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Watch this helpful webinar from the Center for Learning for a discussion of strategies to improve your current liturgy preparation practices. Preparing the liturgy for your parish or school can be overwhelming, especially during the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Whether you work months in advance or finalize your choices hours before Mass, there are ways to do it better.

What does “better” look like?

• Preparation strategies aligned with rubrics,

• communication practices that keep members of your liturgical ministry informed and aligned,

• efficient use of your time and energy that maintains a sense of health and balance, and

• most importantly, liturgical celebration that fosters the full, conscious, and active participation of all the faithful.

It's not the most exciting subject, but it's important. Watch the recording of the Center for Learning webinar, “No time like the present: getting and staying organized,” to hear about practical, accessible strategies to up your organization game. File storage, liturgy outlines, communication, expenses, rehearsal plans, program goals - they’re all covered. Your future self will thank you!

The faith lives of young people today differ greatly from generations past, yet our parishes often assume their experiences, knowledge and preferences are the same as they were 20 or more years ago. What challenges, opportunities and realities surround the liturgical experiences of young people in your community? How do we address participation, involvement, liturgical catechesis, interest in devotions and other important topics? Especially in this time of Eucharistic Revival, how can we catechize young people to the beauty and importance of the liturgy? Watch the recording of the Center for Learning’s webinar “Age of Opportunity: The Liturgical Life of Young People” to learn more about this important topic.

Join Center for Learning director Matt Reichert in this webinar for those ministering in merged or clustered parishes. In the last several years, an increasing number of dioceses have implemented mergers, closures, or groupings of parishes under a shared pastor. This affects everything in parish life, but one of the primary ways Catholics interact with and experience their parish community is through participation in the liturgy. So how can liturgical leaders navigate these seismic changes, and how can liturgical life help these new iterations of parishes build their own local culture, identity and belonging? Watch the webinar, join the Center for Learning community and discover other resources at learnwithocp.org to help you start answering these important questions for yourself and your parish.

We're in the final quarter of the year, but - liturgically speaking - things are heating up. Join this FREE webinar conversation for planning help, suggestions, tips, and everything you need to know to prepare school Masses, prayer services, and other liturgical celebrations. We'll look at the liturgical calendar from April through June, including Easter, First Communion, Confirmation, graduation, seasonal celebrations and blessings, holy days, and more.

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Join OCP’s Center for Learning for this must-watch webinar on first communion liturgies led by Center for Learning director Matt Reichert and Dr. Donna Eschenauer, associate dean of St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York and author of First Communion Liturgies: Preparing First-Class First Celebrations. Dr. Eschenauer teaches liturgy and sacramental theology and she served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years. She offers a wealth of knowledge on how to think about this special liturgy and how to prepare beautiful first communions that adhere to the proper liturgical principles and focus on the children’s participation in the sacrament.

Prepare su ministerio para la Pascua con esta presentación patrocinada por el Center for Learning de OCP. En esta sesión conocerá de la preparación para la Pascua, recomendaciones musicales para el tiempo litúrgico de Pascua y recursos para ampliar el repertorio de su coro de habla hispana.

Prepare your Spanish-speaking or bilingual ministry for Easter with this presentation sponsored by OCP's Center for Learning. In this session you will learn about preparing for Easter, musical recommendations for the Easter season, and resources to expand the repertoire of your Spanish-speaking choir.

The staff and volunteers serving your parish or school are often the backbone of the community. We expect them to perform, but are we leading them well? Are we ensuring they are served, too? Is our relationship one of collaboration or isolation? Topics for this important discussion will include goal setting, managing growth, building professional relationships and building trust, initiating and leading difficult conversations, and more.

Download the PDF resource guide HERE.

Prepare su ministerio para la cuaresma con esta presentación patrocinada por el Center for Learning de OCP. En esta sesión conocerá de más recursos para ampliar el repertorio de su coro de habla hispana.

Conozca más sobre los eventos y productos destacados en esta presentación.

Prepare your Spanish-speaking or bilingual ministry for Lent with this presentation sponsored by OCP's Center for Learning. In this session you will learn more resources to expand the repertoire of your Spanish-speaking choir.

Christmas break is over and Catholic Schools Week and Lent are on the horizon. Join this FREE webinar conversation for planning help, suggestions, tips, and everything you need to know to prepare school masses, prayer services, and other liturgical celebrations. We'll look at the liturgical calendar from January through March, including Catholic Schools Week, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Penance Services, seasonal celebrations and blessings, holy days, and more.

The Liturgy Forecast is a series of conversations that provide practical, timely formation to help anyone involved in the liturgy do their job well. Each conversation focuses on a specific season and reviews all of the details needed before you begin planning: seasonal rules and regulations, important dates and reminders, guidance for special celebrations and devotions, and more.

Download PDF resource packet

Among all the topics we could encounter in our field, "liturgical assessment" might not be the spiciest. But, it's certainly among th emost important. We devote a lot of time, energy, and emotion to planning good, effective liturgies for our community. Why? Because we know that good liturgy matters. That's why we should take the time to carefully evaluate our liturgies to see what's working and to find opportunities for improvement. Join our panelists as we discuss the ins-and-outs, dos-and-don'ts of liturgical assessment. You'll come away with tools, guides, and rubrics as well as a new-found appreciation for the topic!

Download PDF resource packet HERE.

If you work or volunteer in music ministry, then you know how daunting it can be to introduce new music in parish liturgies. Get tips from the experts in this helpful webinar on introducing new music to your congregation hosted by the Center for Learning. Center for Learning director Matt Reichert is joined by composers and directors of music Scot Crandal and Zack Stachowski to discuss best practices and enlightening personal stories from their years of experience.

If you are a Catholic minister, chances are you will have to use a sound system at some point – often with no training or warning! Be prepared for whatever sound system work comes your way with the help of this supremely practical webinar on sound system essentials led by Los Angeles-based engineer and Catholic musician Bill Barlak and Center for Learning director Matt Reichert.

Watch this much-needed webinar for Catholic ministers on how to avoid burnout and manage stress while working in ministry. Led by Jen Hayes Housel and Edwin Walker from the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministries, the webinar provides helpful tools and practices that can help ministers manage negative stressors and proactively avoid burnout. Yes, it is possible to achieve a healthy balance while working in ministry!

Don’t miss this FREE webinar event for anyone involved in the liturgy at Catholic schools. We'll look at the liturgical calendar and what you need to know to prepare school Masses, prayer services and celebrations from November through December, including the Advent and Christmas seasons, seasonal celebrations and blessings, holy days, and more.

The Liturgy Forecast is a series of conversations that provide practical, timely formation to help anyone involved in the liturgy do their job well. Each conversation focuses on a specific season and reviews all of the details needed before you begin planning: seasonal rules and regulations, important dates and reminders, guidance for special celebrations and devotions, and more.

Download PDF resource packet

Let's face it - many of our choir members aren't as young as they used to be. The average age of parish choirs across the country is increasing, and with aging voices comes musical and pastoral considerations. What vocal techniques and warmups are helpful? What repertoire strategies work best? How do you have a pastoral conversation with a soprano who is now more of an alto? Join us as we discuss these and other practical topics!

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Have a children’s choir and you’re looking for ways to grow and develop? Looking to start a children’s choir but don’t know where to begin? Trying to revive a children’s choir program that has run out of steam? No matter the reason, you’ve come to the right place! Join Francesca LaRosa and Dr. Holly Smith-Brooks as they discuss strategies and best practices to give your program extra momentum, no matter your starting point.

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We put a lot of thought into planning our liturgies, but what about planning our rehearsals? Without careful attention, rehearsals can become ineffective or even counterproductive. Join our panelists as they discuss practical strategies to plan and confidently lead effective rehearsals for your music ministry. You'll come away with ideas you can begin to implement today.

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Each leader's experience of the parish liturgy committee is different. Some have a committee that runs like a well-oiled machine, others want to avoid committee meetings at all costs, and many don't have a committee at all. In this conversation, panelists Timothy Johnston and Rita Thiron discuss the importance of a liturgy committee, how to form one, how to plan and run a meeting, and how to make sure the committee is effective in their work. If you are a liturgy director, music director, pastor, or other liturgical decision-maker, you won't want to miss this conversation!

Download the PDF handout.

Don’t miss this FREE webinar event for anyone involved in the liturgy at Catholic schools. This conversation will focus on the first quarter of the school year. We'll look at the liturgical calendar and what you need to know to prepare school Masses, prayer services and celebrations from late August through October.

The Liturgy Forecast is a series of conversations that provide practical, timely formation to help anyone involved in the liturgy do their job well. Each conversation focuses on a specific season and reviews all of the details needed before you begin planning: seasonal rules and regulations, important dates and reminders, guidance for special celebrations and devotions, and so forth. We help provide a firm foundation for planning liturgies, selecting music, designing liturgical environment, writing homilies and more.

Download PDF Handout

It has become increasingly difficult to find enougIt has become increasingly difficult to find enough volunteers. It feels more true than ever that "the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few." Join Matt Reichert, Zack Stachowski, and Jason Prigge as they outline the critical first step in successful recruiting: invitation. The panelists provide practical suggestions and guidance for how to identify and then invite prospective volunteers to join your ministry.

Download webinar handout (PDF)

To be successful, "hospitality" can't just be a one-off program or a momentary interaction. It needs to be the product of a culture of welcome and belonging, and your ministry is the perfect place to start. In this conversation, host Matt Reichert and guest John T. Kyler explore practical ways that you can build a culture of hospitality within your parish ministry. You will hear suggestions, examples, and recommendations for next steps.

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Watch the Center for Learning's Adoration webinar with hosts Matt Reichert, Dr. Glenn Byer and Fr. John Thomas Lane, SSS for a practical review of the essential elements of adoration and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass. A FREE downloadable guide will be made available and will include templates, sample prayers and scripts, suggested music and other helpful resources for you to use in your community.

Download webinar handout (PDF)

Watch the Center for Learning's webinar hosted by Matt Reichert, "This Season Calls Us: A Lenten Planning Conversation for Catholic Schools," for tips, suggestions and must-have resources including an overview of the Lenten season for Catholic School educators, guidance for planning seasonally and strategies for implementing plans. If you are responsible for any sort of prayer experiences in your Catholic school – Masses, prayer services, Stations of the Cross, classroom prayer, etc. – you will not want to miss it!

Download webinar handout (PDF)