News

Ministers to gather to share wisdom

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

Ministry leaders gather What: Leadership Convocation 2007: We Believe When: Friday, Oct. 5 Where: St. Norbert College, De Pere Why: A day of prayer, formation, interaction, inspiration and networking for ministry leaders. Fee: $37.50 per person prior to Sept. 14 or $45 after. Lunch is included. Registration: For a registration brochure, visit www.gbdioc.org/pdf/educLeadershipConvocationRegistration.pdf (PDF file)

One Sunday, when serving as a lector at her parish, Patti Christensen was approached by a woman after Mass. The woman, who had four children, was dealing with several problems and needed help. Christensen, director of Spirituality and Evangelization for the Diocese of Green Bay, brought the woman's situation to the attention of the parish staff, and soon volunteers were helping her.

"When you are a church minister, or in a position of leadership, you are a public figure," said Christensen. "People feel they can come to you. Be open to how God chooses to use you. That spirit of openness is really important."

Christensen will discuss what impact ministry leaders have in parish communities by representing God to others in her presentation "Reaching Out With God's Heart" at "Leadership Convocation 2007: We Believe," Friday, Oct. 5, at St. Norbert College, De Pere.

The event, designed for all people in ministry leadership roles, will feature an opening liturgy with Bp. Robert Morneau, 14 presentations within three rounds of sectionals, and an exhibit hall.

In addition to Christensen, presenters will include Jeffrey Odell Korgen, director of Social Ministries at the National Pastoral Life Center; Fr. Michael Weldon, OFM, director of Spiritual and Human Formation at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.; Diane Hardick, pastoral associate at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Tallmadge, Ohio; Jim Collar, chief executive officer at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; Fr. Anthony Krizak, director of Training and Online Services for the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association; Jamie Delikowski of Stevens Point Pacelli Catholic High School; Bridget Burke Ravizza, Ph.D., and Howard Ebert, Ph.D., both of St. Norbert College; and Dcn. Michael Grzeca, director of Evangelization and Worship for the Green Bay Diocese.

Christensen said her presentation will be interactive.

"I will present some materials, but I hope there is participation by the attendees," she said. "I want to discuss issues of importance for them and use the wisdom of the group."

The focus of her talk stems from Matthew 10:40, "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me."

"I think that says it all," said Christensen. "We are Christ to one another. When I look at you as Christ, wherever we are having a conversation is holy ground. When I honor the Christ in you, every place is a holy place, at work, at school, at the basketball game. As a Catholic Church, we often believe that we have something people need. If they are Christ, they have something to give us. We need them more than they need us."

The need to be a welcoming church is as important as ever, said Christensen. There are 17 million inactive Catholics in the United States.

"These people are away from the church for many different reasons," she said. "They've experienced a hurt or feel alienated. How do we draw them in?"

Christensen suggests parishes take stock of welcoming strategies. This includes the physical parish property.

"Is there a carport, assistance for the elderly, signage with the times of the Masses?" she said. "If you have a sign, are the Mass times easily readable from the street? Do you advertise the Mass times in the local paper? Do people know where to enter? Do you offer tours of the church? When you look at your parish bulletin, is it written in code where only parish members can understand the information? Make sure the information makes sense to everyone. How can you make changes to make someone new feel welcome?"

When ministry leaders are in the position of welcoming someone or reaching out to a person in need, Christensen encourages them to embrace the opportunity to minister one-on-one as Jesus did.

"Someone may have a question you cannot answer," she said. "You may have to find the answer or direct them to someone else, but you can always share a Christ experience with that person at that moment. Anyone can argue with your theology, but they can't argue with your moments with God. Share a God experience and ask that person to share a God experience. You have that common base of faith to talk about. Don't lose that connection."