SPECIAL TO THE MESSAGE
“From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others” (St. John Paul II).
During this time of Eucharistic Revival, the Office of Catechesis invites all catechists, RCIA team members, youth ministers, parish catechetical leaders, pastors, principals and teachers to join us Aug. 26 for Formation Day – a day to learn, pray, collaborate, renew, and celebrate our call to catechize and evangelize.
This year’s theme is “The Heart of the Catechist: Abiding in the Eucharistic Jesus.”
This past June marked the one-year anniversary of the Eucharistic Revival, an initiative that brought forth reinvigorated attention and a clear focus toward the Source and Summit of our faith. It is often easy to ride the highs of the Spiritual Life, only to allow that enthusiasm to fade as we move back into the ordinary moments of the day-to-day. But the ordinary is precisely where we must learn to thrive!
Jesus makes clear to his disciples the need to stay connected to Him at all points of our lives: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). Our Lord continues, telling us that we must follow his commandments to remain abiding in him: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and all your strength” (Lk. 10:27); and “love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).
Our celebration of the Eucharist at Mass is rightfully the heart of our discipleship and mission. But let us not forget that we are also sent forth from each Mass to invite all people to abide in Christ as well.
This year’s keynote speaker is Nashville Dominican Sister Mary Rachel Capets, Sister Mary Rachel is a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia. She entered religious life in 1996 and has taught elementary and high school throughout the U.S. and in Australia. Sister Mary Rachel currently serves as the Local Prioress of St. Cecilia Motherhouse in Nashville, and as the Director of the Pilgrimage program at Aquinas College in Nashville. She earned her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, Sydney, studying the impact of pilgrimage on the faith of the Catholic educator.
We hope you will be able to join us for the day. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Catechesis at 812 424-5536, extension 228, or email [email protected].
Sister Mary Rachel will be joined by outstanding presenters for breakout sessions. Bishop Joseph M. Siegel will join us for the opening prayer. The schedule for the day appears with this preview. Vendors will also be on hand offering participants the opportunity to view current catechetical resources, books for personal reflection and religious gifts. An expanded version of the schedule, description of sessions, list of presenters and registration may be found online at: https://www.evdio.org/formation-day.html.
Schedule for the Day
8-8:20 a.m. Registration/ Hospitality
8:30-8:50 a.m. Welcome and Prayer
8:50-9:50 a.m. Keynote No. 1: "The Heart of the Catechist: Abiding in the Eucharistic Jesus"/Tema Central: Rev. Martín Estrada
10-11 a.m. Breakout Sessions
11-11:50 a.m. Lunch
12-1 p.m. Breakout Sessions
1:10- 1:50 p.m. Keynote No. 2: "Abide in Me, and I in You: A Guided Meditation"/Meditación y Oración
2 p.m. Closing