Faith Formation Conference
2011 Faith Formation Conference at Santa Clara Convention Center a Success!
On Nov. 18-19, 2011, the Diocese of San Jose joined with the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and the Dioceses of Monterey, Oakland and Stockton for the annual Faith Formation Conference at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The conference is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual event that highlights the importance of faith development at all levels of church and society and is aimed at adults to enrich their faith and strengthen their knowledge and skill to do ministry in their church and in the world.
About 2,300 attendees from all over northern California and from as far as Canada and Thailand attended a variety of workshops which were offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Parishioners and parents along with Church/parish ministers including pastors, pastoral associates, school principals and teachers, catechists, liturgists, youth and social ministers were present. Click here for an attendance chart.
Wendy Scherbart, Catechetical Director for the Diocese of San Jose, explained that the event provides Catholic formation, education and training in catechesis, liturgy, social justice, youth and young adult, family life and ethnic ministry. Nationally renowned speakers, Grayson Warren Brown, Rev. Hy Nguyễn, Bishop Bill Justice, Br. Mickey McGrath, Santiago Fernandez, Sr. Edith Prendergast, Joe Paprocki, Rev. Frank DeSiano and Tom Zanzig, to name a few, enriched the ministry of all.
Over 500 Catholic school teachers from the Diocese of San Jose participated in the conference on Friday as an in-service day. Grayson Warren Brown, a nationally known, gifted speaker gave the keynote helping us re-discover the treasures we have in Jesus, our Master Teacher. On Friday evening participants enjoyed the Wine and Cheese gathering in the exhibit hall and won wonderful raffle prizes.
On Saturday, a trilingual reflection on the conference theme with Father Hy Nguyen, Santiago Fernandez and Sister Edith Prendergast inspired us to “Glorify the Lord by Your Life” through the lenses of the parish community's celebration of the liturgy , through its catechesis of adults/parents/youth/children and its service to the poor and marginalized.
Click here for the Faith Formation Conference website atwww.faithformationconference.com .
The following workshops count toward basic catechist certification:
2-01, Prayer and Spirituality Part 1
2-10, for Methods for grades K-4
3-08, Methods for Grades 5-8
6-13, for Holy Spirit
4-15, La Oracion
4-16, La Vida de Oracion
For more information on speakers and workshops, visit the Faith Formation Conference website at www.faithformationconference.com .