Local
Archdiocese to host first symposium for adolescent catechesis

By Pilot staff
Posted: 2/20/2009

The archdiocese’s offices for Catholic Schools, Religious Education and the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults are coming together to sponsor the first Boston Symposium for Adolescent Catechesis on March 5.

The symposium, dedicated to effectively transforming adolescent catechesis and evangelization in the United States, will feature talks by Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley and Father Brian Bransfield, a specialist in the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and its incoming executive director.

The symposium is open to priests, pastoral associates, college professors, middle and high school principals, directors of religious education, catechists, high school campus ministers, high school religion teachers, as well as youth ministers, coaches and publishers.

“Handing on our faith to our young people is a deep concern for all of us,” said Father Matt Williams, Director of the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults.

“This symposium gives us a unique and powerful opportunity to gather as an archdiocese, across disciplines, to work together in transforming catechesis and evangelization to this emerging generation of young people,” he said.

Mary Grassa O’Neill, secretary for education and superintendent for catholic schools for the archdiocese said the Catholic Schools Office looks forward to the symposium with great anticipation and optimism.

“We expect that the symposium will support our work with our students and families rooted in the ministry of Christ,” she said.

Susan Abbott, director of religious education for the archdiocese said she hopes the symposium will help serve and support parishes in their work of faith formation and youth education.

“The symposium will bring us together as one community in Christ committed to teaching the faith to our youth,” said Abbott. “The inspiration and creative energy that flows from the Symposium will surely benefit the young Church of Boston and beyond.”

The symposium will take place at the archdiocese’s Pastoral Center, located at 66 Brooks Drive in Braintree, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Those registering before Feb. 27 will receive a $10 discount of the registration fee of $35. Registration forms and information are available online at www.oymboston.org.