In year-ending fashion, we are reviewing the top eight posts of the year.

In reviewing the year, I re-discovered this inspiring message:

Thursday, 01 May, 2008
FEATHER ON THE BREATH OF GOD
   Remembering, of course, that we who serve in youth ministry must absolutely also serve as catechists . . . listen to the closing comments from Gerald Baumbach as he received an award from NCCL:
    The last scene in the movie Forrest Gump captures the movement of a feather carried skyward by the wind. I like to think of this image as a reminder of the 12th century mystic Hildegard of Bingen’s own self-reflection as what is commonly described as “a feather on the breath of God.”
    May we have the wisdom and the courage to be moved by the breath of God, not floating aimlessly beyond or above reality, but intentionally embracing the movement of life, one community with many gifts, rich in common witness to the living and dynamic faith we profess. We do this motivated by the ongoing transformation of catechetical opportunities for all of life within a culturally rich Church more diverse than yesterday and less diverse than tomorrow, and remembering that, in the words of the NDC, “the incarnation of the only Son of God is the original inculturation of God’s word” (21).
   And so I propose an end to the immobilizing sentences, “I am only a catechetical leader” or “I am just a catechist.” No, never say just, never say only! A catechetical leader carries gospel and life, faith and sustenance. A catechist is never “just anything,” but like Hildegard, is “a feather on the breath of God.”
   Carry forward the word, be responsive to the call and breath of the Holy Spirit, and remain confident and secure for the journey. After all, you just might end up in Emmaus. Our eyes are opened now, our burning hearts afire in the Son, made known to us “in the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:35). We aptly recall from today’s Gospel one of Jesus’ “I am” statements: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

We are concluding the series of videos from the the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.

This video played during the Closing Blessing and Commissioning session of the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis, November 5 - 8, 2008 in Baltimore, MD.

Learn more about the National Symposium at www.adolescentcatechesis.org

Throughout this week we will be running the videos from the the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.

Here is the video video for Session 18 in which teens respond to the following specific questions: What gifts do young people bring to the Church?

Learn more about the National Symposium at www.adolescentcatechesis.org

Throughout this week we will be running the videos from the the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.

Here is the video for Session 14 which was designed to lead us into our next steps for the future.

Learn more about the National Symposium at www.adolescentcatechesis.org

Throughout this week we will be running the videos from the the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.

Here is the video for Session 12 - The Formators of Our Faith.  Teens answer the following questions:

> Who taught you the most about your faith?
> What qualities or techniques make this person stand out as a great teacher?
This video is used as a precursor to facilitating dialogue around the specific question:

What are the skills, knowledge and abilities that are needed in those forming the faith of young people in order to help develop the desired characteristics in young people?

Learn more about the National Symposium at www.adolescentcatechesis.org

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The universal urging of the heart is to find home and home is much more than the surface architecture of a house. It really is important to recognize that structures are needed but those structures are there in order to be safe and to provide shelter. So that home-building could happen once the house-building is done.

So says today’s podcast guest, Dr. Michael Horan, professor of religious education and pastoral theology at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Los Angeles. Michael was a presenter and a collaborator at the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.  He lead a session (this is the article referred to in the podcast) as well as a earlier work. 

Michael reminds us: Whatever it is that we are to do; a big vision will also quickly admit that there are many, many ways to reach that vision and the ways would be dependent upon the very people whom we seek to serve and with whom and for whom we minister.

Throughout this week we will be running the videos from the the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.

Here is the video for Session 7 in which teens reflect and answer the specific questions: On a scale of 1 - 10, how well do you know what it means to be Catholic and what is making a difference for you in that rating.  What would you like to learn more about regarding the faith?

Learn more about the National Symposium at www.adolescentcatechesis.org

Hey, folks, videos from the full adolescent catechesis symposium are beginning to pop-up at virtual symposium site and at MyCatholicVoice.    No, it is not my synopsis or the "Three Guys" stuff seen earlier,but the full deal! Here’s the links:

> Introduction into Session 1 - Overview of the Symposium Process led by Dr. Robert McCarty. here

> The opening address at the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis delivered by Dr. Michael Horan. here

> Session 4 discussion in which panelists address critical contemporary questions and issues that relate to culture and adolescent territory. here

> Session 5 fishbowl dialogue facilitated by Lee Nagel utilizing questions submitted by the participant groups. here

> Bishop Richard Malone delivers a presentation on the Well Formed Adolescent. here

> Session 12 fishbowl dialogue on the key question: "What are the skills, knowledge and abilities that we need in those forming the faith of young people in order to help develop the desired characteristics in young people?" here

> Dr Thomas Groome delivers the Session 10 presentation titled "The Church Speaks: Outcomes for Effective Catechesis" here

>  Sean Reynolds delivers the Session 15 presentation titled "Getting There from Here: What is Stopping Us?" here

Throughout this week we will be running the videos from the the National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis.

Here is the video used to facilitate discussion for Session 3 - Summary of Key Insights and Considerations on Adolescent Faith Formation.

Learn more about the National Symposium at www.adolescentcatechesis.org

The National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis wrapped up a weekend ago.  Here a compilation video of shot that I shot while there. We’ll be running video throughout this week on this (see below.)  Here’s how our Catholic Review reported it:

Megan Nappi didn’t mince words as she sat in a circle with young adults from Baltimore and Washington, surrounded by some of the nation’s leading adolescent catechesis experts. Asked what advice she would give on teen formation, The University of Maryland student and parishioner of Millersville’s Our Lady of the Fields told the 100 attendees of the four-day National Symposium on Adolescent Catechesis, “Don’t water it down.”

The response drew audible gasps, and even applause, from the gathering of academics, educators, youth ministers, bishops, practitioners and other leaders. The symposium was a project of three national Catholic youth formation groups brought together in one organization called the Partnership for Adolescent Catechesis. Read more here.

If you have not familiarized yourself with www.adolescentcatechesis.org, ladies and gentlemen, now is the time.  The Virtual Symposium should soon be up!   Check it out.