A Catholic school has the mission to be a communion of persons that seeks to give a sacred gift. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone summarized our Catholic vision in this way: “In Catholic schools we teach virtue and truth, and we hold out holiness as the Christian vocation of all students. The core mission of the Catholic Church is to provide an integrated education to young men and women, that is, knowledge and virtue combined. The connections between the two are provided by Catholic practice and teachings. We believe this is the formula for forming outstanding disciples of Jesus Christ” (Address to San Francisco Catholic High School Teachers Convocation, February 6, 2015).  This workshop aims to develop an understanding of this mission in light of the critical role of each teacher, since, “The nobility of the task to which teachers are called demands that, in imitation of Christ, the only Teacher, they reveal the Christian message not only by word but also by every gesture of their behavior. This is what makes the difference between a school whose education is permeated by the Christian spirit and one in which religion is only regarded as an academic subject like any other” (The Catholic School, Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education 43).

He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is in all, before all, through all.  The primary and essential object of catechesis is, to use an expression dear to St. Paul, “the mystery of Christ.” (CT 5)  Therefore everyone who teaches the Catholic faith must be immersed in this mystery.  Using Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as recent ecclesial documents, this workshop will present the key doctrines that must be taught concerning Jesus Christ.  By examining Jesus’ actions in Scripture, His relationships, and His ways of teaching, we will help catechists unlock the mysteries of Christ, His Incarnation, Redemption, and Second Coming.  This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

What is our purpose and goal as ministers in the Church in an OCIA process? To make new Catholics? To spread the Gospel? To run a good process? Our purpose and goal must transcend the “how” of OCIA and begin with the “why.” The restoration of the catechumenal process is a reflection of the Church’s wisdom in going back to a tried and true practice in order to lovingly bring people into Her fold. It is a restoration of grace for those who are seeking Christ and His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. This workshop inaugurates the necessary vision to develop excellent parish-based OCIA ministry, beginning with a call to trust the wisdom of Holy Mother Church in Her discernment to gift the modern world with a way of Christian initiation unparalleled in its beauty and power. Only in the light of this trust and deep understanding of the OCIA process, as the Church intends it to be implemented, does the full purpose and potential of the initiation journey become clear and attainable.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process — conversion — has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

It is into the great mystery of the Father’s saving love through Christ Jesus that all believers are called.  And it is this great mystery that all the institutions of the Church, each and every one of them, exist to serve. The OCIA has no other purpose than the service of the holy mystery, the saving sacrament, of Christ present and active in His living Body.  The renewal of the process of Christian initiation stands as one of the most important and successful features of modern liturgical renewal. Since its promulgation in 1972 and its further elaboration under the auspices of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1988, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults has been among the most pastorally effective features of Catholic life in the United States.  And yet all is not well. The very fact that the challenge is conversion, the conforming of imperfect men and women to Christ, means that the process will never be perfect. Initiation is, after all, the beginning of a process which has its ending in eternity. However, there are problems that are more concrete and, for that reason, can more readily be corrected. In general, three models of OCIA are operative today in most Catholic parishes using the Rite. Each of the models conceives of, and practices, Christian initiation differently. This workshop describes these models, discussing their strengths and weaknesses in terms of catechetical, liturgical, and pastoral dimensions.  The result is clarity on how best the OCIA can serve the great work of immersing participants into Catholicism through a process of learning and interiorizing the sacred Scriptures, doctrines, sacraments, prayers, moral traditions, spiritual readings and rich communal culture of the Catholic Church, in order to serve the Father’s provident love in calling each person to the living Body of Christ on earth.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process—conversion—has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

From the ancient Nicene Creed we proclaim that “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.” The mystery of the Second Person of the Trinity is the God Who comes to us to save, redeem, instruct, give us hope and lead us to our promised glory. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We do not have a God Who is distant, but a God Who comes to us in the most intimate way. We enter into the mystery of Christ through a living Word, transforming sacramental grace, evangelizing catechesis, and evangelical communities. This workshop will explore how a rich understanding of the means by which people enter into Christ’s life can be fostered in our approaches to ministry. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) to call each individual to God’s loving plan and sure hope in Christ. This talk describes the means to participate in that life.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process — conversion — has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

“. . . [T]he liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed;  it is also the fount from which all her power flows” (Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum concilium 10).  The liturgy proclaims, celebrates, and actualizes the Father’s loving plan for His people.  The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), or catechumenal process, has three aspects: liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral, of which liturgical is prime. The Church has designed these aspects to promote deep, long-lasting conversion to Christ and a love for the Church.  This workshop will focus on the stages of the modern catechumenal process, which derive directly from the ancient order of catechumens, and the way liturgical graces build and crescendo through the four periods of the OCIA process to make possible the plan of goodness born in the Father’s heart for each believer.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before OCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes, which appear in the videos, are different than the quotes from the new OCIA rite book. In these videos, or other OCIA workshops, the quotes that appear are from the previous OCIA rite book. The tasks for this workshop have been updated with the new OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process has not changed. The heart of the OCIA process is conversion, and this central element remains the same even though the language of the OCIA has been updated. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you. 

“The rite of Christian initiation . . . is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ proclaimed, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 1). The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is the process by which men and women respond to the Lord’s movements in their lives and enter the Church. The OCIA Rite Book, also referred to as the OCIA Ritual Text, is the guiding light from the Magisterium for the entire OCIA process. In this workshop, we will learn about the origin and importance of this resource that is so integral to the process of the OCIA, as well as gain an overview of the major components of the OCIA Rite Book. It is vital that this liturgical document be understood by pastors, OCIA leaders, OCIA team members, and others involved in forming those who seek to enter Holy Mother Church. This text provides the liturgical prayers, major and minor rites, and the rubrics that are to be used during the OCIA process. It also provides essential pastoral and catechetical guidelines, which aid a parish OCIA process to develop and operate as the Church intends, thereby properly serving the men and women in the OCIA process.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process—conversion—has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

In regard to the catechumenate, Mother Church teaches us that an individual’s motives for joining the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) “. . . should be examined, and if necessary, purified” (Ad gentes, “Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity” 13). This examination and purification requires mutual discernment between the individual and the Church to ensure that a person is freely choosing to become Catholic, ready to pass through the liturgical rites that occur in the OCIA process, and that he or she is authentically becoming Christ’s disciple. This workshop gives an overview of why discerning readiness for the rites is a critical aspect in the OCIA process, why it is important to conform our minds and hearts to the intentions of the Church in this regard, and it demonstrates ways for the OCIA participants and team members to mutually discern an individual’s readiness.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process—conversion—has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

The pastoral aspect of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) signifies the means by which we form and accompany individuals, person-to-person, to a deeper relationship with the Trinity through the Body of Christ. Many who do not stay with the Church after going through the OCIA process leave not for lack of knowledge, but for lack of care. The pastoral components are the people who participate, some intimately and others from a distance, in Jesus’ graced work of conversion and discipleship of individuals. It is the surpassing calling of becoming a gift to others, and receiving others freely as a gift from the Lord. This workshop addresses how the pastoral aspect of the OCIA process leads us to be sacrificial witnesses — the Lord’s chosen means to authenticate faith and relationship with the Trinity, to support conversion in lives, and through God’s saving message draw all people into the loving embrace of the Father and His People.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process — conversion — has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

Mother Church, in Her wisdom, tells us that “. . . every disciple of Christ . . . must therefore help others throughout the course of their Initiation” (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults 9). The OCIA team is an essential element in an effective OCIA process, because the OCIA team represents the Christian community and is often the first real “Catholic community” many OCIA participants encounter. The members of a well-formed OCIA team play a fundamental role in fostering the Holy Spirit’s work of conversion, through their personal witness to the faith and their commitment to fostering authentic relationships with those considering entering holy Mother Church. They support those in the OCIA process and accompany them on their journey of faith, modeling for them what the life of a Christian looks like. Most importantly, the OCIA team loves those who are in the OCIA process. This workshop delves into how to find, form, and faithfully lead a team that can help create a strong environment for conversion.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process—conversion—has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

“. . . being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). The role of sponsor or godparent is an essential aspect of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) process. It is a work of grace that is certainly challenging and demanding, yet also extremely rewarding. The OCIA process calls for godparents and sponsors to be part of each participant’s journey into the Catholic Church. Who is appropriate for this role? How can we find and train them well? What does canon law require? Guiding individuals in the process of choosing sponsors and godparents, along with helping the sponsors and godparents understand the great dignity of these roles in the heart of Mother Church, can help effectively attune the entire OCIA process to each individual being served. In this workshop, we will explore the value of the roles of sponsors and godparents and some keys to making this pastoral element decisive in the overall work of conversion. 

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process—conversion—has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

This workshop explores adult catechesis within the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) baptismal catechumenate. Each period of the OCIA process has a distinctive catechetical objective in serving the Holy Spirit’s work of conversion, and so each period of the OCIA will have a different “feel” catechetically. The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults itself gives us the guidelines for what participants need to know, and what we need to teach, thereby allowing the catechetical aspect of Christian initiation to become teaching in the service of leading others into the Father’s eternal embrace, a love beyond all telling. 

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process — conversion — has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

“That which was from the beginning . . . that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you…” (1 John 1:1, 3). St. John Paul II proclaimed that, “The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ . . .” (Apostolic Exhortation "On Catechesis in Our Time," Catechesi tradendae 5). The work of catechesis is not just “education,” but “intimacy with Jesus Christ.” God wants to make Himself known, to communicate His own divine life to us and make us capable of responding to Him. God gradually “pulls back the veil” (See 2 Corinthians 3:14–16) by words and deeds, but especially in Jesus Christ, the Mediator and fullness of all Revelation. By His Revelation, God has answered all the questions of the human condition. God wants all to be saved, so He arranged that His Revelation remain in its entirety and be transmitted to all generations. This workshop focuses on the apostolic work of passing on the truths of the faith in an organic and systematic way. This is done to make disciples of Christ and to initiate them into the fullness of Christian life through an encounter with the communion of believers and with Christ the Teacher. “‘The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 25).

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process—conversion—has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

The General Directory of Catechesis says that, “Catechesis for adults, since it deals with persons who are capable of an adherence that is fully responsible, must be considered the chief form of catechesis” (GDC 59).  Is this what most adult Catholics understand?  Do most parishes orient sufficient resources to this endeavor?  Do the methods employed in parishes reflect the best possible principles for adult learning, which differ from methodology employed for children and adolescents?  This workshop will explore techniques to evangelize, catechize, and form faith in adults most effectively, given that the principle places of adult formation are in the family and in the parish.

The Church is the Body of Christ on Earth. The Church Christ founded is His continued history on Earth. The graces entrusted to her make possible an explosion of sanctity in the human family. The revelation of truth entrusted to her makes possible our secure return to the Father’s arms. The mission entrusted to her engages all human endeavors, and transcends all human failings, so that God’s Spirit can go forth to fulfill Christ’s promise to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). This workshop will explore God’s magnificent convocation of souls that we call the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

This workshop will introduce participants to biblical catechesis through an ancient catechetical technique: the use of the Story of the Bible. The most important historical events of the Bible can be briefly described in one Story, connected by one common theme: union with God. The Story of the Bible portrays the drama of God’s love for every soul and the whole human race: how God created us to be united with Him in a relationship of love; how we lost union with God through the original sin; how Jesus re-united us with God in a relationship of love through His passion, death and Resurrection; and how the Holy Spirit fosters a continuing unfolding of those saving events in the life of Church, as the Lord’s Bride. Often in a catechetical setting we fall into the habit of teaching individual topics without reference to the greater context of salvation history. In order to draw others into the life of God and the Church we have to help them make this Story of the Bible their own. Everything that the Church teaches, her doctrines, disciplines, worship, and morality makes sense when delivered within the context of the Story of the Bible. The Story of the Bible tells us of our spiritual roots, our dignity, our destiny, and daily vocation to follow Jesus Christ, providing peace and authentic hope to those we seek to teach and evangelize.

St. Jerome, a Doctor of the Church, said that, “To others grace was given in measure, but into Mary was poured the whole fullness.”  Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son, Spouse of the Spirit, the Blessed Virgin has a profoundly unique place in the Mystical Body of Christ and as a model of the Church, and indeed, the diaconate.  She, herself, proclaims her full servanthood to the Trinity in her Fiat and surrender: “ . . . ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’” (Luke 1:38). The Church in Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons describes this integral relationship between Mary and the deacon: “The spirituality of service is a spirituality of the whole Church, insofar as the whole Church, in the same way as Mary, is the ‘handmaid of the Lord’ (Lk 1:38), at the service of the salvation of the world. And so that the whole Church may better live out this spirituality of service, the Lord gives her a living and personal sign of his very being as servant. In a specific way, this is the spirituality of the deacon” (11). This workshop looks at what God revealed to the Church about our Lady, and how those truths form us under her Motherhood as faithful servants of her Son, Christ the Servant and His Church.

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

Who am I? What is my nature? What has God created me for? Who has God created me for? The answers to these questions affect not only how I think about myself, but also how I think about those whom I minister to and how I encourage each of those whom I have the privilege of serving and teaching to think about themselves. In this workshop, we contemplate the unique answers that the Christian faith gives to these questions, answers that highlight the incredible dignity of every person found in the Trinity — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

This workshop offers a summary outline of the basic principles of Catholic morality and how our moral life is rooted not merely in a code of ethics or a set of rules, but profoundly in the Person of Jesus. It discusses some of the major moral issues we face in our society today, and equips all who teach the faith — whether youth ministers, catechists, Catholic school teachers, and so on — with the tools to establish a sure foundation for right moral thinking, both in themselves and in those to whom they minister.

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

The Blessed Trinity is the greatest of all mysteries: the One and Only God is a unity of Three Persons. The Trinity is also our final home, the goal of our life. This mystery, revealed in Jesus, sheds light on all other Christian mysteries. And it is the revelation that sheds light on all other Christian mysteries. Knowing that God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, is a unity of loving Persons, changes our understanding of everything. Many religions believe in gods, some believe in one God, but nothing compares to the Christian belief in one God as a communion of Persons, named for us by Jesus as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Many curriculums include the Trinity as only one doctrine among many. This workshop will help to show how to teach the centrality of the Trinity effectively, as the goal and fulfillment of the life of each Christian.

He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is in all, before all, through all.  The primary and essential object of catechesis is, to use an expression dear to St. Paul, “the mystery of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:4; St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation “On Catechesis in Our Time,” Catechesi tradendae 5)  Therefore, everyone who teaches the Catholic faith must be immersed in this mystery.  Using Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as recent ecclesial documents, this workshop will present the key doctrines that must be taught concerning Jesus Christ.  By examining Jesus’ actions in Scripture, His relationships, and His ways of teaching, we will help catechists unlock the mysteries of Christ, His Incarnation, Redemption, and Second Coming.  

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

How do we keep our focus on serving the Holy Spirit’s plan and empowerment, and not our own ways and human strength?  St. Paul VI wrote, “techniques of evangelization are good, but even the most advanced ones could not replace the gentle action of the Spirit” (St. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelization in the Modern World,” Evangelii nuntiandi 75).  No one responds to the Gospel without first being drawn by the Holy Spirit and no one can live the high calling of the Christian life without being empowered by the Holy Spirit. When we forget that outreach is a work of God, we burn out. This workshop explores Who the Holy Spirit is, His work in personal conversion, and our accepting with joy the gift of the fullness of the Catholic Church throughout our journey of diaconal discernment.

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

Throughout the generations, the Word of God has been handed on as a precious jewel. The Church has guarded this Deposit of Faith so that the saving message of hope might shine out for all to see. Now it is up to us. It is our turn to hand on this jewel, unscathed. It is up to us to catechize, continuing the unbroken chain of passing on the faith throughout the ages. The term catechesis comes from two Greek words meaning, “to echo down,” reflecting the call to us to “echo down,” to hand on, the whole of the faith in its saving fullness. This Deposit of Faith is summed up for our times in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We will look at this important teaching tool for catechesis in this workshop, to discover how we, too, can effectively pass on the precious deposit of Christian teaching in our future diaconal ministry. And in learning how to do this, we are able to insert our own name into St. Paul’s exhortation: O catechist, “. . . [G]uard what has been entrusted to you” (1 Timothy 6:20).

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

“The diaconate is conferred through a special outpouring of the Spirit (ordination), which brings about in the one who receives it a specific conformation to Christ, Lord and Servant of all.” (Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons (Basic Norms) 5) The diaconate is centered on Christ the Servant and expressed in service to liturgy, the Word and charity (see Second Vatican Council Dogmatic Constitution “On the Church,” Lumen gentium 29). Our catechetical mission as deacons, both in preaching and teaching, is unique, because it is not imparting a subject matter, but a Person. “. . . [A]t the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, ‘the only Son from the Father’ . . .” (St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Exhortation “On Catechesis in Our Time,” Catechesi tradendae (CT) 5, quoting John 1:14) We teach Jesus, and everything we teach, we teach in reference to Him, meaning Christocentrically (see CT 6). This workshop will explore how to unfold the life-giving truths of our faith with Jesus placed clearly at the center of all things: our preaching, our teaching content, our teaching methods, and through diaconal formation our own witness to others, whom God has called us to serve in love.

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

Speaking of catechesis with adults, the Directory for Catechesis tells us: “The commitment to the maturation of baptismal faith is a personal responsibility that the adult above all must perceive as a priority on account of being involved in an ongoing process of the formation of his own personal identity. . . . [E]ven at this stage of life and with characteristic accentuations, accompaniment and growth in faith are necessary so that the adult may mature in that spiritual wisdom which illuminates and brings unity to the manifold experiences of his personal, family and social life” (259). In this workshop, we will explore a particular form of accompaniment by which one person — whether lay, consecrated religious, or ordained — journeys with another through spiritual, intellectual, human, and apostolic formation. Through spiritual accountability, an individual is held accountable to Jesus, to him or herself, and to the person accompanying him or her for the growth occurring in his or her life. Our aim with this form of accompaniment is to make missionary disciples of Jesus Christ — in other words, to accompany people in such a way so that they can, then, go share the Good News of the Gospel with others, and provide for others the spiritual, intellectual, human, and apostolic formation they, themselves, have received. 

Within the diaconal discernment process, spiritual accountability is rooted in brotherly love and is seen as a quality of a deacon: “From the experience of the restored diaconate in the United States, certain behavioral patterns have been discerned among exemplary deacons: . . . collaborative accountability . . .” (The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America (National Directory), United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 166). This means encouragement from accountability and being involved on this level in each other’s lives is a means for unity within the diaconate. The “collaboration” is no less than seeking to aid the other to eternal life with Christ the Servant. Although you will learn the basics of spiritual accountability to serve you with your cohort relationships, this workshop is tailored to learn how to accompany others through accountability in your future diaconal ministry. “In virtue of the Sacrament of Orders deacons are at the service of their brothers and sisters needing of salvation.” (Directory for the Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons, Congregation for the Clergy 49)

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

In his Apostolic Exhortation “On the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World,” Evangelii gaudium (EG), Pope Francis reminds us that: “. . . [T]he Gospel tells us constantly to run the risk of a face-to-face encounter with others, with their physical presence which challenges us, with their pain and their pleas, with their joy which infects us in our close and continuous interaction. True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self-giving, from membership in the community, from service, from reconciliation with others. The Son of God, by becoming flesh, summoned us to the revolution of tenderness” (88). By virtue of our ordination and diaconal duties, we will have the role of parish catechetical leader both naturally and at times, will have the role formally as a diaconal ministry. We will encounter others — our pastor, fellow staff members, catechists, parishioners, and so on — on a day-to-day basis, whether in person, through email, or over the phone. So much interaction is not without its challenges, and it takes work, as well as great trust in our Christ the Servant, to be responsible on behalf of the pastor to maintain healthy and flourishing relationships in the parish setting. This workshop will explore common challenges to be faced when the mission is formally as a parish catechetical leader, and if not a parish catechetical leader, will give the ways to train and support one. This workshop will help us to grow in virtue in our future diaconal service as servant leaders in configuration with Christ the Servant, and help us grow in our appreciation for those we work with in our ministry.

In light of your discernment of the diaconate, we are delighted to guide you through a deeper exploration of this sacred calling. Engaging with the framework of Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant (RIM) is a meaningful path for spiritual growth and fosters greater integration between the interior life and ministry through aspirancy & candidacy. As articulated by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, PhD, RIM provides, “. . . a way of describing diaconal spirituality and, equally importantly, forms the necessary bridge between the deacon’s interior and exterior lives” (Encountering Christ the Servant: A Spirituality of the Diaconate (Encountering Christ the Servant), page 113).

Understanding this integration is vital, because being a deacon flows from a profound configuration to and unique communion with Christ the Servant. RIM describes how your Relationship with Christ the Servant shapes your diaconal Identity and how that Identity manifests in your Mission in the Church and in the world.

RIM provides the integrating theme for all our workshops. Consequently, it is important to have read Encountering Christ the Servant and Deacon James Keating, PhD's The Heart of the Diaconate: Communion with the Servant Mysteries of Christ and take the prerequisite workshops “Theology of the Diaconate, I and II" and "Spirituality of the Diaconate.” If it is not possible to take the workshops, then a basic understanding of RIM can be obtained through reading Encountering Christ the Servant's "Chapter Four: Living the Servant Mysteries," pages 103–123.

Please click here for more information about the CI approach & proposed content for aspirants/candidates

Recognizing that ". . . [t]he future of the world and of the Church passes through the family," St. John Paul II exhorts the Christian family to “become what you are” in his Apostolic Exhortation, "On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World," Familiaris consortio, paragraphs 75 (italics our emphasis) and 17. The Christian family is a community that lies at the heart of formation, education, and evangelization. This workshop walks us through this pastoral document from the saint who is often called the “Pope of the family,” examining the tasks facing the Christian family in both its natural and supernatural roles. It examines St. John Paul II’s teaching in Familiaris consortio, systematically exploring the tasks of the family that the Church, through St. John Paul II, has presented in the document. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

Pope Francis teaches us that, “Faith does not draw us away from the world or prove irrelevant to the concrete concerns of the men and women of our time. . . . Faith makes us appreciate the architecture of human relationships because it grasps their ultimate foundation and definitive destiny in God, in his love, and thus sheds light on the art of building; as such it becomes a service to the common good” (Encyclical Letter “On the Light of Faith,” Lumen fidei 51). In this workshop, we will be exploring how God wishes to form each and every one of us into the person He created us to be, through helping us love others and live for others, just as Christ Himself lived for us and loved us “to the end” (see John 13:1). Often misunderstood, the Church’s social teaching is not a partisan platform, an economic policy, or a political position, but rather is an integral part of proclaiming and living the Good News of Jesus Christ in community. We will present the social doctrines in this context and demonstrate how this aspect of Church teaching can help evangelize, console, and lovingly challenge us, as well as those we seek to teach.

He is the Alpha and the Omega.  He is in all, before all, through all.  The primary and essential object of catechesis is, to use an expression dear to St. Paul, “the mystery of Christ.” (CT 5)  Therefore everyone who teaches the Catholic faith must be immersed in this mystery.  Using Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, as well as recent ecclesial documents, this workshop will present the key doctrines that must be taught concerning Jesus Christ.  By examining Jesus’ actions in Scripture, His relationships, and His ways of teaching, we will help catechists unlock the mysteries of Christ, His Incarnation, Redemption, and Second Coming.  This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

The vocation to be a wife and a mother is profoundly beautiful, for not only is it through this vocation that God calls us to sanctity, but it is also through this vocation that we are called to help form others as saints, to lead our husband and children closer to Jesus. No family is perfect, each facing its own challenges and burdens, but every family is offered immense grace by our loving Father, Who desires that we find joy in family life. In this workshop, we hear some reflections from our presenter on living out the faith as a wife and mother and gain insights and practical tips for living out our own vocations with love, so that we can bring our families into greater union with God. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

The Church father St. Jerome said that, “To others grace was given in measure, but into Mary was poured the whole fullness.”  Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son, Spouse of the Spirit, the Blessed Virgin has a profoundly unique place in the Mystical Body.  She is the first and pre-eminent member of the Church, the model par excellence of faith, hope, and love for all Christians.  She is the mirror-image of the Church’s unfailing holiness as virgin-spouse of the Word.  This workshop looks at what God revealed to the Church about our Lady, and how those truths form us under her Motherhood as faithful disciples.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux joyfully exulted that, “‘If the Church was a body composed of different members, it couldn't lack the noblest of all; it must have a Heart, and a Heart BURNING WITH LOVE. And I realized that this love alone was the true motive force which enabled the other members of the Church to act; if it ceased to function, the Apostles would forget to preach the gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. LOVE, IN FACT, IS THE VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES ALL OTHERS; IT'S A UNIVERSE OF ITS OWN, COMPRISING ALL TIME AND SPACE — IT'S ETERNAL!’” (quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 826, emphasis in the original). We know that this love is the golden thread that binds all we believe, this love which has God as its source and which we know as the theological virtue of charity. It is the love of God that gives us truth to speak in gentleness and clarity, and life-giving concern to reach out sacrificially to all those souls around us. It is the love that makes us adopted sons and daughters. It is our beginning and our gifted destiny. This workshop delves into the vital nature of the love of brethren — the virtue of charity that helps us to love God first and love our neighbors as ourselves — that is to be the mark of any community calling others to join Christ’s Body.

As we move forward, please note that the videos for this workshop were made before RCIA was updated to OCIA. You may notice that the quotes in the videos are from the previous rite book and differ from the current OCIA text. The tasks for this workshop, however, have been updated with the current OCIA language. Even though the OCIA rite book has been updated, the heart of the OCIA process — conversion — has not changed. This workshop is still applicable and beneficial to you and your OCIA process, so that you can better minister to those entrusted to you.

“Parents are the primary educators [of their children] in the faith” (General Directory for Catechesis 255). Therefore, “[f]amily catechesis . . . precedes, accompanies and enriches all other forms of catechesis” (St. John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation "On Catechesis in Our Time," Catechesi tradendae 68). Since the family is essential in the work of catechesis, this workshop discusses how to center a parish’s ministry around family catechesis, which allows the parish to aid the family by providing the education, encouragement, and accompaniment that families need. This workshop is primarily directed toward those who work at a parish that has decided to incorporate a more family-centered model of formation. It can also be helpful for parents, catechists, and so on, who wish to understand some of the key principles for implementing family catechesis within a parish, or who simply desire to grow in their spiritual lives in such a way as to lead their own families closer to Christ. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.

The journey of discerning God’s will for our lives, especially regarding our vocation, is something that takes time and effort. The process can certainly be filled with joys and many graces, but it can also be a time of difficulty or confusion. This workshop acknowledges the many struggles that may arise during a time of vocational discernment, inviting our faithful Father into them so He can use these challenges to draw us closer to Himself.

The purpose of this workshop is to help the deacon understand, and more faithfully and fruitfully live out, his diaconal spirituality by considering the primacy of the interior life and recognizing the diaconal spirituality as one which is unique to this particular vocation. In an address to men ordained to the permanent diaconate, St. John Paul II emphasized the importance of the deacon’s intimacy with Christ for his life and ministry: “Sing to [the Lord] as servants, but also sing as friends of Christ, who has made known to you all that he has heard from the Father. It was not you who chose him, but he who chose you, to go forth and bear fruit — fruit that will last” (Address at a Meeting with Men Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate, 19 September 1987, 7). In this workshop we will explore how the deacon’s call to live and serve from his intimate communion with Christ the Servant can be accomplished through his abandonment to our Lord in each moment, his empathy for those he serves in ministry, his understanding of his unique place in the mystery of salvation through the Establishment Hypothesis, and, very importantly, through the RIM Dynamic — his Relationship to, Identity in, and Mission with Christ the Servant. This workshop can be taken as a stand-alone workshop, but it is intended to be taken after the deacon gains a more thorough understanding of the history of the diaconate and the deacon’s call to model His life and ministry after Christ the Servant through the workshops “Theology of the Diaconate I” and “Theology of the Diaconate II.” Because these three workshops are the foundation for all of the diaconal workshops, it is recommended to take them before starting the Deacon Track.

“That which was from the beginning...that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you...” (1 John 1:1, 4).  The New Testament is the completion of the story of how the Father prepared the world for His Son, and the beginning of the story of the Church, His Body, His Kingdom, His Bride, His Ark to save a People He calls His own.  This sweeping drama of truth, centered upon He is who is Truth, forms the message of the good news that catechists are privileged to offer to each generation of souls.

“The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share in his own divine life” (CCC 759).  A plan born in the Father’s heart: from the genesis of life itself, to the last prophet of the Jewish people, the grand sweep of salvation history is unfolded in the 46 books of the Old Testament.  The Covenants, the Commandments, and the promise of a Chosen One form the subject of this workshop, to give catechists a sense of the provident hand of God over our past, our present, and our eternal destiny.

Jesus instituted the sacraments during His earthly ministry, and He entrusted them to the Church, so that the Church could continue His work of salvation and redemption. Regarding the sacraments, the Church teaches us that, “The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and, finally, to give worship to God; because they are signs they also instruct. They not only presuppose faith, but by words and objects they also nourish, strengthen, and express it . . .” (Second Vatican Council's Constitution “On the Sacred Liturgy,” Sacrosanctum concilium, SC, 59). Through the sacraments, God pours His divine life into our souls, transforms us to be more like Him, and strengthens us in faith, hope, and charity, so that we can be united with Him and remain faithful to the work entrusted to us. In this workshop, we’ll learn more about the sacraments, deepen in our appreciation for the sacraments, and be better prepared to participate in the sacramental life of the Church. This workshop's creation was made possible through a generous grant by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

In the Code of Canon Law we read, “Sacramentals are sacred signs by which effects, especially spiritual effects, are signified in some imitation of the sacraments and are obtained through the intercession of the Church” (Canon 1166). Properly speaking, the term sacramentals refers to three of these sacred signs: blessings, consecrations, and exorcisms. In this workshop, we will explore the beauty of sacramentals and their power to dispose us to receive the sacraments and to more fully live as Christ in the particular circumstances of our lives. As we explore numerous examples of sacramentals, we will gain a deeper appreciation for them as a profound gift from holy Mother Church and an aid for participating in the Christian life. We will also discover opportunities to incorporate them into our own lives.