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Catechetics News & Updates
September 2025
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Dear Coworkers in the Vineyard,
Like so many of you, my heart sank when I heard about the tragic shooting during the school Mass at Annunciation Parish. As I prepared my own children for their first week of school, I could not help but think of the parents and families now carrying unimaginable grief and trauma.
In moments when darkness, sin, and suffering feel overwhelming, it is the light of Christ that guides us day by day and moment by moment when our own strength is not enough. His light enables us to keep loving those around us, to lift up in prayer all who suffer, and even to pray for those who cause harm.
We hold fast to the promise that Jesus is the light, and darkness can never overcome, not now and not ever.
The Lord is our hope and our salvation. May His light shine through us as true beacons of hope for a world in pain.
In Christ,
Anh (with Andrew and Doug)
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It's not too late to join us!
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Essentials for Catechetical Ministry is an annual cohort program designed to support new parish catechetical leaders- such as DREs, youth ministers, and others- as they begin and grow in their ministry. This program offers valuable information on Archdiocesan guidelines, practical resources, and helpful materials, along with space for questions, reflection, and connection with fellow leaders.
If you are new to ministry within the past five years or have recently moved to the Archdiocese, we strongly encourage you to take part.
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Tuesday, September 30 (8:30am-4pm)
Wednesday, October 1 (8:30am-12pm)
Mary, Mother of the Church Pastoral Center | $25/person
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Initiation (OCIA) Ministry is a blessed and complicated journey, requiring parishes to balance liturgical, catechetical, pastoral, and even canonical aspects. No matter how long you have been involved in this ministry, the Summit presents a great opportunity to gather with other parish leaders to pray, learn, and discuss the joys and challenges in initiation.
Over the course of the Summit, we will have keynote presentations from OCIA leaders, breakouts on specific topics related to initiation ministry, roundtables to share and discuss your needs and offer ideas, and prayer with other leaders.
All parishes are asked to send at least one representative from their parish. Registration is open now and closes Friday, September 26. Please share this invitation with any Initiation (OCIA) leaders at your parish and join us!
Are you getting our OCIA emails? If not, join our list here.
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Youth Evangelization Corner
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Middle School Encounters Conflab:
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Middle School Encounters Conflab at the Catechetical Conference! It was inspiring to hear your hopes, ideas, and passion for helping students encounter Christ and His Church.
Love Begins Here 2026:
Love Begins Here is our local mission trip that gives students the opportunity to serve those in need right here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Many of you shared your passion for service during our recent conflab, and I encourage you to prayerfully consider bringing a group to participate in LBH next summer.
The 2026 dates have been announced - with one more still to come next week! Parish registration opens on September 15th.
Thriveanooga 2025 - Don't Miss Out!
Thriveanooga is an incredible opportunity for youth ministers to be renewed, inspired, and equipped. With the event just a few weeks away (September 22-25), and the event not happening in 2026, I want to strongly encourage you to consider attending.
Thanks to a rediscovered grant and a generous matching gift from ProjectYM, we have two more $600 discounts available! That means you could join us for just $387 + flight (hotel and meals included).
If you are able to make it, this is a chance you won't want to miss!
Have You Taken Advantage of...?
Over the years, our Youth Evangelization office has maintained relationships with several national youth ministry organizations. As a result of these partnerships, parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee can enjoy:
Please contact me to learn how to take advantage of these opportunities.
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October 14 | 1:00 - 2:15PM
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Now that you own the adaptive kits and have the resources, join us to learn practical ways to prepare catechists to use adaptive resources so that every child can encounter Christ in meaningful ways.
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Personal Spirituality & the Call to Holiness
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In a culture that emphasizes doing, achieving, and producing measurable results, it can be challenging to step away from that mindset. Yet, to truly bear fruit in ministry, we are called to a radically different approach, one that is relational, not measured by quantity or achievement.
This relational approach begins with God: entering into a hope-filled, trusting personal relationship with Him, as He calls each of us to do. Only then can we be filled with the grace needed to impact the lives of others.
Join us for a six-part series, Personal Spirituality & the Call to Holiness, presented through the Franciscan at Home and facilitated by Anh Clausen.
These monthly Zoom meetings will give you the opportunity to watch, reflect, and discuss the Franciscan at Home videos. Come to be renewed in your personal spirituality and your own call to holiness.
- Time: 10am - 11:15am
- Dates: October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 23, and March 23.
- Register here!
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Saturday, November 8 | 9:15am - 5:45pm
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Health care professionals are invited to Converging Roads, a health care ethics conference exploring the theme of Hope in Health Care and offering continuing education for health care professionals rooted in the Hippocratic and Catholic ethical traditions. This one-day conference will be held at Marquette University, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee. Register here. Not a health care professional? Share with someone you know!
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In light of recent events, parish leaders may find it valuable to step back and consider broader conversations around parish and school safety. These conversations are not only about protocols and procedures but also about fostering a shared sense of responsibility and care among the entire community. Safety is best upheld when all staff and leadership work together, ensuring that everyone is informed, prepared, and united in their approach.
The Office of Schools has provided helpful guidance to support and shape these conversations. We encourage parish and school leaders to gather their teams, reflect and consider practical steps that strengthen both vigilance and pastoral care.
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Catechetical Sunday is September 21, a day set aside by the Church to recognize the vital role of catechists in handing on the faith. It is an opportunity for the whole parish community to pray for, support, and affirm those who serve as catechists, as well as to reflect on the call each of us has to share our faith. The USCCB provides excellent resources to help parishes highlight this day and deepen appreciation for the ministry of catechesis.
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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
- Discipleship Training Sessions | September 17 & 18 | Invite your leaders to grow their accompaniment and small group facilitation skills (and more) at these free Discipleship Training Zoom sessions this fall.
- A Day of Healing: Beyond Divorce | October 18 in Waukesha | Explore divorce in a deeper, gentler way, including presentations that guide you in a relationship with yourself, with God, and with others.
- Healing the Whole Person: Into the Deep | October 22-26 in Waukesha| This retreat will help participants understand their wounds and bring them to the Lord for healing through prayer and the sacraments.
- Jubilee Mass | October 25 at 10:00am | Special Bilingual Mass and celebration for couples celebrating their anniversary of 25 years, 50, and above!
- "Bring Your Marriage Home" | Help us promote our Convalidation Initiative to your parish with these promo materials.
- Marriage Preparation Materials | All of our printed marriage preparation materials can now be ordered online using this form here.
More Updates from Our Friends
- The Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University is offering several FREE webinars to support catechists, teachers, and leaders! Here are the dates
- Forming the Catechetical Spirit Program | September 2025 - May 2026 at St. Alphonsus in New Munster| Register by August 15!
- Retreat for Grieving Parents | October 25 at 9:00am in Appleton, WI | This one day retreat is open to all grieving parents who lost a child at any age.
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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