Take a deep dive into a specific ministry topic or concern when you register for the 2020 Mid-Atlantic Congress Intensives.


The 2020 MAC offers single and multi-day intensive courses in parish renewal, cultural competence, and parish engagement.

Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers

Cancelled--Wednesday, January 29–31, 2020

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The Church in Crisis: A Way Forward for Catholic Laity

Cancelled--Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020--8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

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Healing Our Church: Parish Tools to Empower the Lay Faithful

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020--10:45 am-1:00 pm

The continuing waves of news about sexual abuse by clergy and the cover-up by some Church leaders has left many of the faithful angry and shaken in their relationship with the Church. From research and practical experience, we know that small groups are highly effective vehicles to help the laity to face the crisis head on, begin the healing process, and move to decisive action to ensure the safety of our children and the reform of our Church.


Join Sister Terry Rickard, OP, president of RENEW International, as she shares feedback from parish listening sessions, interaction with clergy and parish leaders, and learnings from RENEW’s Healing Our Church small-group process. 


This seminar will include reflections on the twin crises and a small-group experience to help participants process their feelings. The seminar will also provide effective tools to equip parish leaders to help their parishioners find a path forward. 


Participants will receive copies of Healing Our Church, a small-group faith-sharing book that addresses the crises, along with a selection of resources suitable for use in a variety of ways and in different settings. Lunch will be provided.


Fee: $35.00 (includes book and lunch)

Registration Limit: Maximum of 60 people

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Praying and Singing with Children

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020--11:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Join GIA Publication’s Michael Silhavy and David Anderson for a three-part, full-day intensive on Praying and Singing with Children. 


Starting at 11:00, Michael and David will lead you through general principles, how to prepare and what resources to use, and best practices on how to pray with children in different settings. Network with other leaders who work with children while two of GIA’s best clinicians share their wisdom and experience in this ministry.


Here are details on each of the three sessions.


11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Session One: General Principles of Liturgy and Music with Children

  • The intersection of prayer, ritual and liturgy
  • What you need to know—or may have forgotten—as found in the Directory for Masses with Children
  • Balancing age appropriate prayer and music while preparing children for the future
  • The liturgical year and calendar


1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Session Two: Assisting the Classroom Teacher and Catechist with Preparing and Leading Prayer

  • Sharing the resources you need
  • Forming liturgical ministers, not assigning jobs
  • Writing prayers and creating prayer services
  • Music leading skills for teachers


3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Session Three:  Praying with Children

  • Preparation for Sunday and school mass
  • Liturgy of the Hours: Morning Prayer and Prayer to End the Day
  • Meditative Prayer, Praying in the Spirit of Taizé
  • Journaling
  • Lectio Divina and Visio Divina: Praying with Scripture and Artwork


Fee: Free (lunch is on your own)

Registration Limit: None

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Growing an Engaged Church: The Faith Community Challenge

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020--11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

This Intensive is specifically for clergy--priests and deacons. Based on the recent research that identifies the decline in denominational membership, especially among young adults, this day-long Intensive will focus on the implications and implementation of that research in our parishes.


Session 1: Going, Going, Gone … the Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics

This session will identify the underlying dynamics that lead to disaffiliation, describe the factors that reinforce those dynamics, and examine the implications for parish life, liturgy, and pastoral ministry. 


Session 2: Crafting a Religious Identity in a Secular Age 

This session will look at questions like where are young people meeting their spiritual hungers and what is the role of Church in this new, normative age? This session will propose pastoral strategies that actualize the strengths of Catholicism in a postmodern age.


Session 3: Engagement: The Ministerial Paradigm for the New Evangelization 

In this session we identify the practical pastoral responses and strategies that can enhance affiliation and engagement with the faith community and examine implications for parish and school life, vocational discernment, liturgy, and pastoral ministry. 


Session 4: Pastoral Leadership for an Engaged Church

This session will propose characteristics of the engaged, evangelizing faith community and highlight the mission to which Jesus calls us.

 

Fee: $99.00 (includes lunch)

Registration Limit: Limited to clergy

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