“Why a DDRE Forum Blog?”

On November 16, 2004 we asked the question, “Why a DDRE Forum Blog?” Read the post here.

A time to select our leadership

During NCCL's National Conference & Exposition being held in Chicago April 30 - May 4, 2006 we will have the opportunity to elect new leadership. As you know this is an important election. We think it is essential for the members of the DDRE Forum to take time to get to know the members of each slate and their vision for NCCL. The contact information for each member of the slate is available in the Membership Directory on the NCCL web site here. Now is the time to contact the members of the slates and talk with them about NCCL.
The two slates are:

• Harry Dudley - President
• Charleen O’Connell - Vice President
• Marc Gonzalez - Treasurer
• Kathy Gallo - Secretary
  

• Mary Ann Ronan - President
• Fr. David Loftus - Vice President
• Loraine DeLuca - Treasurer
• Sr. Janet Schaeffler - Secretary

Join the email discussion group and discuss your vision for NCCL and the skills and talents we need in leadership positions. Click here to access the DDRE Forum discussion group.

Proposed DDRE Forum Gathering Agenda

The forums will take place Tuesday, May 2, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. as part of the 2006 NCCL National Conference & Exposition being held in Chicago.

Agenda for the Forum Gathering:

3:30 Prayer

3: 45 Developing a Catechetical Plan for the Diocese
The NDC directs dioceses to develop a catechetical plan. This segment of the gathering will present a process to help Directors network and resource one another on this vital issue. . The results of each roundtable discussion would be provided to the directors afterward.

4:30 Reflections on the Symposium: The New Catechetical Reality
This segment will give directors a chance to process insights gained at the recent symposium with Richard Gaillardetz. It could add further “meat” for the discussions about the diocesan catechetical plan. The results of each roundtable discussion would be provided to the directors afterward.

5:00 Election of New Animators
Replacements for Jim and Mary Kay will be elected at the gathering.

5:15 Other Business Items
This segment might include a brainstorm session on future symposium possibilities and topics.
Also, a chance for the DDRE Forum to communicate anything as a group to NCCL or possibly to propose a resolution regarding a current issue in NCCL or on the national scene.

Share your thoughts on the agenda with the animators at DDREForum@gmail.com.

Nominations for the Role of Animator

At the NCCL Annual meeting in Chicago two new animators will be chosen. The role description for forum animators:

• Animators are elected for a three year term
• Plan and facilitate the Forum Meeting at the NCCL Annual Meeting
• One animator will represent the Forum on the Representative Council
• One animator will serve on the Leadership Discernment Committee
• Solicit suggestions for membership on the Animating Team and conduct elections
• Solicit names for conference leadership
• Facilitate networking among forum members
• Help plan forum events to meet the needs of the membership throughout the year
• Communicate with other forums, the board of directors, and the executive committee, and the executive director

Nominations and background information must be submitted to Jim Kemna by April 17, 2006. E-mail Jim at DDREForum@gmail.com.

Let the discussion begin

At a recent meeting of the MINK region we discussed our inability to take advantage of technology in our ministry. On arriving home I read an interesting observation on JP Rangaswami Blog, “Confused of Calcutta” that made our discussion all the more depressing. Rangaswami works for an investment bank in London and he said:

“My son Isaac takes two minutes to critique a mobile phone. My daughter Orla holds a dozen IM sessions in parallel while doing her nails, her homework and listening to music. And the youngest, Hope, gets frustrated as only a seven-year-old can, when she can’t install the game she’s bought because of poorly designed parental control filters that should affect web browsing and not CD-ROM installing. They are the future.”

I’m convinced we must become more aggressive in our use of technology and digital media. It is not enough to have a web site while those around us have TV and radio networks, podcasts, IM channels, blogs and wikis. Adding an RSS feed to the NCCL web site, making it easier for members to keep up-to-date on changes made to the site, would be a small step forward. With technology we are far behind and the longer we wait the harder it will be to get back in the game.

We also heard from at least one publisher that publishing companies are looking for some guidance from organizations like NCCL and the Directors’ Forum on Safe Environment resources. The question is what would we like to see included in textbooks for Safe Environment Education? Since we are expected to provide Safe Environment training for participants in catechetical programs it seem logical for some of that material to be included in textbooks. So, what advice would we give to the publishers?

Don Kurre

Congratulations to the Diocesan Staff Forum

I want to congratulate the Diocesan Staff Forum for their use of NCCL's web site to share information about Forum activities during The 2006 NCCL National Conference & Exposition April 30 - May 4, 2006. Here is the link to download a copy of the Forum's agenda during the Conference.

Don Kurre

Meetings, meetings and more meetings.

Meetings, meetings and more meetings. Meetings seem to fill most of our working life. It follows that our ministry would be more effective and perhaps more enjoyable if we ran productive meetings.

I found a list of 9 tips for running more product meetings on one of my favorite websites, "43 Folders." So here are Merlin Mann's 9 tips for running more productive meetings.

You might find this hard to understand from me but I especially liked his point number 4. He said,

No electronic grazing. Period. - Laptops closed. Phones off. Blackberries left back in the cube. You’re either at the meeting or you’re not at the meeting, and few things are more distracting or disruptive than the guy who has to check his damned email every five minutes. Schedule breaks for people to fiddle with their toys, but fearlessly enforce a no grazing rule once the meeting’s back in session. Emergency call to take or make? They have to leave the room. No exceptions. If you’re too busy to be at the meeting everyone else has made firewalled time for, just leave.

Read all 9 of Merlin's tips here.

Don

Lenten Retreat - "On Bended Knee"

If you are looking for something to enrich your expereience of Lent in 2006 I would suggest the VLCFF seminar, On Bended Knee.

Based on the Pastoral Letter of Bishop Anthony G. Bosco, Diocese of Greensburg, this mini-online course is a spiritual journey for critically reflecting upon one's understanding of the Eucharist and its meaning and impact on our relationships with one another. Eucharist is so much more than getting our attendance card checked off in heaven for attending Mass on the weekend. The Eucharist calls us to service! Environment: While journeying through this mini-course it is appropriate, if you are able, to create a special reflective space or environment to enter into the experience. You may need to select a special time to participate in these sessions to ensure your prayerful journey. You may decide to light a special prayer candle. Begin each session by taking a few moments to center yourself in the presence of God. In session #2, you are asked to reflect on a cross (one given to you for the course or one that is particularly special to you). Journal: It is recommended that you keep a personal journal as you proceed through the mini-course. You may do this in a handbook or as a Word document. The journal helps us to focus and monitor our reflections for growing in understanding how Eucharist calls you to service!

Click here for more information.

Don

Blogging, The Newest Evangelization

The Winter, 2005 issue of Church has an article on blogging entitled, "The Newest Evangelization." The lead to the article by Phyllis Zagano says, "Find out what opportunities blogs and bloggers offer pastoral ministers who are eager to reach young readers online?" In the conclusion to the article, Zagano says,

Anyone who writes or speaks about Catholic matters and affairs is well advised to take stock of the 'new Catholics,' who receive their informaiton and opinion from an ever-increasing variety of places.

The article is in Church Volume 24, Number 4, page 19 -- 24.

Don

Compendium of the Catechism Available March 31

WASHINGTON (February 6, 2006) — The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that the new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a 200-page synthesis of the 1992 Catechism, will be available starting March 31, 2006. It will be published exclusively by USCCB Publishing, the publishing office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read the story here.

A friend sent me an email with a variety of funny signs to brighten my Friday. As I scrolled down the email the sign on the left popped up. I figured catechetical leaders would appreciate the clarity of the message. I hope you have a great day.

Don

Neil Parent’s Father Passed Away

Kathy Kandefer, BVM, reported today by way of e-mail that, Executive Director Neil Parent’s father, Gerard, passed away yesterday in his sleep. He was just shy of his 98th birthday, which the family was planning to celebrate later this month in Los Angeles. As of today (2/1), there are no details on funeral arrangements. NCCL will provide that information as soon as it becomes available. Expressions of sympathy can be directed to Neil at the NCCL office, 125 Michigan Ave. NE., Washington DC 20017.

Kathy Kandefer, BVM

Adult Faith Formation Blog

The Diocese of Des Moines has established a web log (blog) for those engaged in Adult Faith Formation ministries in the Diocese of Des Moines. Visit the web log here.

Deus Caritas Est #2

For those of you who may not have easy access to ORIGINS, the letter is available in PDF format on the USCCB website.

Deus Caritas Est

The February 2, 2006 issue of Origins contains two articles of note for Religious Educators. This issues has the text of Pope Benedict XVI's "Deus Caritas Est: Encyclical." It also contains a homily Pope Benedict XVI gave when he baptized 10 infants January 8 in the Sistine Chapel. The homily is titled, "What Happens in Baptism."

Don

Pope Coming To Baltimore in '07

Incase you missed the announcement. Pope Benedict XVI will be making a trip to the United States in 2007. William Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, was told that a Papal trip to the United States was being planned for 2007and Baltimore would be part of the program. Find the story here.

Catechism Update

The Catechism Update (Winter 2005), published by the Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism, USCCB reports that the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is set for publication.

With a decree dated November 22, 2005 and signed by Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, and Archbishop Csaba Ternyak, the Secretary of the same Congregation, the bishops of this country were notified that the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults had been given the recognitio necessary for its publication. The projected publication date is March 3 I , 2006.

Symposium follow-up

During the symposium with Dr. Richard Gaillardetz titled, Forming Catholic Identity in a Postmodern Context, held in Chicago December 8 to 11, 2005 we said that the power points used by Dr Gaillardetz would be available. Due to some technical difficulties we've been unable to post the Power Points. However, If you would like a copy of the power points used by Dr Gaillardetz send an email to DDREForum@gmail.com and I will email the power points to you.

One of the books Gaillardetz recommended during the symposium was his book, A Daring Promise: A Spirituality of Christian Marriage (Crossroads; 2002). Dennis Beeman, says "I'm rereading this book for the third or fourth time!" Click here for information on the book from Amazon.

Catholic Identity in a Postmodern Context

A Report on the symposium with Dr. Richard Gaillardetz titled, Forming Catholic Identity in a Postmodern Context, held in Chicago December 8 to 11, 2005 was published on the NCCL web site here. The article was written by Dr. Kathy Kleinlein, Diocese of Venice and Dr. Anne Roat, Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana. In part they say:

"Gailardetz also addressed the demise of the Catholic subculture that helped form millions of baby boomer and older Catholics. This loss poses challenges, he said, for forming Catholic identity in an ecumenically sensitive manner. While catechetical leaders must be sensitive to other faiths, they must insure that Catholic teaching is presented with integrity. He concluded with an examination of the levels of authority in Catholic doctrine and discussed how understanding those differences helps constructive dialogue among the Church’s varied ideological populations."

Read the whole article here.

Bishops Urge U.S. to Transition Out of Iraq

The latimes.com is reporting, Bishops urge U.S. to transition out of Iraq.

Declaring that the United States was at a crossroads in Iraq, the nation's Roman Catholic bishops said Thursday the time had come to withdraw U.S. troops as fast as responsibly possible and to hand control of the country to Iraqis.

"Our nation's military forces should remain in Iraq only as long as it takes for a responsible transition, leaving sooner than later," said Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando, Fla., speaking for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Read the article here.

Statement available online at the USCCB site here.