Office of Education, Recruitment & Formation


August 2017 I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Thomas A. Edison (American inventor, scientist and businessman 1847-1931)
Special Interest	Highlights
collisions at sea Bryan McGrath WarOnTheRocks On June 17, 2017, the destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the Philippine container ship ACX Crystal collided southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. If you’ve ever wondered how two big ships could hit each other, Bryan McGrath offers some interesting facts about the rules of the road, radar, maneuverability and the unforgiving seas. Read... Virgin territory Deb Pacini Blog The streets in Somerville, Massachusetts have an abundance of “Bathtub Mary” shrines. Blogger and native Somervillian, Deb Pacini, has created a website featuring the best and the unusual of these front yard centerpieces. Pious and not-so-pious creativity abounds! View... Faith Direct Josephine von Dohlen Catholic News Service It’s Sunday morning and families are running out the door to Mass. They grab the contribution envelope, but forget the check book. No donation that week. Enter Faith Direct, an e-giving service for parishes allowing parishioners to regularly contribute online. No envelopes or check books needed. So, does e-giving improve a parish’s bottom line? Read... • • • Return to top	Featured this month ... Learn more on the pending fate of DACA and another perspective on the travel ban and refugee resettlement at Immigration Resources Recognize the dangers of addictions versus habits at Health & Wellness Check out the grants that have been issued for ongoing education/formation pursuits at On the Trail The new triennium has started and we welcome back the experienced members of the Ongoing Education/Formation Committee at OEFC Minutes Read about an active Venezuelan youth orchestra at Child Protection Review reminders regarding passport and visa renewals at Immigration Alerts We're headed into Fall and Winter with events and resources to keep you busy at Datebook Plus Moving ahead ... August 3: National Watermelon Day Here’s your chance to indulge in one of nature’s juiciest products—watermelon! The Watermelon Board has a few watermelon facts for you to enjoy. Read... August 21: Total Solar Eclipse This is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime event for viewers in the United States. For maps, facts, and all things eclipse, visit Eclipse2017.org. September 15-24: Welcoming Week During this annual series of events, communities bring together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. Event tools, lists of participating cities, and tips on how to host an event are available at Welcoming America. September 15 – October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month Share in this special annual tribute by learning and celebrating the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. Visit the Hispanic Heritage Month website here. October 5: Feast Day of Sts. Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz Honor and celebrate the Society’s founder Saint Arnold Janssen and the ideal missionary Saint Joseph Freinademetz. October 8-14: Fire Prevention Week Fire Prevention Week is on record as the longest running public health observance. You'll find more details about the week—including the truth about Mrs. O’Leary’s cow—at the National Fire Protection Association. October 9: Columbus Day Columbus Day is a U.S. federal holiday celebrating the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. The holiday has been fixed to the second Monday in October since 1970. Before then it was celebrated on Columbus' actual landing date—October 12. November 5-11: National Vocation Awareness Week This week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the U.S. is dedicated to promoting vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. News releases, prayer cards, video clips, and other resources are available through USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). Parishes might also consider establishing a Five Star Program, developed by Serra USA, which focuses on developing religious and priestly vocations. November 16: National Button Day Yes, there’s a day for this and a Society too. The history of button collecting, information on conventions, and links to all sorts of button-themed events can be found at the National Button Society's website. • • • Return to top
Office of Education, Recruitment & Formation Society of the Divine Word \| Chicago Province \| 1985 Waukegan Road \| Techny, Illinois 60082 www.uscongoinged.org \| Tel: 847.272.2700