Archdiocese of Boston 
Office of Religious Education
Oficina de Educación Religiosa

66 Brooks Drive
Braintree, Massachusetts 02184
617-779-3625

Our Mission Statement ~ 
Committed to the ministry of the Word centered in the person of Jesus Christ, the Office of Religious Education strives to lead people to an ever more intimate communion with the Triune God

 ·    The Office of Religious Education is delegated by the Archbishop to provide leadership in the catechetical mission of the Archdiocese of Boston.   

• The Office of Religious Education promotes excellence in catechesis, that is, the life long Christian formation of the total person in heart, mind and will.  The Office fosters a deep and systematic knowledge of the person and message of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the Catholic Church, so that the faith of the maturing believer becomes ever more living, explicit, fruitful, conscious and active.

• The Office of Religious Education supports the parishes of the Archdiocese by motivating, encouraging and preparing parish leaders and catechists for their mission of life-long formation of adults, youth and children toward the fullness of Catholic life, taking seriously our obligation to serve the new people of God who are arriving in large numbers.  The Office plans, develops, implements and evaluates programs designed to serve parishes in an effective manner.

• The Office of Religious Education is committed to collaboration with other Archdiocesan agencies, especially with those responsible for elements of the Church’s mission closely related to the six basic tasks of religious education.  These tasks are:

1.    promoting knowledge of the faith 
2.    liturgical education 
3.    moral formation 
4.    teaching people to pray 
5.    education for community life taking “special note of the ecumenical dimension”  
6.     missionary initiation including catechesis for inter-religious dialogue.
                                                                                     (General Directory for Catechesis ch. 3, #85)
January,  2011

Welcome 
from Susan Abbott
Director, Office of Religious Education

Welcome to the Religious Education Office Home Page. This Office exists to support our parishes in their religious education ministry. Our Holy Father Benedict XVI, the writings of  Pope John Paul II, and the Bishops of the Catholic Church all have stated strongly that parish religious education is a life-long process of formation in the Catholic faith.  The Office of Religious Education offers resources for teaching the faith to adults, children and youth. We look forward to hearing from you.

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Get to know us...

Mrs. Janet Benestad
Cabinet Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization

Ms. Susan Lang Abbott
 Director of Religious Education
617-746-5854
Susan_Abbott@rcab.org

Ms. Susan J. Kay 
Assistant Director for Catechetical Leadership
617-746-5861
Susan_Kay@rcab.org

Ms. M. Pilar Latorre
Assistant Director for Catechesis with Hispanics 
617-746-5862
Pilar_Latorre@rcab.org

Mr. Robert Kavanaugh
Administrative Assistant
617-779-3625   
Robert_Kavanaugh@rcab.org

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Calendar

Check back often. Events and activities are added as soon as a date is confirmed.

September 8 Thursday	RCIA 101:  The Vision and Principles  of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults   Dr. Jerry Galipeau, D.Min.		The workshop will run twice:  1:00-3:30 and  repeated 7:00-9:30 p.m.	Pastoral Center, Braintree
SEPTEMBER 18 ~ CATECHETICAL SUNDAY ~  DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME
September 21 Wednesday	Orientation for new Parish Catechetical Leaders		10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Pastoral Center, Braintree
October 5 Wednesday	Congress Committee Meeting		10:00-Noon Please let Rob Kavanaugh know if you are planning to come: Robert_Kavanaugh@rcab.org	Pastoral Center, Braintree
October 12 Wednesday	Confirmation Workshop Father Jonathan Gaspar Director of the Office for Divine Worship	Choose ONE meeting time and place most convenient Register with Robert_Kavanaugh@rcab.org read: Preparing for Confirmation: Resources and Guidelines (2002) RCAB Light refreshments will be served at each meeting.	11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	St. Brigid Parish, Lexington 2001 Massachusetts Ave. Link to googlemap: http://www.stbrigidlexington.org/StBrigid/webPage.aspx?OfficeInfo
October 13 Thursday	Confirmation Workshop Father Jonathan Gaspar		11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Pastoral Center, Braintree
October 15 Saturday	Confirmation Workshop Father Jonathan Gaspar		9:00 - 11:30 a.m.	St. Michael Parish, N. Andover directions: http://www.saint-michael.org/index.html
October 18 Tuesday	Confirmation Workshop Father Jonathan Gaspar		6:30 - 9:00 p.m.	St. Athanasius Parish, Reading directions: http://www.rc.net/boston/stathanasius
December 6 Tuesday	Let the Children Come to Me Workshop on Religious Education with children with different learning abilities.		9:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	St. Michael Parish, Bedford
January 12 Thursday	Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan:  Disciples in Mission (Overview) Please read the pastoral plan in preparation for the meeting: www.planning2012.com		12:30 - 3:00	Pastoral Center
January 20 Friday	Leadership Institute for New Catechetical Leaders Pre-registration required		9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Pastoral Center
January 22 Sunday	Roots of Our Faith    This workshop is required for Archdiocesan Basic Catechist Certification		2:00 -4:00 p.m.	Good Shepherd Parish (St. Zepherin campus) Wayland  http://goodshepherdwayland.org/
January 23 Monday	Roots of Our Faith   This workshop is required for Archdiocesan Basic Catechist Certification		6:30 - 9:00 p.m.	St. Francis Parish, Dracut http://www.saintfrancis.net/directions.htm
January 26 Thursday PLEASE NOTE  LOCATION CHANGE!	Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan:  Disciples in Mission (Particulars) RSVP: Richard_Gibbons@rcab.org ; (617) 746-5853		12:30 - 3:00	St. Brigid Parish Hall 2001 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA Link to map and directions: http://www.lexingtoncatholic.org/StBrigid/webPage.aspx?OfficeInfo
January 31 Tuesday	Workshop on Physician Assisted Suicide		1:00 - 3:00 p.m.	Pastoral Center
February 7 Tuesday	Workshop on Physician Assisted Suicide		7:00 - 9:00 p.m.	Pastoral Center
February 9 Thursday	Enrichment:   Mobilizing Volunteers for Your Ministry sponsored by the Center for Ministry Development		8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.	Pastoral Center
February 16 Thursday TO BE RESCHEDULED	Annual meeting:  Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, OFM Cap and Parish Catechetical Leaders			Pastoral Center

What's New?

Archdiocese of Boston Education Campaign Doctor-Prescribed Suicide is Suicide . . . and suicide is always a tragedy!

The "Death with Dignity Act," if passed in November 2012, will legalize doctor-prescribed suicide in Massachusetts. Do you know about this law? Do you know how it will affect medical care in Massachusetts.   Experts in medicine, law and ethics will explain how you can oppose doctor-prescribed suicide. Sign up for one of the workshops below today!

Monday, May 7, 2012               Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton   7-9pm

Tuesday, May 8, 2012               St. Mary Star of the Sea, Beverly   7-9pm

Thursday, May 10, 2012            St. Rita, Lowell   7-9pm

..........................................................................................................................

Monday, May 14, 2012             St. John the Baptist, Peabody   7-9pm        

Wednesday, May 16, 2012        Holy Family, Duxbury   7-9pm

Thursday, May 17, 2012           Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, Braintree   1-3pm      

...........................................................................................................................

Monday, May 21, 2012             St. John the Evangelist, Hopkinton   7-9pm

Tuesday, May 22, 2012             St. Mary, Dedham 7-9pm (Mary Hall below main Church)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012        St. Julia, Weston   7-9pm

Thursday, May 24, 2012            St. Michael, North Andover   7-9pm

Thursday, May 31^st, 2012         St. John Chrysostom, West Roxbury, 7-9pm

Parish ____________________________      City/Town _______________________

Phone ____________________________      Email Contact ____________________

Number Attending __________________        Workshop Date___________________

Name if Individual______________________________________________________

To register contact: ann_cussen@rcab.org  Phone 617-779-3644, fax 617-779-4570

Please visit the website for more important information: http://suicideisalwaysatragedy.org/

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  Spring Presentation

Finding God ~ Our Response to God's Gifts
Loyola Press is introducing its new edition of the Finding God basal series at a luncheon featuring Steve Connor, M Div.  who will present "Call and Response: The Vocation of Faith Formation Leader."  

DATE:  Wednesday, May 23
TIME:  11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
PLACE: Our lady Help of Christians Parish, Newton.  
RSVP required: Bridget Boland 800-256-0589 x 340; boland@loyolapress.com

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CNAFF

The Catholic Network for Adult Faith Formation has a new web site devoted to promoting faith formation for Catholics.  From their web page:   

            The Network for Adult Faith Formation (NAFF) was created by the Emerging Technologies Committee, a standing committee of the National Advisory Committee on Adult Religious Education (NACARE) that, in turn, is a consultative committee of the Committee on Catechesis of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops on matters pertaining to adult religious education.... In April, 2004 the Emerging Technologies Committee was joined by the Adult Faith Formation Committee of the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL). These two committees now administer this web site.

Parts of the site are, or soon will be, password protected for use by committee members and diocesan staff.  The site provides excellent materials for parish adult faith formation including articles and links to organizations and Church documents.  These are available to all and the site is a great resource for parishes.  Visit the site  www.cnaff.org

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Faith Formation for Persons with Disabilities

From Loyola Press: Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit for Children with Autism and Other Special Needs.  Check out this new resource - it looks great;  www.loyolapress.com/special-needs 

Religious Education Classes for the Deaf
Religious Education of Deaf Youth from First Communion through Confirmation age  are offered throughout the Metro Boston area: Brighton, Dracut, Framingham, Lowell, Middleborough, Newton, Randolph, and Stoneham.  To register or for further information, contact Father Shawn Carey or Father Jeremy St. Martin at 617-746-5645 (voice) 617-787-6083 (TTY). 
All classes are coordinated by the Deaf Catholic Ministries, Office of Cultural Diversity.  www.deafcatholic.org

Sacrament Preparation Resources for Persons with Learning Disabilities  
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at the University of Dayton has wonderful material available for children and young people preparing for sacraments.  The Network of Inclusive Catholic Educators (NICE) has student texts and resource binders for catechists and catechetical leaders and videos for catechist formation and enrichment in the are of inclusive religious education for persons with disabilities.  For more detailed information and price list, go to http://campus.udayton.edu/~ipi/nice

Local Resource Materials
The religious education program at St. Mary Parish, Winchester, has great resources for sacrament preparation especially for children with autism.  Designed by the mother of an autistic child, the material correlates with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  For more information, check out the website: www.autismreligiouseducation.net

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Who gets mailings .... and how?
How do we know to whom we should send things?  YOU  tell us.  The new procedure for mail going from the Pastoral Center to parishes means that individual mailings will rarely be sent in a separate envelope to parish catechetical leaders (PCLs) and pastors.  Letters, brochures, fliers, and forms that are intended for the parish religious education office, will be included in the weekly electronic mailing from the Pastoral Center.  Please ask the person who opens the parish e-mail to pass along anything with: Religious Education Office in the upper right corner of the page, to the PCL.  If you have not given us your e-mail address, please contact Robert_Kavanaugh@rcab.org so he can add you to our Constant Contact list.

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Opportunities for Ongoing Education and Formation

 An Internet based E-learning initiative sponsored by The Institute for Pastoral Initiative of the University of Dayton and the Archdiocese of Boston

The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary
Degree and non-degree students are welcome.
For more information, visit www.sjs.edu , call 617-779-4104, or email TINE@sjs.edu.

    The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization (TINE) at St. John's Seminary invites you to consider taking an evening class at 149 Washington Street in    
    Brighton (the former St. Gabriel's school). TINE offers two degree programs: the Master of Arts in Ministry (MAM) and the Master of Theological Studies for the
    New Evangelization (MTS). Summer sessions are also available.  Each class meets once a week.  Auditors are welcome.  For a registration form or more information,
    visit our website at www.TINEBoston.org, call 617-779-4104, or email TINE@sjs.edu. Potential students may come any Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening
   during the school year and visit.  TINE also offers non-degree Certificates. The Foundational Certificates (Catechetical and Catholicism) can lead to catechetical certification recognized by the Archdiocese of Boston. Foundational Certificates meet one Saturday a month for eight months. The course provides an intensive study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and also provides Skills Workshops that teach practical skills for catechesis and evangelization. Tuition is only $250, and scholarships are available. To learn more, visit  http://tineboston.org/cc_index.html 

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Spanish Programs and Activities

The Office of Religious Education continues to serve the Hispanic Community in the Archdiocese of Boston through a series of programs of formation in Spanish for parish leaders involved in catechesis and other ministries. These are some of the programs:

 BASIC COURSE FOR CATECHISTS

This course is offered to catechists who begin their ministry for the first time or those who are planning on sharing the gift of faith in a catechetical setting. Catechists meet for eight weeks to review the basics of their Catholic faith and also to acquire the skills to present the message of the Gospel in a more adequate manner.

INTERMEDIATE COURSE FOR CATECHISTS

This ten-week course is aimed to further the formation received in the Basic Course. At the end of this Intermediate class the students are invited to continue their preparation in the Archdiocesan Institute for Ministry – Spanish track.

AIM PROGRAM IN SPANISH – INSTITUTO DE FORMACIÓN DE LAICOS

The AIM program in Spanish is organized somehow differently from its counterpart in English. It consists in a program of four semesters in which the students receive theological, biblical, and pastoral formation. The students meet for ten weeks each semester and four hours each day. In the fourth semester they choose an area of pastoral specialization, according with the needs of their communities.

ARCHDIOCESAN CELEBRATION OF CATECHETICAL SUNDAY (Spanish)

Every September more than 200 Latino catechists gather in one parish of the Archdiocese to celebrate Catechetical Sunday and to kick off the activities of the year. These catechists are sent out to their parishes with a special blessing and the support of the Office of Religious Education to accomplish their calling.

 CATECHETICAL CONGRESS – Spanish component

This yearly event gathers catechists from most parishes in the Archdiocese. Normally, twenty workshops are offered in Spanish as well as two keynote presentations. The participation of Latino catechists in this event has increased significantly in the last few years. 
Other opportunities for growth are: 
        *    Lenten retreat for catechists 
        *    Regular meetings with Directors and Coordinators of Religious Education working in Spanish programs

To read about the offerings and calendar in Spanish, go to  Oficina de Educación Religiosa 

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Clusters

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am  there in their midst." (Matthew 18:20)
"I get by with a little help from my friends." (The Beatles)

Working, praying, and sharing together, Clusters make the joys more joyful and the difficulties much easier to bear.  Religious education Clusters will be impacted by reconfiguration; if you don't know what Cluster you belong to, please call our office. We can help you find your group.

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The Good Samaritan is YOU!

 The Office of Religious Education is supported by the Catholic Appeal.  
We are enormously grateful to all who have contributed or will contribute this year.
For more information about the Appeal or to donate online, click here:  www.bostoncatholicappeal.org

Thanks to the kind folks at  RCNet for hosting this page www.rc.net

This page was last updated May 21, 2012

Copyright © 2011 Archdiocese of Boston; all rights reserved