Grand Island Diocese Annual
Nebraskaland Festival of Faith

September 11 & 12, 2009,

Quality Inn and Suites, North Platte, NE

Click here for Hotel information

Click here to Download a complete Registration Form and additional Festival information

Click here for a copy of the Festival Flyer in Spanish

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Rev. Ken Boyack, CSP

More Catholics are participating less in parish life - losing their priori- ties, drifting away, choosing other options. The good news: about half

of inactive Catholics want to become more active. Fr. Boyack discusses an easy-to-do program based on themes of faith that hold meaning for people who are searching.

Ronaldo Cruz

Hispanic ministry programs have prepared thousands of leaders in all levels of the church, providing services and education to enable His- panics to have their own place in the Church. Today, Hispanic Ministry is going a step beyond by becoming an exchange of cultures.

Beth Heidt
PEER TO PEER ABUSE

Our children and youth are involved in many types of relationships in many different settings.  Any relationship has the potential to be a right relationship, and an abusive one. Information about bullying cyberbullying, sexting, sexual harassment, and sexual assault by peers and how to create an environment that keeps our children safe and promotes right relationships with adults and peers.

 

Friday Night
5:30 p.m. Registr ation – Exhibit Booths Open
6:30 p.m. Welcome and Introduction

7:00 p.m.  - REMEMBER THE PAST; LIVE THE PRESENT

Ronaldo Cruz
The former Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs of the USCCB says a major event of his tenure was Encuentro 2000, a national ministries gathering that welcomed all ethnic and cultural groups, causing some to be concerned about a loss of cultural identity. Cruz, however, believes that the event was a historical occasion that changed directions for the church -- showing that the body of Christ exists among all.

 8:30 – 10 p.m. Social


Saturday
9:00 a.m. - Prayer & Welcome

Lee Elliott

Science has finally turned its attention on what are the drivers of hap- piness-- and what makes no difference.  Research on what increases

our joy dovetail with Biblical teachings and the wisdom of the ages. Surprisingly, the sense of being in a "rat race" for many of us has

been found to have no impact on happiness. Learn how to more ef-

fectively pursue happiness.

 

10:15 Break – Exhibit booths Open
10:45 a.m. - Breakout Session 1
Noon - Lunch
Noon – 3 p.m. - Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting

2:30 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. – WALKING WITH THE TEACHER

Sandy Rigsby, RCL Benziger
What would Jesus do? This session looks into some of Jesus’ spe- cific approaches to instruction. Participants will discuss practical ways to use these approaches as a catechist or as a catechetical

leader. We will also reflect on Jesus’ personality traits and attitudes

and explore how we can mimic these characteristics in our every- day lives.

 

4:00 p.m. ---Break---
4:15 p.m. Eucharist with Bishop Dendinger

Saturday Breakout Sessions
Morning and afternoon workshops repeat unless otherwise noted

Lee Elliott
TRUST, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

Research shows that the one single factor determines the quality of our relationships: trust. Without it, we cannot have friends, happy marriages, or successful businesses. The focus of this session is to carefully examine trust and trustworthiness and how to have greatly enhanced relationships

Rev. Ken Boyack, CSP
REACHING OUT TO INACTIVE CATHOLICS – two parts

By inviting inactive Catholics to talk freely about themes of faith relevant to their lives, we build a bonding process that encourages them to find a way back to the practice of the faith. Morning – Part 1; Afternoon - Part 2

 



Ronaldo Cruz
MULTICULTURAL CATECHESIS, CROSS CURTURAL ISSUES

(Multicultural - Asuntos culturales que impactan diversas culturas) 

With his background in community organizing and grass-roots political activism, Cruz has worked to bring a more collaborative approach to Hispanic ministry, as opposed to the "let's-do-this-our-way" pattern that had been common. Morning Session in English; Afternoon Session in Spanish.

Midge Mougey

IDENTIFYING AND DEALING WITH BULLIES
This session will identify the different kinds of bullies, define their purposes, and offer specific defenses against them in your church work, youth work, and personal life.

Sister Guadalupe Ramirez, MCDP

Morning - LA MUSICA: FUENTE DE LA ESPIRUTALIDAD

El Espiritu nos atrae al crecimiento espiritual y entreaga personal en el ministerio por medio de la musica y el canto.

Afternoon - FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND SPIRITUAL DEPTH IN MINISTRY  

Creativity and spiritual maturity are woven within the fabric of the personal responsi- bilities and ministerial challenges in the life of pastoral ministers. How do we keep growing as we continue serving others?

Sandy Rigsby
Morning - PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR TEEN MINISTRY

For those involved in catechesis or middle and school youth ministry, Focus is on techniques used by Jesus in teaching. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligen- ces will be discussed, with handouts.

Afternoon - INTERACTIVE LEARNING TECHNIQUES

Targeted to catechists and youth leaders. Ways to use interactive learning techniques to enrich the spiritual formation of youth. Offers concrete examples of an experience- based approach to Scripture. Handouts provide several examples of interactive activi- ties that have been used successfully with youth.

For more information
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Hotels

Click here to Download Registration Form and additional information

Workshops and Schedule