CATCA 2023

This session examines a central conundrum in theology, the problem of evil, by putting voices from classical theism into dialogue with the ideas in play in George Lucas's world of Star Wars. Specific attention is given to the Dark Side of the Force and how it sheds light on articulating distinctions between good and evil. Put another way, we consider how St. Augustine would understand Darth Vader and the Sith in particular and Lucas’s vision of the Force, the Dark Side, and good and evil in general.

THERE WILL BE A POST-CONVENTION VIDEO FOR THIS SESSION UNTIL MAY 30TH.

Kids contemplate loss in profound ways, whether they express it externally or not. Adults must be prepared to initiate meaningful conversations with children that help them learn, grow, and thrive through their grief. Bereaved Mom, Alexis Marie Chute, shares observations of her living children as they mourn for their sibling. Become confident in noticing signs of grief and acquire tools to gift children on their lifelong journey of healing. We can change the culture around grief from one of silent struggle to one of support, compassion, and resiliency.

The enigmatic and obscure Oxford philologist, J.R.R. Tolkien produced a corpus of writings on the world of Middle Earth that has captivated countless readers. The cinematic renderings of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit has further popularized his works, yet readers and viewers alike are often surprised at the profound impression Tolkien’s Catholic faith has made upon his writings. C.S. Lewis, a close friend and associate whose encouragement was necessary for Tolkien to publish, wove Christian themes within his works via allegory. Tolkien, on the other hand, chose a much different and more sophisticated approach in creating the drama of the Rings of Power. This talk offers educators of Literature and Religion insight into the life and works of Tolkien and the undercurrents within thought—and how these can be made accessible to students in the classroom.

THERE WILL BE A POST-CONVENTION VIDEO FOR THIS SESSION UNTIL MAY 30TH.

C. S. Lewis continues to hold remarkable appeal to a broad readership. His corpus of writings is wide-ranging, encompassing fantasy literature like the Chronicles of Narnia, to popular articulations of faith, such as Mere Christianity. This talk seeks to explore the thought world of C.S. Lewis and critically evaluate the trajectory of his thought as well as the popular reception of his works in order to offer educators of Religious Education insight into the undercurrents of his writings. Particular attention is paid to ethical imagination and virtue as well as the overarching vision of the teacher and the purpose of Education.

THERE WILL BE A POST-CONVENTION VIDEO FOR THIS SESSION UNTIL MAY 30TH.

Having spent more than 25 years working with teenagers in Churches and schools, Evergreen Catholic Schools Chaplain Mike Landry has answered a lot of questions. He knows that at the same time, teachers often have a number of questions of their own - on scripture, Church, worship, and so on. This session is your chance to ask Mike anything relating to the Christian faith, and he'll answer it for you - and he'll point you to some of the most useful resources he's found when faced with difficult questions from students, colleagues, and his own life experiences.

Many feel uncomfortable talking about death and grief—but it is a pivotal conversation we all must face with compassion and empathy. Learn to change your perspective on loss and speak about grief in a healthy and authentic manner. Learn about the pillars of the “Healthy Grief Movement” created by bereavement author and advocate, Alexis Marie Chute. Learn to foster safe places for grief expression with tips for what to say, not say, and what are the most meaningful ways to support the mourners in your life.

Have you ever been intimidated trying to read the Bible? You pick it up, and perhaps it seems like a series of unrelated books bound together and handed onto us as God’s written word. Perhaps you’ve made a resolution to read the Bible for New Year’s or Lent… and everything is going well until you hit Leviticus. There, you may have been overwhelmed by the number or scope of the laws Moses handed on to the people of God. Dr. Scott Hahn says that: "(covenants) are the master key that unlocks the Bible."We cannot talk about God’s love for us in Scripture without talking about covenants.” During this session, Evergreen Catholic Schools Chaplain Mike Landry will take you on a tour of the major biblical covenants and the ways in which you can use these covenants to help your students better understand God's love for them.