The local parish is to be the focus of continuing education programs offered in the coming academic year by the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry (IREPM). Conducted in cooperation with the Church in the 21st Century Center, a series of lectures, workshops, dialogues, and seminars will address issues of concern to American parishes, including drawing young people into the Church community, the role for lay ministry, and fundraising. The programs, which begin in September, are open to the public, and many are free. Below is a selection of fall offerings. For more information consult the IREPM website.

Lectures

A Church of All, Especially a Church of the Poor | Marco Impagaliazzo, international president, Community of Sant’Egidio | Response by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston | October 4, at 7 P.M.

The Parish of Tomorrow: Storefront or Megachurch? | Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C. | October 16, at 7 P.M.

The Hopes and Challenges of Parish Leadership in the 21st Century | Marti Jewell, director, the Emerging Models of Parish Leadership Project | November 28, at 7 P.M.

Workshops

Parish Development: Fundraising for Parish Leadership | Mary Lou DeLong, vice president, and Lisa Hastings, executive director of development, Lynch School of Education, Boston College | September 15, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

The Priest as Collaborative Minister | Rev. James Bacik, pastor, Corpus Christi University Parish and adjunct professor of humanities, University of Toledo | September 19, from 5 to 8 P.M.

The Ignatian Way with Art | Robert Gilroy, SJ, spiritual director, Eastern Point Retreat House, Gloucester, Massachusetts | September 29, from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.

An Effective Model for Leading Church Locally | Peg Bishop, OSF, and Thomas Sweetser, SJ, codirectors, the Parish Evaluation Project | December 1, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

In-Dialogue events

Listened into Life: A Primer on Spiritual Direction | Jane Silk, RSM | October 3, at 4 P.M.

Interreligious and Ecumenical Understanding Where People Live and Worship | Rev. Walter Cuenin, Catholic chaplain, Brandeis University | October 17, at 4:30 P.M.

Lay Pastoring of the Parish: Prospering the Mission | Debra Hintz, parish director, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | October 24, at 5:30 P.M.

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