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Catechetics News & Updates
February 2025
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Dear Coworkers in the Vineyard,
As I continue to meet with catechetical leaders across the archdiocese, I am continually inspired by the incredible work being done in our parishes. Your dedication to serving children, parents, and youth with excellence and care is truly commendable, and I am deeply grateful for your commitment to bringing people to the love of Christ through the Word of God and the sacramental life of the Church.
In this spirit, we are excited to invite you to the upcoming Staff Mission Days - a time for parish catechetical leaders to come together, connect, and collaborate. These gatherings will offer a valuable opportunity to share insights, exchange ideas, and explore practical ways to enhance sacramental preparation in every parish across the archdiocese.
If you haven't already registered to attend one of the sessions, please register by Friday at noon. Your presence and participation are greatly appreciated and needed!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
In Christ,
Anh (with Andrew and Doug)
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Staff Mission Days
Regional Gatherings | February 2025
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Register By Friday at Noon!
Similar to 2024, this year's Staff Mission Days will be an opportunity for us to listen to you, as parish leaders, especially around Sacramental Preparation. There will also be time dedicated to dreaming up solutions, reconnecting with other parish staff, and praying together.
These days are intended for any parish staff responsible for aspects of evangelization and catechesis, especially preparation for the sacraments - clergy, catechetical leaders, pastoral associates, DREs, Directors of Youth Ministry, Directors of Adult Formation, and others who pass on the faith.
All days run 8:30am-2:30pm
Dates and locations for 2025 include:
- Tuesday, February 11 | St. Martin of Tours in Franklin
- Wednesday, February 12 | St. Joseph in Grafton
- Tuesday, February 18 | St. Peter in Slinger
- Thursday, February 20 | St. Dominic in Brookfield
You may use the "Invoice My Parish" option to register now and pay later.
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Franciscan at Home Workshop:
The Principle of Sacramentality
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All Catechetical Leaders are invited to join us for a three part Zoom workshop to watch and discuss a Franciscan at Home Workshop titled The Principle of Sacramentality.
The principle of sacramentality acknowledges that the concrete, sensible, and tangible signs in the sacraments and other liturgical rites are means by which God encounters us.
Grow your own understanding and appreciation for the principle of sacramentality and its central importance in the catechetical process.
Zoom calls are Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00AM
February 25 Part 3 - Mystagogy of Baptism
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Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope
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As you may know, December 29, the Feast of the Holy Family, marked the beginning of the Ordinary Jubilee Years. The practice of a jubilee year is rooted in scripture and Jewish tradition as a time of restoration and liberation when slaves and prisoners were set free, and debts were forgiven - a sign of God's justice and compassion.
Pope Francis has chosen the focus of this holy year to be the theological virtue of hope. In the Bull of Indiction announcing the Jubilee Year, Spes non confundit, our Holy Father writes about the crisis of hope that our world is facing in the struggles of families, the marginalized, and all those who suffer from war, poverty, and despair. We are called to be tangible signs of hope to others by practicing the works of mercy and inviting others to turn toward the hope that only Christ offers.
Below is a resource to help you teach on the Jubilee Year (more will be shared throughout the year).
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Join us on the mission field next summer!
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Middle School 1 | June 23rd-26th | St. Robert, Union Grove | Limited Spots
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Middle School 2 | July 8th-11th | St. Anthony on the Lake, Pewaukee
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High School | July 13th-18th | St. Elizabeth, Kenosha
Parish registration is open! Click below to request your dates for an awesome week of service in the Archdiocese!
*Note: these spots are requests, not guarantees. If you have any questions or want more details, email Andrew!
Hiring Core Team Members!
Do you know a college student or young adult looking for a summer experience filled with joy, personal growth, and meaningful work? We are looking for 6-8 passionate, others-centered disciples to help lead our young people on our LBH mission weeks! Encourage them to apply via this link. This is a paid four-week opportunity.
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Join us for Steubenville 2025 in Joliet, IL!
June 27th-29th, 2025
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We are switching it up this year and are heading to Joliet, IL for Steubenville! There is an ALL-STAR line up including Fr. Mike Schmitz, Michael Gormley, Ennie Hickman, and Lisa Cotter.
We will take care of ordering the tickets for the group. You will be invoiced for a $50 deposit/ticket requested.
Conference cost is $290 per person. Housing will be in a local hotel, and we will have pricing info at a later date.
If you are interested in joining the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Joliet, please email Andrew and let him know how many tickets you want.
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Group Registration Now Open!
The National Catholic Youth Conference is an exciting, biennial three-day experience of prayer, community, and empowerment for Catholic teens held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The schedule includes keynote addresses, prayer, workshops, opportunities for reconciliation and Eucharistic adoration, recreational activities, concerts, exhibits, and stadium Mass. Parish and Catholic high school groups in the archdiocese register, travel, and participate as part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee delegation.
Group registration is now open! Grab tickets for your parish via the link below. A $285/person deposit is required within two weeks. To learn more about bringing a group with us click here.
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Equip Day
Faith Formation for All: Embracing Children with Disabilities
March 18, 2025 | 9:30AM - 2:30PM | MMCPC
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Join other catechetical leaders in the archdiocese to gain training and resources to welcome and support children with disabilities, and their families, into faith formation programs and into the full life of the church.
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Sacrament Letters from Archbishop Grob
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Many parish leaders provide families with a congratulatory letter from the Archbishop to celebrate their child's reception of a sacrament.
Below is a link to customizable sacramental and congratulatory letters from Archbishop Jeffrey Grob. These letters offer a warm welcome to new members and recognize those receiving sacraments.
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Our department has two openings and we'd love to fill both with awesome, mission-driven people!
- Associate Director of Adult Formation (Full-time): This role will lead the charge with our catechetical certification programs, especially for Catholic School Teachers. They will also build and run our teacher retreat program, which is launching in Fall 2025!
- Coordinator of Marriage Preparation (Half-time): This role will run our marriage preparation programs, including trainings for parishes, weekend retreats for engaged couples, and other events and workshops for couples.
If you have any questions or know a great person for either of these roles, reach out to Doug!
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Upcoming Events & Other News
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Our offices sponsor many events for you to receive deeper training and support to help you and your parishioners encounter Christ and be formed in ways your parish might not be able to do alone. Learn more about them below, and help us share the word to your parishioners (or come yourself!):
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Events & News from the Archdiocese
Marriage Preparation Links
More Updates from Our Friends
Position Changes: if your parish has changes to your catechetical staff (DREs, YMs, Adult Formation, etc.), please let us know! We want to make sure they get added to the correct email lists, and we often only know if you tell us.
Know someone who should be getting these emails? Email Steffany at garcias@archmil.org and we'll add you to our list!
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