More catechetical sessions coming, other topics on agenda for spring

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Nov. 15, 2007

When the director of catechesis, evangelization and RCIA for the Diocese of Sioux City began his position last January, he tried to determine the needs of the people.

With input from others in the diocesan offices, he said, "One of the thoughts on what I could do for the diocese is to go out and teach - to teach the teachers. It would be a service to the church in a very active way."

Thomason pointed out that adult faith formation is a goal of Bishop R. Walker Nickless and the church at large.

"When I first got here, I did a little survey asking what people needed and wanted and I based my first-year agenda on that. They wanted faith formation and opportunities for prayer," said Thomason. "I just wanted to give them a fresh perspective or an update on things they have already been doing."

He mentioned that he put together an aggressive schedule centered on three main areas - catechetical sessions, evangelization session and RCIA. Thus far, only catechetical sessions have been presented.

"They started out okay. Participation was never really strong," he acknowledged. "Over the first round of sessions there were about 100 people attending between the eight different locations."

One site drew about 15 people. St. John's in Bancroft drew the biggest crowd and he credited that to the encouragement and promotion offered by the parish.

At the catechetical sessions, Thomason taught on topics from the Catechism and Scripture - such as Why be Catholic and Virtue and Leadership. He not only wanted to teach DREs, catechists and parents some new ways that they could teach others but also wanted to learn some things from them.

"Much of the sessions were question and answer. There was a lot of time for discussion. It wasn't simply me lecturing," Thomason. "I wanted to bring a topic, discuss it and there was time for prayer as well."

Initially, the diocese offices had considered making these sessions compulsory.

"Oftentimes, if something is not mandatory, people don't show up. That's an unfortunate fact of life," he said. "We are very busy people."

Unfortunately, in the end, the attendance at the sessions dwindled toward the end.

"Generally, it was usually only the parish that hosted it had people at it or parishes where priests worked in two parishes (clusters) or people that I knew showed up," said Thomason. "It wasn't like a huge draw from parishes all over the county coming in."

Where to go from here?

Thomason plans to proceed forward with the third catechetical session that will be offered at eight sites.

The Eucharist and The Church will be presented:

Feb. 25 - St. James Le Mars, Feb. 26 - Sheldon, Feb. 28 - Storm Lake, March 4 - Fort Dodge, March 6 - Ida Grove, March 10 Cathedral Sioux City, March 11 - Boone and March 13 - St. Lawrence Carroll.

Everyone is invited to attend any session that works best for them.

These sessions combine education and prayer. The sessions are to begin at 4:30 p.m. with teaching, followed by a holy hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The teaching session is repeated from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to offer flexibility to participants.

Through these sessions Thomason said he hoped to help people "unpack their faith and know it better."

If the sessions are not well attended, he may evaluate how plans will progress.

Evangelization sessions

"The evangelization sessions are geared toward teaching people how to evangelize," said Thomason.

Five topics will be presented as part of this series. He hopes to offer each of the five talks in two locations. Trinity Heights has offered to host each of the talks, but the dates planned for out in the diocese are open.

Evangelization and Peace - (Based on Evangelii Nuntiandi by Paul VI and Pacem in Terris by John XXIII)

Thursday, April 10 - Trinity Heights in Sioux City

Monday, April 14 - available

Apologetics: What We (Catholics) Believe, and Where to Find It

Tuesday, April 15 - Trinity Heights in Sioux City

Thursday, April 17 - available

Who God is and How He Loves Us - (Based on Sacramentum Caritatis and Deus Caritas Est, both by Benedict XVI)

Monday, April 21 - Trinity Heights

Tuesday, April 22 - available

Apologetics: How to Defend the Faith by Speaking the Truth in Love

Thursday, April 24 - Trinity Heights

Monday, April 28 - available

The Laity and the Eucharist - (Based on Christifideles Laici and Ecclesia De Eucharistia by John Paul II)

Tuesday, April 29 - Trinity Heights

Thursday, May 1 - available

"If a parish likes a particular topic, they can give me a call," said Thomason. "I am trying to empower them to have these opportunities for faith formation."

The Trinity Heights sessions are slated for 6:30 p.m., but the times of the other dates are flexible.

RCIA sessions

"The RCIA sessions are specifically for people who have been through RCIA to help unite them to the universal church," noted Thomason. "This is to help counter the fall-away rate we have with RCIA."

Those who have been through RCIA can continue to learn about their faith and get connected with other parishioners in the diocese who have joined the Catholic Church.

Like with the evangelization sessions, Trinity Heights has offered to host some of the presentations and others are still available for parishes to host.

The topics include:

What is Mystagogy? How to Keep the Fire

Monday, March 31 - Trinity Heights

Monday, April 7 - available

Jesus and the Catholic Church - Dominus Iesus

Tuesday, April 1 - Trinity Heights

Tuesday, April 8 - available

Like the catechetical sessions, the evangelization and RCIA sessions will include Q and A. This will give people the chance to provide input and seek answers to questions they may have on other topics.

If a parish or group wishes to host one of the evangelization or RCIA sessions, they should contact Thomason at (712) 233-7536.