DMC raises awareness about different issues

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
August 21, 2003

The Diocesan Ministries Conference is getting closer and the deadline for registration is Sept. 23. The conference will be held on Oct. 3 and 4 at St. Edmond's School in Fort Dodge.

The theme for this year's conference is "Lead Me, Lord." Since the Diocesan Ministries Conference is offered every other year, this will be its sixth year.

"We encourage any and all adult Catholics to attend," said Kay Morrissey, director of faith formation for the diocese. "In other words, you don't have to have a leadership position in a parish to come to the Diocesan Ministries Conference. It's a collaborative effort of all of our offices to provide good, solid adult formation."

Part of the conference will consist of sessions that people can attend to further their knowledge in different areas. Several of these sessions will focus on family issues.

One session will be a Multicultural Liturgy Panel led by Father Ed Girres of the Webster County Team Parishes; Sister Maria de Jesus Ybarra, OP, director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Sioux City; Father Doug Klein, pastor of Rock Valley, Alvord and Sioux Center and Mary Avelleyra of the Webster County Team. Priests, sisters and lay people with experience working in multicultural liturgical settings will discuss pertinent issues, especially about different cultures worshiping together at one Mass.

"The conference is one of the opportunities to grow in faith," said Sister Joan Stoffel, director of curriculum for the diocese. "It's a community building event also because people get together to share ideas, talk with each other and hear emphasis on different aspects of our faith that we don't always hear about."

"Sex, Lies and Media Messages," will be presented by Laura Buddenberg from Girls and Boys Town in Omaha. The session will help answer the questions: What messages to teen media send about sexuality? or How do kids discover what it means to be male or female? People will learn how to make popular media a friend and teaching partner and to help kids learn healthy boundaries while developing critical thinking skills.

Mary Eileen Andreasen, of the Archdiocese of Omaha Pastoral Planning Office, coordinator for Aging and Disabilities will present a session titled "Elder Ministry: Are You Ready for the Demographic Shift."

"I am going to talk about parish elder ministry because of the growing number of Catholic seniors," said Andreasen. "I'll talk about different ways that they can be brought into the community and be honored and valued as members of the church. I think it is important because they are the face of the church nowadays. Most parishes have about 10 to 15 percent over the age of 65."

As demographics change, parishes need to be able to respond to the growing spiritual and social needs of both the "young-old"(60-75 years) and the "old-old" (75-100 years). The session will provide helpful parish ideas and resources for elder ministry.

"I think too often we focus on the schools and youth, and we forget that this is a group that has always been faithful," said Andreasen. "Even if we don't provide anything, they will still be faithful, but they really need to be honored for that."

Another session titled "Welcoming Call: Becoming a Spotlight and Trumpet" which will be lead by Vera Ludwig and Connie Barrett of the Coalition for Ministry with Persons having Disabilities. A spotlight allows people to bring awareness to those individuals whose disabilities keep them from becoming fully active in Christian communities. As a trumpet, there is a hope to awaken people's abilities and eagerness to welcome person with disabilities.

The first day, Oct. 3, is offered as a staff development day for Catholic school personnel as well as anyone who is not able to attend the second day. Generally, 700 to 800 people attend that day and about 200 attend Oct. 4, which is open to anyone in the diocese.

The conference is geared towards the adults of the diocese and their spiritual development so they become refreshed and fired up about faith and teaching and getting people involved in their parishes.

For more information about the Diocesan Ministries Conference contact the Central Catholic Offices at (712)255-7933. The cost of the conference is $20, including lunch.