Office of Catholic Formation

Catholic Formation in the Diocese of Superior consists of:

• early childhood family and faith development,
• elementary, middle school and high school religious education,
• sacramental preparation for first communion, first reconciliation and confirmation
• catechetical certification for school and parish teachers and catechists and
• young adult and adult formation.

Within this section of the website you will find useful information to assist leadership in parishes fulfill their responsibility of passing on the faith.

Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people, and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 5)

Within the whole process of evangelization, the aim of catechesis is to be the teaching and maturation
stage, that is to say, the period in which the Christian, having accepted by faith the person of Jesus Christ as the one Lord and having given him complete adherence by sincere conversion of heart, endeavors to know better this Jesus to whom he has entrusted himself… (National Director of Catechesis, 55)

The Bishop Hammes Center is located in the former Rectory of Holy Trinity Church in Haugen.  It is the site of the Diocese of Superior Offices of

• Catholic Formation
• Catholic Schools
• Youth Ministry

HISTORY:

The Hammes Center is the inheritor of new perspectives of catechesis of the Second Council of the Vatican (Vatican II) established by Most Rev. George A. Hammes, Bishop of Superior, upon his return from Rome in 1965. He saw the need for the local Church of Superior to make use of Vatican II perspectives of theology, scripture, and catechesis as the doctrinal source for catechesis. Pastors and parishes would need new catechetical programs based on an organic model of adult learning and adult faith.

Accordingly, Bishop Hammes created the Christian Renewal Centers. The Centers were staffed by priests, sisters and lay people whose task was to teach adults, especially catechists and parents, how to use the "new" catechesis. They also assisted pastors in getting new programs started. New instructional materials were introduced throughout the Diocese. The Christian Renewal Centers served their purpose well. However, as time passed, several of the Centers were phased out. By 1986 only the Cameron and Woodruff Centers remained. The staff of these Centers had been designated as the diocesan Office of Religious Education (ORE).

In 1990 long range planning for diocesan needs indicated the desirability of establishing a single site for ORE. At this time the former rectory of Holy Trinity parish, Haugen, became available. This site was central to the diocese and offered adequate space for ORE functions. Most Reverend Raphael M. Fliss, Bishop of Superior, gave his permission to re-locate ORE at Haugen and close the Cameron and Woodruff sites.

To coincide with Bishop Hammes' vision of modern catechesis, the Center had boasted a large Media Center which offered parishes an extensive collection of audio, video and print materials for instruction and adult faith formation.  Parishes paid a modest subscription which allowed unlimited usage.

Bishop Hammes (then retired) was asked if the new Center could be named for him to recognize his leadership and foresight in diocesan catechesis. He graciously agreed to this and presided at the dedication of the Bishop George A. Hammes Center in November, 1990.

Again in 2012, planning for diocesan needs led to change for the Center. Bishop Peter F. Christensen restructured the offices by adding the emphasis of marriage and family to formational needs.  The Bishop Hammes Center now provides office space for staff that service the areas of Religious Education, Adult Formation, Schools, Sacramental Preparation, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry and Marriage and Family.

The Bishop Hammes Center is open five days a week.
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Please call if you need assistance - 715-234-5044