Parish volunteers helping with faith formation, sacramental preparation and youth ministry, as well as parish staff members involved in those programs, and parents are invited to the first-ever discipleship formation day in the archdiocese Sept. 17 at NET Ministries’ headquarters in West St. Paul.
Also welcome are people who feel called to serve in their parish and be stronger disciples of the Lord, said Madeline Olson, assistant marriage preparation and youth ministry coordinator for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Madeline Olson
Olson recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to describe St. Paul Formation Day and the value it will provide attendees.
The day’s goal is to provide inspiration, encouragement and training to attendees, Olson said.
“We really want people to understand their calling as a disciple of the Lord, and how they can truly be his hands and feet within the parish,” she said. “This is going to be a great day to restore them spiritually and equip them practically to go back to their parishes and serve.”
Archbishop Bernard Hebda opens the day with Mass. Attendees can choose from a list of breakout sessions — with several in Spanish — and will hear remarks from two keynote speakers: Karina Avila, who served as a missionary with NET Ministries for five years, and Petroc Willey, a theology professor and director of the catechetical institute at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
Avila will describe the importance of “filling our own cups before pouring out onto others, and discuss practical ways to do so,” which can make “a world of difference in our ministry,” she told The Catholic Spirit in August. Willey will discuss how being a catechist is more than just having one more job in life, according to event organizers. It is in itself a vocation, a calling from Christ.
Many people are a bit intimidated about being a volunteer, small group leader or catechist, Olson said. “We really want you to know that this is a calling from the Lord to be a disciple, and we are all called to serve his Church in some way.”
Olson believes attendees will be inspired and learn what it means to be a disciple of the Lord.
“Just come and see how much we at the archdiocese, your parish staff and the Lord believes in you, because we really do,” she said.
The event’s $45 cost includes lunch. Scholarships are available. To learn more, view the schedule and to register, look for “St. Paul Discipleship Formation Day” at archspm.org/events.
To hear the full interview, tune in to the 9 p.m. Sept. 2 “Practicing Catholic” show, which airs again at 1 p.m. Sept. 3 and 2 p.m. Sept. 4 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Alison Dahlman, associate director of educational quality and excellence for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who describes how her office supports Catholic schools;?and?Father Leonard Andrie, pastor of St. Therese in Deephaven, who provides guidance on offering time and talents to local parishes.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired at:
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