Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education San Gabriel Pastoral Region. Fax: (626) Irwindale, CA

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2 Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education San Gabriel Pastoral Region Office: (626) East Cypress Avenue Fax: (626) Irwindale, CA Dear friends, It is with great joy that I invite you to our Annual San Gabriel Regional Congress on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Bishop Amat High School. It will be a day to come together to share many grace filled moments with one another. Our theme Everything is a Grace calls us to be attentive to God s gift of grace poured into every aspect of our lives. It is this gift of grace that transforms us and calls us to make a difference in the lives of others. You will have opportunities to grow in the knowledge of our faith and to deepen your spirituality by attending workshops that include gifted speakers, prayer, liturgical experiences and music. Additionally, you can shop from and interact with our exhibitors who offer a wide variety of resources. Therefore, I invite you to read through this registration book and select three workshops that will challenge you, help you in your ministry and will nourish your soul. I also invite you to share this information with others who might benefit from this enriching day. I look forward to welcoming you on October 15! Queridos amigos, Con gran entusiasmo los invito a nuestro Congreso de Educación Religiosa en la Región de San Gabriel que se llevará acabo el sábado 15 de octubre de 2011 en la escuela secundaria Bishop Amat. Será un día para unirnos para compartir unos con otros momentos llenos de gracia. Nuestro tema Todo es Gracia nos llama a estar atentos al regalo de gracia que Dios derrama en cada instancia de nuestras vidas. Es este reglo de gracia que nos transforma y nos llama a hacer una diferencia en la vida de los demás. Tendrán oportunidades para profundizar su espiritualidad al asistir talleres, momentos de oración y experiencias litúrgicas y música. Adicionalmente podrán comprar y interactuar con nuestros expositores quienes ofrecen una variedad de recursos. Les invito a leer este libro de inscripción y seleccionar tres talleres que les desafié, les ayude en su ministerio y algo que les nutre el alma. También les invito que compartan esta información con otras personas que podrían beneficiarse de este día de enriquecimiento. Espero con gusto poder saludarlos el 15 de octubre! Christina Lamas- Lujan, San Gabriel Regional Coordinator San Gabriel Pastoral Region Schedule ~ Horario ~ Horario 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Pre-registration ticket pick-up 7:30 Recoger a.m. - los 8:30 boletos a.m. de Pre-registration pre-inscripción ticket pick-up Recoger los boletos de pre-inscripción On-site registrations / Inscripciones en el lugar On-site registrations / Inscripciones en el lugar 8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Morning Praise // Oración de de la la Mañana Mañana 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Session 1 Workshops / Talleres Primera Sesión Sesión 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. Session 2 Workshops / Talleres / Talleres Segunda Segunda Sesión Sesión 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch - Exhibits / Almuerzo Exhibiciones 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Session 3 Workshops / Talleres / Tercera Tercera Sesión Sesión 4:00 p.m. Closing Liturgy / Liturgia Closing Liturgy / Liturgia

3 English Workshops Session 1: 9:30AM 11:00 AM 1-01 Young Adults: Myths, Reality, & Effective Ministry Douglas Leal 1-02 Moving with God's Grace Nicole Smith & Monica Luther 1-03 Finding God Everyday - At Home, at Work and at Play Steve Valenzuela 1-04 Leading Children to the Table of the Lord Helen Marie Slaton 1-05 Toolkit for Global Solidarity in the Classroom and Community Jim De Harpporte 1-06 There s a Little Saint in every Child! Kathy Ritza 1-07 Will and Grace Pati Hope 1-08 The Joy Of Catechizing Eileen Fewless 1-09 Nourishing Relationships in Overwhelming Times (Part 1 of 2) Paige Marrs 1-10 Understanding Homosexuality in a Catechetical Context Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics 1-11 ADS, ID, ADD, ADHD, & IEPs: A Look at the Dis-abilities behind the Special Education Alphabet Soup Giorgia Diomedes 1-12 Working Together: Getting Parents Involved in the Confirmation Process and Youth Ministry! Michael Norman 1-13 St. Thérèse: A Model for our Lives Kay Murdy 1-14 Memoirs of a VBS Survivor Melanie Bailey 1-15 Visions and Hopes: Lifelong Faith Formation Sr. Edith Prendergast 1-16 Families in Formation Msgr. Timothy Nichols & Christina Alba Session 2: 11:30AM 1:00 PM 2-01 Nourishing Relationships in Overwhelming Times (Part 2 of 2) Paige Marrs 2-02 Encountering the Other: The Possibilities for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue Today Fr. Alexei Smith 2-03 We're on a Mission of God! Ken Deasy 2-04 Strategies for Preparing Young People to Celebrate Eucharist with the New Translation of the Roman Missal Dale Sieverding 2-05 Special Needs Catechesis Scott & Cynthia Mauriss 2-06 Children's Liturgy of the Word Dione Grillo 2-07 Pax Christi as a Model of Social Justice Education, Ministry and Action Fr. Christopher Ponnet 2-08 Is that you God? Msgr. James Forsen 2-09 Calling All Adults! Anne Hansen 2-10 What they Say & What you might Say Mary Lou McGee 2-11 Ministry Leadership: Grace Under Fire Maria-Elena Cardeña 2-12 Stewards of the Door: The Gift of a Gracious Death Jim Carper 2-13 God Help Me! Coping with the Challenges of Parenting! Marilyn Krock 2-14 God Is My Co-Worker: Developing a Spirituality of Work Douglas Leal 2-15 Embrace God's Call To Generosity Through The Sacraments! Peggy Pigors 2-16 Creative Catechetics and the Liturgical Cycle Steve Valenzuela Session 3: 2:15 PM 3:45 PM 3-01 The Summer Immersion Alternative for Religious Education of Children Dione Grillo 3-02 The Power of Praying For Others Bobby Vidal 3-03 Grace Under Pressure; Navigating the Unexpected in Parish Leadership Juliette Marsh 3-04 The Use of Paper Folding and Everyday Objects to Enhance the Study of Scripture. Judy Walsh 3-05 Nuts and Bolts, Odds and Ends Peggy Pigors 3-06 Good Morning Students" uh... oops NOW what?! Liz Moran 3-07 How a Rabbi/Scientist Views Religion, God, and Belief. Rabbi Michael Lotker 3-08 Music Ministers - Getting Ready for the New Roman Missal Donna Morris-Barnes 3-09 Creating Holy Ground Mary Lou McGee 3-10 Strategies for Developing Parish Youth Ministry Katie Zeigler 3-11 "Faith Formation Hollywood Style. No, Seriously!" Joan Doyle 3-12 A New Day! Sue Ballotti 3-13 Understanding Autism Carrie Sebenius 3-14 The Directory for Masses with Children Today! Dale Sieverding Youth Track: Teen Peer Leaders YT 1 YT 2 YT 3 Spirituality and Prayer life of the Peer Leader What, Me Holy??!! Giving Witness with Our Life in Serving Jesus as we Serve our Peers An inventory of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit Nancy Longo and St. Bernard Core Team

4 Talleres en Español Sesión 1: 9:30AM 11:00 AM 1-17 Pablo de Tarso: Mensajero Inagotable de la Buena Nueva en el Imperio Romano. Cesar Padilla 1-18 Juegos Interactivos para el Uso en su Salón de Clases de Catequesis: Béisbol, Baloncesto, y Pictionary. Lanette Morgan 1-19 Herramientas para Campamentos y Retiros para Jóvenes Equipo de Confirmación Arquidiocesano 1-20 Los Cuentos del Reino de Dios Juan José Ferman 1-21 Una Nueva Catequesis para una Nueva Evangelización Victor Escalante 1-22 Entrenando Discípulos: para que los Niños sean como- Jesús Víctor Valenzuela 1-23 Necesito más Tiempo! Michael Rivera & Jennifer Vargas 1-24 Cristología para Laicos José Antonio Medina 1-25 Rezando con los Jóvenes Ida Miranda 1-26 A la Mesa Eucarística del Señor con el Nuevo Misal Romano P. Richard Vega 1-27 Secretos Revelados de las Pandillas? El Equipo Arquidiocesano de Pastoral Juvenil 1-28 Realizando Potenciales, Proporcionando Oportunidades Juan Pablo Miramontes 1-29 El Coraje de ser Positivo Héctor Quiroz 1-30 Ministros de Música - Preparación para el Nuevo Misal Romano Anna Betancourt Sesión 2: 11:30AM 1:00 PM 2-17 Digan lo que Digan las/los Demás Lourdes Gonzales Rubio 2-18 Hacia un Nuevo Paradigma en la Catequesis Víctor Escalante 2-19 Un Mundo sin Drogas, la Adicción un Vacío Interior Luis Díaz 2-20 Amor, el Lenguaje mas Importante del Catequista Héctor Quiroz 2-21 Vida y Legado del Beato Juan Pablo II Ernesto Vega 2-22 Dinámicas para Jóvenes de Confirmación Atrévete a Participar! Equipo de Confirmación Arquidiocesano 2-23 Jesús es el Señor Carlos A. Ruiz 2-24 Entendiendo la Homosexualidad en un Contexto Catequético El Ministerio con Lesbianas y Homosexuales 2-25 La Celebración Litúrgica y Año Cristiano Angeles Martinez 2-26 El Misal Romano en Inglés, en Español, en Latín... P. Manuel Sanahuja 2-27 El Reino de Dios Heriberto Cayetano 2-28 Construyendo el Reino de Dios José Antonio Medina 2-29 Los Retos del Catequista del Siglo XXI Fernando Baeza 2-30 El Rito de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos: La Joya Perdida y Olvidada P. Richard Vega 2-31 La Catequesis sin Dinámicas no es Catequesis Juan Jose Ferman Sesión 3: 2:15 PM 3:45 PM 3-17 Como Aplicar tus Talentos Especiales para Catequizar Niños Excepcionales Jennifer Ayon 3-18 La Evangelización Moderna Ante el Reto de la Indiferencia. Fernando Baeza 3-19 En el Servir Hay Verdadera Vida Lucy Boutte 3-20 Materiales e Ideas Prácticas para Enseñar a los Niños Acerca de la Eucaristía. Claudia Cortez 3-21 Como Mejorar la Comunicación entre Padres e Hijos Luis Diaz 3-22 Qué Quieres que Haga por Ti? (LC 18:35-43) Sr. Luz Dari Villera 3-23 El Otro yo del Dr. Marengo Lourdes Gonzales Rubio 3-24 "Ojala Fueras Frío O Caliente Ap 3,15b Beatriz Yepes 3-25 Como Protegerse del Fin del Mundo? Alberto Embry 3-26 La Espiritualidad Indígena, el Calendario Maya, y lo que la Gente dice del Fin del Mundo en el Ernesto Vega 3-27 La Catequesis como Proceso Angeles Martinez 3-28 Como Hacer Oración con Jóvenes de Confirmación Equipo de Confirmación Arquidiocesano 3-29 Conócete-Acéptate-Supérate José Antonio Medina 3-30 RICA: Etapa de la Cuaresma a la Pascua P. Manuel Sanahuja 3-31 Testigos y Servidores de su Palabra Victor Escalante

5 Session 1 9:30 AM 11:00 AM 1-01 Young Adults: Myths, Reality, & Effective Ministry There are many myths and misunderstandings about young adults, those age 18 to 39. Come learn the truth from young adults themselves and explore how we can minister effectively to this critical but under-served group. Douglas Leal is the Coordinator for Adult Faith Formation and Young Adult Ministry with the Office of Religious Education, and was formerly the Director of Ministries for St. Sebastian Church in West Los Angeles. He is also a professional actor, director and previously worked as a management consultant. Douglas received his Master s Degree from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He is the author of the skill-building book for lectors, Stop Reading and Start Proclaiming! 1-02 Moving with God's Grace Come explore and experience God's grace through movement. As we adapt our liturgy to the new translation of the Missal this Advent season, discover how this unique ministry can help foster a renewal of faith and a deeper appreciation for our Eucharist celebration. Come dressed in comfortable shoes and clothes so you can fully participate! Nicole Smith & Monica Luther have been dancing, choreographing and educating in this ministry for more than a decade. Both have extensive experience coordinating movement for a variety of parishes throughout Southern California. Monica and Nicole had the honor of dancing at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in various liturgies, prayer services and concerts Finding God Everyday - At Home, At Work and at Play Together, we will explore how we can experience God in everyday events. We will look at Scripture, some teachings of the Saints and at our own experiences to uncover the divine mystery that is just below the surface of everything we see, everything we touch and everything we do. Steve Valenzuela is currently Director of the Office of Small Faith Communities and a Master Catechist in the Diocese of San Bernardino. He holds a Master s Degree in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University. Raised in the Archdiocese, Steve has served in the Diocese of San Bernardino for the past 24 years in various parish and diocesan positions Leading Children to the Table of the Lord This hands on workshop will assist catechists to help the students have a better understanding of the Mass by participation in games, activities, and other projects that help a student learn by doing. Participants should come dressed in informal clothes. Helen Marie Slaton works as the Associate Director of Faith Formation at St. Monica Parish in Santa Monica. This is the beginning of her 16th year in the parish. Marie is a Master Catechist. She graduated from the LMU Bible Institute. Her creative ideas have been published nationally and they were presented by Steven Ellair at the Anaheim Religious Education Congress. Youth Track: Teen Peer Leaders YT 1 Spirituality and Prayer Life of the Peer Leader What, Me Holy???!!! Come experience tried and true prayers and maybe some new ways to pray! Staying connected to Jesus, our source, is the way to get out of God s way and let God lead through us! We are called to holiness at our baptism! Let us answer that call with all that we are! YT 2 Giving Witness with our Life in Serving Jesus as we Serve our Peers Many adults think young people only think about themselves, but studies prove that high school students today are very service oriented. St. Francis of Assisi said speak the Gospel at all times, only use words when necessary. This workshop will give young people skills and practical suggestions on how to share their witness story, not in just words but by their lives. YT 3 An Inventory of the Gifts Given by the Holy Spirit Why do we bother spending our time being peer leaders? When we use the gifts God has given us in the service of others, we will experience perks and benefits from the Holy Spirit.namely the fruits of the Spirit, in particular JOY!!! Nancy Longo has been Youth Director for the past 17 years at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bellflower. She serves on the Archdiocesan Confirmation Directional Team and is a Christian Leadership Institute Director and Signed and Anointed to Witness Director. She has her National Certificate for Youth Ministry and is a Master Catechist. The St. Bernard Core Team has been leading retreats and leadership training for the past 4 years.

6 Session 1 9:30 AM 11:00 AM 1-05 Toolkit for Global Solidarity in the Classroom and Community Reaching out in solidarity with the poor around the world is at the heart of the gospel message. Is it a part of your classroom or parish ministry? In this workshop we will share practical ways to help our children, teens and community enrich their understanding of and actively participate in global solidarity with our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. Together we will build your solidarity toolkit using resources and programs offered by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the formal emergency relief and international development agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. Jim DeHarpporte is the Regional Director for Catholic Relief Services in the Western United States, based in San Diego. A native of Minneapolis, Jim holds a Bachelor s Degree in Philosophy and a Master s Degree in Community Development. For nearly 30 years he served with CRS in Asia and Africa. Since 2002 Jim has been the Regional Director of CRS West based in San Diego There s a Little Saint in Every Child! Take a journey with St. Lucy through Advent, St. Patrick and St. Joseph through Lent and Mary and the Saints through out the Liturgical year. We'll look at fun and interesting activities and interactive prayers to enhance your lessons as you share your faith with the children in your care. Kathy Ritza is currently the Director of Faith Formation at St. Denis Church in Diamond Bar, CA. She has been in catechetical ministry for over 25 years, has experience as a retreat director, is a Master Catechist with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and is a consultant for Pflaum Publishing Will and Grace At times, does it feel like God s grace isn t flowing at all? Is our will getting in the way of God s grace? In this workshop we will discuss and find solutions to some of the frustrations in our ministries. Pati Hope After 30 years of marriage, 4 children and a long career with the Church, life as she knew it began to fall apart. That s when she began her search to find meaning in her life. Pati Hope is a traveling author and founder of Evolve to Live. Her passion has become supporting others through life s many transitions. Included in her education, she holds a Specialized Certificate from Loyola in Parish Life & Administration The Joy of Catechizing How to "cook up" a great lesson; the possibilities are endless. Your textbook is your cookbook but you will learn how to add extra spices, amazing side dishes, and end with an incredible dessert inspired by the Holy Spirit. Come an explore ways to make your classes nourishing and fun! Eileen Fewless is a consultant for RCLBenziger and a DRE at St. Bernardine in Woodland Hills Nourishing Relationships in Overwhelming Times (Part 1 of 2 ~ continued in workshop 2-01) In this 2-session workshop, you ll learn the secret to great relationships the keys to experiencing an uncommon depth of love and connection with the important people in your life, even in difficult times. First, you ll gain new insights that by themselves will immediately unlock shortcuts to making your relationships better. You ll also discover simple methods for transforming the stresses and misunderstandings that trouble your sense of wellbeing, plus keys to avoiding those challenges in the first place! This 2-session workshop is fun, inspiring, and transformative. You'll walk away with insights and tools so you can readily: Recognize (and avoid!) the hidden pitfalls behind reoccurring relationship problems at home and work Restore heart-felt communication after painful disconnects Turn-around a conversation-gone-bad before it creates serious problems Approach a touchy topic with confidence and wisdom so you have a mutually satisfying conversation instead of a mess Access a peaceful center within yourself to reduce your own stress and provide stability for others Establish love-infused communication so your relationships are a palpable aspect of your spiritual life At the completion of this 2-session workshop, you ll have what you need to enjoy dramatically better relationships filled with joy, empathy, and spiritual uplift, even when times are most challenging. Paige Marrs, PhD, helps individuals, teams, and workshop participants achieve deeper meaning and success in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. Her concepts are easy to learn and easy to apply, and her clients experience remarkable results. Her fees are flexible, especially for people who are dedicated to service. Dr. Marrs holds a masters in Human Development and a doctorate in Human and Organizational Systems. Her work reflects cutting-edge communication techniques and emerging knowledge from the neurosciences with her own research and decades of professional and spiritual practice. For more info visit: Understanding Homosexuality in a Catechetical Context An interactive discussion regarding Homosexuality and Church teachings to foster understanding, embrace and evangelize our Catholic Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters. The Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics (MLGC) recognizes that all persons with a homosexual orientation are capable of living a full Catholic life in union with all the members of the Church. MLGC calls on concerned Catholics and all people of goodwill to know and share in the challenges, burdens, and blessings of homosexual persons living a Christian life within the Catholic tradition.

7 Session 1 9:30 AM 11:00 AM 1-11 ADS, ID, ADD, ADHD, & IEPs: A Look at the Disabilities behind the Special Education Alphabet Soup Passing on our faith is a challenge. We try to create interesting, engaging, memorable experiences for the children with whom we work. What happens when we are faced with a child who has a disability? In this session participants will be given encouragement and confidence in working with children having special needs. Catechists will be provided a general overview, characteristics, and common behaviors of some prevalent disabilities as well as how to address, include, and incorporate children with these disabilities. Giorgia Diomedes is currently working as the Inclusion Facilitator of ABC Unified School District supporting teachers and paraprofessionals to develop appropriate and helpful strategies for working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other behavioral or physical difficulties. She is a Behavior Intervention Case Manager and has her Master s degree Working Together: Getting Parents Involved in the Confirmation Process and Youth Ministry! All ministry with high school students must include an outreach to their entire family. This has been stressed in Church documents for years. Getting parents involved in the faith journey of their children should be a priority of all catechetical efforts - especially in Confirmation and Youth Ministry. Come learn how to involve parents in your work with young people. Michael Norman is the Associate Director for the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Mike holds a Masters Degree in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University. Mike works closely with over 280 parishes in the Los Angeles area to develop strong youth programs and confirmation programs. He has been working with youth for over 25 years. Mike served on the Board of Directors for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry for five years. He is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, but is happy to call Los Angeles his home St. Thérèse: A Model for our Lives This workshop will explore the profound spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a French Carmelite nun who died at the age of 24 at the end of the 19th century and later declared a Doctor of the Church. Her writings will arouse us to strive for richer and fuller lives for ourselves and those we teach. Kay Murdy has a Master's Degree in Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary's College, and is a Master Catechist for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Kay is a member of the teaching and coordinating team of the Catholic Bible Institute co-sponsored by the Archdiocese Office of Religious Education and Loyola Marymount University. Kay offers conferences and retreats on scripture, liturgy and spirituality in parishes and retreat centers. Kay writes a monthly commentary on the Sunday readings for Ministry and Liturgy magazine. In addition, she has written five books on scripture and spirituality for Resource Publications, and one for Ligouri Publications Memoirs of a VBS Survivor Mentally exhausted, physically drained, hoarse, sore, and spiritually ON FIRE...that is the feeling of a "survivor" on the last day of Vacation Bible School (VBS)! Come and hear one first hand account of the VBS experience - from apprehensively organizing her first one to excitedly bringing VBS to her new parish. Involved in five summer VBS programs, Melanie will share practical tips from initial planning to final day celebrations. All are welcome- newbies to VBS and VBS veterans with survival stories to swap! Melanie Bailey has been involved in parish ministries for over 10 years. She is currently the Coordinator of Catechetical Programs for Holy Name of Mary Parish in San Dimas. A graduate of two Jesuit schools (Bachelor's Degree from LMU and Master s Degree in Theology from USF), she loves Ignatian spirituality and brings the practicality of it to her parish work. Melanie considers her most important ministry being Mom to her two young children Visions and Hopes: Lifelong Faith Formation The session will envision lifelong faith formation with special emphasis on adults at the center. We are called to attend to the adult church knowing that if we provide excellence for adults it will filter down and out to children and youth. How then do we educate and evangelize for a living faith for the whole community? What are the hopes, dreams and challenges for engaging in this enterprise? Sr. Edith Prendergast is currently the Director of Religious Education of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and directs the Annual Religious Education Congress. This event attracts over 40,000 participants annually. She holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Claremont School of Theology, and a Master's Degree in Theology from Boston College. She is a frequent speaker nationally and locally and has written and contributed to several articles on Spirituality and Catechesis Families in Formation This workshop will present theology and methods for engaging the entire family in the religious education process and evangelization. Msgr. Timothy Nichols has been Pastor of St. John Vianney Parish for nine years. Before his assignment at St. John Vianney, he was the Pastor at St. James Parish in Redondo Beach for 12 years. Msgr. Nichols has served as the head of Council of Priests for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and works closely with Spiritual Direction at St. John s Seminary in priestly formation. He received his Master s Degrees in Divinity and in Religion at St. John s Seminary and has been involved in Master Catechist training in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Cristina Alba is the Director of Religious Education at St. John Vianney in Hacienda Heights. Her prior work as an elementary school teacher as well as a catechist for the past 10 years have helped her develop a successful Family Catechesis program at the parish. She is also currently involved in the Advanced Catechetical Ministries through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

8 Session 2 11:30 AM 1:00 PM 2-01 Nourishing Relationships in Overwhelming Times (Part 2 of 2) Paige Marrs, Ph.D (See Workshop 1-09) 2-02 Encountering the other: The Possibilities for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue Today This workshop will explore the vast realm of possibilities for parishes to be involved in Ecumenical and Interreligious endeavors. Pope Benedict recently defined Ecumenism as a "moral imperative:" How can we live that imperative on a parish level? Fr. Alexei Smith, a Greek Catholic priest and Los Angeles native, was assigned in 1987 to serve two small Eastern Catholic communities in El Segundo, California: St. Andrew Russian Greek Catholic Church and St. Paul Melkite Greek Catholic Mission. In 2000, Rev. Smith was appointed Director of the Office of Ecumemical and Interreligious Affairs for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, making him the first Greek Catholic priest to head an archdiocesan office Special Needs Catechesis What a rewarding experience working with God s little angels! Children with special needs are given the opportunity to participate in Mass and comprehend religious education through hands-on modifications. It is true that teaching children with special needs can be challenging. Therefore let s have some fun and bring learning to life by using visual support, creating meaning, and by using tactile techniques. These personalized modifications are implemented in the classroom to help students in reaching their Sacraments. Our goal is to provide a positive and meaningful environment for our students. Don t miss out! Come and participate as Catechism comes to life! Scott & Cynthia Mauriss are currently the Directors of the Special Needs Ministry at St. Denis Parish in Diamond Bar. They are husband and wife catechists with the Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and teaching credentials in Special Education Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe Disabilities from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. They are experienced in Applied Behavior Analysis, Floortime Therapy, and community integration We're on a Mission of God! The Evangelized is to Evangelize: Everything we do is bringing the Mission of God's Care to others. Whether it be teaching, preaching, cleaning, cooking, bingo, carnivals...it is ALL for the purpose of evangelizing...bringing people to experience God in their lives! Particular interest will be paid on actual experiences of God's love in Port-AU-Prince Haiti. Ken Deasy Fr. Ken, author of Get off the Cross; Someone else Needs the Wood (Amazon.com) is a hands on, down to earth evangelizer who helps the catechist identify their own Faith-Experiences so they can teach with the authority of experience. As the Director of the Holy Childhood Association, he travels throughout the Archdiocese speaking to students, teacher/catechists and parishes on the experience of Catholic Missions in over 90 countries; 1150 (Arch)dioceses. Recently, the HCA directed 100% of its $450,000 raised to emergency relief of children and their families in Haiti! 2-04 Strategies for Preparing Young People to Celebrate Eucharist with the New Translation of the Roman Missal The First Sunday of Advent 2011 is fast approaching. How are we preparing our children to embrace the new language of the Liturgy so they can pray, worship and be formed in the Church's tradition. Dale Sieverding, Ph.D is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Monica Catholic Community responsible for directing the Worship Life of a large progressive community on the West Side of Los Angeles. He serves on the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission and is an active member of the Liturgical Formation Committee. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy from San Anselmo in Rome Children's Liturgy of the Word Children s Liturgy of the Word/Liturgy of the Word for Children is LITURGY, but we don't always approach this vital part of parish life from that perspective. In 90-minutes, we will walk our way through a proven, successful model of this ministry that is both age and developmentally appropriate, experiential in nature, and reverent in its liturgical expression. You will also be invited to set an appointment for a one-on-one review and a discussion of formation and training options within three months following the workshop! Dione Grillo is the Consultant for Elementary Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, formerly the Director of Children's Ministry at St. John Eudes Church in Chatsworth, CA. While her educational background prepared her to attend law school, she opted instead to answer the call to service. She has served on the Early Childhood Board for 9 years and has presented workshops at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Regional Congresses, and parishes Pax Christi as a Model of Social Justice Education, Ministry and Action Using international, national and local resources of Pax Christi for small group and school faith sharing and actions for justice. Fr. Christopher Ponnet was ordained Los Angeles Archdiocese in Since 1995 he has been the Pastor and Chaplain at St. Camilus Center for Spiritual Care, as well as, the Director of the Office of Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry, Board of Death Penalty Focus, Pax Christi USA, Angel Interfaith Network, MLGC Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics and Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.