Communication (or the lack of it) can often leave us frustrated like Abbot and Costello. We need to accept that the days of face-to-face communication are limited (unless you are using iChat or Skype). People are busier than ever juggling career, family, activities, volunteer commitments, school, faith, and personal lives. The tools we use to communicate make as much of an impact as the message we are sending. If we think one form of communication is all we need, we are wrong!
Commitment! This word takes on different meanings in every generation. Some people fear it; some embrace it with their entire being. In ministry it is something that we struggle with a lot: teen’s commitment, Core Team’s commitment, staff commitment, even our commitment. When you start talking about everyones different levels of commitment it’s tempting to end up doing what Generation iY does and take some anxiety medication to feel better about our responsibility or lack there of.
Communication can be just one of the challenges when working with a multi-generational Core Team. Teaching and learning styles, work ethic, conveying expectations and affirmation all need to be managed in different ways. No matter when you were born, it can be intimidating to mentor and manage a generation younger or older than you. However, when you understand how to communicate, clearly articulate your expectations, encourage ongoing formation in Core’s spirituality and religious study, aid them in teaching this current generation with various techniques while affirming them in ways that speak to their gifts and talents, you will not only have a stronger Core Team, you will have stronger teens with a deeper relationship with Christ.
Whether you are already registered for Life or Edge Support or you are looking into starting, you can sign up for a webinar or two. This is a free service and you do not have to be a Life Teen or Edge subscriber to participate. Webinars are one way that we as a Parish Outreach Team want to support you as in your ministry. We recognize that not everyone can come to a Life Teen and Edge Training Convention or Conference but you still need to be trained and you still need to connect with us as a staff. We also know that time is precious and no one wants to spend days playing phone tag waiting for an answer. Therefore, keeping that in mind, we developed four webinar trainings to support you from your playing field in a time sensitive way.
A few years ago, during the season of Advent, my sister and I traveled to Lourdes, France for a pilgrimage. It was a gift that continues to transform my heart year after year, cup after cup of Lourdes water, rosary decade after decade lifted up in prayer. A pilgrimage is a very special gift that should not be overlooked during this season of Advent for that is exactly the gift that the Holy family gave us in their journey to Bethlehem with the birth of our Savior. To travel a long journey to a sacred place is a gift unto itself: the sights, smells, tastes, and rituals undiscovered yet instantly seized into memory. But, to realize something of unexplainable significance is as majestic as the Magi themselves.
Ever since I was a kid, I can honestly say that I Love Lucy. The television show, the woman (Lucille Ball), the lack of Technicolor on the TV set – I love it all! One of my favorite episodes, “Job Switching”, has Lucy and Ethel working at a candy factory while Ricky and Fred attempt housework. The most memorable scene is when the girls are placed in the wrapping department where they’re ordered to wrap every piece of chocolate on the conveyer belt in a wrapper. At first, the chocolates come out slowly but soon enough they speed past Lucy and Ethel as they shove pieces in their hats, shirts, and mouths to keep up the allusion of perfection. Looking competent, the boss orders them to “speed it up”, causing their unavoidable first day firing.
June 2010 has been one of the most exciting months I can remember for Life Teen. It started with our Life Teen Convention with 500 participants and 70 priests in attendance and then crescendoed in our Mesa office when we welcomed 47 new Life Teen parishes in one month. Every day Pam Zimmerman would place a new stack of parishes on my desk and I would ring my bell with the biggest smile on my face. Soon, Kevin Hickey would run into the office to ring the bell for the 33 new Edge parishes and the enthusiasm just got bigger and bigger.
When I first started in youth ministry I was green, youthful, and enthusiastic. I attended Diocesan meetings excited, only to encounter tenured youth ministers who appeared burned out. The longer I stayed in youth ministry, the more I understood how people get burned out. On the outside I was as enthusiastic as ever, but in [...]
It continually surprises me when I get asked the question, “Can we just make Life Nights our parish Confirmation program?” Don’t get me wrong, I understand the reason for the question: not enough time to do Life Teen and Confirmation or you don’t have enough catechists or you’re trying to kill two birds with one [...]