This year’s Faith Formation Day saw a mix of catechists, clergy and those just looking to learn more about the Catholic faith.
Roughly 160 people took part in the 41st annual event on Oct. 4 at Bishop Snyder High School.
Dr. Gerardo Sálazar was the keynote speaker and captured the crowd by telling stories of his personal life and conversion as an example of why everyone should never lose hope.
He spoke about how his family immigrated to the United States years ago and he was one of 13 children growing up, but he and his wife discerned after they got married that they did not want children.
However, after four years, he visited the National Shrine of Our Lady of Snows in Belleville, Illinois and his heart was changed.
Now, he and his wife have been married 20 years, and they have 10 children.
“He weaved the stories of his family with how important it was to remain hopeful through each of life’s stages,” said Erin McGeever, director of Christian formation with the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Some of the things that Sálazar mentioned that are present as reminders of the hope we have in our daily lives include the lives of the saints, Scripture, and the teachings of the magisterium.
Bishop Erik Pohlmeier served as the celebrant for Mass to start the day and spoke with clergy members in attendance about evangelizing catechesis within the parishes.
According to McGeever, each year they have attendees fill out a survey so that they have a better understanding of what people are looking for in terms of topics covered.
Some of the workshops this year included Father Jhon Guarnizo hosting one on the topic of the Nicene Creed and the 1,700 years since it was adopted by the church.
“We try and build it as something for everyone,” she said. “When we’re thinking about topics, we’re also looking at what’s going on within the church.”
Other workshops were ideas for engaging families in faith formation, reaching the souls of young people and Christian meditation for children and adults.
“Christian meditation can be a really good way to calm children down, especially at the start of a class,” she said.
One of the unique aspects of Faith Formation Day each year is the various parishes that bring groups to take part in the day.
According to McGeever, St. Catherine of Siena in Orange Park, St. John the Baptist in Atlantic Beach and St. Pius V in Jacksonville are among the parishes that traditionally have large groups attend.
“Some of the great things each year is just the camaraderie that takes place,” she said. “Whether it’s people eating lunch together outside and sharing what has occurred in their parish, or the new resources that the publishers have.”
Photos by Fran Ruchalski
