Office of Lay Formation
Director: Todd Graff
Phone: (507) 858-1270
Fax: (507) 454-8106
E-mail: tgraff@dow.org
The Office of Lay Formation provides education and formation opportunities and support services for lay ministers serving in the diocese. The Office also coordinates diocesan ecumenical efforts.
Current Programs
The Institute of Lay Ministry is a three-year process of prayer, reflection, education, and formation designed to better prepare and strengthen lay persons in their faith, understanding, and skills as lay ministers for the Church. The Institute is open to all women and men with experience in or aptitude for ministry, and is a resource for parishes and other church institutions in preparing ministerial leaders.
Together in Faith
Together in Faith is a one-year program of prayer, study, and reflection on our Catholic faith. It serves as a stand-alone formation program for current and aspiring church ministers, and also precedes entrance to the core three-year Institute of Lay Ministry program or to the four-year Diaconate Formation Program. The program is offered both in English and Spanish through a collaboration of the diocesan Offices of Ministry Formation and Hispanic Ministry. [There will not be a Together in Faith class meeting during the 2010-11 academic year. The information provided in the links below is from the 2009-10 year of the program.]
Together in Ministry
Together in Ministry provides a structured program of continuing formation and renewal for church ministers serving in the Diocese of Winona. Three formation weekends are being offered as part of the 2010-11 year's program. Each weekend will begin on Friday evening, and conclude on Saturday afternoon. To participate, ministers need to have some previous experience serving in ministry and some previous formation for ministry (e.g., academic study in theology/pastoral ministry, diaconal formation, participation in the Institute of Lay Ministry, etc.).
“Ministry Days” are an annual cycle of diocesan gatherings for our clergy, parish staff, and other church ministers to come together for prayer, sharing, learning, and planning relating to our common ministry here in southern Minnesota. Held in the fall, spring, and early summer each year, these gatherings also provide professional in-service and enrichment opportunities for these ministers.
- Our diocesan Spring Ministry Day will be held on Friday, April 8th, from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm, at Sacred Heart Parish in Owatonna. The topic is, "The New Roman Missal: Understanding Its Context, Identifying Resources, Planning Next Steps." {Click here for the registration flyer. / Click here for group registration form.}
- Our diocesan Ministry Days 2011 gathering will be held on Thursday - Friday, June 9-10, at Saint Mary's University in Winona.
Staff
Todd Graff currently serves as the Director of the Office of Lay Formation. Todd received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Creighton University in Omaha, NE, and his Master of Arts degree in Theology from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. Previous to coming to the diocese, he served as a campus minister at Creighton University and as a high school religion teacher and campus minister at Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, IL. He came to the Diocese of Winona in August, 1990, to serve as the Coordinator of Social Action Programs for Catholic Charities. In December, 1999, he assumed his present position. Todd is married to Laurie Ziliak and the father of six children - Isaac, Jesse, Nathan, Samuel, Sophia, and Hannah.
Janice Market currently serves as the secretary for the Office of Lay Formation. (Phone: (507) 858-1254 / Fax: (507) 454-8106 / E-mail: jmarket@dow.org)