Stepping Into the Mystery Aug 24-26, 2023
Parish leaders from around the Archdiocese of Milwaukee will gather for their 7th annual catechetical conference - Stepping into the Mystery - to pray and learn together how to lead people to a life-changing encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ in preparing them for the Sacraments.
Executive Director Kristin Bird will be presenting a Deep Dive workshop on Thursday as well as 2 workshops and a keynote on Friday. See the full schedule and topics at the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's website
Jump to Parish Touchpoints | Art of Accompaniment | Holy Spirit in Evangelization
Evangelizing Through Parish Touchpoints & Threshold Moments
Deep Dive Workshop on Thursday & Toe Dips Workshop on Friday
In this transformative workshop, we will explore the profound impact the milestones that bring people to our parish doors can have in the journey of discipleship. Baptisms, funerals, weddings, the welcoming of new families, and the start of the RE school year are pivotal life events that resonate deeply with individuals and families.
These key moments hold immense potential to touch hearts and souls, and we will delve into their significance as opportunities for evangelization and explore practical tips for leveraging them as opportunities to help people encounter Christ.
Participants will learn practical strategies and share best practices for incorporating evangelization and accompaniment into our parish processes for each of these key touchpoint moments.
Downloads
Additional Reading/Listening/Watching
Living as Missionary Disciples: Resource for Evangelization (USCCB)
Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing & Following Jesus (Sherry Weddell) 
Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel
(Pope Francis)
Invitation & Encounter: Evangelizing through Sacraments (O'Malley)
Podcast Episode 3: Radical Hospitality as Foundation for Evangelization
Podcast Episode 6: Exploring the Pre-Discipleship Journey
Thresholds of Conversion and Faith (Diocese of Biloxi)
Helping Others Drop Their Nets & Follow Jesus (Sherry Weddell)
Keynote: Empowered Witnesses: Embracing the Holy Spirit in Evangelization
“It must be said that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization: it is He who impels each individual to proclaim the Gospel, and it is He who in the depths of consciences causes the word of salvation to be accepted and understood.” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 75)
In the ever-changing landscape of evangelization, we must remain open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, embracing flexibility and adaptability in our approach.
We can learn to discern the signs of the Spirit's movement in our ministries, seizing new opportunities for outreach and growth. Uncover the power of prayer in shaping our hearts and minds to be attuned the to the Spirit’s direction, opening our hearts to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit as the primary evangelizer. Embracing the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit will revolutionize our ministries, infuse our efforts with divine grace, and lead us to become dynamic and authentic witnesses of the Gospel.
Downloads
Additional Reading/Listening/Watching
Sober Intoxication of the Spirit
(Fr. Cantalamessa)
Time for God
(Fr. Jaques Philippe)
Evangelii Nuntiandi: On Evangelization in the Modern World
(Pope Paul VI)
Fruitful Discipleship (Sherry Weddell)
The Wild Goose Series with Fr. Dave Pivonka
Evangelizing with the Charisms of the Holy Spirit (Jackie Angel)
The Holy Spirit in the Life of Cathoics (Jeff Cavins)
Workshop: The Art of Accompaniment
Join us in this empowering workshop as we delve into the art of accompaniment and its pivotal role in helping people of all ages grow as disciples of Jesus. We’ll take a look at what accompaniment actually is (and what it isn’t), how to recognize where someone is on their faith journey, and what people need as they move through spiritual thresholds toward discipleship,
Discover ways to meet people where they are in their life of discipleship, without judgment or presumption, and learn how to personalize your approach, offering tailored guidance, resources, and encouragement to support another’s growth in faith. Learn how to adopt a pastoral mindset that fosters compassion, empathy, and active listening.
Participants will share and unpack practical tips and essential insights to help you more confidently and fruitfully integrate the principles of accompaniment into catechetical sessions, fostering a more engaging and transformative learning experience for individuals and groups of all ages.
Downloads
Additional Reading/Listening/Watching
Clear & Simple: Conversations That Lead to Conversion (Andre Regnier)
Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing & Following Jesus (Sherry Weddell) 
Accompaniment in Action posts on Burning Hearts Disciples
If you would like to host a workshop or retreat for your parish or school - or want to continue the conversation about making disciples - please don't hesitate to contact us.
Share your story! Tell us about your experience of the Conference.