ECED meets in Pittsburgh

From Monday, May 17-through Thursday, May 20, members of the Eastern Conference of (Religious) Education Directors met at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh. With an agenda filled with pre-set topics, Very Rev Gregory Noga, president of the group,conducted the several daily sessions of meetings pertaining to the varied aspects of publishing, promoting and providing the various items of religious material so necessary to the task of teaching catechists and students in our country-wide Churches.

An early agenda item was the scrutiny of a proposed poster to emphasize the importance of catechism in our parishes. Much the same as the nation-wide "Catechetical Sunday" campaign of the Roman Church, the purpose is to focus parish attention upon the important steps to be taken in teaching and learning fundamentals of faith on the local level. There are special prayers and programs that accompany the event, the specific dates of which are left to the local bishop, or pastor-depending upon the scheduled dates of instruction.

Too, talk was directed to the development of texts and materials, and decisions need to be made when contacting authors or editors for the widely-sought products. Inventory and storage are needed, and promotional programs and catalogues to inform the public of the availability of the wares.

The financial aspects of these realities were addressed.

Speaking to the group was Metropolitan Basil (Shott) of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, who encouraged the staff to continue on in the endeavor now approaching forty years of existence as a collaborative effort to make quality teaching programs available to a wide scope of parishes of differing liturgical traditions. His Eminence also suggested pursuing venues other than print in order to meet the expanding electronic means of communication available to the demographics of our parishes and schools.

Discussion also centered around a web site currently being developed for the advantage of all who have access to the World Wide Web.

Time was spent looking into the Encounter of Catechists planned for next year in three areas of the country-and attending to some preliminary details in planning that must be addressed before specific announcements can be made

Among all the issues of the schedule there was time to pray together-to relax-to enjoy the company of the staff and personnel of the Seminary who were present to provide a welcome atmosphere throughout the visit.