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August 2020
A REMINDER...
We recommend that you click on "Click here to view the entire email in your browser"
(at the top of this email newsletter), so you don't miss any information!

Sharing our Faith
in Response to COVID-19
Please CLICK HERE to read a message from the Faith Formation Team of the Archdiocese of Dubuque about sharing our faith in response to COVID-19.


Guidance for Faith Formation (Google Doc)
CLICK HERE to open the document. Please note revisions to Recommendations #2.
Watch for ongoing updates in Tuesday's Weekly COVID-19 Update Newsletter.

Health and Safety Considerations - Faith Formation
The Faith Formation Health and Safety Considerations document can be found in the Google Shared Drive (Google Shared Drive --> FFL Catechesis and Evangelization --> Health and Safety Considerations for Faith Formation), or at the link provided in the COVID-Resources document, ("Recommendations #2).

Guidance on Virtual Meetings with Minors
Guidance on keeping a safe environment during virtual meetings can be found in the COVID FF Guidance document. (Recommendation #4). 
Guidance on how to use Google Meet can be found here, or contact Kevin Feyen.
Guidance on how to use Zoom for virtual meetings can be found here, or contact Joanne Pohland.
 
Feature Article

The Gift of Relationship
by Mary Pedersen, Director of Adult Faith Formation

Mary Pedersen reflects on her years of ministry and her hopes and plans for the future as she retires from her position as Director of Adult Faith Formation in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Read Mary's article here.

Stories from the Field
Faith Formation Leaders from throughout the Archdiocese of Dubuque share their experiences of reaching the Catholic faithful in new and innovative ways.


Knights of Columbus Family Week
by Paul Lee, Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation
The Knights of Columbus dedicate one week every year to recognize the vital importance of families as the foundation of our domestic church, and to promote Catholic family values. K of C Family Week will be celebrated August 10-14, 2020. To learn more about K of C Family Week, read Paul's article here.


Bible School in a Box
by Mary Pat Muhlena, Coordinator of Faith Formation, Heart of Mary Cluster
When COVID-19 forced Heart of Mary Cluster to make some drastic changes to their faith formation plans for the summer, Mary Pat Muhlena and her colleague Brenda Kowalsky got creative! "Vacation Bible School in a Box" has everything parents need to do VBS at home! Read Mary Pat's article here.


If you have a great idea or story to share with other FFLs in the InFo, especially during this unprecedented time, we invite you to write an article about it (approx. 200 words). If you have something you would like to share, please contact Joanne Pohland.
Equipping YOU for Ministry
Faith Formation Leaders Gathering
"The Ministry Priority of Faith Formation"
Thursday, August 20, 2020
The Faith Formation Division invites you to attend this event which will focus on the Ministry Priority of Faith Formation and our role in carrying out that ministry! Archbishop Jackels will share his thoughts, hopes, and challenges, and there will be time to network with others in the field of faith formation. This day is specifically designed for Faith Formation Leaders and Pastors, but all in parish or school ministry are invited to take part. Participants are invited to join either in-person at St. Mary Church, 2700 Horton Road, Waverly, IA, or to join us virtually. Stay tuned, as plans for the format may need to change. There is NO COST for this event, but registration is required. To register for this event, click here. 


New and Nearly New Faith Formation Leaders Virtual Meeting
Thursday, August 6, 2020       9:00 AM - Noon
All New and Nearly New faith formation leaders, please mark your calendars and plan to attend this VIRTUAL gathering for a time of welcome, orientation, and Q & A regarding your ministry. We will be utilizing Zoom as our “gathering” platform. 

In addition to New and Nearly New FFLs, others who would like a “refresher” are welcome to join the “gathering”. We will gather beginning at 8:30 AM with the presentations beginning at 9:00 AM.  The “gathering” will conclude no later than 12:00 noon.

Members of the Archdiocese of Dubuque Pastoral Center Staff will be present to introduce you to many aspects of your new role as a Faith Formation Leader in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.  The "gathering” will include presentations on various topics to help you get started in your ministry.  Some of the topics that will be included are:

  • Overview of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and Ministry Priorities
  • Role of the Archbishop, Pastoral Center, pastors, and FFLs
  • Overview of Formational Ministry
  • Elements of FFL Responsibilities
  • Communications You Can Expect
  • Boundaries and liability
  • Human Resources Overview
  • Resources to Help You in Ministry
  • In addition, there will be ample time for Q & A.

There is no cost to attend this event, but we would ask that you RSVP so that we can send you the login information.  To RSVP, please email Joanne Pohland.


Virtual Open House
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 10:30 AM
For our discussion this week, we want to hear from you regarding what our offices can do to help you as you are planning for programming.  We would also like to hear if there are any topics you would like addressed at the August 20 FFL Day.  And, of course, we just want to "check-in" to see how you are doing!
To Join, click here:   July 22 Link OR
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86432816137?pwd=ajZXc2FVTTZsTlRlRjgzakttcnRmUT09
Meeting ID: 864 3281 6137         Passcode: 5M4p5t
To join by phone, dial:  (312) 626-6799
Meeting ID: 864 3281 6137         Passcode: 836532

The next Virtual Open House is tentatively set for Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 10:30 AM.
Watch for future Virtual Open House opportunities in the weekly COVID-19 Newsletter.


Making Plans for Fall Programming?
Don't forget to share your planning progress with the Faith Formation Commission in your parish/cluster.  They may be able to offer insights you have not thought about, as they are often parents.


University of Dayton VLCFF 
Cycle 5 courses will run from July 12 - August 15, 2020.
Registration for Cycle 6 opened on July 15 and closes on August 26.
Cycle 6 courses will run from August 30 - October 3, 2020.
Remember, you have a voucher for one free course per year!!!
For a complete list of courses, go to: https://vlcff.udayton.edu/calendar/. 
You may click on any course to get an overview of the course as well as the course objectives. For more information on VLCFF or to use your voucher go to https://vlc.udayton.edu or contact Joanne Pohland.
Upcoming Events to Promote

Virtual Session for Marriage Preparation Ministers
Saturday, July 25, 2020 from 9:30 - 11:00 AM
Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Any parish ministers involved in marriage preparation, formation, or enrichment ministries are invited to participate in one of these two virtual (Zoom) sessions led by Matt Selby. The focus will be on unpacking and discussing the new “Standards for Marriage Preparation and Formation” document released in February. Both sessions will include the same content, so attend whichever one works best for your schedule. Please email Matt Selby if you would like to participate.
 
News to Know
Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award Nominations
From the USCCB Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD):
Do you know a young faith-filled Catholic between the ages of 18-40 who demonstrates all of the following:
  • Leadership consistent with the work and philosophy of the CCHD to address the basic causes of economic poverty
  • A commitment to carry out the Church's option for and with those in poverty through empowerment and relationship-building between those who are living in poverty and those who are not
  • Potential for future leadership in these areas
If you know someone who demonstrates these gifts, nominate them today! Click here to learn more about this award. Click here to download an informational brochure.  Click here to access the online nomination form. The deadline for nominations is August 31, 2020.
(Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bernardin)


NEW Natural Family Planning (NFP) Website
In conjunction with National NFP Awareness Week (July 19-25, 2020), the Archdiocese of Dubuque has launched a new/updated version of the NFP website, found here: NFP.dbqarch.org. Please share this information with your parishioners!
  • If you would like "Top Ten Reasons to Use NFP" brochures, flyers, or posters (in English or Spanish), please contact Matt Selby.
  • A scholarship fund is available through the Archdiocese to assist with training costs for individuals/couples who wish to become trained NFP instructors or medical providers (for any Church-approved method). Please consider those you could invite to be trained as instructors. Additional information and the scholarship application can be found here. 
Faith Formation Resources
 
          Ministering With Media (ERC)          


The Education Resource Center has Relocated!
You might say the Education Resource Center (ERC) has “moved up”! We are in the midst of relocating to office space from the basement to the second floor of the Pastoral Center. We are a little more tight and compact, but have been able to maintain the array of resources you love and use! The Faith Formation staff offices will now be unified on one floor, allowing us to communicate and collaborate more easily, and hopefully helping us to serve you more effectively and efficiently! The ERC will be up and running full force by the time everyone “kicks into full gear” in August (although requests are generally being handled at this time, as well). We look forward to completing our relocation process and getting back to spending our time ministering to you with media from our new “upper room.”



If you have other specific needs/requests/topics, please do not hesitate to contact the ERC staff:

Kim – 563.556.2580, ext. 210 or dbqmed@dbqarch.org
Tricia – 563.556.2580, ext. 214 or dbqcmed1@dbqarch.org.

Don’t Forget Pinterest! https://www.pinterest.com/dbqarch


 


          For Ministering to Catechists          
 

An Opportunity to Hear from Our Publishers!

As we consider the types of Faith Formation programming our parishes are going to offer this Fall, we have been receiving requests from you about what is available that could work in a virtual setting, in a family-based setting, or in a hybrid setting.  To help with that, we have arranged to have several representatives from major publishers present their materials and offer a Q & A session just for the FFLs of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

To date, the following presentations have been scheduled, and have been added to the Google Guidance document:

  • Tuesday, July 28 at 9:00 AM -- Our Sunday Visitor
  • Wednesday, July 29, at 9:00 AM -- Loyola Press
  • Wednesday, July 29 at 1:00 PM -- Pflaum Publishing
  • Thursday, July 30 at 10:00 AM -- RCL/Benziger

In addition, Sadlier, Sophia Institute, and Ignatius Press are working on finalizing dates/times.  These events will be added as dates/times become available. 

An invitation to join these events with the Zoom link will be sent out through dbqffl@dbqarch.org.


Virtual VBS 2020 Options

This link will take you to a list of VBS programs with adaptations for virtual use. Some offer great information about adaptations no matter which VBS program you choose to use, so be sure to check out those links on Column F, on the far right. This resource list is being updated as new virtual programs are offered. Some programs let families sign up on their own on the VBS website page. That means no hassle for YOU! Some have free registration, and families or parishes only pay the cost of printing or purchasing the materials. If you are overwhelmed about VBS, the listed offerings could ease your stress a bit. If you discover other programs not included in this listing, please contact the ERC.

 

          For Ministering to Families          


Resources for Families during COVID-19

 

          For Ministering to Youth          

NCYC Update
Due to the uncertain future of large-scale gathered events, the Archdiocese will be temporarily holding off on any planning and deadlines for NCYC '21 (National Catholic Youth Conference) until at least February of 2021. If the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) decides to host NCYC in Indy in 2021, and we feel it will be a safe experience for our teens, we will ramp up promotion, group sign ups, and collection of essential paperwork in the Spring. If you have further questions, please contact Kevin Feyen.

Iowa Catholic Youth Conference: Middle School (ICYC:MS)
The Diocese of Davenport and Archdiocese of Dubuque had planned to offer ICYC:MS (Iowa Catholic Youth Conference: Middle School), a joint gathered event of 400-500 Middle School youth at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids in November of 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a list of "unknowns," we have decided to postpone this gathered event indefinitely. In the meantime, we are exploring different ways to support you in serving middle school youth in your parishes and schools. We will be sharing a survey in late July/early August to hear from you about how we can support you in your middle school ministry.


 
          For Ministering to Young Adults and Adults          
 
Small groups are more important than ever!
During the pandemic, small groups may be needed now more than ever. People long to be connected and in meaningful conversation with others! There are many interesting studies, which can be viewed or read at home and then to meet virtually -- it works! Here are a few examples of small group series:
  • The Wild Goose by Fr. Dave Pivonka
    This 14-part series focuses on the Holy Spirit. Fr. Dave offers beautiful and prayer-provoking reflections. Videos and study guides are all online and free for use. Click here to learn more.
     
  • Metanoia: A Journey with Christ to Conversion by Fr. Dave Pivonka
    A new series on conversion. Click here to learn more.
     
  • The Search by Chris Stefanick
    This 7-episode series is perfect for evangelization, as it explores the deepest questions of the human heart. Includes videos and study guide. Click here to learn more.

NEW Resource for Grandparent Ministry: St. Monica Book Club Study
Start a St. Monica Book Club in your parish! St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, prayed endlessly for the conversion of her wayward son. The book, The St. Monica Club: How to Wait, Hope, and Pray for Your Fallen-Away Loved Ones, is for all parents who ache, long, and pray for the conversion of their prodigal children. Teri Rosendahl has written a study guide, available on our website. The publisher will give a 25% discount to parishes who order ten books or more. The study guide is available to download from the Archdiocese of Dubuque website.


 
        For Ministering to Persons with Diverse Abilities        

Recognizing and Celebrating the Gifts of All
"These brothers and sisters are not only capable of living a genuine experience of encounter with Christ, but are also capable of witnessing it to others. It is important to go forward, better recognizing their apostolic and missionary capacity, and even before that, the value of their “presence” as people, as active members of the ecclesial Body. Hidden in weakness and frailty are treasures capable of renewing our Christian communities."                  Pope Francis, Convention for Person with Disabilities, 6-11-16

How is your parish recognizing and celebrating the diverse gifts of ALL parishioners? Think about how the future might look, as parishes begin to fully open again. As health and safety recommendations allow, train ushers and other parish staff/volunteers on how to offer welcome and assistance to persons with differing needs. Invite people with disabilities to serve in ministry roles within the parish. Provide accommodations when offering training for ministry. When preparing the liturgy, include a prayer of intercession for persons with disabilities or mental illness. Recognize and celebrate the unique gifts EVERYONE brings to the banquet table!

The ministry of Disability Inclusion supports faith formation programs, schools, and parishes in including persons with diverse disabilities. Check out resources for inclusive catechesis available here. For additional Disability Inclusion resources and support, contact Lynne Chapman or the ERC.


 
         Online Resources        
 
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of these Faith Formation newsletters!



       
 
Recognitions
(If you know someone who should receive special recognition, please let us know.)
Thank You!
The Faith Formation offices would like to bid a fond farewell to Mary Pedersen, who will be leaving her position as Director of Adult Faith Formation on August 1, 2020. So many people have been touched by Mary’s Spirit-filled evangelization efforts and life of missionary discipleship. Thank you, Mary, for all you have contributed to Catholic faith formation!


Farewell!
We bid farewell to the following FFLs leaving their positions:
  • Mark Bodensteiner - Holy Spirit, Dubuque
  • Sr. Connie Howe - St. Mary, Eldora
  • Brian O'Donnell - St. Patrick and Cathedral of St. Raphael, Dubuque
Welcome!
We welcome the following FFLs starting new positions:
  • Sam Andersen - St. Anthony, Dubuque
  • Deacon Rob Claypool, St. Mary, Eldora
We're Here for You!
The Archdiocesan Faith Formation Division is here to help you in any way...
  • Parish visits                                                                 Archdiocese of Dubuque
  • Phone calls                                    1229 Mt. Loretta Ave
  • Email correspondence                         Dubuque, IA 52003
  • Virtual or in-person consultation               Phone: 563-556-2580
  • Parish presentations                           Toll-free: 1-800-876-3546
  • Any other way we can be of assistance
Director of Adolescent Faith Formation
Kevin Feyen 
ext. 253
k.feyen@dbqarch.org
 
Director of Adult Faith Formation
Mary Pedersen 
ext. 298
dbqcaf@dbqarch.org
 
Director of Catechetical Services
Joanne Pohland 
ext. 255
j.pohland@dbqarch.org
 
Director of 
Marriage and Family Life
Matt Selby 
ext. 233
m.selby@dbqarch.org
 
Faith Formation
Administrative Assistant
Carla Kasal
ext. 267
c.kasal@dbqarch.org
 
 
Director of the
Education Resource Center
Kim Feldman 
ext. 210
dbqmed@dbqarch.org
 
Education Resource Center Specialist
Tricia Tranel 
ext. 214
dbqcmed1@dbqarch.org

Faith Formation Events Coordinator
Jim Betzner
ext. 286
j.betzner@dbqarch.org

Faith Formation
Projects/Communications
Coordinator
Lynne Chapman 
ext. 246
l.chapman@dbqarch.org

Disability Inclusion
dbqcpwd@dbqarch.org


 
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