A major highlight of the Faith Formation Conference will be the large offering of workshops presented in English and Spanish by national and local experts where attendees can hone their skills in their respective ministries. Here’s a look at what to expect.
Topics relating to ministering to young Catholics include: “Early Childhood Catechesis;” “First Holy Communion Preparation;” “Special Needs Faith Formation:” “Engaging Youth in Parish Ministry.” Presenters include: Ana Arista, co-author of the Allelu religion series and senior catechetical consultant and solutions leader for OSV; Jessica Donohue, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton; Rosemarie Hoye, special education teacher with the Diocese’s Holy Innocents Society; Diana Zuna, St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt; Lisa Ann Limongello, St. Luke Parish, Toms River, and the parishes that compose The Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley; Jeff Siedlecki, Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle; Amy Raimondi, St. Theresa Parish, Little Egg Harbor; Anne Masters, director, Office for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities; Father Agustino Torres, Founder of Corazón Puro and Latinos por la Vida; Dan Waddington, director, diocesan Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Topics focusing on teaching in ministry include: “Creative Teaching Techniques;” “Creating Authentic Service-Learning Experiences;” “Leading a Parish Children’s Liturgy of the Word;” “Bringing Young People to Adoration.” Presenters include: JMT Productions; Bonnie Milecki, diocesan assistant superintendent, School Development and Operations; Nancy Nappi, St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel; Gez Ford, former youth minister in St. Raphael-Holy Angels Parish, Hamilton; Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Ruth Bolarte, adjunct professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Villanova University and pastoral consultant for RENEW International; Father Carlos Aguirre, pastor, Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton; Father Garry Koch, pastor, St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel
Topics dealing with prayer and meditation include: “Helping Students Connect to Scripture;” “Anxious Heart? LORD, Sanctify My Heart;” “Lectio Divina.” Presenters include: Christine Happala, religious education teacher and the foundress of the publishing company Suffering Servant Scriptorium; Kerry Wyrovsky, catechist, St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro; middle school religion teacher and religion coordinator in St. Leo the Great School, Lincroft; Patty Rodriguez, director, Office of Lifelong Faith Formation, Archdiocese of Newark; Enza Cerami, founder and director of Living Stones, Inc.; Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and executive director of Pastoral Life and Mission; Father Jorge A. Bedoya, pastor, Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Beverly; Diana Hernandez, Bonds of Marian Love, St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Hightstown; Manisha Jethani, catechist, St. Paul Parish, Princeton; Allan Wright, author and executive director of the NJ Family Policy Center.
Christian Initiation topics include: “Accompanying Children and Teens in Christian Initiation;” “Mystagogy;” “OCIA/El cambio en el ritual de RICA.” Presenters include: Ana Arista, co-author of the Allelu religion series and senior catechetical consultant and solutions leader for OSV; Sister of St. Joseph Sandy DiMassi, pastoral associate for Liturgy in St. Rose of Lima Parish, Short Hills; Oscar Cruz, director of the Catechumenate for the Archdiocese of New York; Matthew DeCaux, educational consultant, Loyola Press
Vocations offerings and presenters include: “Trenton Makes Priests: Fulfilling God’s Will for the Salvation of Souls,” with Father Chris Colavito, director of the diocesan Office of Vocations and chaplain in The College of New Jersey, Ewing, and Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, and “The Art of Discernment: Helping Others Hear God’s Call,” Holly Wright, missionary with Corazon Puro and director and co-founder of Casa Guadalupe, a house of prayer, discernment and healing for women in Clifton, N.J.
Topics on Evangelization include: “Proclamar la Buena Nueva, explorando el arte a traves del catecismo;” “Building Effective Ministry Teams; “Small Christian Communities.” Presenters include: Manisha Jethani, catechist, St. Paul Parish, Princeton; Mary Mykityshyn, parish catechetical leader in St. Gabriel Parish, Marlboro; Joe Nuzzi, president and executive director of RENEW International; Meredith Augustin, vice president of pastoral services for RENEW International; Sandra Estrada, Spanish diocesan pre-Cana team and catechist in Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton; Rosie Soto, national bilingual consultant for faith formation at Loyola Press; Josue Arriola, director, diocesan Department of Evangelization and Family Life; Sister of St. Joseph Kathy Burton, director of Lifelong Faith Formation, Sacred Heart Parish, Camden; Jim Tortorici, faculty member in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, and executive director of the New Jersey Campus of the Encounter School of Ministry; Rose O’Connor, diocesan digital and social media manager
‘Hope In Our Hearts’ Conference gearing up to be a diocesan success