Any Youth Ministers out there?

  • Thread starter Thread starter southernCONVERT
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

southernCONVERT

Guest
…or youth directors, or youth director of youth ministry, or youth coordinators, or whatever you want to call it.

I recently took a job as a youth minister at a parish. :extrahappy:

Just looking for anyone in the same boat that may be able to give me some resources or tips.

I worked many years in high school ministry (young life) as a protestant, but no formal training in catholic youth minister (not that there is established formal training).

Say a prayer for me…seriously…stop for a moment and say a Ave Maria for me.
 
Done!

As a youth ministry volunteer, I pray that the parents in your Parish feel CYM is important. The attitude and support of the parents can make or break a youth program.

My second bit of advice as a mom, feed 'em. Teens are like puppies, feed em and they will keep coming back 🙂
 
I second the above poster

Candy, soda, pizza.

build a good staff and listen to them

have a good reputation with your priest and listen to him

don’t hide yourself to the teens, they can see right through you.

Adoration, focus on mass, voulenteering, party nights all go hand and hand with good catetics.

Learn the no purple rule:
Girls are pink, boys are blue, don’t make purple.

Plan good field trips.

Host retreats

Have ALOT of parent involvment even if just in the preparation (the more they know, the less they complain)
 
Lucky you to find a job in your field, lucky parish to realize the importance of that job to hire someone, lucky kids in the parish to have someone focused on their spiritual growth.

buy a big box of pepcid ac, the chewable kind, you will need it to digest all the pizza you will be eating.
 
Yeah, its funny how many people mention food. I also agree with that from past experience.

Thanks for the suggestions (and hopefully the prayers), keep em comin!
 
If you’re in an orthodox diocese, get them involved in diocesan events - youth rallies, retreats, service days, etc. Take them to the cathedral for Mass and a quick meeting with the Bishop afterwards( pre-arranged so he knows you’ll be there) if you can swing that once a year or so. Let them know their Catholic life extends beyond their parish - they are part of the universal Catholic Church!
 
I am also youth leader at my parish. I’ll say a prayer for you!
 
Elzee said:
If you’re in an orthodox diocese, get them involved in diocesan events - youth rallies, retreats, service days, etc. Take them to the cathedral for Mass and a quick meeting with the Bishop afterwards( pre-arranged so he knows you’ll be there) if you can swing that once a year or so. Let them know their Catholic life extends beyond their parish - they are part of the universal Catholic Church!
Click to expand...
The parish is actually the Cathedral, 👍 so I bet we can work that out. From what I have heard and gathered, it appears to be a very orthodox diocese (there’s always exeptions).
 
Y2K has been an energizing annual event for youth of our diocese.
in the last 3 years K of C has organized a diocesan YA/youth rally-retreat that is excellent as well.

other suggestion take them to a charismatic conference with a youth track the one in San Antonio is superb

in your area are Glenmary and other mission groups doing Appalachian mission trips, some allow and encourage youth participation, our kids loved this in their old parish.
 
in your area are Glenmary and other mission groups doing Appalachian mission trips, some allow and encourage youth participation, our kids loved this in their old parish.
Click to expand...
Actually the job is in florida, although I am currently in NC

I have heard GREAT things about the Y2K
 
nfcym.org/

This is the National Federal for Catholic Ministry Website. This November is the National Catholic Youth Conference where teens from all across the nation, the Virgin Islands and many overseas US military bases gather to celebrate being Catholic.

Explore this website and maybe we will see you there. Our youth group from Ilinois has been going for many many years. An amazing opportunity. Check it out…plus the links on the website for worship, catechesis etc.
 
I pray that you’ll be able to do good work and bring people closer to Christ.

I just left the youth ministry in my parish, in fact, if I’m not in the Legion of Mary, I’m out of the parish already. Quite liberal parish.

The youth worker in my parish isn’t that good. He organized a young adult event to go clubbing on the fifth Friday of Lent, he said that abstinence during Fridays of Lent was optional (is it true?), he approved when a youth ministry leader (who’s a non-catholic) proposed to make profit from the ministry, well, there’s CEO in the ministry. :mad:​

On the positive side, there’s refrigerator, television, sofa, lots of snack in the youth office! There’s ice cream, soft drinks for youth to buy. Usually, during exam period youth office will open until 9-10 pm to allow youth to study and there’d be volunteer to help them.

So far, there are music ministry, visual art ministry, Legion of Mary Junior, Bible study, media ministry (produce youth bulletin monthly).
 
It’s sad that this youth minister is misleading teens who are very impressionable. More reasons to pray. I don’t know if I would have left so quickly, instead I would have made his ministry very public to the congregation as a whole and see how they would respond to this minister.

Pray on it and most of all pray for all the teens!
 
stbruno said:
It’s sad that this youth minister is misleading teens who are very impressionable. More reasons to pray. I don’t know if I would have left so quickly, instead I would have made his ministry very public to the congregation as a whole and see how they would respond to this minister.

Pray on it and most of all pray for all the teens!
Click to expand...
Well,he is very popular among parishioners and my parish priest trusts him to be in-charge with everything. I’m new in the parish, about a year only. Yes, more reasons to pray. 🙂
 
Charismatic men usually are difficult to deal with, however, believe this, the Holy Spirit is on your side. Keep praying. That will move mountains, change countries etc.

One thing about youth ministry…our chant loud and clear is
GOD IS GOOD! ALL THE TIME!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top