CATECHETICAL WORKSHOP

Teaching Through Beauty, San Francisco, Fall 2025

Name: Teaching Through Beauty, San Francisco, Fall 2025
Start: 2025-10-03T08:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-10-03T14:30:00-04:00
Location: Archdiocese of San Franciso

Archdiocese of San Franciso

Various Locations
San Francisco, California United States

October 3, 2025

8:00 am - 2:30 pm

Workshop Overview

What is beauty? What forms does it take? Is it simply in the eye of the beholder? How does God reveal Himself in beauty to draw us closer to Him? Explore answers to these questions and reflect on the true nature of beauty while receiving lesson plans and practical ideas to lead your students to be transformed by beauty.

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 catered breakfast and lunch with your fellow Diocese of Oakland teachers.

Registrations for this event are bing handled by the Archdiocese of San Francisco and your principals.

Four Workshops will be held simultaneously on October 3, 2025 in one of the following four locations:

St. Pius in Redwood City

St. Hilary in Tiburon

St. Anne in San Francisco

Holy Name in San Francisco

Schedule

8:00-8:30am

Breakfast and Check-In
8:30-8:45am

Program Introducion
8:45-9:15am

Sing a New Song Unto the Lord

Reflect on and discover a variety of pieces of music that will help draw your students into contemplation at the beauty of God and His work in our lives.
9:15-10:00am

Beauty: What Is It and Why it Matters

Enjoy the first presentation by a respected Catholic scholar, followed by Q & A.
10:00-10:15am

Break
10:15-11:00am

The Enemies of Beauty

Enjoy the second presentation by a respected Catholic scholar, followed by Q & A.
11:00-11:30am

The Wonders of Creation

From the properties of light to the mysteries of biodiversity, behold God’s majesty found in the beauty of creation and how it reveals the harmony between faith and reason.
11:30-12:00pm

Teaching with Sacred Art

Reflect on selected masterpieces and learn practical strategies for using images to invite wonder, stir prayer, and cultivate a sense of the sacred.
12:00-12:30pm

Holy Mass
12:30-1:00pm

Lunch
1:00-1:45pm

Practicum: Create Your Own Sacred Art Lesson

Using the template and art selections provided, collaborate with colleagues to design a lesson that sparks wonder, deepens faith, and reveals the beauty of God’s truth.
1:45-2:00pm

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.

Michael Gormley

Michael “Gomer” Gormley has spent over 20 years evangelizing and discipling men, women, teens and young adults. He spent 17 years in full-time parish ministry while also running LayEvangelist.com, his apostolate of evangelization for the last 12 years. He is also a successful podcaster and frequent guest on Catholic podcasts and radio shows. Topics Michael covers includes authentic Catholic masculinity, family life, prayer and virtuous living.

Mike Gutzwiller

Mike Gutzwiller is the Senior Director of Curriculum Development for Sophia Teachers. Since joining the team at Sophia Teachers in 2015, Mike has been the primary author and editor of the Spirit of Truth K-12 and high school textbook series and has led professional development Workshops throughout the US. Mike is the former theology department chair at St. Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, WI. He earned his BA from Franciscan University of Steubenville where he majored in theology and catechetics and has an MA in school counseling from Marquette University. Mike lives with his wife and two children in Waukesha, WI.

Scott Sollom

Dr. Scott Sollom is a Professor of Theology at Franciscan University. He has worked in the field of catechesis and evangelization for 15 years. He has published articles in the Catechetical Review and The Sower Journal, and co-authored faith formation curriculums for the Association for Catechumenal Ministry, as well as Symbolon. Scott’s wife, Mary, has taught in the local Catholic high school for over 10 years. They live in Steubenville, Ohio, with their five children.

Mark Kaschak

A former High School teacher, Mark has been with Sophia for over six years and presented at several Workshops for teachers and catechists. In addition to being a Master Teacher, he oversees the effective and useful communication of Sophia’s offerings to schools, parishes, and dioceses. Mark lives in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Daniel Garland

Dr. Daniel M. Garland, Jr. is an Assistant Professor of Theology at Ohio Dominican University and a deacon candidate for the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat. He holds a doctorate in systematic theology (with a minor in biblical theology) from Ave Maria University. Prior to teaching at the collegiate level, Dr. Garland taught high school theology for eight years and served as the Director of Religious Education for Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Rosemary Circo

Rosemary is a member of the Master Teacher Council for Sophia Institute for Teachers. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern California in 1987 and a Clear Teaching Credential in 1989. Rosemary has been a music teacher for grades TK-12 for 35 + years. She was also a former Catholic School Vice Principal where she additionally taught middle school religion, provided music ministry, and was a prolife campus coordinator and teacher for grades TK-8th. Rosemary’s music experiences include various Archdiocesan performances, liturgical celebrations and recordings for Catholic and end of life ministry. She has sung at the Vatican and was avocal soloist for St. Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado. Rosemary has been married for 37 years and has two married grown children. Rosemary and her husband are excited to welcome their first grandchild this coming February 2025.

Matthew Ramage

Dr. Matthew Ramage is Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he is co-director of its Center for Integral Ecology. Dr. Ramage’s research and writing focuses especially on the theology of Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of ancient and modern approaches to biblical interpretation, the dialogue between faith and science, and stewardship of creation. In addition to his other scholarly and outreach endeavors, Dr. Ramage is author, co-author, or translator of over fifteen books, including, Christ’s Church and World Religions from Sophia Teachers. His latest book is From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution, published by Catholic University of America Press. Dr. Ramage lives in Atchison, Kansas with his wife, Jen, and their seven children. For more on Dr. Ramage’s work, visit his website www.matthewramage.com..

Teaching Through Beauty, San Francisco, Fall 2025

Workshop Overview