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Initiatives | Building Momentum Together

Adult Faith Formation Office | Adult Confirmation Spring Program

This program is designed for practicing adult (18+) Catholics seeking the sacrament of Confirmation, who have been baptized, have received their first Holy Communion, and have been educated in the Catholic faith through Catholic Schools or religious education programs. Through presentations, group discussion, reflection and prayer, the sessions will cover Sacred Scripture and Tradition, the Creed, prayer and spirituality, the Church, Catholic social teaching and the meaning of the sacrament of Confirmation. Classes begin April 12. Register at archny.org/adult-confirmation.

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Adult Faith Formation Office | Eucharistic Revival

Year of Parish Revival

In the Year of Parish Revival, all parishes are invited and encouraged to do two things:

  1. Eucharistic Revival small groups:  Host Eucharistic Revival small groups to help parishioners encounter and grow in their love for Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, while building community in the parish, and
  • Parish Playbook:  Discern and implement the Eucharistic Revival “Parish Playbook” which offers recommendations for parish activities in each of the four pillars of the Revival:  personal encounter with Jesus, reinvigorating devotion, deepening formation, and missionary sending. This will be published in April.

Appointment of a Parish Point Person

We are inviting each parish Pastor to (i) appoint a Parish Point Person to oversee this work, and (ii) host Eucharistic Revival small groups at your parish.  Once you assign your Parish Point Person, the Revival team will communicate directly with the Parish Point Person and train her/him in order to minimize your work and the work of your staff.

To assist you with this ask, the Revival team has provided the following two template documents, which are attached to this email:

  • Pastor ask of a staff member to be the Parish Point Person, and
  • Pastor ask of a parishioner volunteer to be the Parish Point Person

The Revival Team recommends you assign a staff member who is responsible for evangelization, faith formation or RCIA to be your Parish Point Person, as this work involves parish calendars and resources.  If a staff member is not available, then the Revival Team recommends a parishioner volunteer who (i) is a faithful practicing Catholic who prays and loves our Eucharistic Lord, and (ii) has the available time and organizational skills for this work. Please use this link to submit the name of your Parish Point Person.

Download Memo to Pastors Download
Download Memo from Pastors to Staff Members to be Parish Point PersonDownload
Download Memo to Pastors to Parishioners to be Parish Point Person Download

Archcare | Training for Lay Persons Sick Frail Elderly Homebound Members of Archdiocese 

The Office of Parish Integration at ArchCare is pleased to announce a new initiative to offer additional training for lay persons in ministry to the sick, frail, elderly, and homebound members of the Archdiocese. The training is to promote greater awareness of the physical and spiritual health of those we minister to.

This program, designed to complement your current programs while not duplicating parish efforts, will in- clude online resources and webinars culminating in re- gional in-person educational sessions. These gatherings will be led by ArchCare in cooperation with the Archdi- ocesan Office of Liturgy and feature speakers from oth- er ADNY departments as well as outside organizations. Our hope is to eventually offer retreat days of formation and affirmation for persons involved in this ministry of the Church.

We share your commitment to offer spiritual encour- agement to persons in need who may feel lonely and dis- connected. Our goal is to help you and your parish teams bring hope where there is despair, comfort where there is worry, and individualized healthcare services where there are challenging medical needs.

Please reach out to the Parish Integration team of Michael Guglielmo at 646-229-7413 or mguglielmo@archcare.org, or Sr. Mary Anne Dennehy, O. Carm. at 646-872-7683 or srmadennehy@archcare.org for more information.

A separate mailing will be sent to parish volunteers in the near future detailing specific ways to participate.

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Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa | Look to the Future

The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa are conducting a capital campaign. Mission Forward: 175 Years and Counting is underway. The goals of the campaign seek to fund the formation of new sisters, the cost of care for retired sisters, and their current and future ministries.

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Family Life Office | Engage-Encourage-Educate 

The Archdiocesan Family Life Office hosted a series of seven Educate – Encourage – Engage Meetings throughout the Archdiocese of New York. I am happy to report that our meetings lead to wonderful conversations and the identification of action items that will be addressed as part of our Office’s Pastoral Plan.

The purpose of these meetings was to:

  • ENGAGE: Meet and greet parish staff (clergy and laity, paid and volunteer) ministering in any field of Family Life including, but not limited to, marriage preparation, marriage enrichment, parenting, separated and divorced, bereavement, pornography, etc.
  • ENCOURAGE: Provide resources and initiatives to be used in parishes and families.
  • EDUCATE: Explore the riches found in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 2021 document Called to the Joy of Love: National Pastoral Framework for Marriage and Family Life Ministry.

The following is a summary of what we learned from those who attended the meetings:

  • The need for clarity regarding the mission of the Office of Family Life of the Archdiocese of New York. Many seem to be unclear or unfamiliar with the work of the Office of Family Life and how it can be helpful to providing accompaniment and assistance to the parish, Catholic school, or individual family.
  • The need for engaged participation by all members of the parish and Catholic school families. The Office of Family Life will work with parish and Catholic school leaders to assist families in their desire to participate, learn, and engage in the life of the parish and Catholic school, if one is present.
  • The need for initial and ongoing formation. One of the four pillars of the USCCB’s Called to the Joy of Love document is formation. Often we heard about the need of parish leaders to be formed and educated in the Faith in order to accompany others, including their own family members.
  • The need for practical ways to connect family members to the Church. People who are already involved in the life of the parish and/or Catholic school community enjoy the company of others. Initiatives and processes that seek to form a community are vital to the well-being of all.
  • The need for service to be provided at the local and regional level, in addition to the Archdiocesan level. The Office will work to provide services at various locations throughout the Archdiocese and hold regular gather- ings to continue to listen and respond to various needs.
  • The need for collaboration and innovation. On several occasions, parents sought advice regarding how to collaborate with other parents when it comes to Catholic parenting. What may have worked for them just a few years ago, no longer seems viable. They see the Office of Family Life addressing the needs of the total family; as the family grows, so do the needs.
  • The need for ongoing conversation and commitment. It was interesting to see the particular reason why people attended the meetings. Following most meetings, those gathered often ended by indicating their desire to continue the conversation.]

Please make available to your parishioners our newly revised web site found at archny.org/family-life and en- courage families to make use of the resources available as well as participate in any events and initiatives. The schedule and registration information regarding the April/May 2023 Educate – Encourage – Engage Meetings can be found on tinyurl.com/yc4mt8sa.

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Family Life Office | The Marriage Catechumenate

Listed among the four major initiatives of the Office of Family Life for the 2023-2024 Pastoral Year is what Pope Francis calls, “the implementation of a true catechumenate of future spouses including all the steps of the sacramental path: its celebration, and the years immediately thereafter.” (Pope Francis, address to participants in the course on the marriage process, February 25, 2017) We refer to this as The Marriage Catechumenate.

In Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life: Pastoral Guidelines for Local Churches from the Vatican Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life, we read:

It is the duty of the entire ecclesial community to elaborate a catechumenal pathway for marriage preparation and to offer concrete accompaniment to couples along this path. The journey should be shared among priests, Christian spouses, religious men and women, and pastoral workers, who must collaborate among themselves and in agreement with their bishop. Marriage is not only a social act; for Christians, it is an “ecclesial” act.

The Holy Father calls for a process articulated in phases, marked by rites of passage to be celebrated by and within the parish community. It is a process like the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). Historical- ly, here in the Archdiocese of New York, there have been several versions of a Pre-Cana process as well as various marriage enrichment opportunities. This summer, I have been asked to attend a conference sponsored by the Unit- ed States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to dis- cuss pathways toward establishing a complete marriage catechumenate process, explained above. I look forward to sharing our work with others throughout the country.

Our approach will be deliberate, conscious of what has occurred previously and attentive to the progress need- ed to be made. Creating an environment where marriage and family life are priorities is essential to our well-being.

The first step in formulating a marriage catechumenate process with many options is for me to meet with those already involved in marriage preparation (Pre-Cana) both at the local and archdiocesan level. While we have a list of those currently involved at the archdiocesan level, I ask that you provide contact information for those in your parish or collaborative who minister in this area. We also need to identify additional hosts, facilitators, mentor couples, and parish family life directors who will assist in the marriage catechumenate as part of their duty as a member of the ecclesial community (a form accompanies this memorandum; click link below).

For marriage preparation, we seek to identify couples who can:

  • Catechize the engaged couple
  • Evangelize the engaged couple
  • Accompany the engaged couple, families, and friends
  • Pray for the engaged couple

For marriage enrichment, we seek to identify couples who can:

  • Accompany the married couple and family
  • Witness God’s faithful love to the married couple and family
  • Advocate for the married couple and family
  • Evangelize and pray for the married couple, family, and friends

As we continue to develop this marriage catechumenate process, training and formation will be essential. As you begin to identify couples, let them know that more information will be forthcoming, and we will accompany them in this import- ant ministry. Anyone who wishes to participate in a leader- ship role will be given ample training and formation. We need priests and deacons as well who can assist us in the formation of the marriage catechumenate process at the Archdiocesan level. Please email or call me if you have a particular interest in any or all aspects of the mar- riage catechumenate. For your information, I attached a copy of the USCCB slide regarding the overview of the marriage catechumenate (click link below) which we will discuss in detail in the future.

Download MemoDownload
Download USCCB PathwaysDownload

Respect Life Office | 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life: February 22 – April 2

UPDATE: The Bronx 40 Days for Life campaign on Eastchester Rd has accomplished its goal and Bronx Abortion has closed its doors after 52 years of deadly business. Praise God! There is now only one 40 Days for Life campaign in the Bronx, at Dr. Emily’s.

Suggested Bulletin or Pulpit Announcement:

Want to be part of saving lives? All it takes is your prayers and presence. 40 Days for Life is a life-saving prayer campaign that will take place throughout our Archdiocese starting on February 22 and concluding April 2. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful initiative consisting of 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil at abortion facilities, and educational outreach with the goal of pro- tecting mothers and their children from abortion. Nearly 23,000 unborn children have been saved from abortion during 40 Days for Life campaigns. To learn more about the 40 Days for Life campaign, visit 40daysforlife.com.

For information about participating in the 40 Days for Life campaigns in the Archdiocese, contact the following leaders:

40 días por la vida: 22 de febrero al 2 de abril de 2023

¿Quieres ser parte de salvar vidas? Todo lo que se necesita es tu oración y presencia. 40 Days for Life es una campaña de oración para salvar vidas que se llevará a cabo del: 22 de febrero al 2 de abril. 40 Días por la Vida es una iniciativa pacífica que consiste en 40 días de oración y ayuno, vigilia pacífica en los centros de aborto y activi- dades educativas con el objetivo de proteger a las madres y sus hijos del aborto. Más de 23,000 niños han sido sal- vados del aborto durante las campañas de 40.

Para obtener más información, visite 40daysforlife.com o comuníquese con las líderes de campañas:

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Saint Joseph’s Seminary | College Summer Theology Program | Flyer

  • Open to qualified lay men and women, clergy and consecrated religious
  • Zoom in from any location to join a class
  • Tuition: $1,500 for three credits, $500 to audit
  • 50% off for new students and alumni auditors
  • Christology with Fr. John Cush, STD
    • July 10 – 14 | 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
    • Via Zoom, and in-person at Yonkers
  • The Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation with Professor Annmarie McLaughlin, MA
    • May 31 – July 14 | Tuesdays and Thursdays
    • 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.
    • Via Zoom, and in-person at Huntington
  • Introduction to New Testament with Dr. Jose Enrique Aguilar, SSD
    • May 31 – July 14 | Mondays and Wednesdays
    • 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.
    • Via Zoom, and in-person at Yonkers
  • Spiritual Theology with Msgr. Donald Guglielmi, STD
    • June 26 – 30
    • 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
    • Via Zoom, and in-person at Yonkers
  • Introduction to Church History with Fr. Michael Bruno, STD
    • June 1 – July 3 | Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
    • 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.
    • Via Zoom
  • Liturgical Year and Environment of Worship with Fr. Matthew Ernest, STD
    • July 10 – 14 | 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
    • Via Zoom, and in-person at Yonkers
  • Conflict Resolution in Ministry with Dean Christine Hammill-Cregan, JD, MSW
    • May 31 | 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. (via Zoom)
    • June 19 – 22 | 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (in-person at Huntington)

For more information, go to dunwoodie.edu/summer-courses or email us at sjsacademics@dunwoodie.edu

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Youth Faith Formation Office | FREE Catechist and Youth Ministry Team Certificate Formation

Did you know that all catechist/youth ministry team certificate formation is FREE through the Department of Youth Faith Formation? We offer courses for Level 1 and Level 2 certificates and certificate renewal. Catechists and youth ministry team members can take courses on Scripture, Catholic moral teaching, Catholic social teaching, practical tools religious education and youth ministry, and ministering with young people with special needs. Courses are available online and in person, in English and in Spanish! List of upcoming courses can be found at: archny.org/ youth-faith-formation/yff-formation-calendar.

Youth Faith Formation Office | PRIESTS NEEDED for NY Catholic Youth Day and Middle School Youth Rally

If you have ever gone to NY Catholic Youth Day, one of the amazing images you will see is young people lined up to go to confession. These great days help young people encounter Christ in worship, in service, in each other, and in the sacraments. Can you spare a couple of hours to minister to our young people on either April 22 from noon to 5:00 P.M. or April 23 from 1:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.? If so, please email taiza.sierra@archny.org with your contact information.

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