Virtual Workshops and Retreats for Religious Educators
Invite The Religion Teacher founder Jared Dees to lead a private online workshop or retreat for your team of teachers or catechists.
- Pick a date for the live and private event just for your parish/school.
- Pick a format (group gathering or at-home experience).
- Pick the training program that fits best for you (The Call to Catechesis Retreat OR The Encounter Educator Workshop)
The Religion Teacher’s Online Professional Development Options
*Group members of The Religion Teacher will deduct the cost of their annual membership from the event fee.
I. Pick a format.
Which format would work best for you and your team?
In-person Group Gathering
Reserve a space in your parish or school to host the entire team of educators. They will gather together in person for fellowship, sharing ideas, and discussion during the event.
Jared Dees will lead the group virtually from a TV screen or projector with a live presentation and series of exercises and discussion activities.
If you already have an in-person event scheduled or a weekly or monthly in-person meeting, then this option might work best for you.
Virtual Gathering
All members of the group will join the event virtually from their own computers or mobile devices.
Jared Dees will lead the group in a presentation and series of independent activities. Depending on the size of the group, participants will also engage in digital discussions.
*All events will be broadcast using Zoom.
II. Pick a date and time.
Would you like to host a 1-2-hour workshop or a 4-hour morning or afternoon seminar/retreat?
2-Hour Workshop
The workshop option is great for weekday meetings or after-school in-services.
4-Hour Seminar/Retreat
The seminar and retreat option works best for a Saturday (or Sunday) morning or afternoon professional development opportunity.
The schedule is limited on availability, so contact The Religion Teacher now if you are interested in booking a date.
III. Pick a topic.
Jared offers two primary presentations:
The Call to Catechesis: Following the Master-Teacher
*Available in both 2-hour workshop and morning/afternoon retreat formats.
Jesus Christ is calling you. As a religious educator you will take on the role of leader and teacher of a class of young people in need of the Lord’s love in their lives. This workshop will provide you with the time to reflect on the specific plan God has in store for you this year as a witness of faith for your students. Discover your catechetical calling and the ways in which you can make lasting impact on the children you teach this year by following the model of Jesus Christ the Master-Teacher.
Encounter Educators: Cultivating Educational Experiences with Christ in Class
*Available in both 2-hour workshop and morning/afternoon retreat formats.
As a religious educator, your mission extends beyond intellectual education. Your goal is to lead your students into an encounter with Christ. That makes you different from the teacher of any other subject your students will learn in school. A different goal requires a different approach and in this workshop you will receive a set of tools to focus your efforts on a religious education of encounter. You will be equipped with a unique lesson-planning process and a collection of activity ideas to transform your classes.
Schedule Your Virtual Event Today
If you would like to schedule an event, fill out the following form and Jared will work with you on the details of the date, format, and topic.
Invite Jared to Speak at Your Conference
Thank you for your interest in a workshop for religious educators. I am passionate about inspiring and equipping religion teachers and catechists for the important work of evangelization and catechesis. I’ve spoken on a number of different topics including prayer, technology, lesson planning, evangelization, social media, and effective techniques in religious education.
A Little About Jared Dees
Jared Dees is the creator of The Religion Teacher. He began his career as a religion teacher in a Catholic grade school and then moved on to teach theology in a Catholic high school. Today he volunteers as a catechist and in many other ministry roles in his parish. When he isn’t spending time with his family, he is a full-time author and speaker.
Jared’s keynotes and workshops are highly engaging and very practical. Participants will always go home with a notepad full of useful ideas they can immediately implement in their classroom or ministry.
Most Requested Topics
Christ the Master-Teacher: 12 Ways to Become a Better Religious Educator
“You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master’ and rightly so, for indeed I am” (Jn 13:13).
Christ is the model for all religion teachers and catechists. He was called both master (leader) and teacher by his disciples and showed them the way to follow in his footsteps. To become better leaders, we have to become better servants. To become better teachers, we have to become better disciples. With twelve exercises and meditations from the book, 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator, participants will take steps to becoming better disciples, servants, leaders, and teachers. This workshop is more than a professional development opportunity, it is an invitation to enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, our master-teacher, in order to become better witnesses of his life and teachings. [Learn more.]
Classroom Engagement: Practical Resources and Teaching Strategies that Inspire Young People to Learn, Love, and Live Their Faith
Author Jared Dees will provide an assortment of practical resources that catechists and religion teachers can use to create a dynamic classroom experience. He will also share the latest and most effective teaching strategies that anyone can quickly implement to engage young people in their faith. With these resources and strategies, religious educators will be equipped with the tools they need to live as witnesses to the Gospel so they can inspire young people to know, love, and serve the Lord. [Learn more.]
Heal, Proclaim, Teach: A Christ-inspired Approach to Evangelization that Works
“Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.” (Mt. 9:35)
Inspired by the three-part mission of Jesus Christ, participants will uncover ways in which they can heal the wounded, proclaim the Gospel, and teach the faith. Heal, Proclaim, Teach is the three-step process that, in fact, all the great saints and movements of the Church have used to do effective evangelization, yet we often overlook this process in our own ministry.
Using highly practical tools and success stories, Jared Dees will help participants evaluate their own evangelizing ministries and consider ways in which they can imitate Jesus by healing, proclaiming, and teaching the communities in which they serve. [Learn more.]
Speaking Samples
If you are looking for some sample presentations, check out The Religion Teacher YouTube channel or my presentations on SlideShare.
If you are interested in inviting me to speak at your school, parish, or diocese please go to the Contact Page and send an email with possible dates, the topic, and the type of event.