Diocesan Ministries Conference set for Oct. 9 and 10
Opportunity to learn and renew faith

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 4, 2005

POCAHONTAS/LE MARS - The Spiritual in Each Moment is the theme of this year's Diocesan Ministries Conference that is slated for Oct. 9 in Pocahontas and Oct. 10 in Le Mars.

"We chose The Spiritual in Each Moment to focus on the fact that everything people do is part of their relationship with God - everything, everyday," noted Michael Willis, diocesan director of worship and a member of the conference planning committee.

Who should attend? Everyone.

Although people serving in assorted ministries of the church ranging from religious education catechists to Catholic schoolteachers, youth ministers, musicians, liturgists and pastors may find the conference of particular value, Bev Hurni said all adults are invited and encouraged to attend.

The Diocesan Ministries Conference has been held in the diocese on an every other year basis for a number of years, noted Linda Anderson, diocesan director of catechesis and member of the conference planning committee.

This year's conference takes on a slightly different format than in the past. Rather than two all-day sessions, this year three sessions will be available with the first being from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Oct. 9, at Pocahontas Catholic School in Pocahontas. People will have the chance to attend one of two sessions to be held Oct. 10 at Gehlen Catholic School - one from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and an evening option from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Kevin Vickery, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools and a member of the conference planning committee, pointed out that they came to realize the importance of finding a time when catechists could attend the conference. In the past, when the conference had been scheduled for a full day on a Saturday, the attendance was poor.

"Our attempt is to offer something that is doable within the time frame that our catechists have indicated is more conducive to their time frame," he said.

Hurni pointed out that each of the three sessions will include a meal, prayer experience, keynote address, workshops and a chance to peruse a variety of exhibits.

According to Anderson, the keynote speaker as well as the topic and length of the presentation will be the same at all three sessions. This year's keynote will be Kate Risto, well-known speaker at national and regional conferences. She is a consultant for the religious education publisher RCL (Resources for Christian Living) and is a contributing editor and feature writer for Catechist magazine.

The Monday day session features time for one extra workshop along with more workshop options. At the Sunday afternoon session and on Monday evening, 12 workshops will be presented of which participants will be able to choose two. The Monday day session will have 27 workshops with participants able to attend three.

The workshops will cover a variety of topics - creative catechesis, whole community catechesis, everyday spirituality, morality, Internet safety, collaboration, Hispanic traditions and more.

Vickery mentioned that the workshops hold a three-fold purpose. "There is a spiritual aspect of it and the practical aspect of it, but most of our sessions will also tend to give the participants an understanding as to why it is important," he stressed.

Sessions may address the theology of social justice as well as various rites and traditions in the church.

"In the liturgy area, we will be offering a workshop on the Liturgy of the Hours which is intended to make all of time sacred," noted Willis. "For a lot of folks, that is somewhat of a mystery because they don't see it enough and we will make it more accessible to people."

The Liturgy of the Hours will also be the prayer experience that will be featured at all three sessions.

Organizers of the event mentioned that through the conference and its workshops, attendees would gain some practical information that will help them in their ministries as well as have a chance to enrich their own faith lives and theological knowledge.

"We have to nurture that within ourselves before we can pass it on, but our hope is that this has transference so it's not merely just a nice experience for those who participate - they carry that message to others," noted Vickery.

The Diocesan Ministries Conference is sponsored by the Offices of Adult and Family Ministries, Catechesis, Catholic Education, Hispanic Ministry, Media Center, Worship, Youth and Young Adult Ministry in collaboration with The Globe, Catholic Charities, Committee for Continuing Formation of Priests, Resurrection Parish of Pocahontas and Gehlen Catholic Schools of Le Mars.

"People have few opportunities for faith formation and for interacting with people in their own faith tradition outside of their local community," said Anderson. "We all need to expand our horizons and to learn more, and this is a wonderful opportunity not only for learning and worshipping together but also for interacting with others. This is an opportunity to gather with others to learn and celebrate the faith."

Cost of the Sunday afternoon and Monday evening sessions are $10 and the Monday day session is $20. The Catholic School Foundation and the Committee for Continuing Formation of Priests are significantly underwriting the event.

Hurni said conference brochures containing workshop and registration information have been sent to all parishes. The brochure and registration form is also available for downloading at the diocesan Web site - scdiocese.org. For more information call Sandi at (712) 233-7530.