Catherine of Siena Institute - CSI

"Ambassadors for Christ"

Fr. John, in concert with the pastoral council, has recognized the need to "evangelize" or "share the Good News of Jesus Christ" with others so that more people can come to have a personal relationship with Jesus and find their home in the Catholic Church. In recent years, we have experienced a massive decline in practicing Catholics in our parish, the diocese, and throughout the entire United States.  Only 10% are attending weekend Mass at our parish (1,800 of 18,000 registered parishioners). We want YOU to be part of the solution.  Please read the following information below and register online for free at the above link.  

Each Module consists of a 2-hour session on Fridays from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and a 6-hour session from 9:00 am till 3:00 pm on Saturdays at Schoppol Hall located in the basement of St. Teresa of Avila Church.  Our three goals are to:

1. Provide everyone with an opportunity to explore their own lived relationship with God in the context of their role as an evangelizing leader.
2. Provide tools and resources to help everyone understand the spiritual landscape before them, the needs of the postmodern seeker and how to respond.
3. Provide a guided process and discussion to begin to apply these concepts and skills to parish life and the implementation of a strategic plan.

Module #1:
Evangelization, the Evangelized & the Evangelizer (September 16-17, 2022)

• An introduction to the Church’s mission of evangelization
• An introduction to the current spiritual landscape (local & national data)
• A detailed exploration of the spiritual journey (thresholds of conversion) both for the participants and postmodern seekers
• An introduction to intercessory prayer for mission and evangelization
• Time for personal and communal process and discussion

Module #2:
Spiritual Conversations for Evangelization & Mission (November 11-12, 2022)
 

• A review of the research into the importance of 1-1 and small group conversations in personal conversion and transformation of parish culture
• Training for evangelizing spiritual conversations
• Practical ways to ‘break the silence’ in the parish and out in the community
• Time for personal and communal process and discussion

Module #3:
Talking Jesus, Telling His Story (January 27-28, 2023)
 

• An introduction to the kerygma and its import to the work of evangelization
• A presentation of the Great Story of Jesus in Nine Acts for the Postmodern Seekers
• How to share the Great Story with people in various places on the spiritual journey
• How to share the Great Story in the parish, community, small groups, etc.
• Time for personal and communal process and discussion

Module #4:
Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Mission (April 14-15, 2023)
 

• Integration of previous learning into the work of evangelization within the parish and parish ministries.
• The importance of a discipleship pathway. An extensive exploration of case studies with time for process and application to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish
• All the baptized an evangelizer or evangelizing leader. What are the steps necessary for each member to discern their role and contribution to Christ’s mission?

Advent/Lent Retreats on Monday, December 12, 2022 & Monday, March 6, 2023 (6 to 8 pm)