At the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference on Nov. 3, Robert Pfundstein, director of parish stewardship for the Diocese of Rockford, leads a breakout session called, “Living Simply in This Age of Anxiety.” The DAEC, with its theme “A Steward’s Way” ran Nov. 2-3 and was sponsored by the Office for Catechesis in the Department of Catechetical Ministries.

Over 1,000 people from throughout the diocese participated in "A Steward's Way," the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference, held Nov. 2 and 3 in Springfield at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. At the conference opening Mass on Sunday, All Souls Day, Bishop George J. Lucas in his homily asked, "What will I have to give on the day that it is demanded? Today and tomorrow, we are going to address the question of what it means to live fully in Jesus Christ as stewards."

Music at the Sunday Mass liturgies was led by a choir of 45 singers from 11 parishes under the direction of Madonna Jones, and 16 musicians from six parishes, under the direction of John Kennedy, with the choir and musician numbers slightly less on Monday due to work and school obligations.

In the opening keynote address, author and internationally known speaker Matthew Kelly talked about the seven pillars of Catholic spirituality.

"As Catholics, we are allowing the media to tell what we are about. We have an obligation to look beyond those viewpoints," said Kelly. With 1.2 billion Catholics on the planet, the Catholic Church feeds more, houses more, clothes more, and takes care of more people on the planet, said Kelly. "Why are we not telling people this? There is no better story than the story of Catholicism."

Kelly discussed each pillar of Catholic spirituality:

• Reconciliation - "Every day we do things that stop us from being the best that we can be. We've been carrying this stuff around with us."

• Contemplation - "Your actions follow your thoughts. Get yourself a journal; look for the one thing you can do to be a better person."

• The Bible - "Read the Bible, start with the Gospels."

• Mass - "There are 64 million Catholics in America. That is a sleeping giant."

• Spiritual reading - "Even 10 minutes a day."

• Fasting - "Americans spend $300 million a year on diet products."

• The rosary - "Pray the rosary every day."

Approximately 20 members of the diocesan choir, under the direction of Madonna Jones, sing We Will Serve the Lord at Mass on Nov. 3, the second day of the Diocesan Adult Enrichment Conference. Not shown are the musicians, led by John Kennedy, who accompanied the choir. On Sunday, about 45 singers participated.

Over 50 exhibitors had booths in the exhibit hall, offering everything from free blood pressure testing to samples of fair trade coffee, information on retreats, vocation information, college and university programs, Catholic religious supplies, and educational resources, textbooks and games.

Three break-out sessions each day included 10 to 11 choices of stewardship-themed programs.

Rory Cooney, from St. Anne Catholic Community in Barrington, who performed at the evening concert on Sunday, led a breakout session each day. "I want the music I choose to help reflect the Gospel," Cooney told participants at his Sunday breakout session. He said the musical and spiritual dynamics of the Sunday eucharistic celebration leads to service, vocation, calling - all pointing toward true Christian stewardship.

From the Diocese of Austin, Joseph White led a session on "Burnout Busters: Stress Management for Ministry."

"You know what they say DRE really stands for?" said White to the packed room. "Does Really Everything."

As a former director of religious education, White pointed out one of the best burnout busters. "We have a direct line to the head - prayer - and yet sometimes we won't pick up the phone. Sometimes just sitting with God before the Blessed Sacrament is the answer."

At the Diocesan Parish Nurse Ministry booth at the DAEC, nurse Marty Venvertloh from St. Peter Parish, Quincy, checks the blood pressure of Mary Martin, from Springfield. Venvertloh, and the other parish nurses who volunteered at the booth, hoped to interest nurses from other parishes in starting a parish nurse program in their parishes.

Other tips he suggested are: "Don't eat at your desk. Check e-mail in the afternoon rather than first thing in the morning. Learn to say no to your supervisor, but be careful how you say it. Remember, parents are primary catechists of their children."

Sister Sharon Zayac, OP, from the Springfield Dominican's Jubilee Farm, led sessions on "Living Lightly on Our Planet."

Ecology is a word we have to embrace, said Sister Sharon. "Ecology is an understanding of relationships. We have to claim our connection.

"If you throw it ‘away,' where does it go?" she asked. "We now ship our waste overseas, to Asia and Africa. We ship mountains of plastic. We ship mountains of electronic waste. We're one of few countries in the world that has not signed the Kyoto Protocol," intended to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent interference with the climate system.

One simple thing people can do is "get rid of antibacterial soaps," she said.

In his Monday keynote address Kelly spoke about becoming the "best version of yourself" and helping youngsters to do the same thing. Kelly compared Christianity to a billboard campaign - one that can help Catholics to draw more people into parish churches.

Bishop George J. Lucas greets people after Mass on Monday at the DAEC.

"We are the billboard," he said. "Remember that the first Christians intrigued people. When new people walk into school or when new people come into church, what do they experience? They've got to see something in you that they can't live without.

"There is nothing more attractive than holiness," he said. "Whenever there is holiness, churches always thrive. We've got to get with the program. Remember, every time you become a better you, you change history forever."

In his homily during Monday morning Mass, Bishop Lucas said he found much good in Kelly's talk - and hoped to add to it. "The Gospel today (Luke 14:12-14) leads me to ask a few questions," he said. "Who finds a welcome in our parishes? ... Who finds a welcome in our schools?"

Bishop Lucas said that every individual has something valuable to bring to the life of a parish. "Jesus is alive and we believe it. Everybody who believes has to have a personal response to that," he said. "Each of us here is so valuable and I am so thankful for you."

In a Monday morning breakout session that was filled to capacity Robert Pfundstein, director of parish stewardship for the Diocese of Rockford, presented on "Living Simply in this Age of Anxiety." He spoke about how even though societal pulls can be distracting, modern-day Catholics can and should be good stewards.

DAEC keynote speaker and author Matthew Kelly visits with Sister JoAn Schullian, OSF, after Mass on Monday, prior to autographing his books for the pastoral associate at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Decatur.

Pfundstein, who is married and has eight children ranging in age from almost 2 to 20, spoke about his own personal experiences at home and in his parish. "Share your experience of your faith," said Pfundstein. "Remember that first and foremost we are disciples of Jesus Christ. No one can ever take away our relationship with Jesus Christ."

During her Monday afternoon session, Evelyn Tucker, adult formation coordinator for Assumption Parish in St. Louis County, Mo., and a consultant for William H. Sadlier, Inc., presented on "Teachers and Parents: Nothing Teaches More Effectively as Good Example."

In her presentation, Tucker used Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and her years of experience as a teacher and presenter to point out practical ways to work with both tweens and teens. She called her thoughts "a how-to-guide on ‘Do what I do, not just what I say.'"

"You have to model for kids by what you do and say," Tucker said. "You always teach them a lesson whether you want to or not. That's why your (positive) example has to be strong. Remember, you are a seed planter, not a harvester."

Andy and Maria Zumbahlen, youth ministry directors at St. Isidore Parish, Dieterich, talk with Sister Renita Brummer, OSF, on Sunday at the DAEC Exhibit Hall, about retreats and other services offered at the Chiara Center, a ministry of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, located on its motherhouse grounds in Springfield.

Tucker reminded her listeners to always remember today's teens will be running the parishes in 10 or 20 years. "So, if you want givers, you have to start now by showing them by your example."

In his closing address of the DAEC, Bishop Lucas reminded listeners that each of us has something to bring to the body of the church. He listed several challenges to address in diocesan parishes: the issue of respect for human life; the question of human sexuality; the sacrament of Christian marriage; nuturing and increasing vocations; concern for the environment; coming to a better understanding of worship; and addressing financial issues.

"I am so taken with the blessings of our diocesan church," Bishop Lucas concluded. "I am looking at a number of them right now."