The following is a small sample of the many topics Lara is capable of presenting on: 

†  Parent/Teen Communication:  If Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, then parents must feel like they are from another galaxy when it comes to communicating with their teens.  Helping teens and parents learn to communicate more effectively is presented in a hands-on, light hearted way where all perspectives are heard and respected.

†  Discipleship:  After Pentecost the disciples had the choice to stay locked in a room or to go and change the world!  They didn’t choose what was easy and we ask young people in the Church to do the same.  Discipleship is not something saved for those that walked with Christ on earth or for those few like Mother Teresa.  Discipleship is what we are called to as Catholic Christians.   This workshop is presented to young people, to challenge them to answer the call to discipleship in a variety of ways, in their lives today.  

†  Grief:  Loss of any kind changes us.  So often this change is one that takes us away from God, but when we remember that grief is something that happens because of our great love for someone—we discover that the only way to continue to experience that love is to open our hearts again.  God is there, in the midst of that brokenness.  This workshop combines the clinical grief process with the reality of our spiritual lives- the promise of eternal life.

†  Sacraments:  A sacrament brings us closer to God.  We are “sensory” beings and through the Church, God gives us “sensory” avenues to experience His love.  Understanding the spiritual nature of the signs and symbols we experience through Sacraments, along with the tradition and community aspects will help young people see deeper into the sacraments- especially Confirmation.  As they grow in their understanding, they become better stewards of the gifts and graces they receive through the sacraments.

†  Leadership:  Leadership training can be presented through a structured workshop form, teaching practical leadership skills—meeting facilitation, listening skills, etc. or it can be presented in a hands on, experiential way… or a combination of both.  Young people as Peer Ministers, can be the best asset in youth ministry.  They are immersed in a world that adults are not regularly exposed to and they can reach other young people in a way that is unique to a peer relationship. 

†  Prayer:  How do you pray?  Our communication with God is personal, but sometimes experiencing a variety of different styles of prayer helps us to find a way to pray where we are most able to express ourselves.  Through a day of prayer experiences young people will discover the beauty in some of the traditional prayers of the Church, be exposed to non-traditional forms of prayer and have the opportunity to see how scripture can be utilized in ways that are relevant to them personally.  Creating a prayerful environment and making prayer a central part of your life are skills that set a foundation for a life-long commitment to prayer.