Wednesday, May 20 | 9:00am-2:00pm |
Bishop Hickey Conference Center (Rochester) |
Join us for a dynamic day of professional development! This gathering offers an invaluable opportunity for those involved in any area of catechetical ministry to hone current skills and gain new competencies for their ministry. The day will include Daily Mass, lunch, and refreshments. For more information and to register, click here.
Wednesday, June 10 | 9:00am – 4:00pm |
Camp Stella Maris (Livonia) |
The Office of Evangelization & Catechesis invites ministry leaders to a dynamic day of reflection and rest as we conclude another catechetical year! This gathering will offer an invaluable opportunity for catechetical leaders, youth ministers, and catechists to come together to be renewed in hope. The day will also include morning refreshments (coffee, tea, & baked goods), prayer, and lunch. For more information and to register, click here.
Sunday, June 14 | 11:15am |
Sacred Heart Cathedral (Rochester)
All married couples and their guests are invited to attend the Diocese of Rochester’s Marriage Recognition Mass, during which they may renew their vows before Bishop John S Bonnici. Couples celebrating milestone jubilees this year will be given special recognition during the Mass. Couples celebrating milestone jubilees this year will be given special recognition during the Mass. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to email Donald Smith, coordinator of sacramental catechesis and family life, at .
The online registration form includes an option to provide wedding details to be incorporated into a list of 2026 milestone wedding anniversaries scheduled for publication in the Catholic Courier and on its website. Only couples celebrating 25, 50 or more than 50 years of marriage in 2025 will be included in the Courier list. Couples also may submit their information directly to the newspaper by emailing or via U.S. mail to: Wedding Anniversaries, Catholic Courier, PO Box 24379, Rochester, NY 14624-0379. Please include the full names of husband and wife, the date and year of the wedding, and the church and town where married.
Those submitting directly to the Courier are invited to provide wedding photos (unscreened prints or digital images of at least 1 MB in size) for possible publication. Due to the anticipated volume of submissions, the Courier will not be able to follow up on or publish submissions that do not include all requested details. The deadline for submission to the Courier is April 30; submissions cannot be accepted after deadline.
The Office of Evangelization & Catechesis in the Diocese of Rochester joins Catholics around the world in celebrating a Franciscan Jubilee year, observed from Jan. 10, 2026, through Jan. 10, 2027, marking the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi, a Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Pope Leo XIV proclaimed the special Jubilee year inviting the faithful to reflect on the life and enduring legacy of St. Francis whose profound commitment to the gospel, love for the poor and reverence for all of creation continues to inspire Christians eight centuries later. Learn more about St. Francis each month in our newsletters.
Part One: August 26-21, 2026
Part Two: August 15-20, 2027
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a Montessori-based method of spiritual formation for children ages 3-12. It is a reflective-based program of religious formation that helps a child to further develop his/her relationship with God in a developmentally appropriate way. It is rooted in Sacred Scripture, the Liturgy, and the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori. The Catechesis began in 1954 in Rome, Italy. Sofia Cavalletti, a Scripture scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, a Montessorian, collaborated and began to work with children. Over the next 60 years, they developed materials and curriculum that spoke to the child’s religious potential and offered an opportunity for prayer, meditation, and religious development.
The Catechesis is an ongoing work that strives to reveal the religious potential of the child and respond to the spiritual needs and qualities of the child. It seeks to help children grow and mature in their faith and their relationship with Christ. The Catechesis is offered in over 37 countries throughout the world.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Formation is being offered in the Diocese of Rochester. To learn more and to register for the formation, click the links below or contact Winston Achar at or 585-288-5000 x121.
Sunday, September 20
Catechetical Sunday, which is celebrated on the third Sunday in September each year, was established as a way for the Catholic Church to recognize and celebrate the gift that catechists bring to a parish community. It also provides us an opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. On Catechetical Sunday, parishes are encouraged to recognize the importance of catechesis and faith formation in building up the Church and in the life of the parish. Many parishes will call forward all those who work in faith formation, including religious education teachers, youth ministry coordinators, Bible study group leaders, OCIA coordinators, and others, to receive a blessing. The theme for 2026 is “The Spirit of the Lord us upon me…to bring good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18; cf. Is 61:1).
