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EPISODE#64
CATHEDRAL SQUARE: GUEST IS KATIE DAWSON – DIRECTOR OF PARISH EVANGELIZATION AND FAITH FORMATION

It’s time for another episode of Cathedral Square featuring host Fr. Christopher Smith.

This week, Fr. Christopher welcomes Katie Dawson to the studio. Katie is the Director of Parish Evangelization and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange. She’ll talk about the important role we all play in sharing our Catholic faith with others. They will also discuss an event called the Diocesan Ministries Celebration that recently took place on the campus of Christ Cathedral.

Please share this podcast with a friend!

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 10/9/21

 

EPISODE #260
EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT: FAMILY HOME MINUTES WITH GUEST KATIE DAWSON

Deacon Steve Greco interviews guests on a variety of topics connected to Catholic teaching and spirituality..

Today’s guest is Katie Dawson. She holds the title of Director of Parish Evangelization and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange.

The discussion focuses on a powerful new evangelizing initiative called ‘Family Home Minutes. These are short video clips promoted primarily through the Diocese of Orange Facebook page.

Join us for this great conversation! 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 10/18/20

EPISODE#17
CATHEDRAL SQUARE: GUEST IS FR. JUAN NAVARRO

On today’s podcast episode, Fr. Christopher welcomes Fr. Juan Navarro to the studio. Among other things, Fr. Juan shares about his background and long history of service to the diocese. His key roles today are as follows: Diocesan Consultant for Evangelization and Diocesan Consultant for Faith Formation.

What exactly does all of this entail? Tune in and find out!

Be sure to share this podcast with a friend!

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 10/19/19

EPISODE#6
CATHOLIC SCHOOL CONNECTION: GUEST IS DR. DENISE VALADEZ

On this episode, host Dr. Erin Barisano welcomes Dr. Denise Valadez to the program.

Denise is the Associate Superintendent of Curriculum, Accreditation and Spirituality in the Department of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Orange.

Listen as she shares her story and vision for the future of Catholic education for our boys and girls.

 

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 10/12/19

EPISODE#182
OC CATHOLIC RADIO: GUESTS ARE FR. AL BACA AND KATIE DAWSON

Host Rick Howick interviews guests on a variety of topics. This week, Rick welcomes two very special people to our studio, Katie Dawson and Fr. Al Baca. Together our guests will be talking about a very special Diocesan Ministries Celebration that is happening on the campus of Christ Cathedral on Saturday, October 12th, and YOU are invited to attend!

Listen in, and hear all about it. Please share this podcast with a friend!

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 9/21/19

OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES

Before the age of 8, Catholic children are bestowed three of the seven sacraments.

There’s the first sacrament, baptism. For parents, perhaps the hardest part of introducing a child to baptism is dealing with a baby that may squirm and cry as holy water is cascading down his or her head.

But introducing confession and communion at the age of 7 or 8 – when most children will receive those two sacraments – can be a more daunting task for parents. At this age, most children are still learning to understand the concept of time and space and are just starting to enjoy reading a book by themselves.

With that in mind, how can parents prepare young children for what is considered a profound spiritual concept: a Christian rite that serves as a visible form of grace?

The key to approaching the sacraments is teaching it as an opportunity to be closer to Jesus Christ, says Katie Dawson, director of Parish Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange.

“The occasions of First Reconciliation (also referred to as First Penance or First Confession) are moments of opportunity for children to truly encounter Jesus,” she says. “And that’s the goal of our catechetical preparation – to assist the child, to prepare the child to recognize Jesus present to them in these sacraments.”

Children have an innate, built-in spiritual sense and are often more easily aware of God’s presence than adults, Dawson says.

“We want to encourage them in that awareness,” she says. “God is inviting them to a deeper relationship with Him through the Eucharist and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and it is that friendship that should be emphasized.”

The ritual of practicing the sacraments of confession and communion for the first time can create some nervousness for children, whether it is approaching a priest with the appropriate words once he or she is in the confessional or deciding how to accept the Eucharist.

But parents and teachers can help manage that anxiety by emphasizing the exciting, loving relationship into which God has invited them, Dawson says.

“An overemphasis on ‘doing things the right way’ – i.e. processing, bowing, the words that need to be says – can increase anxiety,” she says. “While the externals are important, they need to be understood in the context of this wonderful meeting with God that we are preparing for.”

To help children have a successful confession, CatholicCulture.org suggests that children need to be taught why they have sinned to avoid “teaching our children a list of sins that they recite in a ‘respectable’ way. Such practice reduces the sacrament to a formula.”

With communion, parents can point out how the Holy Eucharist nourishes the soul the way food in general sustains the body.

The most important thing that parents can do to help their children in preparing for the sacraments and beyond is for parents to fully participate in receiving the sacraments and to nurture their own friendship with Jesus and with God, Dawson says.

“The core message of sacramental preparation (for any of the sacraments) is that an infinitely-loving God loves each of us infinitely and invites us into an intimate relationship with him, into deep friendship with him,” she says. “Focusing on that reality and spending some time and energy on our own relationship with God is what will help our children most. This provides an authentic model for the relationship we propose to the child.”

 

This is a reprint of a column that previously appeared in OC Catholic in January 2016.