Small Group/Workshop Presenters

  • Marcus Grodi
    "Keeping Kids Catholic"
    This workshop deals with the seven things we need to do to keep kids Catholic.
  • Dr. Janet E. Smith
    "A Culture of Life vs. a Culture of Death"
    This talk covers the main points of Professor Smith's new book: The Right to Privacy. In the Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II identified a "distorted view of freedom" as one of the roots of the "Culture of Death." In this talk, Professor Smith demonstrates how that distored view of freedom dominates various Supreme Count decisions on life issues under the guise of the "right to privacy." Learn of some surprising connections between contraception, abortion, assisted suicide, and same sex unions.
  • Margaret Nutting Ralph
    "And God Said What? The Catholic Approach to Scripture"
    When you read Scripture do you sometimes find yourself asking, "Why would God say that?" Why would God tell the Israelites to kill the women and children in the towns they conquer? Why would Jesus tell people not to tell anyone about his healings? If you need help understanding the revelation given to us in Scripture, this workshop is for you. Margaret Nutting Ralph will be making a presentation based on her best-selling book And God Said What? You will learn the Catholic approach to understanding Scripture and will better be able to understand what biblical authors intended to teach.
  • Sister Pamela Smith, Director of Catechesis and Christian Initiation, DOC
    "Eucharist, Care and the Problem of Pain"
    Being Catholic means being resoundingly Eucharistic, yet we often forget that receiving and becoming Body of Christ immerses us in the paschal mystery. The workshop addesses our response to suffering as people of faith. Insights from St. Alphonsus Liguori are particularly noted in this talk.
  • Margaret Nutting Ralph
    "Catholics and the Eucharist: The Scriptural Basis for our Beliefs"
    Christ's real presence in the Eucharist is absolutely central to Catholic belief. However, the way in which most Catholics have been taught to name Christ's presence uses categories of Greek thought (transubstantiation: substance; accident), ways of thinking unfamiliar to many Catholics in the United States. In this workshop we will explore the biblical images used to probe the mystery of Christ's presence in the Eucharist. We will explore the Catholic approach to Scripture to the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel according to John, and Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.
  • Brother Carlos Parrilla, CSC, Manager, Office of Hispanic Ministries
    "Vocations and the Family"
    This workshop points to the reality that everyone has a calling from God. From an experiential viewpoint, the family is the primary nurturing grounds for all of these God's callings.
  • Brother Carlos Parrilla, CSC, Manager, Office of Hispanic Ministries
    "Welcoming the Stranger Among Us"
    Based on the statement by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, this workshop addresses the issues of migration then and now, who are the immigrants and the discrimination they face, and what is to be our Christian response. The workshop also talks of how the Church is rejuvenated and enriched by its immigrants. Depending on the time, this workshop is accompanied by a 30-minute video.
  • Sister Susan Pontz, SS.C.M., Dir. of Instructional Technology, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonia, TX
    "The Church in Cyberspace"
    What role does the Internet have in the Church? How can it be used for evangelization, catechesis, faith formation, and other church ministries? This presentation will explore various websites and issues that can impact the Church's use of the Internet - including resource and parish websites, access to magisterial documents, evaluating the authenticity of sites that call themselves "Catholic", one's responsibility to follow copyright law and COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), and finally techniques to assist in becoming "media literate" users of the Internet.
  • Daniel Mulhall, National Catechetical Advisor (Sponsored by RCL/Benziger)
    "Catechumenate, Catechesis, and the Whole Community"
    As the Church's official rite for bringing adults fully into the faith, the RCIA -- commonly known as the catechumenate for one of its periods -- is a process of initiation in the Catholic community: parish, diocesan, and universal. This presenation will explore the periods of the catechumenate, describe how catechesis can be appropriately done during each of these periods, and explore the role the whole community can play in and benefit from the process. The workshop will be of particular interest to those engaged in the catechumenate and those looking to engage the whole community in the formation process.
  • Jane Myers and Michael Myers
    "Small Christian Communities: Nourishing the Body of Christ"
    Participants in this workshop will understand the history and pastoral theology supporting SCCs; will learn how to initiate, implement and nurture SCCs within the parish community and will receive an excellent bibliography of resources.
  • Jane Myers and Michael Myers
    "Couples Called, Nourished, & Sent: The True Potential of Sacramental Marriages in Eucharistic Communities"
    Participants in this workshop will understand the urgency of renewing Prayer, Hospitality and Service as charisms of mature marriages; and will receive practical examples, effective tools, and excellent resources.

  • Team Assembled by Deanery Catechetical Leaders and Education Office:
    "Best Practices for Sharing the Faith"

Questions:  Please send an e-mail to Cathy Roche at cathy@catholic-doc.org 
or Sr. Pam Smith at psmith@catholic-doc.org

©2009 - The Diocese of Charleston