A day of spiritual renewal for Mercer catechists
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Stadnyk|Associate Editor
With a new catechetical year around the corner, more than 100 directors, coordinators and administrators of religious education, and their catechists from Mercer County came together to pray, discern and become rejuvenated in their ministry during a special retreat held Aug. 24 in Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton.
The day, designed to rejuvenate leaders in their ministry, began with Morning Prayer led by Father Douglas Freer, diocesan vicar for education. A number of priests from the 12 parishes represented at the retreat, shared in Morning Prayer followed by presentations on the theme “Spirituality of the Catechist – Not WHAT You Know But WHO You Know” by Colleen Kelly-Rayner, a member of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, and a full-time Catholic lay evangelist.
Linda Teresky, religious education coordinator in Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, who organized the retreat with Julio Alvarez, religious education coordinator in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, said it was the first time that the Mercer County parishes had collaborated on hosting an event for those who serve in religious education ministry.
The idea for inviting Kelly-Rayner to lead the retreat came about after catechetical leaders, including Teresky and Alvarez, heard Kelly-Rayner on a previous occasion.
“Julio was thinking about having Colleen come to the cathedral to speak to his catechists and I was thinking along the same lines here at Sacred Heart , and from there the idea to open the day up” to the Mercer County parishes evolved.
“What was also great was to have the pastors encourage us to come together as bigger body where we could share our experiences, gifts and talents with one another,” said Teresky, who is the Mercer County representative for Trenton Religious Education Directors, an organization comprised of directors, coordinators and administrators of religious education. She also serves as a liaison with the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization.
Teresky spoke of how Kelly-Rayner used her gifts of humor and dynamic story-telling, break-out sessions and discussions to offer words of encouragement to her audience about their chosen ministry of religious education.
During the retreat, “there was a lot of laughter and joy,” Teresky said. “And through Colleen we were once again reminded of the role we have in a child’s life – to help them understand their faith and lead them to heaven.”
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By Mary Stadnyk|Associate Editor
With a new catechetical year around the corner, more than 100 directors, coordinators and administrators of religious education, and their catechists from Mercer County came together to pray, discern and become rejuvenated in their ministry during a special retreat held Aug. 24 in Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton.
The day, designed to rejuvenate leaders in their ministry, began with Morning Prayer led by Father Douglas Freer, diocesan vicar for education. A number of priests from the 12 parishes represented at the retreat, shared in Morning Prayer followed by presentations on the theme “Spirituality of the Catechist – Not WHAT You Know But WHO You Know” by Colleen Kelly-Rayner, a member of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, and a full-time Catholic lay evangelist.
Linda Teresky, religious education coordinator in Sacred Heart Parish, Trenton, who organized the retreat with Julio Alvarez, religious education coordinator in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, said it was the first time that the Mercer County parishes had collaborated on hosting an event for those who serve in religious education ministry.
The idea for inviting Kelly-Rayner to lead the retreat came about after catechetical leaders, including Teresky and Alvarez, heard Kelly-Rayner on a previous occasion.
“Julio was thinking about having Colleen come to the cathedral to speak to his catechists and I was thinking along the same lines here at Sacred Heart , and from there the idea to open the day up” to the Mercer County parishes evolved.
“What was also great was to have the pastors encourage us to come together as bigger body where we could share our experiences, gifts and talents with one another,” said Teresky, who is the Mercer County representative for Trenton Religious Education Directors, an organization comprised of directors, coordinators and administrators of religious education. She also serves as a liaison with the diocesan Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization.
Teresky spoke of how Kelly-Rayner used her gifts of humor and dynamic story-telling, break-out sessions and discussions to offer words of encouragement to her audience about their chosen ministry of religious education.
During the retreat, “there was a lot of laughter and joy,” Teresky said. “And through Colleen we were once again reminded of the role we have in a child’s life – to help them understand their faith and lead them to heaven.”
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