Connections

The offices of Youth Ministry and Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Rochester have committed to intentional collaboration, including joint meetings of Catholic charities staff throughout the diocese with parish coordinators of youth ministry, sharing resources, and creating opportunities to involve young people in the work of Catholic charities.

At their fall meeting Region 2 invited several diocesan directors of religious education and Bob McCarty from NFCYM to meet with the directors of youth ministry to discuss the state of adolescent catechesis in a process facilitated by Marilyn Kielbasa. The discussion was very worthwhile and wide-ranging and identified several specific strategies for regional follow-up. Region 2 wants to host another joint meeting following the release of the National Directory for Catechesis.

Caldwell College, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Dominic in Caldwell, New Jersey, is using our National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers in assessing their master’s degree in pastoral ministry.

Franciscan University of Steubenville is creating an undergraduate certificate in youth ministry within their catechetics department. The concentration includes courses on parish evangelization, youth ministry methods, principles, theory, adolescent psychology, and a supervised practicum. Bob Rice is developing the new program.

The Archdiocese of New York organized a Youth Catechetical Congress for Today's Young Catholic Leaders. About 450 teens, ages 16-19 attended, and the music and breakout sessions were all offered by adults and teens together. Topics for sessions included: Handing on Our Catholic Identity, Youth Reaching out to Unchurched Youth, The Gospel and Everyday Life, Teens and Discipleship, Young Adults Gifted for the Faith Community, Styles of Prayer, Saints Our Heroes, etc. Sr. Loretta DeDomenicis (lorettadee24@aol.com) says it was a wonderful experience and will be repeated.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles added a youth tract to four of their five regional Religious Education Congresses this year. The tract offered topics specific to young people, but young people were also able to participate in the regular workshops as well. Mike Norman, director of youth ministry, says that the presence of young people at the regional congresses was a benefit not just for the youth participants, but for the adults as well, bringing a new level of vitality and excitement to the gatherings.

Did you know that there is a Youth Ministry 101 online course? STEP (Satellite Theological Education Program) at the University of Notre Dame offers online courses in Catholic Doctrine, Church History, Christian Life, Liturgy and Scripture. Online registration, course descriptions and requirements as well as professor biographies may all be found online at http://step.nd.edu. You may also contact STEP toll free (866) 425-STEP or via e-mail, stepnd@nd.edu.