Certification Skills Courses 
(Professional Development Credit Available)

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certification is a program of St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry.  The Department of Evangelization and Catechesis supports this program by offering the Skills Courses.

Professional Ministers in parishes and schools are welcome to attend these sessions for ongoing professional development credits.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

9:00am-11:30am Competencies of the Catechetical Leader (core).  In 2012, the collective Bishops of New York State spoke on behalf of their ongoing commitment to forming Catechetical Leaders to meet the challenges of ministering in today's Church.  This skills course will explore the Comprehensive Plan for Formation of the Catechetical Leader in the Third Millennium and equip Catechetical and  Youth Ministers to engage with five areas for focus and development in their ministerial work.  Presenter:  Jonathan Schott

12:30pm-3:00pm Liturgy, Prayer and Catechesis (core).  The relationship between Liturgy, Prayer and Catechesis is integral to our catechetical ministry.  The National Directory for Catechesis points out that "catechesis both precedes the Liturgy and springs from it" (33). This course will highlight some ways catechists can better lead people into the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church.  Presenter: Deacon John Brasley

3:00pm-5:30pm    Nurturing Your Spirituality (elective) .  Working in ministry has its own set of rewards and challenges.  Sometimes the very things that make ministry wonderful can also make nurturing our own spirituality difficult.  This module will help ministers to articulate those challenges and find ways to sustain themselves through their own faith journey.  Presenter: Dr. Shannon Loughlin