Workshops Home

Meet the Speakers

A-01:
3 Steps to Better Boundaries: Tools for Ministry​ (M. Antunes)
As we serve in various capacities at the parish and Diocesan level, whether as a volunteer or staff member, there can be moments when we feel emotional, psychological, or spiritual burnout. This workshop will explore how to set professional, emotional, and spiritual boundaries, so as to flourish in our ministries within the heart of the Church.

A-02:
Why Vatican II (S. Avelia)
Pope Leo XIV has devoted his first instructions to the documents of Vatican II. He calls them the "Northstar" of our Catholic life. This workshop offers a little general history of church councils but focuses closely on the reasons why this Council was convened in 1962.

A-03:
How to be the Body of Christ in a polarized culture (K. Crawford)
Let's be honest, the Church is more polarized than ever. This is the unfortunate result of the influence of our polarized culture on the Church. But does it need to be this way? Is there any way to avoid it? In this workshop we will talk about the root causes of our polarization, what we can do to heal divisions in the Church and how we can shield ourselves from it in the future.

A-04:
Spiritual But Not Religious: Why Young People Leave the Church and What We Can Do About It (A. Gonzalez)
After receiving their Sacraments, young people tend to disconnect from the faith. They often continue to pray and believe in God, but they no longer feel a need for organized religion in their lives. Using social science and neurobiology, this workshop will explore the differences between religion and spirituality and offer ideas on how we can better inspire full, conscious, and active participation among young people in our parishes.

A-05:
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Embracing Disability, Identity, and God’s Purpose (A. Kewley)
This workshop invites participants to explore how disability is not a limitation but a unique part of God’s design. Through personal storytelling and practical strategies, attendees will learn how to foster belonging, dignity, and faith-filled inclusion in families, schools, and parish communities. | Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

A-06:
Christian Initiation is Always Open (S. Langer and C. Mulcaire)
"But they are calling me and it's May! What do I do?" This workshop will help you understand why the year-round model is the best model and ways to begin to implement it. It will also include ideas on team building!​

A-07:
Anxious, Lonely, and Overwhelmed: Understanding the Mental Health Crisis Facing Today's Youth and Young Adults (R. Petitfils)
Anxiety, depression, loneliness, and emotional exhaustion have become defining challenges for many young people. Despite being more connected than any generation before them, today's youth and young adults often struggle with identity, belonging, resilience, and hope. Parents, educators, youth ministers, and helping professionals frequently feel unprepared to navigate the complex emotional world of the young people they care about. In this presentation, counselor and minister Roy Petitfils explores the forces shaping the emotional lives of today's youth—from social media and comparison culture to academic pressure, family stress, and the lingering effects of isolation and uncertainty. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of what is driving the current mental health crisis, learn how to recognize signs of emotional distress, and discover practical strategies for building trust, fostering resilience, and creating environments where young people can thrive.

A-08:
The Laudato Sí Movement: hope and healing for our hurting world (B. Reifsnider)
Pope Francis wrote his encyclical "Laudato Sí" ten years ago, declaring, "Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience." Responding to the Pope's call, the Laudato Sí Movement (LSM) was born, inspiring and mobilizing Catholics to care for our common home. And now, there is a California Chapter of LSM. Find out what's happening locally and how you and your parish can get involved to answer the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor. | Laudato Si Movement

A-9:
Our Faith is NOT a Class (K. Staszkow)
If you're teaching faith like every other class, they'll treat it like any other class. They'll try to get an A, but may not ever connect with the material. Faith formation is not about a grade and it goes beyond learning - it's about helping young people and their families to encounter Jesus Christ and giving them the tools to be lifelong disciples. To accomplish this takes out of the box thinking. But evangelizing catechesis is possible if we are willing to change our mindset. Let's explore how to do this together.

A-10:
Joyful Witnesses: Forming Disciples for Evangelization (J. Watkins)
This workshop invites ministry leaders to rediscover the heart of evangelization through the vision of Evangelii Gaudium and Pope Francis. At its core is a clear and urgent truth: what the Church needs today are missionary disciples-leaders personally transformed by an encounter with Christ and sent forth with joy to share the Gospel. Participants will be challenged to move beyond maintenance into mission, reimagining their ministries as places of encounter, accompaniment, and renewal. This workshop offers both inspiration and practical guidance to help leaders form disciples who evangelize with conviction and help bring new life to the Church.  | ​Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano

A-11:
Be Good or Be Happy: Insights into Right Living with Servais Pinckaers (C. Wen)
The work of renewal in Moral Theology was not treated at the Second Vatican Council. Rather it was left to those that followed. Fr. Servais Pinckaers took this task on as his life's work. His focus on happiness and virtue rather than the nominalist approach of sin and obligation brought a fresh approach that continues to give life anew to the field. We will ponder his approach and how can it continue to bear fruit for us today.

A-12:
Called to the Altar: Forming Servers for Sacred Service (M. Wong)
This workshop explores how altar serving is not simply a function, but a formative encounter with the sacred mysteries of the Church. This session will examine both the spiritual and practical dimensions of altar server formation, emphasizing reverence, intentionality, and attentiveness in the liturgy. Participants will receive concrete tools for training servers with clarity and confidence, while cultivating a deeper understanding of their role at the altar. Particular attention will be given to forming young people not only in what they do, but in who they are becoming as disciples. Attendees will leave equipped to foster a culture of service rooted in prayer, dignity, and love for the Eucharist.

A-13:
Rebuild the Domestic Church: Strengthening Marriages for a Renewed Catholic Future​ (J. Florez)
When St. Francis of Assisi heard Christ's call, "Repair my Church," he first understood it as a call to rebuild a crumbling chapel. Over time, he came to realize that God was inviting him to help renew the entire Church through faithful discipleship and holy living. Today, that same call is entrusted to us. This workshop explores the vital role of the family as the "domestic church" and why the health of our homes directly impacts the health of the Church and society. As families face increasing cultural, spiritual, and relational challenges, Catholics are called to strengthen marriage, deepen family prayer, cultivate virtue, and pass on the faith to the next generation. Participants will discover practical ways to renew family life, foster a Christ-centered home, and answer the Lord's call to rebuild His Church—one family at a time.​

A-20:
Importancia del Concilio Vaticano II en la Historia de la Iglesia (C. Aviles)
Contexto en el que nace el Vaticano II: dos guerras mundiales, nazismo, fascismo, comunismo, el Holocausto judío, la Revolución mexicana, la Guerra Fría y el Muro de Hierro que divide Europa. Breve resumen de las cuatro constituciones fundamentales del Vat II, 9 decretos y 3 declaraciones

A-21:
Prácticas en Salud Mental: Niños y Jóvenes con disCapacidad (A. Barraza)
¡En la Salud Mental, la alfabetización, sus metas y componentes son fuente de esperanza! Ven y explora cómo hacer que la Salud Mental forme parte de tu ministerio con niños y jóvenes con disCapacidad. Juntos, repasaremos y practicaremos varias actividades prácticas a implementar en tu salón de clase, ministerio y en casa. Reconoce los diferentes recursos en Salud Mental disponibles para ti y tus familias con disCapacidades. Una oración con adaptaciones sensoriales sobre el bienestar mental concluirá nuestra sesión. | Loyola

A22: Alma Fuerte, Mente Sana: el aporte de la espiritualidad en la salud mental (G. Macias)
Reflexionar sobre el papel de la espiritualidad en la salud mental como factor de prevención, sanación y acompañamiento de las heridas emocionales y culturales, fortaleciendo el bienestar integral y la fuerza interior para tiempos difíciles, para la reconstrucción del tejido social y familiar y el servicio a la comunidad de fe y a la Iglesia.

A-23:
Como Mejorar la Comunicación en la Familia​ (G. Cantero)
"La comunicación es la base de todas las relaciones" Aprender técnicas de comunicación y el poder aplicarlas ayuda a tener lazos fuertes, honestos y enriquecedores en la Familia. Aprenderemos esas técnicas y las pondremos en práctica.

A-24:
Reconócete como regalo de Dios al mundo (E. Castillo)
Reconocer los talentos que Dios te ha dado y cómo te puedes donar al servicio de Dios en medio de tu vida actual.

A-25:
Fortalezas en la Salud Psicológica para las Familias (M. Franco)
Con frecuencia, existe la tendencia a centrarse en identificar las debilidades en el ámbito de la salud mental. Aunque este enfoque puede resultar muy útil, es incompleto. La identificación de fortalezas puede ayudar a las familias a reforzar aquello que funciona y a fomentar un mayor crecimiento. Este taller le brindará a los padres la información necesaria para apoyar la salud mental y bienestar de sus familias.

A-26:
El agradecimiento, Corazón del Evangelio (A. Gutierrez)
Introduciendo a los fieles en una relación de corazón a corazón con Dios basada en la virtud y la espiritualidad de la Gratitud para mostrarles un camino de sanación, santificación y felicidad según el ejemplo de la Santísima Virgen María y San Francisco de Asís.

A-27:
Modelos de inclusión familiar: ¡papás activos en la catequesis (G. Salazar)
La catequesis sin la familia no es catequesis. ¿Tienes en tu parroquia el dilema de cómo integrar a los padres de familia en la catequesis? Aquí recibirás algunos modelos estratégicos para poder incluir a los padres de familia activamente en la catequesis. La inclusión familiar es un reto diario que se tiene en todas las parroquias, aun así, existen modelos eficaces de acuerdo a tu contexto para poder involucrarlos. Los padres de familia buscan el beneficio y la utilidad de una catequesis que no solo educa, sino que evangeliza y es relevante para sus vidas cotidianas. Aprenderás con este taller las diferentes opciones y prototipos para integrar exitosamente a los papás. | Sadlier

A-28:
Amando otros por que El nos ha amado primero (M. Sammartino)
En su encíclica, Dilexi Nos, el Papa Francisco nos guía al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús como nuestro punto de partida para comenzar a amar a los demás, fundamentados en la misericordia y la compasión de Cristo. Desde aquí, podemos empezar a redescubrir que somos amados personal y profundamente por Cristo y, debido a esta verdad, no podemos ser indiferentes al sufrimiento de los demás. En este taller, exploraremos las dimensiones del amor de Cristo por nosotros, la necesidad de profundizar nuestra vida espiritual para poder abordar la indiferencia y la transformación social, y aplicaciones prácticas a la luz de la enseñanza social católica.

A-29:
¿Eres catequista por primera vez? No tengas miedo. (V. Zeller)
Si te encuentras en tu primer año como catequista o ayudante y estás considerando el siguiente paso, ven: te invitamos a descubrir lo básico. En este taller encontrarás un espacio formativo y vivencial que busca introducir a los participantes en la misión de transmitir la fe de manera clara, cercana y significativa. Abordaremos fundamentos básicos de la catequesis, la importancia del testimonio personal y el conocimiento de las etapas de desarrollo de niños y jóvenes, en resumen, el cómo desarrollar un ambiente de comunidad, oración y acompañamiento. ¡Descubrirás la alegría de ser catequista!