Connections

Colette A. Kennett, director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Belleville, presented a workshop on youth ministry, “Putting the Puzzle Together,” at the 38th Biennial Conference of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. This conference took place on April 19-24 in St. Louis. The luncheon speaker was Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger, episcopal liaison to the NCCS. Kathleen L. McChesney, executive director of the USCCB’s Office for Child and Youth Protection was also a featured presenter at the conference.

The Archdiocese of Detroit has a very clever resource for those interested in any form of lay ecclesial ministry. Titled “Mission: Possible,” the resource includes information on ministry formation and certification and a passport describing various ministries. Go to www.missionpossibledetroit.org for information on the packet.

Dobie Moser, diocesan director for the Archdiocese of Cleveland, adapted the NFCYM consensus decision making process for use in a spring community gathering. “Youth Speak Out 2004”, sponsored by the Strongville Youth Commission in Strongville, OH, gathered young people from their eleven high schools to discuss globalization, pre-emptive war, and capital punishment. The participant booklet is very informative and Dobie found the process to be very effective for engaging a group in quality discourse on difficult issues.

A Summer Wedding!

On July 4, in a late afternoon litrugy, NFCYM associate director, Maureen Gross, married Patrick Donovan, a former member of the NFCYM Board of Directors and current director of youth ministry for the Diocese of Wilmington. The wedding was celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary church in Baltimore, MD. The couple honeymooned in Bermuda, and will reside in Wilmington, Delaware. Congratulations!