Bishop Byrne in his Pastoral Letter Back to Better, Our Road To Emmaus stated “The staggering fact that there are no seminarians for our diocese is a clear sign of the need for us, priests and lay faithful, to take up the privilege of inviting the next generation of future priests to hear and embrace the call. Each of us should be a vocation recruiter.”
Speaker: Fr. Mark Ivany, Director of Priests Vocations, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
In Collaboration with Fr. Jon Reardon, Vocation Recruiter, and Fr. David Aufiero, Committee on Priest’s Spirituality
Tuesday 2:00 p.m. For more information and the program agenda, please see the FLYER.
Being a Eucharistic People in Digital Space: Liturgy in the Time of COVID
This webinar will feature ecclesiologists from Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian traditions who are reflecting upon and practicing the Eucharist and worship in the context of the pandemic.
Click Here to visit the program website for more information
Instructional Videos for Distributing Ashes
Fr. William Hamilton and Deacon Pedro Rivera-Moran have produced short instructional videos which may be helpful to you and your parishioners. (Click Here)
To see the letter from the Office of Divine Worship, Click Here.
This gathering will give Bishop-elect Byrne an opportunity to formally introduce himself to the clergy of the diocese and offer a reflection on the importance of our ministry in a time of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future. You also will have an opportunity to share your personal and pastoral concerns with Bishop-elect Byrne.
Priests and deacons planning to attend the Clergy Day need to RSVP via email to Stacy Dibbern bishopsoffice@diospringfield.org by Monday, November 16, 2020.
Priests’ Convocation
Focus: Ideological/Theological Differences
Facilitators: Fr. Stephen Fichter, Ph.D. and Dominic J. Perri
Fr. Stephen currently serves as a research associate at the Center for Applied Research In The Apostolate (CARA). He is the Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Haworth, New Jersey. He obtained a Ph.L. and an
S.T.B. from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, an M.S.W. from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Rutgers University. At CARA, Father Stephen has specialized in clergy research. In coordination with the National Organization for Continuing Education for Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC), he has worked on several Cultivating Unity projects for dioceses throughout the United States.
Dominic J. Perri is a nationally-recognized consultant has provided strategic planning, leadership training, and facilitation to over 100 organizations in more than 25 states. Dominic graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Physics from The Catholic University of America, with minors in both religion and philosophy. He also has an M.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has served as faculty for The Hay Leadership Project at DePaul University and has been a member of the board of directors of the Organization Development Network of Chicago. Other professional memberships include the Academy of Management, Association for Strategic Planning and the Association of Consultants to Nonprofits.
October 21-23, 2020
Priests’ Convocation
Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center
219 Littleton Road
Westford, MA 01886
Fr. Marc Montminy was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Manchester, NH on May 17, 1977. He is currently the Pastor of St. Michael Parish in Exeter, NH. He has served as Co-director of Manchester Christian Life Center, the Founder and Director of Spiritual Renewal Service for the Manchester Diocese, and Director of the Office of Worship. He has preached parish missions, retreats and days of renewal.
Theme: “Priesthood: The Lord’s Humble Servant”
Fr. Guy Sciacca was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Boston on May 22, 2010. He is currently the
Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, East Boston, MA. He has worked with the Office for Health and Support for Clergy and is a licensed Alcohol and Drug Rehab Counselor. He is also on the Board of Advisors at Guest House, Lake Orion, MI.
Topic: Etiology of Addiction and Basic Principles of Prevention
Presenters: Mariette Danilo, Ph.D. and Sr. Mercedes Mccann, RSM, Ph.D.
Dr. Mariette Danilo serves as the Director of Education for the Saint John Vianney Center. Mariette designs educational experiences and oversees the program implementation process for the Consultation, Education and Outreach Department, utilizing a scientific knowledge base that is always, first and foremost, presented through the lens of Faith.
She has lectured extensively on topics in Wellness, Health Psychology and Risk Behavior. Mariette’s work has focused on the cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial variables involved in the development and prediction of risk taking and health compromising behaviors.
Sr. Mercedes McCann, RSM, Ph.D., serves as a Psychotherapist for the Saint John Vianney Center and Catholic Clinical Consultants providing multi-dimensional psychotherapy. Before coming to SJVC, Sister Mercedes ministered in several state and county institutions for the mentally ill. She has extensive experience facilitating small and large groups for religious communities including Chapters and Assemblies as well as speaking to groups of religious in the United States, Latin America and the Pacific Rim on various topics concerning religious life such as boundaries in religious life and priesthood, change and transition, emotional development, and the spirituality of aging. Her particular interest is the intersection of spirituality, ministry, community and good mental health in religious life.