Specialization Day 2026

Saturday, March 7, 2026

9 am – 2:30 pm

St. Edward Catholic School Building, 

3004 11th St., Rockford IL 61109

The purpose of the day is to offer you a glimpse into three different areas of lay ministry. We have assembled an outstanding group of ministry leaders to share their involvement, knowledge, and enthusiasm in their respective areas of ministry.

Please submit the form at the bottom of the page

Areas of Specialization: English Sessions

  • Bilingual Ministry Formation Certification – Explore this new formation opportunity and the unique gift of being able to share God’s saving love in both English and Spanish. Anyone interested in receiving a Bilingual Ministry Formation Certification should attend this session.
  • Diaconate – Explore the Permanent Diaconate. This session is particularly informative for men and their wives who might be discerning a vocation as an ordained Permanent Deacon.
  • Evangelization – Explore programs which facilitate encounters with Jesus Christ, and that foster conversion and personal spiritual growth for parishioners.
  • Family Faith Formation/Religious Education (FFF/RE) – Explore techniques for providing quality catechetical programs for children, youth, and adults in the parish, emphasizing family involvement.
  • Life and Dignity – Explore how the Church’s message of life and dignity for all people is put into action in the parish and local community.
  • Liturgical – Explore the ways lay people can participate in the liturgical life of the parish.
  • Marriage –  Explore the efforts to enrich and support marriages in your parish.
  • Mental Health – Explore how to provide support to people living with mental health or substance abuse challenges.
  • OCIA – Explore the incredible journey and rites for initiating adults into full-communion in the Catholic Church.
  • Youth Ministry (YM) – Explore the exciting ways to facilitate junior high and high school aged parishioners in encounter with Jesus and help them to discover how to live out their Catholic faith.

Áreas de especialización: sesiones en español

  • Certificación de Formación para Ministros Bilingüe – Explore esta nueva oportunidad de formacióny el don único de poder compartir el amor salvífico de Dios en inglés y español. Los interesados en recibir una Certificación de Formación para Ministros Bilingüe deben asistir a esta sesión.
  • Diaconado – Sesión en inglés solamente. Explora el diaconado permanente. Esta sesión es particularmente informativa para los hombres y sus esposas, quienes pueden estar discerniendo una vocación como diácono permanente.
  • Evangelización – Explora formas de crear una parroquia evangelizadora que facilita un encuentro con Jesús y fomenta la conversión y el crecimiento personal espiritual.
  • Formación Familiar en la Fe/Educación Religiosa (FFF/ER) – Explora técnicas para proporcionar programas catequéticos de calidad para niños, jóvenes y adultos en la parroquia, enfatizando la participación familiar.
  • Litúrgico – Explora las formas en las que los laicos pueden tener una participación activa y significativa en la vida litúrgica de la parroquia.
  • Ministerio de matrimonios – Explora esfuerzos que enriquecen y apoyan a los matrimonios.
  • RICA – Explora la increíble jornada y ritos para iniciar a los adultos en la plena comunión en la Iglesia Católica.

DIRECTIONS

Select three areas of ministry that you are interested in learning about. We encourage you to consider ministries you are not already involved with.  Select the ministers in order of preference (first choice, second choice, third choice). Then select a fourth choice, in case one of your preferred options is unavailable. Sessions offered in Spanish are listed at the bottom, bilingual participants are welcome to attend sessions in either language. THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR CHOICES HAS PASSED. Please call or email the Ministry Formation office with your preferences by Friday, January 24, 2026. If we do not get your information by then, sessions will be assigned to you by our staff.