2012 has been an amazing year for Life Teen! We’ve strived this year to do more than ever before for teens and those that serve them. We’re committed to being there for you to support, train, and pray with you.
One of the ways we do this is through the blogs here on CatholicYouthMinistry.com. So in case you missed any, we’ve rounded up the best blogs of 2012 for you to enjoy. Have a blessed Christmas season and New Years! Here’s to a wonderful 2013!
1. Watching YouTube Religiously
By now, anyone who has, or who works closely with teens has undoubtedly heard about the “Why I hate religion but love Jesus” video that has gone viral on YouTube. Forgive me for not linking to it… my Mom taught me to keep gasoline away from matches (after my brothers and I almost launched our riding mower into outer space in 1982). Incidentally, my mother also taught me not to use the word “hate,” but that’s a different story for another day . . .
2. Attitude Reflects Leadership
As a Youth Minister, you are the leader, the captain of your Core Team. They look to you for direction, guidance, and inspiration when it comes to leading teens closer to Christ. They want training and clear communication so that they can effectively fulfill their role, and yet, as I talk with Youth Ministers around the country, arguably their biggest frustration is with their Core Team. Perhaps the Core Team isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s the captain. If you want your Core Team to pray more, you need to lead the way. If you want your Core Team to do better Relational Ministry, you need to lead the way.
3. Kony 2012 and Your Teens
How is our parish youth ministry offering the teens opportunities to engage in changing the world? Teens want to be engaged in changing the world. For most of us in youth ministry this isn’t a surprise. We’ve seen how compassionate teens can be and how much time and energy they are willing to give to something they believe in. Most of the world (or at least, most of my parish), however, doesn’t see this.
Read more . . .
4. The Key to Keeping Your Teens Coming Back
One of the most challenging things during my time as a youth minister was to figure out how to get teens to come to our events and keep them coming back. Whether it was during the pulpit announcements at Mass or in one-on-one conversations I would say just about anything to make this happen.
Sometimes I would use vague generalities: “Tonight is going to be the best Life Night ever!”
5. So You Want to be a Youth Minister?
I am glad to hear that; we need people to continue to answer the Lord’s call to youth ministry. Maybe you are an almost-ready-to-graduate college student who wants to “take the world for Christ, or at least this city” or someone who is ready to switch careers. Here are two important things to consider if you want to be a youth minister.
Read more . . .
6. Some Parishes . . .
In my 24 years of being in and around Catholic youth ministry in parishes around the world, I’ve observed that: Some parishes don’t really make reaching out to youth a main priority, opting for the “they will come back once married for the Sacraments plan.” (Statistics no longer support this theory.)
Read more . . .
7. The Value of an Apology
We have a problem with a group of “mean girls” in our youth group. Only they’re not mean to their peers – they’re mean to me. “We don’t play games,” one told me last week, her Powderpuff Football Champion T-Shirt mocking me as she rolled her eyes.
They refuse to participate in any game, skit, or large group discussion. During moments of silence or prayer, I can almost always count on one of them to start giggling, and despite seating Core Members right in the middle of their group, they keep up a constant stream of chatter during the teachings.
Read more . . .
8. Dear Core Members . . .
Dear Core Members,
Maybe I say it a lot, maybe I don’t. It can’t possibly be enough. I’m pretty sure teens don’t say it very often – either way, again, it isn’t often enough. Parents probably say it, but they most likely don’t really know what they’re saying it for, exactly. I know our pastor says it, but again, not enough.
Read more . . .
9. Stuff Youth Minsters Like #2: Retreat Tshirts
It had officially happened; the volume of retreat shirts had surpassed my supply of “normal people clothing.” To be honest, I don’t know what happened to my other t-shirts – it was like overnight my retreat shirt from 2007 had witnessed to my other clothing about Jesus and convinced them to convert to poorly designed, 50/50 polyester blend, covered in Christian catch-phrases.
Read more . . .
10. Core Members: How to Find Them and Keep Them Around
This time of year, I start meeting with my Core Team to find out their intentions for the upcoming year. It’s a time of stress and worry – wondering who will choose to stay, who wants to leave, and who is interested in coming aboard. Core Member recruitment and retention can be one of the most important aspects for a youth minister to consider. When Core Members choose to stay – it’s a testament to your program and provides continuity and stability as your teens go from year to year.
Read more . . .
