Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, April 26, 2001
The Southern Cross, Page 11
Evangelization and adult faith formation conference held
66
By Kathy Schmugge
[either catechesis nor evange-
N e
lization is possible without
the action of God working through
his Spirit,” is a quote from the Ge
neral Directory for Catechesis, the
main topic of discussion at the Evan
gelization and Adult Formation Con
ference, an event sponsored by the
dioceses of the Atlanta Province of
which Savannah is a member.
The conference was held March 24
and the guest speaker for the confer
ence, Joanne Chafe, provided a pro
ductive starting point for the prepara
tion process.
“Joanne did a tremendous job
breaking open the relationship of
adult formation and its relationship
with evangelization. Evangelization
and effective adult formation contin
ue to be ambiguous areas within the
Church. Joanne showed our partici
pants of the tremendous opportuni
ties that we have in our parishes
when we meet with adult groups in
whatever format that takes,” said
Charleston’s Paul Schroeder.
Chafe, the director of the National
Office of Religious Education and
project specialist for the Adult
Portfolio of the Canadian Conference
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of Catholic
Bishops, sparked
enthusiasm about
the Congregation
for the Clergy’s
General Directory
for Catechesis and
the topics con
tained within the
1997 revised edi
tion.
Chafe, also the
chairperson of the
International
Forum on Adult
Religious Education and past presi
dent of the Religious Education
Association of the U.S. and Canada,
gave a historic overview of the docu
ment followed by its basic outline.
She mentioned the ways the revised
edition addressed adult formation,
her particular area of speciality. For
instance, a major section was added
addressing the topic of nonparticipat
ing adults. There was also an under
lining message that the adult forma
tion should be central and should
wrap around the instruction of chil
dren and youth because of the pro
found influence a parent (and cate
chist) has on the young.
One of the parishes in the
Charleston Diocese that has taken a
lead in adult formation is Saint Peter
Church in Columbia. Under the
director of religious education, Karen
Dietz, a special position has been
developed for adult formation. Emily
Hero, its director, has been in the
post for just a year, and has already
initiated several special events
geared for the
adults. This
year they have
had The State
newspaper edi
torial page edi
tor, Brad
Warthen, facili
tate a book
review of
Cardinal Jo
seph Bemar-
din’s Gift of
Joanne Chafe, right, chats Peace and Dr
with a participant. Eleanor Lewis,
a retired professor in church history,
has been conducting a Scripture
study.
Chafe discussed the four major
themes found in the directory: cate
chesis in light of the church’s pri
mary mission of evangelization,
passing on the content of the faith,
effective methodology, and “organiz
ing and resourcing”catechetical
activities especially for adults.
She spent most of the morning dis
cussing the different “soils” or stages
of personal spiritual development
and how recognizing the three
stages— described as missionary
(not close or unaware of the Gospel),
catechetical activity (interested in the
faith) or the pastoral activity (a peri
od of spiritual maturity and
growth)—can be useful in selecting
the appropriate means of evangeliza
tion. “It is important to understand
the soil before you attempt to plant
the seeds because the wrong
approach can sometimes kill your
evangelization efforts,” said Chafe,
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who gave examples how people
should use their common sense and
take a “creative pastoral approach
that is respectful of the person” and
“look at how God works with them.”
As she went through the other
themes found in the directory, Chafe
discussed the topic of burnout, a cul
tural problem that can slow down
any evangelization effort, “You don’t
want to be a bad advertisement for
the Good News.” She suggested that
volunteers and especially leadership
take sabbaticals to renew their own
faith and recharge. In her parish, the
priest has a blessing ceremony not
only for those people in a ministry
but also for those stepping down. “It
is not a good witness to burnout,”
she said. “I have come to a discovery
in my life that there are people in our
community who are bored to death
and have very little to do and there
are other people who are nearly
burned out and going crazy. I think
the two need to be matched up bet
ter.”
With words of encouragement,
Chafe cautioned the group that some
times those who appear unmotivated
are not being approached in the right
manner. Through prayer and examin
ing the “soil” of the believer, she bel
ieves a connection is possible bec
ause, “human beings are open to God
by virtue of being human.”
Reprinted with
permission from
The New Catholic
Miscellany, the newspaper of
the Diocese of Charleston.
Diocese of Savannah Vocation Retreats
Vocatio Dei 2000, Session I, June 15-17. This weekend retreat is open to
any single adult man who is searching for God’s will for his life and is
open to the priesthood. (The minimum age is a rising junior in high
school.) The retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday
afternoon. It will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. There is no
cost to the participants.
Vocatio Dei 2000, Session II, June 6-9. This four-day combination sports
camp/retreat is for rising 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade boys. It is an opportu
nity to learn about different vocations, to grow in holiness and to have a
great time! The camp will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. Cost
is $35 or $50 for two boys from the same family.
Call to Holiness 2000, July 11-14. This four-day sports camp/retreat is the
same opportunity as Vocatio Dei Session II, except it is for girls. The camp
is for rising 7th-12th grade girls and will be held at Saint John’s Center in
Savannah. Older girls are also needed as counselors. Cost is $35 or $50 for
two girls from the same family.
For more information about these retreats, contact Father Brett Brannen
at 478-743-1454 or e-mail him at Frbrett@savannahpriest.com or
Aaron Killips at Bravesfan@Hotmail.com.
Vocatio Dei, Session I
Name
Age_
Address
Registration Form
Vocatio Dei, Session 11
Call to Holiness
Grade
Parish
City, State, Zip_
Tel. ( )
E-mail
Mail to: Vocation Office, 131 Ward Street, Macon, GA 31204.