Modern Technology Builds a Learning Community the four dioceses in Kansas. It’s a huge challenge to offer They are largely rural and high-quality spiritual and the Catholic population in pastoral formation to eager, the two areas is about 17 faith-filled people who are percent of a total population separated by vast distances. of a half million people. The In 1997, the Diocese of two dioceses are located in Dodge City began to use Inter- the western half of the state, active Television (ITV), which where rolling plains meet flat was already a familiar feature steppe lands. Both dioceses of rural classrooms. The Fr. Bob Schremmer teaching in Dodge City. Photo courtesy of receive grants from Catholic diocese joined with Newman the Diocese of Dodge City. Home Missions. University, a Catholic institu- hat’s more In the dioceses, small towns tion in Wichita operated by satisfying are surrounded by wheat the Adorers of the Blood of than solving a fields, cattle ranches, and Christ congregation, to offer W acres of corn, punctuated adult formation classes. These persistent problem? Sharing the creative solution with a with grain elevators, wind tur- classes originated in two cen- neighboring diocese! bines, and oil and gas-drilling tral sites and were broadcast In Kansas, the dioceses of rigs. Amid this backdrop, to school and parish locations Dodge City and Salina use meat-processing plants throughout the diocese. In modern technology to reach employ a growing number of 2012, the Diocese of Salina across 50,000 square miles Hispanic and Somali immi- joined what is now called of prairie and steppe with grants drawn to the state in the Church in Partnership a vibrant pastoral ministry search of work. program. There are now 18 formation program. The Fewer than 90 priests sites for the Pastoral Ministry joint program, “Church in serve 135 parishes in the two Formation program, where Partnership,” re-vamps the dioceses. The largest city- adult students meet to share traditional model of solitary based parishes have as many the learning experience. distance learning by gathering as 4,000 families while the The technology, including small groups of people to par- smallest parishes have fewer equipment and wiring, is ticipate in lectures broadcast than 100. Most priests serve contemporary and advanced. from other parts of the state. multiple small parishes and It has become more portable Kansas is a big state. Dodge missions, many of which are since the program began. City and Salina are two of located in remote, rural areas. Both dioceses have invested …continued on page 2 SUMMER 2014 A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FROM MISSION AMERICA …continued from page 1 the requirement of 30 college cred- its for a degree in pastoral ministry funds to establish, maintain, and FROM THE awarded by Newman University or a trouble-shoot the technology at a high diocesan diploma.” Eight core courses level because the program is critical for and six electives are offered repeat- CHAIRMAN reaching remote areas, especially during edly over a four-year period on topics Dear Friends, protracted bad weather. including Old Testament theology, What if the distance of The program also strengthens the New Testament, Christian morality and your parish from your community component of the Catholic society, and sacred theology. Coleen home and the rising faith. “We made the decision to use cut- cost of gas prevented said the classes are recorded on DVD as ting edge technology because we didn’t you from participating a back-up, but students are required to want people further isolated by sitting in parish events? Many Catholics in the attend 75 percent of the sessions to get alone in a basement at midnight getting U.S. live in well-populated areas with credit for the courses. plenty of opportunities for fellowship their formation from a computer,” said There are currently 66 students and community at their parishes. But Fr. Bob Schremmer, Vicar General of enrolled in core and elective courses. Fr. for most living in the home missions, Dodge City. “We wanted two or three this level of support is not the case. Schremmer said students include staff or four or more to gather together and volunteers in pastoral formation, The dioceses of Salina and Dodge to share the ecclesial dimension of City in Kansas face many challenges, vocations, safe environment, religious the experience.” including the demands imposed by their education, and the Rite of Christian Coleen Stein, director of ITV and vast geographical areas. Lay ministers Initiation for Adults, as well as peo- adult formation for Dodge City, said the and priests must travel long distances to ple seeking spiritual enrichment and meet with parishioners and administer subject experts or teachers are located greater involvement with the faith. the sacraments. Lengthy travel also at eight transmitting sites in “smart Fr. Frank Coady, director of worship, affects diocesan staff who often are not classrooms” equipped with document able to meet their peers and exchange lay formation, and deacons for the cameras, computers, and the twenty-first ideas or attend learning workshops Diocese of Salina, said there were peo- century equivalent of an overhead and classes. ple who went on to seminary, diaconate, projector. From there, they can present The two dioceses came up with a cre- and master’s programs after completing a lecture illustrated with Power Point ative solution to these isolating effects the ITV program. The diocese plans to documents and live access to Internet of distance. In this issue of Neighbors, use ITV for deacons’ continuing educa- read about their approach to pastoral websites. Students assembled at the re- tion classes. Fr. Kerry Ninemire, Vicar ministry classes and the creative ways ceiving sites at parish centers, hospitals, General of Salina, said the deacons that they are using new technology to and religious education classrooms can build community. spend one weekend a month together in interact with the teacher and all of the study and prayer, which gives them an Thank you for your generosity in our other students orally and visually. annual appeal this past April. We are opportunity to build community. “In 17 years, 664 people have partici- able to continue helping needy di- Fr. Coady said avoiding costly and pated in one or more of the 82 Church oceses only because of donations time-consuming driving was an attrac- in Partnership courses,” Coleen said, from Catholics like you. Your gift tive feature of the Church in Partnership will continue to support basic ministries “including 42 people who completed program. Also, it allows the two in 84 home mission dioceses and pro- vide an opportunity for each parishio- dioceses to deploy their best instruc- ner there to live out his or her faith. tors for the benefit of all the stu- As we continue living our faith in this dents. Even before Salina joined the summer season, I ask that God bless partnership, its clergy and religious you and your families and bring you an had been recruited as instructors. abundance of his peace. Together, let “In the past, there was a plethora of us continue strengthening the Church priests and nuns to teach, and gas at home. was cheap. Many are now retired or Yours in Christ, dead—and not all priests are natural instructors just because they have a divinity degree,” Fr. Coady observed. The Prayer and Action project combines service Reaction to the interactive dis- for those in need with spiritual training for the tance learning has generally been Bishop Peter F. Christensen participants. Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Salina. Diocese of Superior PAGE 2 | SUMMER 2014 DID YOU KNOW? • The Diocese of Dodge City covers 28 counties. Its 49 parishes include 7 Catholic grade schools. They are served by 18 diocesan and 13 visiting priests, 11 women religious, and 5 seminarians. • Dodge City describes itself as the only diocese in the United States that does not have an interstate highway, military installation, or public four- year college within its territory. Ten permanent deacons were ordained in June 2013, joining six others already in service in the Diocese of Salina. A third group of candidates are currently discerning and studying. Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Salina. positive, Fr. Schremmer said. “It’s from Newman University through the second-best to being in the same room Church in Partnership program. with the instructor, but the trade-off In the future, Fr. Ninemire predicts Bishop Brungardt introduces a speaker. is not having to drive so far. And there that Church in Partnership might host Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Dodge City. are benefits that come from present- workshops and retreats from other dio- • The Diocese of Salina has 86 parishes, ing from a smart classroom,” he said. ceses. “You can get these things on the 11 Catholic grade schools, and 5 As an instructor himself, Fr. Ninemire Internet or a flash drive, but you miss Catholic high schools in 32 counties. noted the ITV program requires out on the connection with the diocese They are served by 56 priests, 31 more preparation. and other students. We’re not individ- women religious, and 9 seminarians. “Pastoral Ministry Formation is a uals, we’re a community and if we’re blessing for our diocese,” said Bishop connected, it’s more ecclesial,” he said. John B. Brungardt of Dodge City. He expressed gratitude for Catholic Home Missions’ support of the Church in Partnership, continuing, “It equips St. Joseph Church in Damar, northwest participants to fulfill the roles to which Kansas, a small mission parish. The they are called by their baptism and for ornate church, built by French Catholic settlers, was restored in 2007.