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Comings & Goings

A Peek at My Springfield Trip

Over the past few days, I’ve enjoyed a visit to Springfield, IL, for the installation of my brother Tom as bishop. We had a wonderful time and it was a fantastic celebration. Here are a few pics. In the sacristy after the Installation Mass with just part of the family.           A visit from Abraham Lincoln at the reception at the Old State Capitol               […]

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Comings & Goings

Rockin’ in Rockville Centre, NY!

Over the next couple of days, I’ll be spending time with a number of catechetical leaders in Rockville Centre, NY, talking about how to take care of our catechists! At least I don’t have to worry anymore about where and how I’m gonna catch the next Blackhawks’ playoff game while I’m on the road. The only thing I may miss is a Cubs game and, with the way they’re playing this year, that’s not a […]

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Comings & Goings

Thanks, Seattle!

I enjoyed my first visit to Seattle and spent the day with about 100 catechetical leaders talking about how to care for our catechists. I had a wonderful time and I’d like to thank all the good folks in Seattle who welcomed me and made me feel so at home. Thanks also for all of the wonderful participation in this day of formation. You inspired me greatly! Here are the smiling faces that I got […]

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Comings & Goings

Shout Out to Columbus, Ohio

A great big SHOUT OUT to all the good folks of the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, who came out to spend a day with me exploring how to take care of our catechists, ensuring that their formation pays attention to 3 dimensions: being, knowing, and doing. Thanks for such a great day!                   Mixing pleasure with business, I was able to bring my mom along to Columbus […]

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Comings & Goings

Viva NCCL!

I had a marvelous time at the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) in Las Vegas this week! Not because it was in Vegas (although that was fun) but because the NCCL is like a huge family reunion! I got to see so many good friends who are DREs, Diocesan directors and staff, publishers, and catechists and made MANY new friends, including a number of folks who visit my blog regularly…how nice to meet you […]

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Comings & Goings

Vegas and Springfield on my Mind

I haven’t had much Internet access for a couple of days, but I wanted to say hi and let you all know that I am having a fantastic time at the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership in Vegas. I’ll have pics and some thoughts by Thursday when I get home. Also, I’m happy to share that my brother Tom has been named the Bishop of Springfield, Il, which is about 3 hours from Chicago! http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=36235 […]

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Comings & Goings

Thank You, San Diego!

Many, many thanks to all the good folks who came out in San Diego over the past couple of days to talk about catechizing junior high kids! I had a great time and I hope you did too! Thanks to Mary Jo Waggoner and Enedina Saucedo for their hospitality and for arranging for this experience to take place. Thanks especially to mis amigos Miguel Arias and Luis Ramirez for all their hard work and for […]

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Comings & Goings

Chicago: 81, San Diego 65

No that’s not a basketball score! They are the temperatures in these respective cities! It just so happens that I am in San Diego right now and while it is a beautiful sunny day here, I can’t believe that Chicago is 15 degrees warmer! Anyway, I’m not complaining. It’s my first time in San Diego and it is beautiful! I’m looking forward to speaking to a group of junior high catechists and youth ministers tonight […]

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Comings & Goings

Meet Me in Las Vegas (NCCL, that is)!

If you’ve received the program for the NCCL (National Conference for Catechetical Leadership) conference in Las Vegas (April 18-22, 2010), please take note that there’s a learning session missing from the list: MINE! The same list that omits my learning sessions is also printed in the current issue of Catechetical Leadership magazine, so the folks at NCCL and I are taking steps to make sure that the word is out that I am indeed presenting […]

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Comings & Goings

Headin’ West!

This weekend, along with 30,000 of my best friends,  I’ll be attending the Religious Education Congress of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles! I’m doing a presentation on Sunday morning titled “The Spirituality of the Catechist: Re-igniting the Flame.” I look forward to meeting lots of fellow catechists and catechetical ministers as well as seeing many long-time friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. The RE Congress is an exciting celebration of all things Catholic and I look forward […]