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Planning committee seeks
to improve diocesan conference

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

The next Diocesan Faith and Ministries Conference is more than a year away but diocesan organizers are already making initial plans for the next big gathering.

Dan Ryan, who heads up the DFMC planning committee, acknowledged that the diocese didn’t receive much positive feedback from the 2009 event so they are working hard to make changes that will allow the conference to be a success in the future.

“We have two major goals for this conference. First, we want to help nurture the faith life of our catechists (both parish and Catholic school educators),” said Ryan, who is the diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “Second, we want to give them some practical elements that they can use when they go back to their setting.”

Deacon David Lopez, diocesan director of deacon formation and a member of the planning committee, said the conference is the largest vehicle the diocese has to bring together people who serve in the various church ministries.

“The conference really needs to be successful to embody the vigor of our diocesan life,” he said. “There is a real need for something like this to foster the kind of excitement and commitment that a lot of our catechists have individually but the diocese as a whole struggles to maintain. We are really committed to making this conference work for them.”

Deacon Lopez noted that the last two conferences were not as successful as the diocese had wanted but he is hopeful that some changes will make a difference.

To gain a broader perspective, Ryan said this year they opted to bring in a variety of people to provide input. About 18 people – a mix of priests, diocesan staff and parish staff – make up DFMC planning committee.

Date for conference set
While the date of the conference has been set for Sept. 18 and 19, 2011, and Kuemper Catholic School in Carroll has been selected as the location, much has yet to be decided.

“We are thinking there needs to be a keynote speaker of some type and a general theme,” Ryan said. “We feel there needs to be breakout sessions and a Mass.”

Ryan said the committee will be beneficial in helping to determine the format for the conference, theme, topics of breakout sessions, presenters and other details.

Laurie Dreier, DRE for grades 6-12 and youth minister at Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee, is a member of the planning committee.

“I think it is important for the diocese to seek the input of many to plan this future conference because the diocese has been carefully considering all the feedback they received from the last one – pros and cons,” she said. “They want to make the conference the best possible experience it can be for the widest variety of participants – from diocesan Catholic schools as well as those in ministry in parish programs.”

Input of many
It makes sense to seek input from those out in the field, Dreier added, because they are in tune with what they need and want to learn to help in the building up of the Body of Christ.

Father Craig Collison, pastor at Sacred Heart in Sioux City, is also part of the planning committee. He recalled the history of the event – noting that when it started years ago, it tried to mimic the National Catholic Education Association Convention and Exhibition that is held annually at various locations in the nation.

The diocesan conference began in 1993 and has been offered every other year. It was established as a way to give teachers in the schools a chance to network with others from the diocese and draw upon the skills and insights of diocesan teachers, counselors and administrators in planning and presenting breakout sessions/workshops. By 1995, the conference had expanded to two days and attendance was encouraged by persons serving in all ministries.

Recently, Father Collison noted, the focus of the conference moved to a day centered on a keynote speaker and lunch rather than addressing a wider range of topics through breakout sessions.

“I have heard concerns as to the quality of this program being made and welcome the opportunity to be involved in possibly reviving some of the programs, such as the breakout sessions, that were quite popular at one time,” he said. “We had something that was quite successful at one time; it’s good to bring together the thoughts of many to create a successful program again.”

Jean Hyslop, principal at Emmetsburg Catholic School and director of religious education at Holy Family Parish in Emmetsburg, also serves on the planning committee.

“It is important for the diocese to seek the input from a variety of people in the planning of the future Diocesan Ministries Conferences to get a complete view of the many people involved in the ministries conferences,” she said.

Hyslop said the conference enables people to come together to pray, learn and renew their spirit. In order to balance the different needs of the people attending, she added that it is important for the diocese to gain input from ministers who work with them.

While the details of the conference have yet to be worked out, they are all on board with striving to make improvements because they see value in a conference of this nature.

Meeting needs
“Conferences of this nature are vitally important,” Dreier said. “We all, no matter who we are in the church, need to keep learning about our faith and how to pass it on.”

No one ministers in a vacuum, she added. The ministries overlap and are interconnected.

“We all can learn from one another and help one another in our ministries,” Dreier said. “It’s good for us to come together, if for no other reason, just to see ourselves all together and know that we are not in this alone.”

Hyslop said the conference provides a way to recognize and meet the needs of the faithful ministers who serve in diocesan parishes and schools.

“Many enjoy coming together to meet new people, gain knowledge and enjoy a spiritually uplifting event in their own diocese,” she said.

Father Collison stressed the fact that teaching is a ministry – whether it be in Catholic schools where the sacrifices that teachers make in terms of salaries and at times materials and facilities demonstrate the professionalism and ministerial commitment to teach as Jesus did, or in the religious education programs where volunteers give of their time and talent as catechists to share and teach the pillars of the faith.

“If we can boost the professionalism, the enthusiasm, the commitment of our teachers and catechists to the ministry they have accepted as part of their lives, then the conference, in my opinion, has been successful,” he said.

Ryan said this committee will also help the diocese determine how they can market this conference.

If they can create enthusiasm, Deacon Lopez is hopeful that they can increase attendance beyond this diocese in the years to come.

“Looking ahead 10 to 15 years, this conference could grow to 2,500 people,” he said.