ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNUAL SUMMARY OF SERVICES REPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF EVANGELIZATION & CATECHESIS:  ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI, 2008-2009

We encourage you to visit the Archdiocesan Media website to review in its entirety the Annual Summary of Services provided by the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis for the academic year 2008-2009.   The article is listed in “New” on the right side of the page. 

H1N1 FLU UPDATE from the NCCL

The latest update from the U.S. government offers you a 30 page document entitled H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations and is available for a free download.

Not all of the information is pertinent to our ministry but I believe you will find some of it very helpful. It can be shared with other staff members, especially if you have a parish nurse.  FREE print resources are also available.  

INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMING CHANGES IN THE MASS

A new edition of the Roman Missal (currently called the Sacramentary) is expected to be implemented in 2010.  The Roman Missal will have some changes in the prayers that we use during the liturgy.  In order to help with the transition the Worship Office, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and others will be providing some in-service and resources in the near future.  Our focus will be on the Eucharist as a whole, not just the changes in the prayers of the Mass.

In the meantime, if you would like more information now about the coming changes in the Mass, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has developed an excellent website devoted exclusively to these changes.  This would be a good time to become familiar with the changes so that you will be able to help the students and adults in your parish become aware of the changes and why they are being made.

TRAINING ON REVISED ROMAN MISSAL--
SAVE THE DATE AND WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION

The FDLC will be conducting a regional training session for the new edition of the Roman Missal.  In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati that training will take place on Thursday and Friday, April 15 & 16, 2010, at Good Shepherd Church in Cincinnati.  We encourage you to mark this date on your calendar and plan on attending this workshop.

NCEA ACRE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI

JUST A REMINDER:

The NCEA ACRE Assessment must be administered in every parish and school annually (Religious Education Policy #2108.02).  Now is the time to order materials and schedule the assessment.  Catholic High School Seniors sit for NCEA ACRE in the fall with answer sheets due to CAL by Nov. 13, 2009.  Grades 5 and 8 in Catholic Schools and chosen grades in Parish Schools of Religion take the assessment in January with answer sheets due to CAL by Feb. 19, 2010. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For more information including an “Administration Checklist,” on NCEA ACRE in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati go to our website, hover over “Catechetical Leader” and click on “NCEA ACRE” or contact:  Carolyn Stucke at (937) 498-1192

ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI RCIA WEB PAGE REVISED!

Check out the newly revised Archdiocese of Cincinnati RCIA Web Page.  This site for RCIA Coordinators and Catechists offers downloadable documents, links to other sites, up-coming events, lists of week-by-week doctrinal topics to cover, and various RCIA resources.

CERTIFICATION FOR RCIA COORDINATORS AND CATECHISTS

Remember that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati calls for the certification of those serving as coordinators and catechists in parish RCIA processes. Formation of catechists and coordinators ensures that they can effectively carry out their ministry.  The archdiocesan certification process for RCIA coordinators and catechists may be found on the RCIA Web Page.  For more information contact the following members of the Archdiocese RCIA Team:

          Carolyn Stucke at 937-498-1192

          Sister Mattie Sterner at 937-223-4075

          Kris Krimm at 513-421-3131

GABRIELLE BOUSCAREN GRANTS

Every year the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, due to the generosity of Gabrielle Bouscaren, awards a number of grants to help further the education of those serving as catechetical leaders, elementary or high school principals, or those teaching religion in Catholic High Schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.  The grants have a maximum of $1,000 with grants averaging $513.  Since 2002 over $68,000 has been awarded.

Applications for grants are to be submitted in November and must be received by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis by November 30, 2009.

Please also remember that a person who is applying for a grant must:

• have submitted a follow-up report if they have received a grant in the past;
• have submitted the grant application and a letter from the pastor or religion department chairperson by the deadline;

• be currently serving or aspiring to serve as a catechetical leader in a parish in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati or be currently teaching religion in a Catholic high school or currently serving as an elementary or high school principal in the Archdiocese;
• show that their request reflects the requirements for certification as stated in archdiocesan certification documents or will significantly enhance their professional abilities in religious education;
• give clear evidence of financial need;
• name the specific course of catechesis or theology at a particular institution that he or she is planning to attend.  (The course must clearly be catechetical or theological in nature.)

Please Note:  Grants are not given for classes which a person has already completed or is currently enrolled.

For further information or an application, see the Bouscaren Fund page on the OEC web site.