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The outdoors theme was featured in front of each of the speakers in the Pastoral Center for Camp ACC 2008.
Carol Baass Sowa | Today’s Catholic |
SAN ANTONIO • Summer Camp 2008 was presented by the Archdiocesan Catechetical Center during the month of July, featuring its annual buffet of more than two dozen Level One workshops, Level Two courses, skills training and retreat days for catechetical leaders.
Keeping with its outdoor theme, a number of the offerings were highlighted by signage denoting “novice hikers’ trail” and advancing to “intermediate hikers’ trail,” then, “climbing above the tree line,” before culminating with “scaling the peaks.”
Among the courses on the beginners’ path were “Getting your gear together before you go hiking,” or simply, answers to questions about basic record keeping and where to go for help. In the workshop, participants learned about the potholes to avoid with compliance issues, handling discipline, the basics on working with parents, and sacramental issues. Speakers included representatives from Catholic Mutual Insurance and the archdiocesan Office of Victim Assistance and Safe Environment.
In “Tracking skills for finding catechists and trail mix recipes for feeding them,” recruitment ideas for finding catechists were offered, and listeners heard how to feed them through catechist training and formation.
Lastly, learning how to avoid overload and burn out, as well as avoiding last minute glitches by looking ahead and setting deadlines, were discussed in “Pacing yourself on the trail.”
Intermediate workshops featured the themes of, “Getting the word out: Making sure everyone is on the same trail,” “Campfire time: Pausing at the end of the day to look back and plan ahead,” and “Never hike alone: Parent and parish involvement take it to the next level.”
Communicating to the catechists, parents, parish and community through the use of effective communication tips and publicity ideas, as well as creating a handbook, were explored in the first session,” while “campfire time” taught attendees how to conduct a hands-on evaluation session to show how to look at the year’s successes, failures and how to recognize room for improvement. Then, listeners learned how to set a plan to build for the coming year. Lastly, strategies for getting parents and the parish community involved, while not forgetting the priests and deacons either, were presented by Father Samuel Heitkamp and Deacon Ernie Mendez.
Developing DRE skills was the focus of “Creating a Vision,” the “Climbing above the tree line” course, in which catechists learned how to develop long-term plans in response to the tasks of catechesis in the National Directory for Catechesis, and how to set yearly achievable goals. Finally, Gloria Zapiain, coordinator of adult faith formation for the archdiocese, presented the “Scaling the peaks” workshop. “It’s essential equipment, not an option,” she said, on how to work with adults, develop adult programs and where to find resources.
One of the most well attended days of the camp was July 29 when the workshop, “Jesus in relationship with special needs children” was held. This session, conducted by the Committee on Catechesis for Children with Special Needs, focused on teaching of prayers, evaluating readiness for the celebration of sacraments and otherwise helping children with special needs become part of the parish community and be involved in parish liturgies. Tried and tested methods were then shared by the team of presenters.
A couple of classes specifically geared to youth ministers were “High school curriculum framework and parish implementation” and “Renewing the Vision: A framework for Catholic youth ministry.” These gatherings spotlighted the U.S. bishops’ document on youth ministry, outlining their four-year high school curriculum framework and focusing on the eight components of comprehensive youth ministry and how to put it into practice in the parishes.” These sessions were led by Michael Loflin, archdiocesan director of Youth Ministry, and Rich Mazzara, associate director of the Youth Ministry office.
The culminating Camp ACC special event was the “Godly-Wood Film Festival — God and Hollywood,” held Aug. 1 and moderated by archdiocesan media librarian Cherryl Sagan and her son, Kie Sagan II. This session focused on featuring popular films in the classroom and learning how to teach lessons on acceptance, angels, baptism, belief, betrayal, compassion, courage, death, doubt, gossip, kindness, love, morality, obedience, resurrection, sacrifice, self-control, trust, vocation and more. Clips from a number of films were shown, including “Angels in the Outfield,” “The Lion King,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.”
Caption: The outdoors theme was featured in front of each of the speakers in the Pastoral Center for Camp ACC 2008.
Carol Baass Sowa | Today's Catholic