Sue Huett, Director-Office of Worship/Judy Phillips, Director-Office of Development
Because of the generous contributions from the Black and Indian Mission Office, the Office of Worship had the ability to offer programs in faith formation, outreach and evangelization as well as training sessions and resources to the Black Catholic population in the Diocese of Belleville.
"Through the Doorway" and "Wading Deeper" are two formational and evangelization programs offered every year in January and August preparing parish liturgical ministers, catechists, RCIA coordinators, priests, deacons, musicians and the lay faithful to fully understand and implement the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. The Diocese of Belleville has developed a three-year plan to put into practice the Year-Round Catechumenate with a different focus each year – 1. Vision, 2. Methodology, 3. Implementation. We have concluded the third year with its focus on Methodology. Once the focus on Year-Round Catechumenate is completed, these two programs will continue to form individuals and prepare them for the implementation of the various rites and celebrations of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The Office of Worship provided tuition assistance, educational and formational resources and housing for Black Catholic participants at these programs. The grant also assisted in offsetting the cost of presenters.
"Into My Vineyard: Formation for Lay Ecclesial Ministry" is a new two-year program introduced by Bishop Braxton in the 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The program consisted of eight (8) sessions each of the calendar years. Each session had three components: Worship, Faith Formation and Outreach, based on the two major documents of the Second Vatican Council: Lumen Gentium (The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church) and Gaudium et Spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World). The goal of the program is to increase the number of well-trained Lay Ecclesial Ministers for servant leadership, and to renew and rebuild Catholic life in our parishes. Funding from Black and Indian Mission Office covered the cost of tuition and books for these sessions at parishes with Black American parishioners chosen to participate. The grant also assisted in offsetting the cost of presenters.
The participants in these programs are merely representatives of the many people who will be impacted by the generosity of the Black and Indian Mission Office. The information given and the education received are taken back to parishes to establish programs, to train others in ministry and to change the lives of the people in the community. The Office of Worship in the Diocese of Belleville is grateful for the assistance provided by your office.
