The Los Angeles Religious Education Congress has jumbo-trons.
The Mid-Atlantic Congress has a cool, flash-powered website.
But the St. John Bosco Conference held from July 17-21 is belle of the ball when it comes to practical, useable teaching on becoming a life-changing, evangelizing catechist.
What’s that you say? You’ve never heard of it? I’m not surprised. It’s smaller and not as well publicized as those others, but it’s really the best national catechetical conference you’ll ever attend.
A little history of the Bosco Conference
Twenty years ago, Professor Barbara Morgan went to Franciscan University at the request of then president, Fr. Michael Scanlan, to set up a catechetics program. Fr. Scanlan wanted Franciscan theology graduates to be well equipped for serving the Church in the university’s spirit of Dynamic Orthodoxy.
And that Professor Morgan did. After a few years, the university approached her about doing a catechetical conference.
You see, Franciscan University does conferences. All kinds of conferences. You’ve probably heard of the summer youth conferences but those are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s conferences for priests, women religious, lay people, biblical scholars, charismatic leaders, as well as men’s and women’s conferences.
So, the first St. John Bosco Catechetical Conference was born. St. John Bosco, one of the pre-eminent catechetical saints, was the patron of Professor Morgan.
The Bosco catechetical certifications
That first year, they asked the participants what they wanted most out of the conference. The response was certifications.
So, the second year they developed a Catechist Certification Track with a 5-year curriculum in doctrine, catechetical theory, methodology, and philosophy. It was a wild hit.
That first track led to others. Currently, there are tracks for certification in youth ministry, RCIA program direction, campus ministry, and for Directors of Religious Education. All have 5-year curriculums except for youth ministry, which is two years to certification.
The 5-day track certification conference includes over 30 workshops in adult catechesis, family catechesis, sacramental preparation, RCIA, youth ministry, Scripture, and liturgy.
This conference is jam-packed with workshop sessions, but there’s also many times for Mass, confession, holy hours and adoration. Participants rave about how much they learn, but also about how close they get to the Lord during this time. It’s been described as part conference, part retreat.
Registration is going on now
I highly encourage you to attend this fantastic conference. This is where I got my degree and learned the methodology for truly effective, evangelizing catechesis. You can learn the same techniques from some of the best speakers and catechists in the country.
Registration is going on now, and if you do it before April 29, 2013, you can take advantage of special early bird registration rates. Click here for registration links and more information. You won’t regret it.
You won’t regret it.
