Florida Catholic | Faith Formation Day

"We want people to know Christ"

850 catechists gathered at the 12th annual diocesan Faith Formation Day

JENNIFER POWERS | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 09.28.07

Catechists gather for 12th annual diocesan Faith Formation Day.

Attendees pray and meditate on the word of the Lord during the diocesan Faith Formation Day at Bishop Moore High School in Orlando Sept. 15.
VALETA ORLANDO | FC

ORLANDO | Where do you encounter the living Christ in your ministry? How do you lead others to encounter the living Christ? These were the questions that more than 850 catechists from the Orlando Diocese were asked to reflect upon during the 12th annual diocesan Faith Formation Day held at Bishop Moore High School Sept. 15.

This year’s moving theme, “Catechesis: Encountering the Living Christ,” describes the heart of catechesis and the mission of the baptized faithful in bringing people to Christ.

“You cannot love someone you do not know,” said Bishop Thomas Wenski in his opening remarks. “We want people to know Christ. That is the task of catechesis.”

Recognizing the difficulty faced by catechists trying to bring the message of Christ to a distracted world, Bishop Wenski offered words of encouragement, saying “It is harder and harder to find space to encounter the living Christ today, but we are not discouraged because the love of Christ urges us onward.”

Catechists, lay ministers and religious from all over the diocese joined together for a day of prayer and informative workshops geared to deepen their personal faith lives and to inspire their ministries.

“Becoming a catechist has helped me relearn my faith,” said Marie Maurice from St. Catherine of Siena in Kissimmee, who attended to continue her catechist certification. “Having a better understanding of Catholicism has lit a fire under my feet and has firmed up my Catholic identity.”

Dan Hardester, director of faith formation at St. Maximilian Kolbe, a parish that just celebrated its first year as a community, added, “We are getting ideas for our new programs and doing some community building.”

Leading off the day’s program were the keynote duo of artist Brother Michael O’Neill McGrath, Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, and musician Meredith Augstin. Using their unique art, music and storytelling, Brother McGrath and Augstin brought their humorous and inspiring style, showing the ways they encounter Christ.

“Our job as Christians is to make people feel better about themselves when they leave our company,” said Brother McGrath.

Retired director of religious education Joetta Anthony of St. Peter in Deland has been coming to Faith Formation Day for 12 years.

“You learn and experience things you wouldn’t get to do on your own,” she said.

Anthony credited Sister Linda Gaupin, Sisters of Divine Providence, who is director of religious education for the diocese, and her staff for providing an entertaining and informative program worth attending year after year. “We hope that this program will energize and animate their ministry for the year,” Sister Gaupin said. “Through prayer and the workshops, we want to help them deepen their own spirituality and provide the inspiration to better their ministry.”

As a way to further celebrate the contribution of catechists, the diocesan Faith Formation Day takes place on the same weekend as National Catechetical Sunday each year.

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"We want people to know Christ"

850 catechists gathered at the 12th annual diocesan Faith Formation Day

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