Office of Religious Formation El Paso Diocese

Staying Connected While Distanced

The outbreak of COVID19 presents us with new challenges and many of us are experiencing feelings of uneasiness and uncertainty. These times calls us as a community of faith to hold on to hope, keep a spirit of solidarity, and be of support to one another. Even though the preemptive measures demand us to be physically distant, we continue to be together in heart and spirit, journeying spiritually as a community.

We are here to assist you as we navigate the changes brought about by COVID19. Right below you will find a growing collection of free resources and general information for conducting ministry during these challenging times. Click on the links to be directed to the resources.

Recommendations

Safety Checks. Remember those most vulnerable in your community. They may not have access to hygiene products, cleaning products, and additional food and water while the COVID-19 remains a threat to our community. Make sure you reach out to them every so often, ask them how they are doing and if you can help them in any way. Sometimes a simple phone call can have a lasting impact. It may seem like such a small act, nevertheless, you have taken someone’s average day and have added a burst of unexpected care, and that could be enough to help someone living in isolation.
Prayer Group. Don’t let social distancing leave you isolated. Stay connected with your community of faith and form a prayer group. Ask two or three people to pray, accompany, and continue growing in faith together. Keep in touch by using digital tools that allow for virtual meetings and sharing of information: Facebook, FlockNote, and Zoom are a few such resources. Make sure you create a schedule and connect with them at least once a week.
Share with your community information on how can they follow the Mass online, share spiritual, educational, and formation resources. Leverage social media platforms to reach a larger audience and provide resources for others to use.

Holy Week at Home

Adaptations of Holy Week Rituals for Family and Household Prayer

Resources for Families

Saint Mary's Press - Free Resources for parents with teens at home
Saint Mary's Press - Free Resources for parents with children at home
Family Bible Challenge
The Leadership Institute of the Diocese of Bridgeport present the Family Bible Challenge, for families to learn more about the Bible through weekly reflections, trivia questions, videos, and other resources.
NFCYM - Leader & Parent Resources

Daily Prayer Resources

Resources for Catechetical Leaders

Daily Readings from the USCCB
Magnificat (free at this time)
Give Us This Day (free at this time)
Links to Livestreamed Masses
CatholicTV

Forty Days of Devotion
FORMED: (free content for 40 days)
Sending Faith Home
A guide for pastoral leaders amidst the Coronavirus shutdown
Resources from Loyola Press
Resources from Sadlier

Resources for Youth Ministers

Formed - YDisciple Confirmation
YDisciple: Confirmation is designed to follow a thorough catechesis using Creed (10 sessions) and Living the Creed (10 sessions). It includes videos amd handouts for leaders, parents, and participants.
Formed - Anima for Youth
Accompanied by stirring music, stunning videography, and insightful narration, this three-part video series will instigate further meditation on how we can respond to Christ's sacrifice and continue carrying out his mission in his Church. It includes handouts.
ProjectYM
An online catholic youth night. Each week it features some of the biggest speakers and worship leaders in the Catholic youth ministry world. Tune in every Sunday at 6pm.

Catholic Apps

Laudate
This app includes the Daily Mass Readings, Order of Mass, Liturgy of Hours, New American Bible, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Stations of the Cross, Saint of the Day, Catechism of Catholic Church, Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), Examination of Conscience, Daily Prayer, and Daily Meditations. Also podcasts of Daily Readings with read-along text and meditations. Second Vatican documents, Code of Canon Law, and papal encyclicals.
CatholicTV
Watch the daily Mass, pray the Holy Rosary, enjoy a wealth of Catholic TV programming, and keep updated on what’s going on.

Let us turn to Mary for guidance and let's follow her example of mission and of hope.
As Pope Francis reminds us, “Her method is very simple: she walked and sang.”
We must walk through these times bearing the joy of one who trusts God just like Mary did.
Let us then walk and sing, and encourage our community to continue singing with the audacity of faith and hope.

Centro San Juan Diego
Arts, Cultural, and Faith Formation Center for Youth

Centro San Juan Diego (CSJD) is the diocesan Arts, Cultural and Faith Formation center for middle school youth. Our focus is a transformative catechesis where youth learn, live and share their faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.
We invite and train young people for ministry and service by sharing their God given gifts and talents of art, music, dance, culinary, short video and filmmaking in their parishes.