Catechists from all over the archdiocese are invited to Transfiguration Church in Marietta for the annual Catechist Faith Formation Day that will be held on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Over 60 workshops will be offered and catechists who attend can receive credit toward their catechist certification for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. There will be workshops in English and Spanish.

Dominican Sister Rosa Peña will give a keynote address at 9 a.m. in English and at 12:15 p.m. in Spanish. A consultant for Sadlier Publishing, Sister Rosa is a former director of religious education for the Miami Archdiocese, where she was involved in assessing catechetical programs in English, Spanish and Creole. She developed a successful bilingual catechist certification program in Miami, established the catechumenate process there and has taught in the archdiocesan diaconate program and at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.

The theme for the day is “Agents of the New Evangelization: Ready, Set, Go!”

Sister Rosa will speak on evangelization as lived and shown by Jesus, “a two-way journey, both inward into the heart and outward into the world, to proclaim and to mediate the Kingdom of God. We’ll explore both paths in light of our … ministries.”

Parishes of the North and Northwest Metro Deaneries of the archdiocese host the conference each year. Last year over 600 catechists from 20 parishes attended. The deadline to register is Aug. 13. It won’t be possible to register at the door.

Spanish, English Workshops & Speakers

All the conference details and registration forms can be found at www.catechistconference.wordpress.com. Lunch is provided and childcare for children 18 months to 5 years old is available by reservation.

There are workshops for teachers serving different age groups and at all experience levels. Although the focus is on methodology, theology sessions are offered, especially for experienced catechists.

Topics by featured speakers include: applying the faith framework outlined by U.S. bishops when teaching teens, given by Michael Amodei, executive editor of adolescent catechesis at Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Ind.; and evangelizing the domestic church, a presentation by Dr. Patricia McCormack, IHM, on how parish leaders can help form and evangelize parents, who are the first teachers of the Gospel to their children, in their vocation.

Other featured speakers include Msgr. Patrick Bishop, Transfiguration pastor, on keeping faith alive; Dan Mulhall, of RCL Benziger publishers, on partnering with parents in teaching children the faith; Dennis Kurtz, of Saint Mary’s Press, on strategies for evangelizing youth; and Mark Dannenfelser, director of religious education at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Atlanta, on the possibility of catechesis rooted in contemplation and centering prayer.

A full range of workshops will be given by experienced catechists. A sampling of topics on methodology include: digital games in the classroom; digital lesson planning and presenting; “Come and follow me … on Twitter”; planting Catholic seeds in the hearts of preschoolers; tap into God’s power; service and justice in elementary school; methodology for Reconciliation and Eucharist; Bible methodology; “I Love This Class”—creating an environment for junior high students; praying with teens; storytelling; and engaging the disengaged.

Theology workshops include: what the church believes; Christology; proclaiming the Gospel of life; Catholics, Scripture and Vatican II; the Beatitudes; Jesus of the Synoptic Gospels; and the nature of grace.

The cost of the day is $10 a person for those from non-hosting parishes. The hosting parishes are Transfiguration, Marietta; St. Peter Chanel, Roswell; St. Thomas Aquinas, Alpharetta; St. Brigid, Johns Creek; St. Ann, Marietta; St. Catherine of Siena, Kennesaw; St. Joseph, Marietta; St. Jude, Atlanta; St. Michael the Archangel, Woodstock; Holy Family, Marietta; and St. Thomas the Apostle, Smyrna.

Sponsors include publishers of Catholic catechetics, Catholic book stores, the Office of Formation and Discipleship of the Atlanta Archdiocese, the Aquinas Center at Emory University and the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia.

What, Where & How:

‘Ready, Set, Go!’ Catechist Day

Transfiguration Church, Marietta

Saturday, Aug. 25—8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Visit: www.catechistconference.wordpress.com for details and registration form

Send form to: Joyce Guris

Transfiguration Catholic Church 1815 Blackwell Road

Marietta, GA 30066

before Aug. 13