2009 outline and calendar youth ministry · ther and the lord jesus christ.” ... (oxford st....

YOUTH MINISTRY

2009 OUTLINE AND CALENDAR

http://www.catholichalifax.org/youth

Archdiocese of Halifax 1531 Grafton St. Halifax, NS B3J 2Y3 Tel: (902) 429-9800 [email protected]

2

Youth Coordinators Message

“Grace to you and peace from God our Fa-

ther and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thank you for your commitment to youth

and youth ministry. We hope that this

booklet will serve as a resource to you as

you plan your upcoming year of ministry

with young people. Whether you are a

young person, adult volunteer, full time

youth leader, catechist, or parent we are

sure you will find something to help you

grow personally and in your ministry.

In this Apostolic Year of St. Paul it is only fitting that we follow his example and work

tirelessly to propose Jesus Christ our young people. St. Paul’s missionary zeal and en-

durance for the sake of the Gospel is an encouragement to all who work in ministry.

May he intercede for us, and for all young people, this year so that Jesus Christ is pro-

claimed in our homes, schools, offices, and churches.

In Christ,

John Stevens

Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Archdiocese of Halifax

3

Youth Ministry………………………………………………………………….4

General Formation…………………………………………………………...5

Campus Ministry……………………………………………………………...6

Youth Formation……………………………………………………………...7

Events……………………………………………………………………………...10

Steubenville Atlantic………………………………………………………..11

Support to Parishes………………………………………………………….13

Key Dates for 2009…………………………………………………………..15

Table of Contents

4

Youth Ministry

Two documents which contribute the greatest to our vision and goals are the Pastoral Letter o n

the Evangelization of Youth (2005) and “Renewing

the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Minis-

try” (USCCB, 1997).

Pastoral Letter on the Evangelization of Youth

In 2005, after two years of deliberation by the

Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, the Pastoral Letter

on the Evangelization of Youth was pronounced by

the Archbishop. This document, which reflects on

the Parable of the Sower, serves as the underpin-

ning for ministry with and for young people. The

letter calls on the entire community to be responsible for giving young people a voice today so

they may grow as authentic disciples of Christ in the world. The pastoral letter is our first point

of reflection on youth ministry. Download the full text at: http://www.catholichalifax.org/youth

Renewing the Vision

This document offers a framework for youth ministry that includes the involvement of the

whole Christian community and important components of youth ministry programming. Ac-

cording to the document the goals for youth ministry are:

• To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today.

• To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the

Catholic faith community.

• To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person

Benefits of Youth Ministry

“Young people who are active in a faith community bring their unrestrained enthusiasm and contagious

idealism. The whole church will benefit today, and tomorrow, from the active involvement of our young.”

Pastoral Letter #28

World Youth Day 2008, Sydney

5

General Formation

Atlantic Catechists Formation Initiative (ACFI)

Developed by the Atlantic Catechetical Association and the Atlantic Episcopal

Assembly these formation initiative is aimed to help the entire Christian com-

munity explore their role in catechesis. Youth leaders participate in cateche-

sis in a special way and would benefit from this formation. A resource pack-

age will be sent to all parishes this fall, ask your parish catechetical leader for

details.

For more information and resources please contact our Diocesan Catechetical Office.

Contact: Sharon Power

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (902) 429-9800 ext. 310

Confirmation Catechists Retreat

This retreat is being offered to support and nourish our Confirmation cate-

chists. The day long event is designed for personal reflection on the per-

son of the Holy Spirit and his role in our lives and the life of the Church.

We will be using Pope Benedict’s homilies and messages for World Youth

Day 2008 to reflect on the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and

Eucharist and help catechists develop a deeper appreciation of the sacra-

mental preparation they are undertaking with the young people in their

parishes.

Our retreat facilitator will be Archbishop Anthony Mancini, Archbishop of Halifax.

Date: January 11, 2009

Contact: [email protected]

Location: St. Ignatius Parish, Bedford, NS

More Info: http://www.catholichalifax.org/youth

6

Campus Ministry

Ministry to young Catholics in the Archdiocese continues into young adulthood, especially on our

university campuses. Masses, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and many other programs and

services are offered throughout the year on Dalhousie and St. Mary’s University campuses.

St. Joseph’s Newman Centre – Dalhousie Chaplaincy

The Newman Centre is located at 6345 Coburg Road near King’s Campus and offers daily Mass

from Tuesday to Friday, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, catechetical programming and other

activities throughout the academic year.

Contact: Fr. Marc Syrenne, C.C.

Phone: (902) 422-8265

Web: www.dal.ca/sjnc

St. Mary’s University Chaplaincy

Located in the Loyola Academic Complex SMU Chaplaincy offers a variety of programs and services

for students on Saint Mary’s Campus, and the wider student community including Sunday Mass at

Canadian Martyrs, weekday Masses from Monday to Thursday, Adoration of the Blessed Sacra-

ment, counseling and spiritual direction, a Food Bank for students and even a Toast Masters club.

Contact: Fr. Dan Kelly, S.J.

Phone: (902) 420-5502

E-Mail: [email protected]

Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO)

Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) is a university student movement dedicated to evangelization.

We challenge students to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith, with a strong emphasis on be-

coming leaders in the renewal of the world. CCO Halifax is based at Dalhousie University. We wel-

come students from any university in the city to participate in our many exciting weekly events!

Contact: Eric Myatt

Phone: (902) 880-3339

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web: www.ccocanada.ca/campus/halifax.aspx

7

Youth Formation Franciscan Leadership, Evangelization And Discipleship

(LEAD) Training

Franciscan LEAD is a five day intense training experience that

strives to lead participants into a deeper relationship with

Christ and equip them to minister effectively to their peers.

Our goal is to train, equip and empower high school youth to witness their Catholic faith to

their peers and to prepare them for ongoing service in evangelization. Franciscan LEAD will al-

ways use dynamic, well-trained young adults and youth ministers to facilitate the training ex-

perience.

Dates: July 28—31, 2009


More Info: http://www.catholichalifax.org/steubenville

Location: Our Lady of Grace, Monastery, NS

Program Cost: $175.00

Program Size Limit: 25 participants

Key Components & Competencies

Leadership Training

• Present Jesus as the model of servant-

leadership

• Train teens to bring integrity to all

areas of their lives

• Discuss the habits and practices of

effective leadership

• Discern and nurture unique gifts of

leadership in individual participants

Discipleship Training

• Nurture and encourage ongoing con-

version through personal devotion and

participation in the life of the Church

• Crystallize the centrality of a personal

relationship with the living Christ

• Study and experience various forms of

prayer and developing a consistent

prayer life

• Equip and empower teens to over-

come sin and the lies of their culture

through the Sacraments, daily exami-

nation of conscience and personal

devotion

Evangelization Training

• Understand and effectively share the

core of the Gospel message through

proclamation and relationship ministry

• Develop, write, and share a personal

testimony

• How to pray with someone to begin or

deepen their relationship with Christ

• Answering difficult faith questions

8

NET Overnight Retreat – Real Love

The overnight retreat provides youth with a more intense retreat experi-

ence by taking them out of their regular environment and helping them to

think seriously about their relationship with God. They will hear powerful

talks that will present them with the message of Jesus Christ and how to

live as a Christian. These talks will include teachings on how to pray, why

the sacraments are important, the necessity of Christian friends, getting

involved in serving the community, and making a daily decision to follow

Jesus. In addition, weekend and overnight retreats provide young people with more individual

time with other retreatants and with the team.

Dates: March 17—19, 2009



Program Cost: $100 ($75 if a parent can volunteer in the kitchen)


Program Location: St. Thomas Aquinas Church Hall (Oxford St. & Jubilee Rd.)

Ignite: Youth Leadership Program

"If you are what you should be, you will set the

whole world ablaze." St. Catherine of Siena

In our parishes and youth programs we often

find young people who are ready to take on

more but we feel like we don’t have the re-

sources to give them the extra formation they

desire. The Ignite program is a leadership development process designed to help young people

enrich their faith and provide practical leadership abilities for the service of the Gospel.

The program is offered as three day-long seminars held in at the Jesuit Spirituality Centre in

Halifax. The cost includes materials, books, resources, and meals at all three retreats. All three

seminars must be attended.

9

Participants are recommended by their parish with the hope that they will be offered an oppor-

tunity to use their skills and gifts in the parish environment when they return. Recommended

candidates should have demonstrated a love for Christ, a willingness to evangelize and leader-

ship qualities in their parish context.

Dates: March 28, April 25, and May 30, 2009



Program Cost: $60 (includes all three seminars)


Program Location: Jesuit Spirituality Centre (2287 Brunswick St., Halifax, NS B3K 2Y9)

Fr. Zach Romanowsky & Matt Vaughan

excited about Cornerstone Righteous B at the 2008 Junior High Rally

10

Events

Youth Ministers Retreat

Working in youth ministry can sometimes feel lonely and busy weeks of providing for our

young people can leave us feeling weary. Our youth minister’s retreat is a day of prayer, com-

munity, and reflection to help us enrich our ministries and our own relationship with Christ.

In honor of the Apostolic Year of Saint Paul, and because of his tireless missionary activity this

retreat will focus on the life and work of Saint Paul and his example and message for us today.

Date: T.B.A.



Cornerstone

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also

members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-20 (NRSV)

Held four times per year, Cornerstone, is our youth

outreach and community building event. These eve-

nings are designed as a time for young people from

across the Archdiocese to come together for a time of

prayer and community as part of God’s household.

Using upbeat music, talks, video, games, drama and

other tools each night aims to propose Jesus Christ,

the cornerstone, and help all present to develop and

deepen their relationship with him.

Dates: March 6 June 19, August 14, & October 23, 2009



Special Note: Cornerstone on March 6, 2008 will be our Lenten Mission for Youth and will

include Stations of the Cross, Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration and with talk and some music

by special guest speaker Bob Lefnesky, aka Righteous B, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in

Halifax.

11

Steubenville Atlantic—Above All

Our annual high school youth conference held at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish,

Nova Scotia. Last year this event drew nearly 800 young people from all four Atlantic Prov-

inces and Ontario. Some 350 of those participants came from the Archdiocese of Halifax.

Provided in partnership with the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio the conference

offers an opportunity for young people to gather with others from across the region and ex-

perience Christ through engaging talks, inspiring witnesses, powerful liturgies, and great mu-

sic.

Date: July 31—August 1, 2009



Launch Party 2009

Every year we gather together at our conference “launch party” to celebrate the opening of

registration, and to prepare our hearts and minds for the conference. All interested youth,

leaders, and chaperones are encouraged to attend. The evening features great music, video,

testimony from past participants, and a special guest.

This year we are happy to have our John Beaulieu, Director of Youth & Young Adult Outreach

at Franciscan University, help us to reflect on our theme “Above All”.

12

Date: T.B.A. (Week of February 2, 2009)



Holy Hours

Each month leading up to the conference Steubenville Atlantic hosts a Holy Hour. The Holy

Hour has two purposes. First of all it is to

pray for every aspect of the conference

and everyone involved in the conference

including: organizers, clergy, speakers, mu-

sic ministry, volunteers, group leaders,

chaperones and participants. We want to

surround the conference in prayers so that

the youth of our region will be empowered

to take part in the life of the Church and

grow as strong witnesses for Christ.

Secondly, we want to prepare the youth for

the conference so they can fully enter into

the Steubenville experience. Specifically,

we want to introduce them to the liturgy on the Friday and Saturday night of the conference –

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It is our hope the Holy Hour will help teens to readily

encounter Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and enter into prayer and contemplative silence.

Dates: T.B.A.


More Info: www.catholichalifax.org/steubenville

Pastoral Plan

We have developed a pastoral plan for 2009 outlining catechetical themes for each month of

year. Groups are encouraged to gather together and reflect on these themes as they prepare

for and follow-up with their Steubenville Atlantic experience. The plan highlights the impor-

tance of preparation and follow-up along with offering practical tips for helping your young

people make the most out of the conference and the liturgical year.

You can download the plan at: http://www.catholichalifax.org/youth

Participants Celebrate at Steubenville Atlantic 2008

13

Support to Parishes

Website

Our youth office website is designed to be

a resource and source of information for

youth and youth leaders. In addition to a

calendar of upcoming events, Catholic

news headlines, and quick links to daily

Mass readings the site also has a special

section on the Apostolic Year of Saint

Paul, a huge photo gallery from youth

events, as well as links and resources for

youth ministers.

Additionally, this entire document is out-

lined in web format and can be downloaded and printed for future reference. All program

registration is done via the website.


Camp Villa Maria Fund

Grants for new parish youth and family life initiatives. The Camp Villa Maria Fund was estab-

lished using the proceeds from the sale of our Archdiocesan Youth Camp. These grants can be

used to support a variety of parish programs, formation assistance, and other needs.

Applications are generally available in mid-May and will be available for download on the

website.

Parish Development

One of our priorities is to help parishes develop environments that are open and accommo-

dating to young people which invites them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. To help

achieve this priority we are glad to support any parish program. Some ways we may be able

to help you are:

Confirmation Visits: Whether visiting the classroom to help provide a lesson, facilitating a par-

ents meeting, or conducting an inter-generational session with parents and youth we are

more then happy to serve your program and help prepare your candidates to receive the Sac-

rament of Confirmation. Contact the Youth Office to discuss an option that works best for

you.

Participants at World Youth Day 2008

14

Youth Ministry Development: We can help with anything from team training, Pastoral Council

discussions on Youth Ministry, developing retreats, or just visiting your regular Youth Night to

get to know your young people.


15

Key Dates for 2009

January 11, 2009—Confirmation Catechists Retreat (TBA)

March 6, 2009—Cornerstone (St. Thomas Aquinas, Halifax)

March 17—19, 2009—NET March Break Retreat (St. Thomas Aquinas Hall)

March 28, 2009—Ignite, part 1 (Jesuit Spirituality Centre)

April 25, 2009—Ignite , part 2 (Jesuit Spirituality Centre)

May 30, 2009—Ignite, part 3 (Jesuit Spirituality Centre)

June 19, 2009—Cornerstone (Location TBA)

July 28—31, 2009—Franciscan LEAD (Our Lady of Grace Monastery)

July 31—August 2, 2009—Steubenville Atlantic: Above All (St. FX)

August 14, 2009—Cornerstone (Location TBA)

October 23, 2009—Cornerstone (Location TBA)

16

Jubilee Year of Saint Paul Celebrating 200 Years of The Birth of The “Apostle to the Gentiles”

As the church celebrates the life and ministry of Saint Paul the Apostle be sure and check out the many oppor-tunities to learn and grow available this year. Pope Benedict XVI has been offering reflections on Saint Paul’s life and writings during his Wednesday Audiences. Stay up to date, and read along, by visiting the “Year of St. Paul” section of our website.

http://www.catholichalifax.org/youth

2009 outline and calendar youth ministry · ther and the lord jesus christ.” ... (oxford st....

Documents