CATECHETICAL WORKSHOP

Encountering God’s Love in the Sacraments, Diocese of Allentown, Spring 2026

Name: Encountering God’s Love in the Sacraments, Diocese of Allentown, Spring 2026
Start: 2026-03-21T08:30:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-21T14:30:00-04:00
Location: Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena

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Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena

1825 W Turner Street
Allentown, PA 18104 United States

March 21, 2026

8:30 am - 2:30 pm

Workshop Overview

Explore what a sacrament is as well as the foundation of each of the seven sacraments. You’ll take a closer look at the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, and Reconciliation, as well as how to engage students using sacred art.

This Workshop blends scholar presentations with interactive pedagogical sessions, giving you a chance to explore content with a respected scholar, as well as explore and simulate practical teaching strategies with ready-to-use classroom materials. Share best practices and enjoy breakfast and lunch with your fellow Diocese of Allentown catechists.

Schedule

8:30-9:00am

Breakfast and Check-In
9:00-9:15am

Program Introduction
9:15-9:45am

Sacred Art, Pop Culture, and Catechesis

From Leonardo to Luke Skywalker, you’ll learn ways to bring classical art and modern entertainment together to teach your students about the sacraments
9:45-10:30am

Encountering God in the Sacraments

Enjoy the first presentation by Fr. Thomas Dailey, followed by Q & A.
10:30-10:45am

Break
10:45-11:30am

The Eucharist and the Passover

Lead your students to discover how typology reveals profound connections between the Old and New Testaments, and leads to deeper understanding of the Real Prescence.
11:30-12:15pm

Holy Mass
12:15-1:00pm

Lunch
1:00-1:45pm

The Sacraments and Discipleship

Enjoy the second presentation by Fr. Thomas Dailey, followed by Q & A.
1:45-2:20pm

The Healing Power and Mercy of God: Reconciliation

Explore the parable of the Prodigal Son and the importance of relationship over rules, helping deepen your students’ desire for friendship with God through the Sacrament of Penance.
2:20-2:30pm

Additional Resources, Evaluation

Join us, and you'll receive…

Catechetical Formation

Engaging sessions by a catechetical scholar provide background knowledge.

Practical Application

Research-based teaching strategies, and concrete tools to apply this knowledge in the classroom.

Spiritual Formation

You'll explore your vocation as a teacher, and your calling as a witness to Christ.

Ready-to-Use Materials

Receive a free supplemental guide featuring 10-12 lessons with activities and sacred art.

Presenters

Jose Gonzalez

Jose Gonzalez joined the team at Sophia 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 70 dioceses for more than 11 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 five children.

Rev. Thomas F. Dailey, O.S.F.S.

Fr. Dailey joined the Seminary faculty full-time in 2017-18 as the inaugural John Cardinal Foley Chair of Homiletics & Social Communications. In January 2024, he also assumed direction of The Catholic Preaching Institute at the Seminary. He has given more than 600 presentations throughout the US and internationally on topics in Salesian Spirituality, Social Communications, Catholic Education, and Biblical Theology. He has offers workshops in the Sophia Institute for Teachers and directs an annual webinar for the Church Management Institute at Villanova University. He has written, edited or translated ten books and more than eighty contributions to a variety of scholarly and pastoral publications worldwide. He also contributed blog posts and authored white papers as a Research Fellow for the Catholic Leadership Institute (Malvern, PA). He is a member of the editorial board of the Indian Journal of Spirituality (Bangalore) and serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Catholic Higher Education. He is featured among the members at CatholicSpeakers.com and has appeared on television, radio, and podcast programs in both regional and national markets. For the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, he served on the Communications Committee for the World Meeting of Families and Visit of Pope Francis to the USA in 2015; he also served as the Episcopal Delegate for the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Father Bill Atkinson, O.S.A. Fr. Dailey was elected to the Academy of Catholic Theology in 2013 and became a member of the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics in 2018. Among other awards, he has been nominated twice for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals, and has been selected four times for inclusion in the list of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Fr. Dailey first professed vows in the religious congregation of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.) in 1980, was ordained to the diaconate in St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome) in 1986, and was ordained to the priesthood in St. Anthony of Padua Church (Wilmington, DE) in 1987. He earned a doctoral degree in sacred theology (S.T.D.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome), where he completed his dissertation on the biblical Book of Job.

Encountering God’s Love in the Sacraments, Diocese of Allentown, Spring 2026

Workshop Overview

Schedule

Jose Gonzalez

Rev. Thomas F. Dailey, O.S.F.S.

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Encountering God’s Love in the Sacraments, Diocese of Allentown, Spring 2026

Workshop Overview

Schedule

Join us, and you'll receive…

Catechetical Formation

Practical Application

Spiritual Formation

Ready-to-Use Materials

Presenters

Jose Gonzalez

Rev. Thomas F. Dailey, O.S.F.S.