program notes - Saint Paul University

PROGRAM NOTES, BIOS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Voicing the Present: The Promises and Challenges of Catholic Education in the
21st Century - Denise Andre & Jan Bentham, Ottawa Catholic District School Board
This session will explore current challenges, how our Catholic educational community is
responding to these challenges, concluding with how we are Keeping the Promise, in
forming the "Discerning Believer for the World.”
Denise Andre is currently the Deputy Director of Education and Assistant Secretary Treasurer of the
Ottawa Catholic School Board. She has held the position of teacher, department head, vice-principal,
principal and superintendent with the board. She served six years on the board directors of St. Mary’s
Home and Outreach Centre, and recently joined the boards of St. Paul University and the Youth Services
Bureau. Denise is also an instructor for the Supervisory Officer’s Qualifications Program, offered by the
Eastern Ontario Staff Development Network.
Jan Bentham is presently Coordinator of Religious Education and Family Life Education with the Ottawa
Catholic School Board. She has held a variety of educational positions, teaching music in a mission school,
teaching at both elementary and high school levels and working as a Religious Education and Family Life
Education Consultant with the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Janet has a passion for music and is a
Singer/Songwriter who enjoys a variety of types of music that feed the soul.
Voicing the Past: Reconnecting with the establishing energies of Catholic
Education – Founders and Beginnings – What do they speak to us today?
Elizabeth Smyth, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.
Drawing on primary sources such as historical documents, elements of material culture
and oral histories, Elizabeth will present her thoughts on what past generations of
religious, particularly those who have shaped Catholic education in this Ottawa region,
have to teach us as educators, Catholics, Canadians and inhabitants of this small
ecosystem we call earth.
Elizabeth Smyth is Professor and Vice Dean (Programs) at the School of Graduate Studies, University of
Toronto. She is member of the Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning (CTL), cross appointed
to the Department of Theory and Policy Studies. She is a member of the U of T Governing Council. She is
a Senior Fellow of Massey College and a Fellow of the University of St Michael's College. For her
research on the history of women religious, she was awarded the George Edward Clerk Medal for
outstanding contribution to Canadian religious history by the Canadian Catholic Historical Association and
the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International History of Women Religious Network.
Voicing the Future: Voicing the Future: Bridging Pathways to a Hope-filled Future
Miriam K. Martin and Myrtle Power, Saint Paul University.
Exploring highlights from this present experience and reflecting on critical issues that
continue from the past, Miriam and Myrtle will gather wisdom from the Conference
proceedings and begin to map bridges toward future directions for religious education
and catechesis. They will focus on the importance of claiming the faith tradition with
vitality while moving toward a future filled with hope for educating in faith.
Miriam K Martin has been a professor in the Faculty of Theology since 1995. As a religious educator,
she has worked in a variety of professional settings. Since coming to Saint Paul University she has been
involved with the ongoing education of teachers across Ontario. Miriam was a recipient of the Ontario
Leadership in Faculty Teaching Award for teaching excellence 2007-8. Presently she holds the Mercy &
Presentation Sisters Chair in Religious Education and Catechesis and is the Coordinator of Programs in
Practical Theology.
Myrtle Power is a Professor in the Faculty of Theology at Saint Paul University, and currently directs the
Summer Institutes in Religious Education and Pastoral Liturgy. Throughout her career, Myrtle has
designed and facilitated conferences, institutes, and seminars in religious education, adult faith,
leadership, and spirituality. She was a recipient of the CRECO Jubilee Award in 2000 (Catholic Religious
Education Consultants of Ontario) and the Capital Educator’s Award in 2010.
SEMINAR SESSIONS – A,B & C.
A. Pour un enseignement religieux renouvelé: transmission et re-création
Pensées neuves sur le cours d'enseignement religieux Jean-Marie Debunne
Ce séminaire reprend les grands principes qui ont inspiré dans le cadre de
l'OPECO le travail de relecture des programmes récents d'Enseignement religieux
pour les écoles catholiques de langue française.
Jean-Marie Debunne enseigne à l'Université Saint-Paul dans la Faculté de Théologie depuis 2000
et est aussi coordonnateur des programmes d’éducation religieuse et le responsable des sessions
d’été en éducation religieuse.
B. Leadership in Catholic Education: The Call to Discipleship! Marg Shea-Lawrence
This workshop will explore the many opportunities there are to be leaders in Catholic
education: in the classroom, the school and at the system level. Particular emphasis
will be placed on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are required of a Catholic
educational leader at this time in history.
Marg Shea-Lawrence is a graduate of St. Paul University. She holds a Master of Religious
Education and has worked in Catholic education for over 20 years. Currently, Marg is a
Superintendent of School Effectiveness with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario.
C. More than Surviving: Looking at the Undercurrents of Religious and Moral
Conflict - Mark Slatter
It’s easy to defend and affirm the value of pluralism, but quite another matter to
develop the skills to practice it. What might help us to live and navigate the tensions
and conflicts of differing moral views?
Mark Slatter is a native of Ottawa and has been a professor in the Faculty of Theology at St. Paul
since 2009. He has been involved with The Ottawa Mission in service to the homeless, working with
those who are dealing with substance addictions. A recipient of the Capital Teaching Award, his
continuing academic interests include the relationship between interiority and ethics, the challenges
of moral pluralism, and the identification of mutually beneficial connections between the experience
of homelessness and theological ethics.
SEMINAR SESSIONS: D,E & F.
D. Pour que la Parole ait un écho dans le cœur des personnes: une
spiritualité. La spiritualité chrétienne, un « art de vivre selon l'Évangile »
pour continuer la mission prophétique de Jésus - Denise Desrochers
Comme « passeurs d'Évangile », nous sommes appelés à vivre en communion
avec Jésus Christ et à devenir des prophètes annonciateurs d'une Bonne
Nouvelle à notre monde d'aujourd'hui.
Denise Desrochers est membre de la Congrégation des Sœurs de Sainte-Croix, Denise
Desrochers détient un doctorat en théologie de l'Université Saint-Paul d'Ottawa. Au début de sa
carrière, elle a enseigné au primaire et depuis, elle enseigne la théologie et la spiritualité à
l'Université Saint-Paul.
E. Sowing Seeds on Fertile Ground: The Struggles and Strengths of the
Vision of the Sacramental Initiation of Children - Jason Dedo
This seminar will present the Church’s vision for the sacramental
initiation of children and explore some of the challenges and strengths
involved in bringing this vision to fruition. The roles of catechists,
parents, parish leaders and parishioners will also be discussed.
Jason Dedo has been a religious education teacher with the Renfrew County
Catholic District School Board. For the past five years has been the Director of Faith Formation
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pembroke. Currently he continues in this role as well as
working in high school chaplaincy. Jason is a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry Program also
at Saint Paul University.
F. Adult Faith: Engaging the Challenges and Blessings of Catechesis for
Mature Christian Disciples - Carol Kuzmochka
This interactive session will probe some of the challenges and blessings of
catechesis that honours adult faith, and engages adults in learning opportunities
that empower mature Christian discipleship.
Carol Kuzmochka has been an adult religious educator for most of her adult life, working in
Halifax, Timmins, and Ottawa. She is currently Director of The Centre for Ministry Formation at
Saint Paul University teaching in the area of practical theology and a candidate in the Doctor of
Ministry Degree.