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Catechetics News & Updates
January 2025
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Dear Coworkers in the Vineyard,
I pray that you had a wonderful season celebrating Christmas and the New Year with your loved ones and friends. The holidays present a beautiful opportunity to reflect and give thanks for the many blessings and gifts that God provides.
As we begin 2025, I feel blessed that we are beginning a year of Jubilee, a holy year that is only celebrated every 25 years in the Church. In just the past two weeks, over half a million pilgrims have walked through the holy doors of St. Peter's Basilica - what an incredible sign of hope and renewal!
In our archdiocese, we are joyfully anticipating the installation of Archbishop Designate Jeffery Grob on January 14th. The hallways of the Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center are buzzing with staff preparing for the upcoming events and celebrations to welcome our flock's new shepherd. Please see the INSTALLATION GUIDE to find the link for the live stream and resources to help teach your students about this historic event.
Last but not least, I am very grateful that Andrew Schueller has joined our Office of Evangelization and Catechetics team. I know that Andrew is ready to support all of you in the areas of middle and high school formation.
As we begin this new year please know of our prayers and gratitude for all that you do to proclaim Christ and make disciples through the sacramental life of the Church.
Yours in Christ,
Anh (with Doug and Andrew)
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Andrew Schueller started this week in his new role as Director of Youth Ministry & UW-Whitewater Campus Ministry. Before coming to the Archdiocese in 2022, Andrew spent four years as the Director of Formation at St. Dominic - Brookfield and eight years as the Director of Student & Young Adult Ministries at St. Charles - Hartland. He built vibrant youth apostolates at both parishes and launched the popular young adult series "Brewing the Faith." Andrew lives in Lake County with his wife, Caitlin, and two boys.
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Staff Mission Days
Regional Gatherings | February 2025
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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
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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.
Here are some resources to help you teach on the Jubilee Year (more will be shared throughout the year).
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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
January 21 Part 1 - Encountering Beauty
February 4 Part 2 - Making the Unseen Visible
Do this in Memory of Me
February 25 Part 3 - Mystagogy of Baptism
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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!
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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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Save the Date!
Equip Day | March 18, 2025 | 9:30AM - 2:30PM
Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center
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Save the date for our upcoming Equip Day on March 18, 2025 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm.
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.
Registration and details will be out soon!
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Digital Discipleship Conference
St. Leonard, Muskego | January 16, 2025 | 9AM - 3:30PM
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The 2025 Digital Discipleship Conference is scheduled for January 16, 2025 at St. Leonard's in Muskego.
*Note: Deadline to register is TODAY: January 9, 2025!
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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
More Updates from Us and 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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