Sr. Rosemarie Whitehead to keynote catechist day

New Ulm - March 16, 2002 is the date of a catechist formation event and publishers day to be held at St. Anastasia’s in Hutchinson. Sister Rosemarie Whitehead, OSF, will be the keynote presenter. Sister Rosemarie has ministered in the Diocese of New Ulm for many years. She presented with Father Dick Rice at the Diocesan Festival this summer. Her gift of music and understanding of prayer is very evident. She will speak about the richness of the Catholic tradition of prayer, help participants be attentive to prayer in their lives, and share skills to call forth a prayer life from those they catechize.

Prayer is one of the modules named in the process called "Recognition of Catechist Formation." The General Directory for Catechesis #235 states:

"Formation seeks to enable catechists to transmit the Gospel to those who desire to entrust themselves to Jesus Christ. The purpose of formation, therefore, is to make the catechist capable of communicating: "The summit and center of catechetical formation lies in an aptitude and ability to communicate the Gospel message."

The Office of Religious Education has been planning catechist training events around modules that are concerned with skills needed by catechists. After completion of a workshop that deals with these particular skills, the catechist receives recognition. The modules presented so far are: Catechetical Skills: Module 1 - Growth in Faith, Module 2 - Creativity in Catechesis, Module 3 - Catechesis in Action. The one on prayer will be Module 4. This process has given form to how to form catechists. Regional and parish formation has also centered on these modules and is recognized.

The day will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be workshops in the afternoon around the topic of prayer. There will be representatives from the major publishing companies present. Lunch will be a part of the day.

For more information consult your parish DRE or the Office of Religious Education at (507) 359-2966.