Our Educational Offerings are versatile, flexible programs designed to promote a respect for the dignity and sanctity of life and to maximize family life in it’s various dimensions.
The Youth and Family Enrichment Programs provided by the Diocese of Providence Life and Family Ministry Office offers single and multi-session formats that cover a wide variety of topics relevant to modern life from a Catholic perspective. As children develop in their faith through parish religious education programs, educators seek to incorporate programs that address topics that require special consideration within their faith context. Also, catechizing parents has become an important component of encouraging a vibrant faith in our young people. Our family programs are designed with the needs and concerns of the whole family, as domestic Church, in mind. There is no fee for these Diocesan-sponsored programs
The following programs, primarily presented to youth throughout the Diocese, easily integrate into programs in schools and parishes, retreat settings, and family programs. Do you have an idea on a program or topic that is not listed here? Give a call and perhaps we can work together to figure out a program or topic that meets the needs of your parish or school setting.
Below please find a listing of educational programs & workshops offered in English & educational programs & workshops offered in Spanish.
2008 & 2009 saw a series of talks hosted at Holy Ghost Church, Providence, with teens & their families from all over RI. This insightful & successful series culminated in a special Mass where teens, with the support of their families, vowed to remain chaste until their wedding day. Pictured are one of the teen girls with her mother, showing the ring of chastity she wears as a result of her “True Love Waits” /"Chastity – The Way to True Love" experience.
Educational Workshops offered in English
God’s Gift of Life - A fun interactive class that promotes and celebrates regard for all of God's creation. Topics include The Story of Creation, the Story of You, Our Wonderful Bodies, Caring for Creation & God’s Gift of Family. For children and families in grades 1-5.
Mixed Up By Media - This course will discuss both the benefits and dangers of media influence. For children and families in Junior High and High School.
Growing up With Grace - Like baking a cake, puberty can be a messy experience, but, with the right ingredients an awesome masterpiece can result. This course addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual changes associated with puberty and how to best handle them from a Catholic faith perspective. For Junior High Youth and Families.
Chastity – The Way to True Love - This program discusses the dangers and risks of premarital sex and offers the alternative of chastity as a “lovestyle” that promotes true freedom and happiness. For teens and families.
A Gospel of Life~A Gospel of Love - Every human life has significance before God, from the moment of conception to natural death. The family is where we find the meaning of life and the meaning of love. This workshop exposes how living a gospel of life and a gospel of love are two sides of the same coin. For Junior High and High School students, families, adults and youth educators.
Drugs and Alcohol Use and Abuse 101 - Families will learn together about the prevalence of drug and alcohol use and abuse and discuss strategies to establish a family life ethic that includes a commitment to remain free from substance abuse. For families with pre-teen and teenage children.
Dignitas Personae and Beginning of Life Ethics - Dignitas Personae, a 2008 instruction from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith addresses the most challenging biomedical issues in our modern age, many of which relate to the creation of human life and the treatment of life in it’s early stages. Participants will reflect on beginning of life ethics in light of controversial medical technologies.
God Works Wonders: The Theology of Creation - The created world possesses a magnificence that only God Himself could have imagined. A Catholic ecology recognizes the sacramental nature of the created order and invites us to celebrate and care for all of God’s creation. Come reflect on the environmental concerns of our day and what it means to care for and steward the earth and all of it’s creatures as goods in themselves but also as expressions of our love for God and neighbor.
Parenting Method Programs
Active Parenting Now & Active Parenting for Teens
By Michael H. Popkin, Ph.D
Active Parenting Now Practical ways to tackle the challenges of raising children ages 5 to 12
Through this program parents will learn skills that will help them develop cooperation, responsibility and good character while simultaneously connecting with their children. Parents will learn positive discipline techniques so that they can avoid those all-too-familiar power struggles. Best of all, they’ll be able to share ideas with other parents who know exactly what they’re going through!
Active Parenting of Teens - For Parents of Pre-Teens and Teens
This video-based discussion program provides parents with the skills they need to meet the challenges of parenting teens and preteens in today's turbulent society. Parents will learn how to effectively communicate with their teens, encourage better behavior, use positive discipline techniques and teach responsibility. Each session also helps parents learn how to address issues that are vital to today’s teens, such as: Drug and alcohol use, sexuality and violence.
Contact info: For more information call 401/421-7833 or email rl.education@dioceseofprovidence.org.
Educational Workshops offered in Spanish
The following programs, primarily presented to youth throughout the Diocese, easily integrate into programs in schools and parishes, retreat settings, and family programs. Do you have an idea on a program or topic that is not listed here? Give a call and perhaps we can work together to figure out a program or topic that meets the needs of your parish or school setting.
The Right to Live
This is a presentation focused on the emotional story of young teenager who is pregnant and is trying to find help and support in her family and those who love her in a time of loneliness, fear and rejection. This workshop brings Pro-Life message of hope and courage in the life of any youth. (2 separate sessions for youth and parents)
Sex Has a Price Tag
With the facilitation of a video in Sex Has A Price Tag renowned speaker Pam Stenzel combines her personal story and extensive pregnancy counseling experience into a hard-hitting look at the consequences of sexual activity outside the lifetime commitment of marriage. In a captivating and inspiring talk, Pam tackles the tough issues of sex with candor, insight and a challenge for young people to get the “abstinence message”. (2 separate sessions for youth and parents)
True Love Waits
In 4 sessions teenagers are challenged to make a commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage, encouraging moral purity by adhering to biblical principles. This youth-based international campaign utilizes positive peer pressure by encouraging those who make a commitment to refrain from pre-marital sex to challenge their peers to do the same.
Active Parenting Today
Padres Activos de Hoy is the Spanish-language version of the award-winning parenting education program Active Parenting Today. It is not dubbed or subtitled—it features all-new video with Latino actors. It addresses concerns unique to this audience, including:
how parenting practices must fit the society for which we are raising our children (a special challenge for first-generation immigrant parents), the presence of the extended family in the home, encouraging daughters as well as sons to succeed, styles of parenting, the use of choices, responsibility and discipline, saying no to drugs and promoting respect and responsibility.
Communication in the Home; Key for a Healthy Family
In this session, participants are encouraged to share feelings honestly, looking for safe ways to express their anger, working at solving problems peacefully. Through exercises and group discussions, They are motivated to listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with them, and to consider others' feelings and needs rather than insist on having “my own way”. Finally they are encouraged to apologize and make amends, and to keep from holding grudges.
Active, Committed and Faithful Parents, Key to Building Healthy and Holy Families
In this session, parents are motivated to be active and involved in the live of their children communicating regularly and frequently with them. With the use of brief motivational videos parents are encouraged to reflect on their own family life and to lead by example teaching love, respect and responsibility to their children with communication, positive discipline, family prayers and active involvement in the church.
Lets Talk About Violence
In this session participants will explore the root and origins of violence in school, neighborhood and home. We will also talk about the role of the media and peer pressure and promoting alternatives to violence using the pledge of non-violence.
Catholic Perpective on End of Life Issues
This presentation focus on the end of life issues. Death. It’s the door to eternity, though most people prefer not to think about their own mortality and inevitable passage to the unknown. Nonetheless, there are dimensions that ought to be faced because one’s last days, weeks, or even months could depend on choices and medical directives made while a person is healthy – or not made, leaving one’s fate in the hands of strangers.
For more Information
Contact: Silvio Cuéllar
Telephone: 401-421-7833 ext. 120
e-mail: rl.spanish@dioceseofprovidence.org
