March 12 ICN to introduce SAGE

By KENNY KEANE, Globe staff reporter
Posted February 27, 2003

As the saying goes, "There's always room for improvement." However, another says, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Both of these sayings might be used to accurately describe the faith formation and youth ministry programs available at the different parishes throughout the Sioux City Diocese. To help these parishes determine which phrase fits their programs best, the diocese now offers SAGE, an acronym for Self-Assessment, Goal-setting and Evaluation.

At the request of Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo, this is a tool that has been developed for use in parishes or clusters to help them assess their present programming in faith formation and youth ministry and to provide groundwork for goal-setting.

According to Linda Anderson, director of catechesis for the diocese, since Nov. 26, 2001, a committee of leadership persons from across the diocese has worked with staff members of the Office of Faith Formation in creation of this process.

"A printed document will be sent to each parish to help with local assessment," she said. "In addition to that, each year a diocesan team will visit a number of parishes to assist with a review of parish/cluster faith formation."

To introduce parish staffs and volunteers to the process, Anderson said an Iowa Communication Network (ICN) presentation has been scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. on March 12.

"The evening will begin with comments by Bishop DiNardo, followed by specific information on how to utilize the process," she said. "Pastors, directors of religious education (DREs) and youth ministers are especially encouraged to attend. It would also be beneficial to invite other representatives such as catechists, religious education board members and parents, as the SAGE process asks for input from a variety of people.

"I'd like to stress that it is something that the bishop asked for, and he's wanted this for some time. He initially had two goals or emphases when he arrived here. One was to increase vocations, and the other was catechesis. He does have a great interest in catechesis."

The bishop, along with the diocesan staff, will broadcast from the site of origin, Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City. The other ICN sites that have been targeted are: Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Le Mars Community High School, Okoboji High School in Milford, Armstrong-Ringsted High School in Armstrong, Lakeland Area Education Agency in Cylinder, St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge, Des Moines Area Community College - Boone Campus, Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll, Ida Grove Senior High School and Iowa Central Community College in Storm Lake.

Pre-registration is required to ensure that adequate seating is available at these sites. Registration forms must be received in the diocesan offices by March 4. Any site that has no one signed up for it by that date will be cancelled. There is no charge for this ICN.

For those who attend the SAGE introduction at one of these sites, Sister Marge Staudt, OSF, a member of the SAGE committee who works at both Pocahontas Catholic School and Resurrection of Our Lord Church, said the strongest aspect of the process will be twofold - affirmation of what is happening in the parish and the constructive ideas about what might be ways in which any program can be improved.

"Our hope is that they would then decide to go through this process," Sister Marge said. "The purpose of the ICN is to bring the information and make it known to everyone.

"A lot of the people who are working in these programs are volunteers. They have many other commitments in their lives, and they're doing the best they can. The underlying thing is that we do not want this to be an intimidating experience for anyone."

Julie Walding, pastoral minister at Sacred Heart Church in Sioux City, said she hopes this will be a positive experience for the parishes instead of something that they are going to dread doing.

"It's more of a collaborative thing, hopefully between different areas even within the parish, too, to help make a good religious ed program," she said. "This is not only to find out what they might need to be doing but also some things that they are already doing quite well.

"Hopefully they could see it in a positive light, just to help them. There's always room for improvement."