8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Grand Rapids, MI • Directions
Teachers in the Diocese of Grand Rapids are invited to join our team for a one-day Workshop on addressing gender ideology. Explore the truth of the human person, the reality of sex, and the magnitude of the cultural influences of gender ideology from a societal level to your local community. Learn facts about gender dysphoria, transgender identification, and the psycho-social, medical, and surgical interventions to align the appearance of the body with self-determined identity. Understand Church teaching on the dignity of the person and medical ethics of “gender-affirming care” and the meaning of true accompaniment for vulnerable persons and help for those who are suffering. Finally, receive activities, lesson ideas, and practical tools to help guide you in navigating this difficult issue with your students.
Schedule
Join us, and you'll receive…
Catechetical Formation
Engaging sessions by a catechetical scholar provide background knowledge so you can confidently engage students with our Faith.
Spiritual Formation
You'll explore your vocation as a teacher, coming to see your calling as a witness to Christ in the classroom.
Practical Application
A veteran teacher follows each scholarly presentation with research-based teaching strategies, giving you immediate ways to apply this knowledge in the classroom.
Ready-to-Use Materials
Receive a free, classroom-tested teacher's guide featuring 10-12 lessons with classroom activities and sacred art.
Presenters
Jose Gonzalez joined the team at Sophia Institute for Teachers in 2014 after more than 10 years as a Catholic high school teacher. In addition to teaching, Jose has experience working in parish and diocesan ministry. Jose has been leading Workshops in over 60 dioceses for more than 8 years, and contributes regularly to our teacher's guides and digital instructional resources. He has a BA in theology with a concentration in religious education from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and an MA in evangelization and catechesis from the Augustine Institute. Jose and his wife, Mary Beth, have four children.
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Michel Therrien is President and CEO of the Preambula Group, a lay apostolate serving the work of the New Evangelization in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He served as the President of the Institute for Pastoral Leadership in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as well as the Director of Evangelization. Prior to this, he served as a professor moral theology at the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO. Prior to that, he taught for seven years at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA, also serving as Academic Dean from 2008-2012. His prior work experience includes teaching high school religion, serving as a DRE, a youth minister, and RCIA leader for various parishes. He has also led adult faith formation in various parishes since 2003. He holds a B.A. in Theology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, an M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria, and a Doctorate in Fundamental Moral Theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.