Catechesis in the 21st Century

The Joy of Discovering and Communicating Our New Life in Christ

Saturday, July 30, 2022 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Bethany Hall
 

 
Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology welcomes you to our day-long event featuring prayer, reflection and discussion focused on the ministry of lay catechists and the collaborative support catechists can provide for ordained pastors.

Schedule of Events

In between presentations, we invite you to ponder on provided reflection questions that will appear during the livestream, taking time for prayer and reflection in silence.

9:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Prayer

  • Dianne Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Associate Dean, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST)
  • Msgr. Joseph Reilly, Former Rector/Dean of ICSST (2012-2022); Chair, Board of Directors, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (Rome, Italy)

9:45 – 10:30 a.m.
Presentation, “The Vocation of the Catechist and the Call to Joyful Witness of New Life in Christ”

  • Donna Orsuto, S.T.D., Co-founder and Director, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (Rome, Italy); Professor of Spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome, Italy)

11 – 11:30 a.m.    
Presentation, “Joyful Messengers of Challenging Proposals”

  • Donna Orsuto, S.T.D., Co-founder and Director, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (Rome, Italy); Professor of Spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome, Italy)

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Presentation, “Come to the Living Water: Renewal for Catechists and Those They Catechize”

  • Patrick Manning, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Pastoral Theology, ICSST

3 – 3:45 p.m.
Presentation, “Christ is Alive! Young People and the Ministry of Catechesis”

  • Filipe Domingues, Ph.D., Deputy Director, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (Rome, Italy)

4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Closing Remarks

  • Donna Orsuto, S.T.D., Co-founder and Director, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (Rome, Italy); Professor of Spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome, Italy)
  • Dianne Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Associate Dean, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST)
  • Msgr. Joseph Reilly, Former Rector/Dean of ICSST (2012-2022); Chair, Board of Directors, The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas (Rome, Italy)

About the Speakers

orsuto

Donna Orsuto, S.T.D., earned her doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, where she now teaches as a professor of Spirituality. Dr. Orsuto is the co-founder and director of The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, and is the author of the book, Holiness, and the co-editor and contributor of two books: Living Christian Joy Daily: Everyone’s Call: Essays from Rome and Full, Conscious and Active, Lay Participation in the Church's Dialogue with the World. She has taught multiple courses here at ICSST, as well as at The Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, and other institutions in Rome and beyond. She is an internationally renowned speaker and retreat leader.

domingues

Filipe Domingues, Ph.D., is the deputy director of The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas and a journalist from Brazil whose articles include themes related to theology, the environment, and economics. His recent research on St. Titus Brandsma was published this summer in America Magazine. Dr. Domingues earned his licentiate and doctorate in social sciences at the Pontifical Gregorian University where he wrote about young people and social media. His dissertation was edited into the book, Selflessness in the Age of Selfies: What Young People Can Teach Us About Social Media’s Throw-away Culture. Dr. Domingues attended the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment, and was appointed by Pope Francis as a collaborator to the synod’s special secretary.

manning

Patrick Manning, Ph.D., is an associate professor and chair of Pastoral Theology at ICSST. Dr. Manning specializes in practical theology with a particular interest in religious education and catechesis. He has a background in parish catechesis and Catholic education and holds advanced degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Boston College. Dr. Manning’s current research and praxis focus on methods of religious education, holistic faith formation, evangelization, and the interfacing of faith and culture. As an educator and pastoral theologian, Dr. Manning directs his research and teaching toward inviting people into the fullness of life that Jesus offers. His recently published book, Converting the Imagination, presents a novel approach to religious education focused on helping people find meaning in the Christian tradition for their lives in the face of the challenges of contemporary culture.