RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
On Saturday, December 13, 2008, the Stamford Eparchial Office of Religious Education staff presented an all-day Catechetical Formation Workshop to members of the Hartford Deanery. This year’s eparchial office staff is comprised of: Fr. Albert Forlano, Director, Fr. Vasile Colopelnic, Assistant Director, and Sister Charlotte Pipping, SSMI, Family Life Director. This particular workshop marked the commencement of a way for the Stamford Eparchial Religious Education Office Staff to meet the catechetical needs of its seven deaneries which make up the Stamford Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy.
Attending this year’s first Catechetical Formation Workshop were sixteen participants, who represented six of the eight Ukrainian Catholic parishes from the Hartford Deanery: Irene Bobriwnyk, Luba Zelez and Fr. Pawlo Martiniuk — members of St. Michael’s Parish in Hartford, CT; Dan Czuchta, Kristine Meinert, Mary Meinert, John Stefanczyk—belonging to St. Michael’s Parish in Terryville, CT; John Danusiar, Alice O’Doy, M. Patricia Reilly, and Msgr. John Terlecky — all represented SS Peter & Paul in Ansonia, CT; Helena Shulewsky of St. Josaphat’s Parish, New Britain; Luba Dubno, Halia Lodynsky, and Fr. Iura Godenciuc - represented their parish of St. Michael’s Parish, of New Haven, CT; and Fr. Ivan Bilyk, of Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Willimantic, CT.
Fr. Forlano cordially welcomed everyone and presented the focus for this catechetical formation workshop. Sr. Charlotte facilitated a group-sharing in which each participant reflected on their experiences and hopes for the future of their ministry.
Most participants shared that they had been serving their parish’s catechetical ministry from five to twenty years. Those who had just begun serving in their parish’s catechetical program were in the minority. But regardless of how many years each had served, they all shared that what motivates them to continually serve as their parish’s catechist, is the joy and fulfillment that each has enjoyed, because they have shared God’s Good News, and have thus helped to bring their students into relationship with Jesus and in so doing, they have themselves, richly benefited in their own faith growth.
Persevering in their catechetical vocations have brought them the assurance of the Holy Spirit’s sustaining providential assistance and support. Thus they joyfully and happily serve their parish’s catechetical needs as catechists.
Fr. Colopelnic presented an historical unfolding of “The Role of the Laity in the Church” as it has evolved and been understood beginning from the Apostolic Community and continuing on to our present times. Because every parish family has received the Mystery of Baptism, they thus have the responsibility to witness their faith, to strengthen it and be instrumental in passing it on to their children and others. Thus the ministry of each and every member of the Parish Community shares a vital role in being catechist not only for their own families but also for one another in each of their own respective parish communities.
Each of the participants felt that they had come away with encouragement and were looking forward to more visits from the Office of Religious Education as they had gained much from this meeting.