EMERGING ISSUES IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION AND FORMATION EVENT- On February 27th, St. Patrick’s in Edina, the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education will hold this event. An invitation email went out this week. It included a letter from Archbishop Hebda which is ATTACHED to this email. The audience is Catechetical Leaders, heads of schools, Youth Ministers, Pastors and Chaplains.

AMAZING SPRING PROFESSIONAL DAY EVENT COMING! Please plan to join us on Thursday, April 24th for a day with Julianne Stanz! Our topic will be Parish Outreach to Parents and Youth. You can find out about Julianne, her books, etc. here: https://www.loyolapress.com/authors/julianne-stanz/ and here: https://www.juliannestanz.com/

ARCHDIOCESAN STAFF FORMATION DAY IS COMING! On Feb. 20th, the next Archdiocesan Formation Day will take place for all pastors and parish staff members. Details will be out soon from the Archdiocese. The day will include chances for prayer, reflection, an update from the Archbishop, a guest speaker on the Eucharist, a focus on the Jubilee Year of Hope, and TIME FOR PASTORS and STAFF MEMBERS TO MEET AND REFLECT/DISCUSS TOGETHER. During the same month that feedback is being gathered, this event may be one that is important to attend, represent Faith Formation and is also a great chance to connect to our ministry colleagues!

GIVE YOUR OFFICIAL FEEDBACK! The Coalition of Ministry Associations (CMA)- a group that works with Archdiocesan staff to meet the needs of people in all areas of parish ministry- is hosting a Listening Session for ALL PARISH STAFF PEOPLE on Thursday, Feb. 13th, 1-2:30 p.m. The session will be virtual. The format will be the Vatican Synod listening process that has been used successfully to gather feedback in the past. We need to hear from everyone so that the most comprehensive feedback will go to the Archbishop. Archbishop Hebda and COO, Bill Lentsch are supporting this effort! The registration can be found on Mission Support or via a link in yesterday’s Arch Update.

Join us for our annual day of reflection and renewal on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Gerard Majella in Brooklyn Park. This year’s retreat will center on the power of humility in our lives. More details are coming soon!

We sincerely hope that Summer 2024 has been going well for you. Welcome to another year of Catechetical ministry and to the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary! We have many gatherings, events and ways to connect coming up. Please read through and mark your calendars.

September 12, 2024, with Fr. Michael Joncas on Eucharist and Liturgy and Thursday, April 24, 2025, with Julianne Stanz for Fall Kickoff

Congratulations to Marianne Charbonneau of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Minnetonka for the Greg Presnail Award, and Mahalia Marcelin of Nativity in St. Paul for the Andi Little Award.

Congratulations to new Board Chair Terri Hunt from Christ the King in Minneapolis as ACRE Chair for 2024-2025 and new Board Members Cindy Novak from St. Timothy in Blaine and Cindy Buckland from St. Francis of Assisi in Lake St. Croix Beach.

The ACRE Board is re-instating an annual recognition of someone who serves as an example to other Catechetical Leaders in Faith Formation/Religious Education and to recognize outstanding work and professionalism. The Greg Presnail Award and Andi Little Award ... Read more

These are a chance to hear about and discuss a topic, chat about needs, ask questions, and check in with colleagues. Our first ZOOM Lunch of the year will be on Tuesday, Oct. 24th at Noon. A link will be sent out closer to the date. Besides checking in, our topic will be how things are going for you with the Synod Small Groups and planning for the next steps.

Together on the Journey consists of a video from Archbishop Hebda the first Monday of each month and an email-exclusive newsletter in the following weeks.* Sign up!

Dear ACRE Members and Friends, This year also happens to be ACRE’s 50th Anniversary as a professional ministry association in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. We hope you join us as an official member this year and help us continue to build this important mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in our Archdiocese. You will note that ACRE did not plan an event for September. With the ACC Fall Event (see below) and the kick-off of Synod Small Group Cell Training, we decided we all had our hands full. Join us for our October party instead (see below) as we begin this year of ministry! Please let us know how we can help and support you! The ACRE Board

ANNUAL LENT SPIRITUAL RETREAT FOR ALL CATECHETICAL LEADERS: “Behold, I make all things NEW!” The Spirituality of the Eucharist and Christ’s power to feed us. March 23, 2023, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; St. Joseph, New Hope, Mass and Lunch included. Retreat Leader: Fr. Tim Tran, Parochial Vicar of St. Stephen’s in Anoka and Archdiocesan point person for the Eucharistic Revival. “…when we’re one with Christ in our belief of his true presence among us and within us, we can spread his fragrance to those around us.”

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 - 8:30-1:30 pm at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Led by Deacon Joseph Michalak and Father Joseph Bambenek, the day will focus on key themes of the Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Hebda and how parish catechetical leaders can offer a powerful and prayerful witness to Jesus Christ. There will be opportunities for listening, conversation and prayerful reflection, including a holy hour. By Archdiocesan Department of Parish Catechesis in collaboration with ACRE

Stay connected with the Office of Catholic Education/Department of Parish Catechetical, check out the new monthly newsletter. Eric will be holding the first of monthly online "office hours" on Tuesday, Jan. 17th from 11-12:30.

ACRE is going to host 4 options for the DISCUSSION OF THE SYNOD PASTORAL LETTER AND YEAR ONE PLAN. Two will be via Zoom and two in person. Find out more here...

Director of Faith Formation Position at St. Joseph of the Lakes Lino Lakes

All working in ministry are invited to this special opportunity to discuss the needs of the future Church! >read more...

You can use this link to view the recording of our session with Mr. Lentsch! In addition to updating us, he also took questions at the end. LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xWNpErLT6NyL2BMfGvkRQyYFTywuhxup/view?usp=sharing