Several formational and spiritual growth opportunities have been scheduled early in the new year by various offices of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Among them:January-February: Gift DiscernmentThe San Fernando Pastoral Region and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Santa Clarita are hosting a five-part “Called and Gifted Workshop” at the parish on Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., from Jan. 10 to Feb. 7. The series will help participants discover the gifts they have received from God, and how they can use them to build up the Church. This is directed both for people discerning a call to the single, religious, ordained or married vocation, and for those who want to discover their own or others’ gifts. Cost is $35 for the series. Information: Bobby Vidal, St. Kateri Tekakwitha director of evangelization and lay formation, (661) 347-7909 or [email protected].Jan. 15-16: Catechetical Leadership“Renewing Faith in the Future: Building on the Legacy of Vatican II” is the theme for the annual Parish Catechetical Leadership Day, sponsored by the Office of Religious Education. Directed toward clergy, directors of religious education, school principals, ministers to youth, ministers to young adults, and ministers to adults, the presentation will take place 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Jan. 15, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, and repeated Jan. 16, at San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura. The presenters on both days will be Dr. Michael Horan, professor of Religious Education and Pastoral Theology at Loyola Marymount University, and Bill Huebsch, founder of PastoralPlanning.com, and former president of Twenty-Third Publications. Cost is $20, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. Information: Silvia Esmeralda Hernandez, (213) 637-7358, or mailto:[email protected].Jan. 19: Liturgy FormationThe Office for Worship is sponsoring a Liturgical Formation Day on Jan. 19, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at St. Bernard Church, Bellflower. Dr. Dale Sieverding, director of music and liturgy at St. Monica Church in Santa Monica, will deliver the keynote address, “What do People Experience in Church? Implications for Our Work in Liturgical Ministry.” That will be followed by two workshop sessions for various liturgical ministries. Cost is $25 prepaid, $35 at the door, which includes continental breakfast and lunch. The Office also sponsors liturgical formation days in English and Spanish, starting in March. Information: (213) 637-7262 or www.laliturgy.org.Jan. 26: Triduum PreparationThe Synod Initiative V Committee on Eucharist and Sacramental Living of the San Gabriel Region Pastoral Council is sponsoring a workshop in English and Spanish, “Preparing and Celebrating Triduum/Preparando y Celebrando El Triduo Pascual,” on Jan. 26, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church, Covina. Liturgical ministers, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) team members and parish leaders are invited. The presenters will be Dale Sieverding (in English) and Father Pedro Lopez, pastor of St. Pius X Church, Santa Fe Springs (in Spanish), both members of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission. Cost is $12, or $10 per person for a group of five or more registering together. Information: Gail Akins, (909) 595-9545 or mailto:[email protected], or Fe Musgrave, (626) 964-3629 or mailto:[email protected].January-June: Marriage EnrichmentThe Office of Family Life is sponsoring “Newlyweds 101: God-Centric,” a marriage enrichment program for couples married up to five years. This six-session program will offer information for newlyweds to use to strengthen their marriage. While the program contains information that builds from session to session, couples are invited to join at any time. It will be held 7-10 p.m. on the following Friday evenings: Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 22, April 26, May 31 and June 28 at St. Basil Church, Los Angeles. Cost is $5 per couple per session, and includes a light dinner. Information: Candy Metoyer, Office of Family Life, (213) 637-7250 or [email protected].—January 4, 2012