New Updates:
- DYC Meeting: We had a great first DYC meeting of the school year! We did some team building/getting to know you activities and then jumped into what we can take away after reflection on “Jesus as a leader.” Some insights from that discussion:
- Communication is important! We have to learn how to share ideas in ways others can understand.
- Relationships are also important. We have to be patient and work on building relationships with others.
- Genuine care for the other.
- Humility. It’s ok to meet others where they are at and put others first.
- Respect.
- Active listening. We can only help people once we listen to them and really hear what they have to say.
- The next DYC meeting will be on October 20, 2019. Let me know if your parish would like to send representatives.
- Formation opportunities: If you are looking for monthly formation opportunities, the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (the folks who put on NCYC), host webinars that focus on helping our young people. If you register, but can’t make it, you can always come back and watch them later. And they are totally free! Find the link:Â http://nfcym.org/webinars
- Liturgical Conference: November 8-9, St. Patrick Church, Chesterton. Raise your hand of your young people are liturgical ministers at your parish’s Masses! I’m betting a lot of you. The Diocese of Gary’s Offices of Worship and Intercultural Ministry are hosting “Source and Summit: Transfigured in the Eucharist/Fuente y Cumbre: Transfigurados en la EucharistÃa.” All liturgical ministers are invited to attend: Eucharistic Ministers of Communion, Lectors, Art and Environment Ministers, Minsters of Care, Musicians, and Ministers of Care.” There will be sessions presented in Spanish and English. The cost is $30 per person, with a discount to $25 if three or more people from a parish signs up. Lunch for Saturday is provided. Registration forms will be available at the end of the week.
- Charity Summit: November 16, 2019, Queen of All Saints Legacy Center, Michigan City. Young people are passionate about making a difference in the world. Their example of calling for justice for the Earth this past week has been inspiring. The Social Teaching Ecclesial Commission is hosting a Charity Summit on Saturday, November 16 at Queen of All Saints Legacy Center. There is a special invitation for young Catholics who are looking to put their faith in action. It is free, but participants need to register. Please email Gayle at [email protected].
- Save the Date: Presentation on Pope Francis’ Christus Vivit, November 25. I wanted to reinforce this awesome event. I spent some time with Paul last week at the NYAM Summit and he’s really excited to come talk to all of you about Christus Vivit. We are still working on the little details, but we are excited to announce that we will be hosting an evening presentation on Pope Francis’ Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Christus Vivit given by Paul Jarzembowski. Paul works at the USCCB with Youth and Young Adult Ministries under the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. He’s also a native NWI resident and Andrean grad. Paul was part of the USA delegation that attended the Vatican Synod in Rome last October on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment. We are so excited to bring his wisdom and observations from the Synod and from Pope Francis’ Christus Vivit.
Reminders:
- Don’t Forget to Share Your Story: The Diocesan Communications Department would love to share your story! If your ministry or parish is doing an event or you know of a “local young person success story,” please share it with Colleen Rabine, the Director of Communications. Even if it is something that you always do or you don’t think it is “news worthy,” the communications department wants to hear about it. Colleen has stressed to me that she wants the Northwest Indiana Catholic to shine a light on how young Catholics are living out their faith! We can only do that if we know about it! Colleen can be reached at [email protected] of you can email me and I would be happy to pass along your good news.
- NET Retreat: Dates Available!If you are looking for a retreat for your students in December, look no further! NET Ministries will be in NWI early December. Their schedule is still open to hold a retreat December 2 and 12. If you, your parish, or school would be interested in hosting a retreat, please let me know at [email protected]. You can also go to netusa.org for more information.
- World Youth Day 2022: Lisbon, Portugal, August 2022. I know. 2022 is a long way away, but that will give us a lot of time to do some planning. If your parish is interested in sending a group to World Youth Day, please let me know. I’m hoping to have an informational meeting next month.
- Past Youth Ministry Notes: If you lost or accidentally deleted a past Youth Ministry Notes email, rest at ease. I’ve uploaded them to the blog section at the OYYA website. You can find them here.
- Follow Us on Social Media: I’ve been looking at different ways to use social media to reach out to the various audiences the OYYA serves. Right now, we have Facebook and Twitter accounts. Facebook has been very helpful getting info out to parents and youth ministers. Twitter has been awesome at giving quick updates from events or trainings. I have been exploring creating an Instagram account for Diocesan Youth Ministry events. I can see Instagram being used to help inspire teens with quotes from Scripture or saints and to share reminders of upcoming events. I’ve created one for Diocesan Young Adult Ministry already (please feel free to give it a follow and share). If you are interested in helping curate social media content for youth ministry, please let me know!
Youth Ministry Events and Formation
- Holy Fire 2019, October 18 or 19, Credit Union 1 Arena, Chicago. If you are looking for a faith experience for your middle school students, the Archdiocese of Chicago is hosting “Holy Fire 2019,” in October. Open to 6-9th graders, young people will hear high energy musicians and inspirational speakers from around the country and join with thousands of youth to get inspired for their faith. More info can be found at www.holyfirechicago.org.
- Youth Ministers’ Retreat, January 24-25, 2020, Lindenwood Retreat Center. Save the Date! Youth Ministers are invited to the third annual Youth Minsters’ Retreat, hosted once again at Lindenwood. More info will come out in a few months. If you are interested in attending, please click this link to fill out an interest form. Please note: that link will not register you for the retreat. The information collected will be used to help plan the retreat.
Just a Thought:
Apps to enrich your spiritual life.
When it comes to tech, finding apps that are truly Catholic can be hard to come by. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites that have worked for me and are designed well. (again, not sponsored. I just really like these apps. I’ve passed them along to my youth ministry teens and their parents in the past)
- Hallow: the goal of Hallow is to help you pray. Sign in, get a prayer plan, and start praying. I learned about this app last week and have really liked using it. There’s guided reflections, Letcio Divina, a walk through of the Examen, and more. the app also tracks your prayer streaks to help you create the habit of praying. There are some paid features, but you can still get a lot out of it without paying.
- Rosary and Caplet Apps: I will be the first to admit that I don’t have every Mystery or Rosary prayer memorized. I know I’m not alone. Thankfully, I found two apps created by the same developer to help me pray. The Rosary app and Diving Mercy app walks you through the prayer as well as helps you keep track of where you are when you are praying. They are also well designed to be simple, clean, and easy to read. I think they are only for iPhones.
- Pray: Have you ever prayed a Novena (a prayer that you say each day for 9 days, usually leading up to a saint’s feast day)? I started last year and found an app that will help you keep track of which day you are on as well as remind you to pray. I’m getting ready to complete the third day of the St. Therese of Liseux Novena and have been very thankful to have this app to help me out.
- iBreviary: The Church has a beautiful tradition of daily prayers called the Liturgy of the Hours. Morning, noon, evening, and night, Catholics from all over the world pray the same prayer. To stay on track, they use a book called a Breviary. It holds the collections of prayers. iBreviary is a pocket version of it. Actually, it’s like a Swiss Army Knife: it has the breviary, daily Mass readings, the Missal, prayers, and event rites for just about everything.
Let me know what are some of your favorite Catholic apps!
Peace and all goodness,
Vicky Hathaway
Ministry Consultant for Youth and Young Adult Ministry
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