Weekly THIS AND THAT for July 5, 2009: We Have a New Director of Religious Education

This and That:
We Have a New Director of Religious Education

The recent study of our needs in Religious Education, titled “Operation Faith Formation” caused us to search for an individual who would have a rich background as a Director of Religious for from 5 to 10 years and at least a Masters Degree in Religious Studies. Such experience and training would make it possible for the individual to offer the theological presentations for parent preparation for First Sacraments, develop new programs, and even teach in the Confirmation Program of 9th and 10th Grades, as well as being the Retreat Director for the annual two-day retreat.

What if we said our Search Committee found an individual who had a doctorate and two Masters Degrees and 30 years of parish experience? Well, we did, and we offered him the position and he accepted and his name is Jack Bucher.

Jack has been a professional minister at St. Joseph’s Parish, Cockeysville since 1978, first as Coordinator of Adult Religious Education (1978-1994), then as Director of Religious Education (1984-1994) and finally as Director of Evangelization (1994-2009.) What extraordinary experience he is bringing to Our Lady of Grace!

The Search Committee was very excited with what he presented as his vision for Religious Education at the time of his interview. It contained three elements:

➢ To know Jesus Christ as a person and to experience that relationship as an on-going process of personal transformation into greater discipleship

➢ The heart of our Religious Education Program should be radically life-affirming and about Jesus Christ and people forming themselves into community and coming together in fellowship

➢ Implementing Sacramentality so as to experience God within ourselves and in how we see others.

With Jack as our catechetical leader, such a vision will become enfleshed in all our Religious Education programs. Furthermore, all effects of our efforts in catechesis can now be measured against these three criteria.

The following publications to his credit will give you some idea of the breath of Jack’s creative abilities:

➢ The Parish Committee Member, Pastoral Arts Associates, 1986

➢ The St. Monica Ministry: Spiritual Exercises to Help You With a Loved One’s Faith Crisis, Cathedral Foundation Press, 1988

➢ Reflections with Parents on the Meaning of Sin and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Pastoral Arts Associates, 1988

➢ Holiness, Grace, Sacraments, Daily Life, Pastoral Arts Associates, 1989

➢ The Passionate Spirit of God, Pastoral Arts Associates, 1991

➢ How to Welcome Back Inactive Member to Your Parish, FATA Publishers, 1996

➢ The Parish Committee Member, Pastoral Arts Associates, 1986

➢ Scriptural Responses to a Loved One with Weakened Faith, FATA Publishing, 1999

➢ “Why Your Once Successful Parish Programs Are No Longer (Successful)”, Today’s Parish, Spring 1987

➢ “Remembering and Rethinking the Cardinal Virtues Today”, Today’s Parish, Fall 1987

➢ “Why Should You Attend Parent Sacramental Preparation Programs,” Catechist, January 1990

➢ “Making and Keeping Evangelization Practical,” Pastoral Life, May 1991

➢ “A Spirituality of Coming and Going,” Pastoral Life, November 1990
Jack’s teaching experience is also noteworthy:

➢ Adjunct Faculty, Department of Religious Studies, 1980-present, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Baltimore, MD where he has taught courses in Current Moral Issues, Marriage and Family, Justice and Peace, Christian as Societal Critic, Quality of Life, God’s Revelation and Human Response, Introduction to Biblical Studies

➢ Course Instructor, 1986-present Loyola College, Baltimore, MD where he has taught courses in Theological Anthropology, The Church, and Introduction to Theology

➢ Course Instructor, 1984-1985 Mount St. Mary’s College, Emmitsburg, MD where he has taught courses on The Gospels and Contemporary Moral Issues

➢ Course Instructor, 1983 St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD where he taught a course entitled: Christian Formation in the Contemporary Parish

In the coming months there will be ample opportunities to meet Jack in the Gathering Space after Masses, before and after Religious Education classes on Sunday morning, and in the preparation programs for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation.
Welcome, Jack Buchner!

Fondly,
Father Nicholas