WEBINAR: "Building up the RCIA" sponsored by PNCEA

The Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association (PNCEA) was founded by the Paulist Fathers in 1977 to equip Catholics to evangelize.

Join PNCEA for a free webinar:
"Invitation to Conversation: Building up the RCIA"
with Rev. Frank DeSiano, CSP
Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at 3pm EDT
Register for this event now
Or view a video invitation and register from our website.

All you need to participate is an internet connection and computer speakers or headset.

Audio also available by phone connection (toll charges will apply).

Event will be recorded for those unable to attend.
Download webinar handout in color or in black and white.

Write to online@pncea.org with questions.

FREE WEBINARS FOR NACYML MEMBERS

Upcoming (FREE) Webinar Opportunities for NACYML Members

Saying 'Amen' to Lay Ecclesial Ministry - May 25, 2010, 4-5pm ET
Bishop Matthew Clark will be giving a forty-five minute presentation on lay ecclesial ministry and fifteen minutes for Q&A.

Visit the webinar website for more information and to register. Space is limited.

Peace in the Holy Land: New Possibilities - May 26, 2010, 2-3pm ET
This Catholics Confront Global Poverty webcast explores the prospect for peace and how Catholics can make a difference.

RSVP to participate in this webinar! Space is limited so act now!

Youth & Young Adults and Mental Illness - June 10, 2010, 1-2pm ET
Webinar with Robert McCarty, DMin and Paul Myers, PhD

(see previous blog on May 10, 2010 for link to flyer)

WEBINAR: "Advanced Considerations: Mental Illness in Youth and Young Adults" - June 10, 2010

Please note. The date for this webinar was changed from May 4 to June 10. It takes place from 10-11am PDT.

We have been made aware of a webinar available to all youth and young adult ministry coordinators in the Archdiocese of Seattle because we are a member of the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

It is entitled, "Advanced Considerations: Mental Illness in Youth and Young Adults" and will include a presentation by the Executive Director of NFCYM, Bob McCarty.

Please go to this document for more information and to register.

CRS Haiti Response - Resources

Below are a few resources CRS wanted to share.

The video on “surviving the earthquake” is very powerful.A CRS staffer describes surviving the earthquake in this moving video.

Read about how other schools are making a difference.

Use this discussion guide to compare life in Haiti to life in the U.S.

Hold a prayer service for Haiti

Buckets of Hope lesson plan on Education website. education

Movie: Letters To God, Release April 9, 2010

Below is a letter from folks involved in the release and promotion of "Letters to God" an inspirational movie to be released in theatres on April 9.

Dear Friends,

It is not often that we see excitement build for a movie the way that we've seen the movie LETTERS TO GOD gain momentum. Unlike most Hollywood movies where the experience of a movie is what's anticipated, we’re finding that many are excited about LETTERS TO GOD because of the anticipation of the hope that the movie stirs inside our hearts.

The release of LETTERS TO GOD is less than one month away. April 9th brings this emotionally gripping and spiritually uplifting movie to your neighborhood cinema. The movie chronicles letters written to God by a young boy who struggles with cancer. Please spread the word about the hope found in the movie to your circle of influence. Whether it's telling struggling families whom you know about the movie or blogging about it or emailing your friends, LETTERS TO GOD is a movie that so many suffering families need to hear about.

To access the official movie website, Facebook page or You Tube clips, go to the official website at http://www.letterstogodthemovie.com/

To see the discussion guides and other resources available for use in your parish or study groups you can go to www.worthawarenessmarketing.com.

God calls us to commend the good and this movie advances the good in our world. Please take a moment and spread hope by spreading the word about LETTERS TO GOD.

Thank you and God bless,

Tom Allen, Exec. Producer, Champions of Faith
Ted Baehr, Publisher, Movieguide

Update on Haitian Earthquake Response from CRS

Special Report: January 20, 2010

"I believe that our charity and the way in which we live this crisis will help increase our humanity. It will help us be more generous, open and available to each other, because the symbolic ways of living together has been destroyed."

-Bishop Pierre Dumas, President of Caritas Haiti

Latest News from Haiti
 CRS has committed $25 million to the emergency response and
rebuilding of Haiti.
 CRS has worked in Haiti, whose population is 80 percent
Catholic, for more than 50 years. The 313 staff of CRS in Haiti
started helping people within hours of the earthquake.
 Food is moving to people in need. CRS is arranging the
distribution of 2,100 metric tons of vegetable oil and grains from
the USAID for Food for Peace program.
 The CRS/Caritas team helped the St. Francois de Sales Hospital
open three operating rooms which are now up and running.
 For the most up to date information visit http://www.crs.org or the
CRS blog. http:/crs-blog.org/
US Catholics Respond
Over the past week, the US Catholic community has poured out compassion for the people of Haiti. Here are just a few examples:
 Catholics and other people of goodwill have donated $16.5 million to CRS for Haiti relief to date. Dozens of dioceses have held or will hold a special collection for Haiti.
 Social media has helped many CRS supporters express their compassion. CRS Facebook Fans have shared the link to www.crs.org on their profile page.
 Thirty priests and deacons who are CRS Global Fellows are preaching in parishes nationwide. Hundreds of local pastors have focused their homilies on our gospel response to those in need in Haiti.
 Schools and youth groups are finding creative ways to raise funds for Haiti. For example, youth groups are dedicating funds from their CRS Food Fast events to Haiti relief. Seaton Keough High School in Baltimore and Holy Cross School in Rumson, NJ organized school-wide dress down days, the latter raising nearly $19,000 in one day.

For youth/educator resources visit: http://education.crs.org/

Pray and Give

Visit: www.crs.org for prayers, resources and information about the Haiti Earthquake.
Call: 877-Help-CRS (877-435-7277) to give.
Mail: Catholic Relief Services, Attn: Haiti Earthquake, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

Please share this with other Catholics interested in responding to the Haiti earthquake relief effort.

"To Save A Life" - Movie with a message - SCREENING?

I have received some promo and curriculum materials as well as a DVD for pre-screening the movie, "To Save A Life" for youth leaders with its release on the weekend of January 22-24. If you are interested in finding out more about the movie, please go the web page at www.ToSaveALifeLeaders.com. Would you be interested in coming to view the movie here at the office in the next couple of weeks? Please let me know and we will try and schedule.

Haitian Earthquake - Resources for working with communities to respond

Another note from Jeanine Boucher-Colbert.

Please go to the CRS Education Website, to view parish resources, prayer resources and lesson plans. This is an “unimaginable tragedy” as Obama just said, that we can all respond to through prayer and giving. http://education.crs.org/

CRS' Food Fast Program - REMINDER

There are great resources available from Catholic Relief Services to promote and implement a hunger retreat program in your parish, school or deanery.

Food Fast resources are available in both english and spanish.

Do you want to do an impactful retreat for Confirmation? Do you want to prepare your group for a mission trip by grounding them in Catholic Social Teaching and a lived experience of solidarity? Are you looking for a way to get your parish community involved in youth ministry?

Food Fast is a great program for all of the above!

You can collaborate and partner with neighboring parishes to share the work load and to organize the event. All permission slips, schedules, activities, prayers, ice breakers are available on line at the Food Fast website and are new, fresh and powerful. www.foodfast.org

Speakers can be brought in for an additional powerful element of the experience.
CRS has more than 70 priests, deacons, and seminarians committed to spreading the message about our gospel call to global solidarity. Our Global Fellows have witnessed firsthand how the work of CRS helps bring joy and assistance to those in need around the world.A CRS Global Fellow can visit your youth group and community and share how CRS is helping those who are hungry overseas. To invite a Global Fellow to your community contact Mikaele Sansone at 410-951-7336 or msansone@crs.org.