The mission of the Upper Room is to offer spiritual and professional nourishment to the faith formation and youth ministry coordinators in our diocese to be sent on mission by the Holy Spirit.  All faith formation and youth ministry coordinators and their volunteer leaders are welcome to attend. Click HERE for the 2023 Fall schedule.

Documents

• Confirmation Guidelines
• USCCB Conformity Listing of Catechetical Texts and Series - July, 2023-2024
• Catholic Mutual Youth Ministry Manual
• Catholic Mutual Church Security
• Sample Youth Waiver for Events
• Sample Adult Waiver for Events
• For anyone driving students, all volunteer drivers must take a Safe Drivers course at https://cmgconnect.org/

Circle of Grace 

Circle of Grace is a safe environment program developed by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to Article 12 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It serves the dual purpose of education and forming youth about the value of positive relationships with God and others.

For Circle of Grace Materials, please contact Mary Hamann at mhamann@dowr.org

For the Circle of Grace Training Report due mid December, click here.

Safe Environment/VIRTUS

Our Faith Formation programs offer a safe, structured atmosphere where students learn and thrive.  

For instructions on helping volunteers register for VIRTUS training, click here.

For a copy of the required background check for volunteers, click here.

For more information, visit the Safe Environment website.
 

First Reconciliation/First Communion

Below are recommended First Reconciliation/First Communion Programs.  An asterisk (*) indicates that we have a copy of the program at the Diocesan office.  Contact Dana Petricka at dpetricka@dowr.org to request a sample.

Faith and Family Life "Mend"* (Reconciliation) and "Nourish" (First Communion) - can be used as a supplemental family component to the parish's programs

The Augustine Institute "Signs of Grace" (First Reconciliation with a family component)

For more ideas, please see our Resources List

Confirmation

Below are recommended Confirmation Programs you may want to explore.  An asterisk (*) indicates that we have a copy of the program at the Diocesan office.  Contact Dana Petricka at dpetricka@dowr.org to request a sample.

YDisciple "Never Alone - Life with the Holy Spirit" and their companion Bible study on Confirmation (parts of "Never Alone" can also be found on Formed.org.  For the full program, see YDisciple's website.

LifeTeen "Purpose: A Transformative Plan for Confirmation"*

Ascension Press "Chosen: Your Journey Toward Confirmation"*

Faith and Family Life "Zeal" (family approach to Confirmation)

Please fill out our Confirmation Retreat Form for 2023-24 to let us know your retreat dates.

Faith Formation Scholarship

This scholarship program seeks to assist those adults who intend to pursue undergraduate education in Theology or Pastoral Ministry, those already in parish service who desire continuing education, and catechists who desire to be trained in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd but find the cost of training prohibitive. Please find the scholarship brochure.

 

RCIC/RCIT

If you have children or teens in your parish who need to receive the sacrament(s) of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, and/or Confirmation and are older than the typical age your parish confers that sacrament, please see the below resources:

Young Apprentices: http://rclbyoungapprentices.com/

Journey of Faith Series for Children and Adolescents: https://www.liguori.org/store/rcia-for-parishes/new-journey-of-faith-for-children.html

Journey of Faith for Teens:  https://www.liguori.org/journey-of-faith-teens-inquiry.html

CatechismClass.com: https://www.catechismclass.com/catholic-rcic-children-classes.php

 

Eucharistic Revival Faith Formation Resources

For a pdf of the list below, click here.  In addition to the resources below, check out this Eucharistic Revival YouTube channel geared toward young children called Holy Kids, presented by The Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent (they also have great Vocations materials as well!)