By Fran Lavelle
LOUISVILLE – Another great week was had Lake Tiak O’Khata for the Pastoral Ministries Workshop. The workshop sessions, Mass, retreat opportunities and social time all provided a relaxed learning environment for catechists, parish leaders and those seeking to deepen their faith. This annual offering is part of the certification program for catechists offered by the Office of Faith Formation. Participants take classes together in a certain sequence in order to learn and form relationships and to support one another in their ministries.
A huge thanks to Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Father Kevin Slattery and Father John Bohn for celebrating Mass for us during the week. Many participants stated that being able to have Mass every day really added to the overall effectiveness of the week. This year included fifteen Year I participants, a big jump from years past. Their cohort certainly started strong and no doubt will finish strong.
We congratulate Rhonda Bowden of Pearl St. Jude Parish. Amy Brooks of Jackson St. Peter Parish, Dave Monts of Starkville St. Joseph Parish and Patti Greene of Canton Sacred Heart and Gluckstadt Parishes for completing the Pastoral Ministries program. Next year’s workshop is set for June 3-7, 2018. (Fran Lavelle is the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Jackson.)