is it possible to go from the loud and proud AMEN as a young second grader to the quite nonchalant amen so many adults express today? How can we keep our young church burning with the desire to receive Jesus week after week, year after year? It’s about time that changed, and it starts with your sacramental prep. Come on a journey with the Holy Spirit as we revive and reinvigorate our First Eucharist programs.
About the presenters: For over 25 years Mike Aliscad has been involved in the catechism of youth. Starting with his first class of 5th graders to the high school teens he ministers to today he’s sought ways to make learning about the faith exciting and fun. This has led him to his latest endeavor as founder of Messenger Bag ministries, working to develop a 1-year activity-based Confirmation preparation program based on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the charisms of the fist Apostles. He concurrently serves the mission of Christ as the Youth Ministry and Confirmation Coordinator at Christ the King in Pleasant Hill.
C-15
Walking with Jesus Throughout the Year
Christine Soriano
Much of the catechetical process follows the seasons of the Catholic Church. Come join in the conversation on some practical ways to incorporate the liturgical seasons in the classroom beginning with Jesus’ life and including the language of symbols.
About the presenters: Christine has served as Youth Ministry Coordinator, assistant to the Director of Religious Education, and catechist at St. Anthony Parish in the Pocket area since 2005. She currently serves the youth, teens, and their families of the same parish as DRE and youth ministry team member.
Walking with Jesus Throughout the Year
Christine Soriano
Much of the catechetical process follows the seasons of the Catholic Church. Come join in the conversation on some practical ways to incorporate the liturgical seasons in the classroom beginning with Jesus’ life and including the language of symbols.
About the presenters: Christine has served as Youth Ministry Coordinator, assistant to the Director of Religious Education, and catechist at St. Anthony Parish in the Pocket area since 2005. She currently serves the youth, teens, and their families of the same parish as DRE and youth ministry team member.
C-16
Marriage, the Primordial Sacrament
John Hamlon
In his exhortation on the family Familiaris Consortio, John Paul II states that marriage was in God’s mind from the beginning and is based on the “total gift of self.” What does that mean, exactly, and how does such a gift of one’s self relate to NFP and contraception?
About the presenters:
Marriage, the Primordial Sacrament
John Hamlon
In his exhortation on the family Familiaris Consortio, John Paul II states that marriage was in God’s mind from the beginning and is based on the “total gift of self.” What does that mean, exactly, and how does such a gift of one’s self relate to NFP and contraception?
About the presenters:
