AGENDA
7:30 a.m. - Celebration of the Eucharist: Optional morning Mass with Bishop Tyson at the Palisades chapel for those who can swim through the heavy traffic!
8:30 a.m. - Gathering and Continental Breakfast: This gives us a chance to re-connect with our colleagues in Catholic education as well as our key partners from Fulcrum, the Office of Catholic Faith Formation, and CYO.
9:00 a.m. - Morning Prayer: Our morning prayer will begin with a spiritual reading from Father Thomas Green’s “When the Well Runs Dry”, as well as praying one of the psalms of the day related to the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours. The Psalms are the prayers Jesus prayed and they are the prayer of the Church connecting our hearts to the heart of our shared ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.
9:30 a.m.: - Scenarios from Employment Law and Safe Environment: I begin this description in an unusual way with a reference to the television show, “Law and Order” on the cable channel TNT. If I were to paraphrase the opening script of that television program for our time together, I would re-title the show “Law and Holy Orders” and would begin with the phrase, “In every Catholic school there are two equally important partners: the pastor and the principal. These are their stories…”
Unlike the television show, “Law and Order,” we rarely deal with chalk lines and flashing police lights. Most of the time our schools operate smoothly. But because the engagement with employment law is not a daily occurrence, it is easy for any one of us to miss key policy steps or not know current employment law. Our time together will better assist you to know employment law, know the importance of our key policies and procedures and know the centrality of good collaboration with Chancery personnel.
11:30 a.m. - Announcements: This will include some brief reminders from some of our partners related to electronic communication already on the school or the safe environment websites.
12:00 noon: - Lunch
1:00 p.m. - Moral Theology Presentation and Scenarios: Building Human Excellence: I will be presenting a brief presentation on the Church’s moral framework based on the writings of Father Servais Pinckaers, O.P. Father Pinckaers was deeply involved in the writing of the third pillar of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He proposes that the steep demands of our moral teaching are not simply rules of the Church, but tools that lead to human excellence. In this context, moral scenarios from school life that engage the Church’s moral teaching will be presented with some suggested next steps for further learning.
2:00 p.m.- Praying in Time of Trouble: Practical Tips and Resources: Returning to the theme of Sabbath from Father Pat Ritter’s presentation, I am trying to build in some kind of Sabbath in each of our meetings. The theme of today’s meeting often includes stress and anxiety for the principal, pastoral coordinator or pastor. Karen Tarabochia and I have put together a panel of pastors, pastoral coordinators and principals to talk about how they have prayed in times of trouble and the resources they use.
2:45 p.m. - Installation information for Archbishop Sartain: Last minute details for school communities regarding his December 1, 2010 installation event.
3:00 p.m. - Door Prizes! Drawing for door prizes (MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN), blessing and dismissal.
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