Volume 8, Issue 1
August 3, 2009

St. Peter Julian Eymard

St. Peter Julian Eymard was born in LaMure, France, he worked at his father's trade as cutler until eighteen when he went to the seminary at Grenoble and was ordained in 1834. He served as a parish priest for several years then joined the Marists and in 1845 became their provincial at Lyons. He established the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament whose nuns devoted themselves to perpetual adoration.

(From Catholic Online)

 

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent

As the Office of Catholic Education staff prepares for the opening meetings of the new school year, I welcome you to the 2009-2010 School Year! Later this week we will meet our new principals. I trust that our experienced administrators will join with the Assistant Superintendents and staff of the OCE in helping them along the way. It is a proven fact that the principal is the key, the heart, and the reason for the success of the school. It is your leadership that brings together all the ingredients to form a Faith Community of students, parents, teachers and staff in a very special environment, a microcosm of the Church. The Catholic School is a safe, nurturing place where students develop as whole persons with the faith and values we cherish. In the hustle and bustle of opening the school year, let us take the time to reflect on this graced time we have together to form our students in the likeness of Christ. May the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you in your daily work!

 

In May 2009, the Congregation for Catholic Education at the Vatican wrote to the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences a Circular Letter that addresses the role of schools in Catholic education. The letter recalls many principles articulated in former Church documents and addresses the nature and identity of the Catholic school, clarifies the relationship of religious education to catechesis and generally is a good reminder of why we do what we do. Please take the time to read the letter at http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20090505_circ-insegn-relig_en.html.

 

Year for Priests, June 19, 2009-June 19, 2010
As you are well aware, Pope Benedict XVI has designated June 19, 2009 through June 19, 2010 as the Year for Priests. This yearlong celebration begins on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a day on which we pray for the sanctification of all priests. The Holy Father has likewise declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of All Priests on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the saint's death.

The following link will take you to the USCCB Year for Priests Web site: http://www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/index.shtml. You will find Pope Benedict's message and the announcement of the plenary indulgence in both English and Spanish. In addition, prayers have been commissioned for both priests and laity respectfully. PDF documents of these prayers (English/Spanish) can be downloaded and printed for school and parish use. During the course of the year, the USCCB will make available monthly articles by prominent Catholic women; they will write about their faith and trust in the priesthood. There will be a gathering of priests in Rome for the culmination of the Year for Priests, as well as a gathering/retreat on the national level (information will follow on the USCCB Web site referenced above).

It is our prayer that we begin this Year for Priests with great joy and fervor in order to encourage our brothers in their priestly ministry. May this year be a time of further healing and renewal for the Church.

Tech Conference, August 7

The Office of Catholic Education will be holding another technology conference at Holy Name High School in Parma Heights, Ohio on Friday, August 7, 2009.

As in previous years, the day will begin with a keynote speaker and be followed by three breakout periods for individual workshops. The day looks to be promising, offering seminars for beginners, intermediate and advanced users of technology in the classroom. The cost of the event is $35.00 per participant. To find out more information about the conference go to: http://www.oce-ocs.org/oce/teachers/edtech

Beginning School Retreat Opportunity at Jesuit Retreat House

Jesuit Retreat House is offering day retreats for teachers on August 18 and 21 from 9am-3pm.  Each day includes presentations on the mission and ministry of teaching by experienced educators Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, S.C. and Fr. Carl Bonk, S.J.  The retreat also includes time for quiet reflection on one's own, lunch, and closing liturgy.  The day promises to inspire and reenergize teachers for the new school year, so principals are encouraged to invite or bring their staff.  For more information or to register, please call (440) 884-9300 or visit http://www.jrh-cleveland.org/. 

 

Thank Our Troops with Archbishop Broglio

Join the Cleveland Catholic Forum and Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop of United States Military Services, for its annual Saints Dinner and Silent Auction. You won’t want to miss this evening of fine food, beverage and inspiration as we honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and present the Cleveland Catholic Forum Award of Service and Valor to a local military hero. The event is August 22 nd at the Center for Pastoral Leadership at 28700 Euclid Avenue and starts at 6:30 pm with an open bar, and dinner at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $50. Order tickets from www.ClevelandCatholicForum.com or call Joe Soltis at 1.440.623.9183.

 

19th Annual Bishop's Golf Classic

Please join us for the 19th Annual Bishop's Golf Classic, presented by Medical Mutual of Ohio, on Monday, August 31, 2009 at Westwood Country Club!  With a new venue and new pricing, the Bishop's Golf Classic promises to be a great day of friendly competition, delicious food, and terrific prizes. 

 

All proceeds from the Bishop's Golf Classic directly support tuition assistance for deserving students in our diocese whose families make incredible sacrifices to keep their children enrolled in one of our Catholic schools.  

 

Visit www.cdcf.org (click events) or contact Lauren Gannon at 216-696-6525 ext. 4200 or lgannon@cdcf.org to see how you can be part of the fun and play a part in continuing a child's Catholic education! 

 

Promote Catechetical Sunday, September 20, 2009.

The theme is “Catechesis and the Proclamation of the Word.” Material is available and ready for downloading at http://www.usccb.org/catecheticalsunday/index.shtml.

The Department of Religious Education encourages highlighting this important celebration to bring Catholic schoolteachers, parish catechetical leaders and catechists as well as catechumenate directors and youth ministers together for recognition and support.

 

Make Liturgy a Core Component of Catechesis

Here are some suggestions for principals from the USCCB Web site “To Teach:”

  • In cooperation with your librarian, bolster your supply of basic liturgy resources by investing in the core titles of the Pastoral Liturgy Series from the USCCB.
  • With your librarian or media or resource person, verify that you have sufficient quantities of basic Catholic books like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and United States Catholic Catechism for Adults for your teachers’ and students’ use.
  • Arrange for one or more classes to visit a local monastery or convent and attend one of the services of the Liturgy of the Hours. Ask a man or woman living the consecrated life to explain the relationship between the Liturgy of the Hours and St. Paul’s command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17, NAB).

-Invite a man or woman living the consecrated life to your school to present how daily liturgical prayer in a monastic community shapes the daily work or study of the consecrated life.

 

-When school starts, give a free copy of Night Prayer to students to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours at home.

  • In preparation for the new Roman Missal, purchase copies of Pope Benedict XVI’s Sacrament of Charity (Sacramentum Caritatis) to give to each staff member at the start of the school year. Encourage them to use this resource to deepen their appreciation of the Eucharist.
  • Stay in touch with news on the new Roman Missal and brainstorm ways you can prepare the school community to embrace the new ways of participating in the Mass.
  • Set a yearlong goal for Bible reading for the school community ( see #93 in Go and Make Disciples) and designate an appropriate reward for reaching the goal. Consider requiring staff to participate in the reading drive as well. Establish age-appropriate benchmarks, identifying number of verses or chapters and particular books that should be read. Plan different methods for demonstrating your school’s new skills in biblical reading and literacy. Promote your school’s Bible reading challenge in the local news, the Universe Bulletin, and at your school Web site.

Catholic Library Association News

The Northern Ohio Chapter of the Catholic Library Association (NOCCLA) cordially invites you to join them for the next general meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, from 3:30-7:00 p.m. at St. Anselm School, 13013 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland, OH 44026. Anna King of St. Anselm School is the Meeting Hostess.

 

We Are Called Conference

This conference for parish catechists and day school teachers, grades 1-8, will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Regina High School from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The brochure giving details about the conference and registration information has been posted to the Office of Catechetical Services Web site: www.oce-ocs.org/ocs. For additional information call Mary Lou Neckel-James (ext. 1028) or Elaine Pekarek (ext. 3260.)

 

St. Paschal has Instructional Equipment to Donate

St. Paschal Baylon School has the following items to donate to anyone who could put them to good use. They have:

 

20 Overhead Projectors/science beakers,

Erlenmeyer Flasks,

Dissecting kits, models (mitosis/meiosis/frog),

Incubator/styrofoam balls and

Set of health games.

 

Please leave a message at St. Paschal Baylon School office (440) 442-6766, and John Bednar, Principal, will call you back.

 

Concise Planning

This is the name of a company that offers a suite of integrated Web-based software solutions that can increase you school’s productivity.

  • Strategic Planning and Management
  • Recurring Tasks Management
  • Functional Organization Structures
  • Staff Contact Management and Schedules

For more information about the capabilities and pricing for Concise Planning go to: www.conciseplanning.com. Concise Planning also offers a FREE, no obligation 30-day trial period with free training for schools interested in testing the system before committing.

 

New Publication from NCEA

As situations in parishes and schools continue to change, a publication that may be helpful is Strategic Planning Survival Guide by Br. William Campbell, S.M., Ed.D.

Strategic planning is the process whereby the constituents of a school examine the current state of the school (strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth) and, by getting people involved in a systematic thinking process, strategize ways to increase the school’s strengths and build energy around areas of growth. It must be clear in its objectives, resources, and expected results.

 

This Survival Guide is designed to be a step-by-step process for future planning. There are many other books that provide explanations and develop ideas for the “whys,” but the main focus of this book is on the “how” of strategic planning.

 

The Guide is available from www.ncea.org; click on the Online Store.

 

Diocesan Vocation Office Moved to CPL

In order to better serve its mission, the Diocesan Vocation Office and the Seminary Vocation Office has begun sharing staff, space, and resources at the Center for Pastoral Leadership. The contact information for both offices is:

 

28700 Euclid Avenue

Wickliffe, OH 44092

1.440.943.7630