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  • In-Service Day on Mental Health (February 10, 2026)
  • Empowering God's Children
CATECHIST CAFE
  • Home
    • Contact Us
  • Evangelization
    • Vocations
    • Lay Ecclesial Ministry
    • Missionary Discipleship
    • Small Groups
    • World Childrens Day
  • For Catechists
    • Catechist Courses
    • Diocesan Certification
    • For New Catechists
    • Start Your Faith Formation Year!
    • Lessons and Ideas for all ages & abilities >
      • How to create an online lesson
    • For & With Disabilities
    • Safe Environment/ Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults
    • Curriculum for Catechesis
    • Feed YOUR Spirit!
  • Topics in Faith
    • Seasons >
      • Summer Ideas
      • Lent
      • Mother's Day & Father's Day
    • Sacraments
    • Scripture
    • Saints >
      • Saints at Home
      • Mary
      • Saints for All
    • Morality
    • Creed
    • Church
    • Papal Documents of Note
    • Faithful Citizenship
  • Praying & Serving
    • Against Racism
    • Justice & Peace
    • Prayer
    • Crisis Response
    • Shrines & Pilgrimage Sites
    • Serving & Reaching Out
    • Works of Mercy Videos
  • For Parish Ministers
    • Employment Page
  • Lay Ecclesial Ministry
  • "Practicing Faith, ​Hope and Love"
  • Jubilee 2025
  • 2025 Advent Retreat with Steve Angrisano
  • In-Service Day on Mental Health (February 10, 2026)
  • Empowering God's Children

For Parish Ministers

Directors/Coordinators of Religious Education/Faith Formation, CCD Principals,
Pastoral Associates/Ministers, Youth Ministers, Young Adult Ministers, Campus Ministers,
​Initiation Coordinators, Adult Faith Formation Coordinators

Scroll down for photos, resources and notes from recent events


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The Office of Faith Formation and Lay Ecclesial Ministry ​is here to help. Find out in what ways: 
How Can We Help?
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Parish Ministers gather during the year for learning, mutual support, and spiritual enrichment. ​
Parish Ministers Calendar

Are you following/liking our Catechesis Cafe' Facebook page? 
Catechesis Cafe Facebook Page

Quinceañera

Guidelines - English
Guidelines en Espanol
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Parish Ministers are entrusted
with a marvelous and sacred mission. 
​Get inspired with
​planning & visioning resources: 

Sadlier Religion Catechist Stream
planning & visioning for Online or Hybrid Faith Formation
GENEral Planning & Visioning
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Forms for Parish Ministers, DREs, and Principals

​Need a program report form, list of approved texts, Child Protection forms, etc.? Find them here:  ​
Forms
Diocesan Speaker Approval Policy
DOY Speaker Approval Policy

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Helping families to grow in faith is one of our greatest privileges.
​Find resources here: 

Family Faith
Parish positions are posted here on Catechist Cafe as they become available: ​
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Employment

Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines

Parish Pastoral Council Guidelines
Promulgation Letter

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Graduate Study is available locally
​and online. 
​Find out more!:

Graduate Study
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The Directory for Catechesis guides us in our ministry.

The complete online Directory is available here.
For a hard copy, contact
​the Office of Faith Formation and Lay Ecclesial Ministry
Online Directory

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Questions about Sacramental
​Record-keeping?
​We hope this helps: 

Sacramental Records

Don't neglect yourself when you are working so hard to take care of others...

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​“The man who is wise, therefore, will see his life as more like a reservoir than a canal. The canal simultaneously pours out what it receives; the reservoir retains the water till it is filled, then discharges the overflow without loss to itself … Today there are many in the Church who act like canals, the reservoirs are far too rare … You too must learn to await this fullness before pouring out your gifts, do not try to be more generous than God.”
~ Bernard of Clairvaux, On the Song of Songs
3 Planning suggestions for overwhelmed formation ministers

Photos and Notes from Events 


Emmaus Walking (February 10, 2026)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Capuchin Franciscan Friar "Brother" Fred Cabras discussed 3 ways we can be "Emmaus Walkers," that is accompanied others, in particular here, those persons with mental health concerns:  
1. Reducing Stigma
2. Being Present
​3. Educating 
Brother Fred Cabras PowerPoint_ Session 1
Brother Fred Cabras PowerPoint_ Session 2
Brother Fred Cabras PowerPoint _ Session 3
Flyer Emmaus Walkers (Mental Health In-Service) on February 10, 2026

CLI for LEM Session
October 29, 2025 @ Immaculate Conception Hall in Ravenna

Handout Packet
CLI Slides

Parish Ministers Business Meeting
September 30, 2025 @ St. Edward Church, St. Columba Parish, Youngstown 

Affirming Life Prayer Cards
Dominic Colucy notes on Safe Environments
Catechetical Sunday - Survey results PPT Slides

To receive Meagan's slide deck,  complete the form:  

Communications Questionnaire for Parish Ministers

 Video recommended by Deacon Bill Bancroft: "Run, Hide, Fight" by FBI 



2025 Day of Prayer and Preparation
featuring The Most Reverence Michael Woost of the Diocese of Cleveland
​August 28, 2025 @ Little Flower Parish
Bishop Woost Slides - Hope for the Future
NEW CONTACT PREFERENCES & PRE-REGISTRATION FORM - due ASAP
Bishop Woost Slides- Family, Vocation and Holiness
Links to online Catechetical Reports - Due October 13
Afternoon Prayer Booklet
Revised OFF&LEM Calendar 2025-2026 (Replaces the May version)
Afternoon Grotto Reflection and Prayer
Scriptural Stations of the Cross, USCCB
Link to Office of Youth & Young Adult Accompaniment

Art and Faith
Pilgrims of Hope and Beauty

May 22, 2025 at the Butler Museum of American Art

Dr. Lou Zona shared select religiously-themed pieces by artisits such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Dali, German Expressionists, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, and Pollack, as well as a few chapels done by artists. 
Here are a few glimpses from that lecture, our tour, and afternoon discussion groups.  
Thanks to everyone who participated and made it a beautiful day! 
"9 Ways to Empower Evangelizing Faith Formation" 
​In-Service Day with Joe Paprocki
February 19, 2025 @ St. William, Champion
Joe Paprocki PowerPoint Slides

 Advent Retreat with Fr. Kraynak
December 4, 2024 @ Immaculate Conception, Ravenna

Following the Advent retreat, Fr. Kraynak had the work of art hung in Tobin Hall at the parish:
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Photos by Cindee Case,  Julie Sutton and Deacon Chris Germak

Day of Prayer & Preparation
August 27, 2024  @ St. Michael the Archangel, Canton


 "A Spirituality of Imperfection"
​
 ​May 21, 2024 at Mill Creek Parks McMahon Hall, Canfield 
Morning session with Kevin Dowd, PhD
sponsored by Pflaum/Regional Midwest Manager Matt Lekan
Afternoon facilitated by Lay Ecclesial Ministry Board members Al Pompeo,
Sr. Regina Rogers, OSU, ​Rachel Shumar and Bob Barto, followed by raffles and prayer. 
Kevin Dowd's PowerPoint Slides (via Google Drive)
Kevin Dowd's PowerPoint Slides (via SlideShare)

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Love Catechist Café’
But wish that you could comment on, like, or make additional suggestions?
​
Then engage with us on “Catechist Café’ FB” - 
Our new Facebook page.

(Yes, we realize that not everyone is on FB, but it is still the most active social platform in our area, so if you ARE on FB, please Follow us!)
​

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576442661996   

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Archived advice on our ministry. 
(See pour Facebook group for current posts) 

click to seek or give ministry advice

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  • Home
    • Contact Us
  • Evangelization
    • Vocations
    • Lay Ecclesial Ministry
    • Missionary Discipleship
    • Small Groups
    • World Childrens Day
  • For Catechists
    • Catechist Courses
    • Diocesan Certification
    • For New Catechists
    • Start Your Faith Formation Year!
    • Lessons and Ideas for all ages & abilities >
      • How to create an online lesson
    • For & With Disabilities
    • Safe Environment/ Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults
    • Curriculum for Catechesis
    • Feed YOUR Spirit!
  • Topics in Faith
    • Seasons >
      • Summer Ideas
      • Lent
      • Mother's Day & Father's Day
    • Sacraments
    • Scripture
    • Saints >
      • Saints at Home
      • Mary
      • Saints for All
    • Morality
    • Creed
    • Church
    • Papal Documents of Note
    • Faithful Citizenship
  • Praying & Serving
    • Against Racism
    • Justice & Peace
    • Prayer
    • Crisis Response
    • Shrines & Pilgrimage Sites
    • Serving & Reaching Out
    • Works of Mercy Videos
  • For Parish Ministers
    • Employment Page
  • Lay Ecclesial Ministry
  • "Practicing Faith, ​Hope and Love"
  • Jubilee 2025
  • 2025 Advent Retreat with Steve Angrisano
  • In-Service Day on Mental Health (February 10, 2026)
  • Empowering God's Children