Friday, February 26, 2010

More Great Expectations

Great Expectations has to be one of the most wonderful projects I have ever been involved with. Thus far, I have participated in one gathering and have led two, and in all three events, in completely different parts of the United States, the response has been phenomenal. Critical conversations are begun or continued through a guided discussion of what we hope and dream for the people in our parishes, particularly parents; leaders commiserate together, learn from each other, and risk widening their view to consider a different way of thinking of our role, to embrace the idea that perhaps we who are catechists and catechetical leaders could think of ourselves as coaches for the parents, and could act accordingly.

The encouraging part of this process is that people seem (finally) willing to say out loud, "what we're doing is no longer working ... if it ever did..." and then, together, we come to a commitment to begin shift our thinking and to bring others to consider making the shift with us.

What a privileged position to be with such good people of ministry!

Now in Fall River, Mass; home briefly; next week: the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, for strengths inservice and catechists' retreat.

Lenten peace,
Leisa

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Great Expectations

Blessings as we begin Lent. It seems appropriate that the beginning of this season of re-focusing and turning toward Christ is the season in which we begin taking Great Expectations to dioceses throughout the US. Great Expectations is a new project for Bill Huebsch and I, in which we encourage parish leaders to make fundamental shifts in the ways in which we think about and implement religious education. Specifically, we will be talking with people about coaching parents to form their own children, and we'll be sharing ideas and resources to support this shift. I will be in twenty-five dioceses this year (so far) for Great Expectations, and look forward to seeing many of you there!

May each of us find the grace to turn our minds, hearts and hands to Christ this Lent, and to live in the hope of Christ and God's reign now and into a bright future. Peace.

From Indianapolis, on my way to Ft. Worth, Leisa