CatholicYouthMinistry.com has an interesting piece on how to make the best of summer. Have a look...

The things being discussed in this video could have fascinating youth ministry implications...

Often, when something isn't that good, the reason is because nobody actually knows what good looks like. If a ship has no idea where it's meant to be heading then of course it's going to be permanently lost, and it's the same with any form of youth ministry. If we don't know what we're trying to do, then we're very unlikely to do it.

That's one problem: that we don't know what good or what success look like. An alternative, yet very connected, problem is that we think we do know what it looks like but that we're woefully wrong.

With reference to the last post in this series, I think this is why I don't like the whole 'sowing seeds' thing. Sure, seeds may well get sown and they may well grow, but all too often we allow ourselves to see 'sowing seeds' as our aim and our mark of success when in fact it is nothing more than a vague, unrealised hope. Add to that the armies of youth ministers who see success as an event going well or as having some positive conversations and you start to build up a picture. Not a picture of failure as much as a picture of excuses which permit us not to even contemplate failure.

So, what are we trying to do in Catholic Youth Ministry? What does success look like?

To put it simply, success looks like committed young Catholics. Catholics who practice their faith by receiving the Sacraments, who have a lively prayer-life, who make their faith the key part of their decision-making, who live by the Church's teachings, and who are willing to say both to themselves and to the world that their faith is the centre of their lives.

That's what success looks like. And if your ministry is successful, then it is taking apathetic, lapsed Catholics, or even complete unbelievers, and turning them into nothing less than that.

Of course, we all know that. But then, we allow ourselves to swallow excuses along the way. We allow ourselves to settle for half of that or for the hope that we have sown a seed that might, maybe, perhaps, one day, turn into something vaguely approaching that.

One of my favourite parts of the Gospels is the story of the seventy two from Luke's Gospel. Jesus sends them out to preach and they return saying 'we saw Satan fall.' I just love that line. The excitement and the joy of the encounters they had must have been amazing. They trusted the Gospel to do it's job and they saw amazing things. It's a great model for ministry. What they didn't say when they returned was, 'well, we had some good conversations and ran some good sessions, and we really think that when they've got married and had kids some of them might come to back!'. No. They ministered, and they saw results!

At this point there are two distinct dangers. The first is to be frustrated when we don't always see immediate results. After all, even Jesus couldn't convince everybody. He and his apostles had to shake the dust from their feet more than a few times. So, the first danger is to think that we always have to see immediate results. The second is to use that as an excuse for never seeing immediate results.

It can be done. If you don't believe it can then you're in the wrong job!

More to follow...

This november sees the bi-annual (i.e. every two years) National Catholic Youth Convention in the US. This time, being held in Indianapolis. Thanks to the Catholic Youth Ministry Blog, I've just noticed that they have some awesome promo videos.

The rest are here.

Fascinating food-for-thought...

Brilliant article from Clayton Imoo...

I received a CD in the mail this week - the first release from a very talented young lady named Renee Geronimo. I have known Renee for over 10 years now through youth ministry and while we never super-close friends, I have followed her (in a non-stalkerish way) over the past few years on Facebook as she furthered her music career. Thus, I was absolutely thrilled when she messaged me in mid-April offering to send me a copy of her new CD called "lilies and sparrows".

Upon receiving the CD, I immediately popped it into my computer and listened to it on repeat throughout my work day. It is a wonderful collection of songs, each one with its own unique style and feel. There's a bit for everyone: some pop, some folk, some soul and some worship. And over-arching the entire CD is the theme of God's love and power - you can really sense Renee's love for God and devotion to her faith. Have a listen to the entire CD here.

However, even more touching than the music was the simple hand-written note that Renee included in the package. With her permission...

Go, read the rest...

[Source | image hotlinked from Flickr user ]

New York and Texas Gather Thousands of Youth in Hopes of Strengthening Faith

BY JACQUELINE BURKEPILE

The Archdiocese of New York held its first New York Catholic Youth Day on April 6 at the College of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, N.Y. With more than 1,500 youth and young adults present, the theme for the event was "Rejoice in the Lord Always," from Philippians 4:4. The diocese held the event to recognize U.S. World Youth Day, typically held on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Originally scheduled for November, it was rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy.

The day consisted of music, entertainment, workshops, adoration, confession and a food drive led by Catholic Charities. Featured guests included Father Agustino Torres and Father Stan Fortuna of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Full Armor Band and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who celebrated Mass for the participants.

Cynthia Martinez, associate director of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of New York, hoped the youth left the event on fire for the love of Christ.

"We hope the participants left with a greater sense of community, not only with their own parishes and/or schools, but with the rest of the archdiocese. Also, that they had an experience of the joy of Our Lord, as highlighted by the theme," said Martinez.

Father Stephan Norton, pastor of St. Benedict's Catholic Church in the Bronx, N.Y., led a workshop for youth ministers. He hopes they took away inspiration that will influence youth on a parish level.

"I hope I filled the youth ministers with a renewed vigor in the faith that will impact the youth," said Father Norton. "My hope and prayer is that the youth ministers were once again on fire with the gift of the Holy Spirit in this Year of Faith."

Full Armor Band helped provide music for the event. Lead vocalist Douglas Hutchings was amazed by the spiritual transitions the youth made throughout the day

Go, read the rest...

Brilliant stuff from ChristianPost.com. Here's a slice...

Dear Youth Leader,

As you read this letter perhaps it's 9:25pm on a Wednesday night. The last teenager and adult volunteer have left the building and you're stuck folding the metal chairs and doing your best to clean the youth room so the church custodian doesn't get mad at you…again.

To add insult to spilt Coke, tonight may have been one of "those" nights for you. Your jokes fell flat and that group of arrogant churchy kids (who always sit in the back left corner) were mocking you with whispers from their giggling Pharisee paradise. The preacher's kid glared at you, daring you to call out daddy's dearest in public. You took his dare and was met with rolling eyes and heavy sighs by him and his sarcastic posse.

Down deep inside you may be wondering if you're making a difference at all. You're scrolling through your weekly to do list and it may seem more like meetings than mission. You're tired of the stress youth ministry triggers at home, at church and, most of all, down deep inside your own heart.

You may be thinking about giving up.

You may be wondering if it's worth the small paychecks and big headaches.

Go, read the rest...