Formed In Faith

Epiphany Greetings!

May you and yours be much blessed during the ancient feast (January 4) and weekend of the Epiphany 2015 —

Epiphany Star

“We saw his star at its rising!” — “Then, he sent them to Bethlehem . . . having been warned in a dream.” According to the Gospel, the Magi received three signs to heed: (1) a star in the heavens, (2) the words of Herod, and (3) an ominous dream.

The Faith-Formation staff at OLFE invites you to reflect on the signs you have received from the Creator during the year past, and how you might hear and see God’s grace in your life throughout 2015.

Happy New Year!  Share the Good News with all you meet.

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Happy New Year!

happy-new-year-2011-wallpaper-5

Happy New Year from us to you! We look forward to seeing and serving you through 2015. –Faith Formation Staff

New Year’s Resolutions with Faith Formation

Each New Year we all start off with resolutions to better ourselves.  Why not make one of your resolutions about taking the time for Faith Formation?

Here are 5 upcoming events in January from the Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Lifelong Formation and Education:

Flyer -- Lay PSP Second Season (Draft 12-16-14 a)                               Team day flyer Jan 2015

Theology of Church
Dates: Thursday, January 8, 2015
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Locations: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Presenter: Art Turner, Director of Faith Formation, Archdiocese of Louisville
Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)
Registration: Register prior to class to insure class availability. Contact Linda McLemore at
email lmclemore@archlou.org or (502) 448-8581 ext. 1324
Catechist Credit: 2.5 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of the Church

This class explores the meaning and mission of the Church and the role of Baptism has within it.


Development of the Church I
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Presenter: Art Turner, Director of Faith Formation, Archdiocese of Louisville
Cost: $10.00 (check payable to ALMI)
Registration: Register prior to class to insure class availability. Contact Linda McLemore at
email lmclemore@archlou.org or (502) 448-8581 ext. 1324
Catechist Credit: 2.5 hours applies toward Theology in the area of Church

This is a study of the development of the Church and the mutual impact of history on the development of tradition.


Justice Workshop: “Solidarity with the Poor”
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2015
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Cathedral of the Assumption Undercroft
Presenters: Various Presenters
Cost: $25 (includes lunch) (check payable to ALMI)
Registration: Register prior to class to insure class availability. Contact Linda McLemore at
email lmclemore@archlou.org or (502) 448-8581 ext. 1324
Catechist Credit 7 hours applies toward Theology in the content area of Justice

This is an experiential workshop focusing on the Gospel call to serve the least in our community and to experience God in the poor.


Be sure to check our Professional Development Calendar for more Faith Formation opportunities.

Click to access Spring-2015-Development-Calendar1.pdf

 

 

Seven Ways to Evangelize Those We Love During Christmas

During the Christmas season, many of us will gather with family members who have stopped practicing the faith. We might feel powerless and wonder what we can do to light a spark within the one who has checked out. “What does God want me to do?” Sometimes our previous attempts have fallen on deaf ears.

Old methods no longer work. We cajole; we appeal to their sense of right and wrong; we proselytize; we recite teaching and doctrines. The sad irony is that if such doctrines and teaching meant anything to them they would not have left in the first place.

“Who am I to judge?”
Pope Francis has set the tone for how we must approach and evangelize such folks. The first step is to leave our judgments at the door. A theologian once said it is God’s job to save them—not ours. God loves our non-practicing relatives as much as we do, and it is God’s job to touch their hearts.

Click the link below to read the rest of the article from TeamRCIA.

http://teamrcia.com/2014/12/seven-ways-to-evangelize-those-we-love-during-christmas/

Merry Christmas!

 OLFE Christmas 2014a         OLFE Christmas 2014

All of us here at the Office of Lifelong Formation & Education (OLFE) wish you and yours a blessed and festive Christmas.

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day their old familiar chords to play, and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, goodwill to all.” — Longfellow

Saint Juan Diego – The First Native Lay Minister in the Americas

On July 31, 2002, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Pope John Paul II declared Juan Diego’s canonization. Juan Diego, a poor Indian peasant and widower, became the Church’s first saint indigenous to the Americas. The Holy Father called this saint “a simple, humble Indian” who accepted Christianity without giving up his identity as an Indian. Members of Mexico’s 64 indigenous groups were present.

The Virgin Mary first appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill on December 9, 1531. The most famous part of this story centers on beautiful “winter time” roses gathered in his tilma (outer cloak) that were transformed miraculously into an image of Our Lady. Later in life, Juan Diego lived near the small shrine that had been constructed at Tepeyac. Stories refer to him as a holy, compassionate, and giving catechist who taught by word and especially by example.

Reflection: God called St. Juan Diego to play a key, evangelizing role in spreading the Good News to the people of Mexico. Overcoming his own fear and the doubts, by God’s grace, this small and humble Indio showed that the Good News of Jesus is a gift given to all people, in all cultures. Pope John Paul II used the example of St. Juan Diego to urge Mexican lay men and women to accept their responsibility for doing the New Evangelization and witnessing to the Gospel of Christ.

ArchLou and the Catholic Youth Foundation USA

Did you know that Butch Ekstrom of OLFE and Dr. Brian Reynolds, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, have each served for more than 10 years on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Youth Foundation USA (CYF-USA)?

Last Thursday through Saturday, they attended — as CYF Board Members — the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, (NCCYM) at San Antonio, Texas. Sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, the NCCYM is the largest conference in the country for adults who minister to and with Catholic youth. About 2000 came together for NCCYM’s three days of keynote talks, workshops, prayer and worship, resource exhibits, and ministry networking.

The CYF-USA is the financial development arm of the Federation. It raises money and then distributes it — via grants, scholarships, and awards — to Catholic youth on local, diocesan, and regional levels and to promote effective and innovative youth ministry work to assure a faithful future.

Butch, Brian, and other Foundation board members oversaw a major $$ collection at the closing Mass of the NCCYM. They also put together a fundraising Pinata Raffle during the conference.

For more information please visit the following websites:

http://www.nccym.info

http://www.cyfusa.org

http://www.nfcym.org/

Faith Club Dinner, Dancing and More!

Last week was a busy week here at OLFE.  Our staff worked on multiple activities.  To see what Maureen Grisanti Larison, Consultant for Adult Formation and Initiation, organized continue below.  Continue to the next post to read about what Butch Ekstrom, Association Director of Faith Formation, was doing last week .

Wednesday, 12/3, the Faith Club held their annual Christmas Dinner and Dance.

The Archdiocesan Faith Clubs exist to meet the catechetical needs of adults (18 years of age and older) with developmental or intellectual disabilities.  These clubs are sponsored by the Office of Lifelong Formation and Education.  Maureen Grisanti Larison, one of the consultants from OLFE, works with facilitators to nurture faith formation and provide a social environment at the meetings.  These facilitators lead groups at 5 different parishes once a month.  During the club meeting members learn more about heir Catholic faith, make new friends, socialize, and engage in service activities.  There are three large events during the year at which the 5 individual clubs come together to celebrate; the Christmas Dinner and Dance is one.

For more information about the Faith Club contact Maureen at the Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Lifelong Formation and Education, 502-448-8581 Ext. 1308 or email mlarison@archlou.org.

 

Sharing Recipes

As Thanksgiving approaches many of us are sharing our favorite recipes. We see post all over Facebook and coming from our favorite blogs for the best turkey, stuffing, or green bean casserole. Recently, Catechetical Leaders from the Archdiocese gathered at the Flaget to share recipes for their ministry.
Thanks to the DRE Senate there were multiple breakout sessions for sharing from topics about VBS, Adult Faith Formation, Multicultural Formation, Internet Small Groups, Retreats and Days of Reflection and more! Then, after the DRE Senate had feed our minds, they fed our bodies with a delicious chili lunch. (Below are three of the food recipes requested for sharing.)
Please share your favorite recipe for Faith Formation in your parish. What are some of the best practices you have happening in your parish? What is working? What new resource or idea have you heard lately that has you inspired in your ministry?

Turkey and Black Bean Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound ground turkey, or 1½ cups cubed cooked turkey
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (14.5 ounce) can solid-pack pumpkin
1 (14.5 ounce) can Red Gold® Diced Tomatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can Red Gold® Petite Diced Tomatoes w/Lime Juice & Cilantro
3 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons each cumin and oregano
Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add turkey, onion, pepper and garlic; cook and stir until tender. Drain well.
Transfer to slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cook, covered on low for 4 to 5 hours.
Option: Top with cubed avocado and thinly sliced green onions

Raspberry Bars
Combine one yellow cake mix with 3/4 cup of butter and 2 1/2 cups of quick-cooking oats in a large bowl. Press half the mixture firmly into a greased 13×9 baking pan. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly.
Mix a 12 oz jar of raspberry jam with a little water. Spread over the baked layer. top with the rest of the oat mixture and return to the oven for 10-12 minutes. Dust the top with powdered sugar or drizzle with sugar glaze. Cool then serve.
(Sugar glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar with 1-2 teaspoons warm water)

Vegetarian Chili
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon salt
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
2 (12 ounce) texturized vegetable protein
3 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans,drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn
2 tablespoons of Ancho Chile powder and
2 tablespoons of regular chile powder
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in the celery, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and green chile peppers. When vegetables are heated through, mix in the texturized vegetable protein. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 5 minutes.
Mix the tomatoes into the pot. Season chili with chili powder and pepper. Stir in the kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the corn, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving.

 

Kids Deserve the Best — Your Faith and Example

Francis Selfie

By Cindy Wooden                                                                                                                         Catholic News Service  —  11/14/14

“Faith always has been transmitted best through example, but with young people constantly bombarded by images of all kinds, living models of truth and love are more important than ever.”  Pope Francis addressed this to parents and other adults during his daily Mass at the Vatican on November 14 .

“We each have a responsibility to give the best that we have,” the Pope added. “The best that we have is the faith. Give it to them, but give it to them through your example.”

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1404739.htm