Catechetical Congress to offer two featured speakers, 20+ workshops, prayer, fellowship
Tom Zanzig and Notre Dame Sister Mary Kathleen Glavich will be the featured speakers at the annual Catechetical Congress, which will be held Nov. 20 in St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Zanzig is an independent writer, editor, trainer, retreat director and motivational speaker. He wrote two textbooks which are widely used in Catholic high schools throughout the US and Canada, Understanding Catholic Christianity and Jesus of History, Christ of Faith. An adult version of the latter has been published with the title Jesus the Christ: A New Testament Portrait.
Sister Mary Kathleen is the Catechetical Resource Person for St. Dominic Parish in Shaker Heights, Oh. She spends most of her time writing books to help catechists and parents pass on the faith. She has had numerous articles published in magazines such as Religion Teacher’s Journal and wrote the book Catholic School Kids Say the Funniest Things.
“We wanted to give people more of a choice this year,” said Dr. Mary Kay Cullinan, diocesan director of the Office of Religious Education, explaining why there are two featured speakers instead of one keynote speaker as in years past. “After reading the evaluations last year we felt there was a need for a variety of topics.”
In addition to the featured speakers, there will be more than 20 other workshops. Their titles include, Internet in the Classroom, Famous Kids in Scripture, Creating a Prayer-filled classroom, Sacraments of Initiation: The Jewish Roots, Gospel Treasures: Helping Children Discover the “Pearl” of Salvation and Why Do Children Do What They Do?
Two workshops for Spanish speakers will also be offered.
“I’m excited. We’ve got some different people,” said Cullinan. “We have people talking about stress. We have Msgr. William Benwell talking about the Lord of the Rings and how it relates to faith. This year, we also have Father John N. Fell talking about medical ethics.”
The format for this year’s Congress is different than in the past. Rather than having a Mass and the keynote address take place at another location, the entire event this year will occur at the Pastoral Center. Instead of the Mass, “we’re going to have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel,” Cullinan explained. “At any point people during the day, guests can be prayerful in the chapel, for a few minutes or even an hour. The spiritual component is so important to a catechist. To nurture the spiritual person is critical.”
Approximately 750 people are expected to attend the event. Exhibitors will also be on hand to sell items. Some authors will even be signing and selling their books.
“It is an enrichment for those who minister in our parishes or in our schools in the area of religious formation,” Cullinan said. “It’s a day for people involved in ministry in our parishes. Hopefully there’s at least one thing they can take back (from the Congress), either for themselves or for someone else.”
The registration deadline for the Catechetical
Congress is Nov. 12. The cost
is $30 per person. For more information,
call Pat Martin, (732) 562-1990, ext.
1310.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law