Parent Formation Series

PARENT FORMATION SERIES SEEKS TO UNITE AND EMPOWER TEEN PARENTS

New this school year, the Skutt Catholic Campus Ministry department has started offering a one-of-its-kind parent formation series.

According to Christine French, campus minister, during the pandemic it became clear that “parents are the principal and first educators for their children” (CCC 1653).

“It’s repeated in multiple ways that the Domestic Church is where students learn their values and form their faith,” she said. “Yet, we know that at Skutt Catholic we are invited to come alongside and support parents in this task.”

“While our Catholic parishes are equipped to provide the sacraments, many community experiences, and faith formation, we have found that one area we can support parents is with a formation series based on things high school students ask their parents,” she continued.

The goal of the series is to help connect our Skutt Catholic parents to God, and one another, and to answer the questions that teens frequently ask. Presenters are mainly SC parents and staff but also includes a few experts in the topics of interest to the parents. Also, this semester we will have at least one priest from our SC priest team.

Topics are based on parent inquiries. Also, there are a few topics based on the formation SC Campus Ministry has received from the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis from the Omaha Archdiocese.

DIFFICULT TOPICS FOR GEN Z

The next session is scheduled for Monday, February 22 and will be led by Valerie Conzett, D.Min, LPC*, a clinical member of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association and former director of the Courage/ Encourage Ministries for the Archdiocese of Omaha.

Conzett is coming to help our parents understand the mental health side of the topics of Same-Sex Attraction, Gender Dysphoria, and Pornography.

Christine says the session is called Difficult Topics for Gen Z since these topics are some of the primary reasons listed in several studies on Gen Z and their faith as to why teens are leaving the Catholic faith.

“Most of our parents have expressed not having enough information to answer their children’s questions or challenge the broader cultural narratives,” she said. “We seek to empower parents to be resources for their children.”

THE DETAILS

The events are 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. including prayer, a presentation, Q&A time, and fellowship with other parents. All sessions to be held in the SkyHawk Student Center.

All attendees must follow our campus COVID-19 policies. Please wear a mask, remain distanced from those not in your household, and self-screen prior to attending.

Email christinefrench@skuttcatholic.com with any questions or suggestions. We will record the presentations on February 15 and April 19 and post those to our youtube channel.

Click HERE for the complete schedule of the Spring formation series.

*Valerie Conzett, DMin, LMHP, LPC – Interim Executive Director
A clinical member of the Catholic Psychotherapy Association since 2010, Valerie’s background includes direct work with individuals and families as well as management experience within a variety of secular and faith based settings. Valerie’s scope of oversight for 10 years as the Archdiocese of Omaha Director for the Center for Family Life Formation and Executive Director of FOCCUS, Inc. USA provided valuable insights into local, national and international ministry and the workings of the Church.

Her education includes study and degrees from Mt. St. Joseph University, Stanford, University of Cincinnati, United Theological Seminary and a certificate to be received from the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality in the fall of 2019. Particular areas of professional interest include grief, loss and transition, marriage and parenting, human sexuality formation and the Omaha Courage/EnCourage apostolate, and spiritual direction.

In addition to serving on the CPA Board, Valerie chairs the Program Services Committee for Catholic Charities Omaha, in large part to help establish outreach to those seeking Catholic psychotherapy and family strengthening services in Archdiocesan schools and parishes. A member of the Mission Advancement Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation, Valerie has served as an Adjunct IPF Faculty member and currently coordinates the team of psychotherapists for the IPF summer seminarian program. Beginning in the spring of 2020, she will also join the IPF staff that provide Spiritual Director Formation for priests.

Married for 35+ years, Valerie and her husband Deacon Michael are members of Serra International and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. They are greatly enjoying the grand-parenting stage of family life and sharing the many blessings of their vocation to marriage. Valerie sees both privilege and responsibility in being a member of the CPA and serving on the CPA board and she looks forward to being part of the ongoing growth and development of this incredible, unique and much needed organization.