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Tag Archives: Planning

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Dealing with the “Other Stuff” of Youth Ministry

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 [...]

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Curriculum Guide Introduction

Welcome to the brand new Life Teen Curriculum Guide! The goal of this resource is to help you provide systematic and complete catechesis for your teenagers while providing opportunities for evangelization and transformation as well. Each Curriculum Guide contains a semesters-worth of catechetical Life Night outlines. From Spring 2007 through Fall of 2009, Life Teen [...]

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4 Common Mistakes of Starting Life Teen (And How to Avoid Them)

As the youngest child in my family, I have found tremendous joy learning from my mistakes of my brother and sisters. If you are the youngest in your family you know what I’m talking about. Your older siblings make massive mistakes, and you just sit back thankful you’re not the one with the bar of [...]

Edge Night

Think About It

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Objective: 
 The middle school youth will understand how the moral law of God guides our decisions and actions. They also will understand how studying and following the example of Jesus can help us make better choices. Overview: “The moral law,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “is the work of divine Wisdom. [...]

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Avoiding the Slow Burn[out]

I just got back from the first of my trips for this summer. I returned to an office that still hasn’t been cleaned from the last social Life Night in May and two unopened Life Support boxes. I returned to a husband asking me when we were going to find a weekend to fix the [...]

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Somebody help! My Youth Minister is a Control Freak!

WARNING: The following blog is not written for everyone – only type-A, “control freak” Catholics (like myself) need read on. The rest of you (who don’t admit it), might seek out a priest for Reconciliation (see Exodus 20:16). Now, it’s important to note that I’m not indicting you; I’m indicting myself. My first several years [...]

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Summer Programming Made Easy

As graduation season quickly approaches, we turn our attention to summer. The three months (give or take) of summer break present us with unique opportunities and challenges in youth ministry. Some programs shut down completely while others keep a full schedule all the way through the summer. As you begin to decide what your ministry [...]

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Tips on Managing Busy Summers

When I think of summer I think of Red Rover, Steal the Bacon, kickball, chalk cities, bike rides to the park, Barbies, forts, and camping trips. I remember having so much time on my hands I was bored. I was lucky to grow up on a cul-de-sac with a friend to play with every day [...]