Notes on the Summer Institute this year

Below are a few of the decisions made recently by the DSI Advisory Board regarding the Summer Institute this year. DSI is still in the planning stages at this point and nothing is final yet, but it’s a pretty good bet it won’t change much from this.

The registration and brochures will be different this year. The brochure being mailed out will contain the program for this year’s Summer Institute with a map on the back. For convenience, the rooms will be color coded. There will be a letter of explanation sent along with the brochure and the registration form. It’s hoped that the registration form will be put on the diocesan website for online registration. The registrants will be notified of the reception of their registration form by either e-mail or telephone.

The participants will pick up their name tags and the agenda on the day of the Institute. There will be several tables where participants can pick up these things as they arrive – all will be in alphabetical order.

The poster contest is in full swing and “save the date” postcards will be sent out to the other dioceses of Illinois. The winning pictures of the poster contest will hang in the entrance to the Diocesan Summer Institute.

Conference attendees will be notified that various vendors will be in the three workshops dedicated to the various grades on methods, materials, and spirituality.

The St. Vincent de Paul men’s club will be manning the “food court.” The lunches will cost no more than $5.00 per day.

The cost of this year’s Summer Institute will be $30.00 per day or $55.00 for both days.

There will be no Sheen endowments this year due to the economic conditions. Letters will be sent to the pastors asking that the parishes pay for their catechists to attend. The letter to pastors will also ask them to promote the Summer Institute in their bulletin announcements.

Finally, on Friday evening, June 11, a film on Archbishop Sheen will be shown at St. Vincent’s in the new gym.

Watch for more information on the Summer Institute in the coming months. I’ll make it available as it comes along.