Highlights of this Issue

A Focus on Liturgy and Prayer Liturgy and prayer are essential components of youth ministry. Through our prayer the Catholic Christian community is grounded in the Lord—and one another. This issue of NACYML News focuses on several aspects of our liturgical and prayer tradition and how to better integrate them into our ministry with teens. Continue reading the articles below for insights and practices that will hopefully enhance your ministry and your parish’s outreach to young people. Additionally, be sure to check out the important announcements and reminders below from the NACYML website.

Training Youth for Liturgical Ministry Having youth serve in liturgical ministries is a blessing. The adults in your community visually see youth in service and the youth see their peers actively engaging their faith. Preparing and training to allow this blessing is critical. Read more of Katie's article... Connecting Liturgy and Prayer “I just do not get anything out of Mass. Can I not just pray to God on my own?” These are two comments, of the many, I hear from the mouths of young people with respect to liturgy. Maybe as a youth worker you have heard similar comments. Read more of Dean's article... Youth Leadership Through my various experiences in youth ministry, I have come to a few distinct conclusions. The first is there is a God. The second is I am not him. The third, and the one most relevant to this article, is that young people are thirsting for faith. They want it and need it. They are looking to us to get it. Read more of Sean' article... Activities for the Liturgical Year As youth ministers, we seek to nurture both the head and the heart of each teen in our care. We are always searching for activities that will bring the faith home to our young people; activities that will not only help our youth learn about their Catholic faith, but will hopefully also plant a seed within them that will grow, flower, and bear fruit in their lives. In this article are some practical ideas for the entire liturgical year. Read more of Pia's article...		From the Chair Our vegetable garden is planted, and the flowers are beginning to show signs of blooming. As I anticipate the longer, slower days of summer, I also know that many of you are gearing up for mission trips, work camps, summer camp experiences, and programming that elicits a faith-filled response and challenge to our young communities. As the NACYML Leadership Team met in Kansas City this past April, we also realized that we are readying for growth and challenge. Read more of Mary's article... NACYML Strategic Plan In setting a direction for the next five years, the NACYML Leadership Team, with input from the overall membership, has devised five goals that will assist in guiding the discussions, decisions, and actions of the organization. The goals and objectives were approved by the NFCYM Board of Directors at their spring meeting. Review the Strategic Plan. 23 KB) A Place at the Table Imagine sitting at a dinner table and sensing you are unwelcome. Such an experience would leave anyone with an empty feeling. Now magnify that feeling many times. Imagine the emptiness you would experience if your children were not welcome at the table, because there was no food for them. Read more of Tony's article... Liturgy and Music Many times people think the way to draw our youth to participate in liturgical music is to make it upbeat, add guitar, bass and drums, and to use popular or contemporary Christian praise music they hear on the radio. While there is some appeal to that type of music, I truly believe teenagers are much more sophisticated. Read more of Faye's article...

Highlights of Important Information and Useful Resources on the NACYML Website There is still time to register for the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in November. Visit the NCYC website for more details and information. Only a few spaces remain for the Institute for New Youth Ministers, offered by Cultivation Ministries and NACYML. The workshop is July 28 to 31 in Chicago. Registration form and more information available on the NACYML website. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) is seeking nominations to honor young social justice leaders with the 2009 Cardinal Bernardin New Leadership Award. Nomination form and more details available on the NACYML website. Deadline is July 31. The Center for Ministry Development is looking for prayer leaders and musicians to assist at the summer Lifelong Learning Institute. Musicians/prayer leaders attend the course for free. The session begins July 19. More details on the NACYML website. The newly revamped Saint Vincent Pallotti Center website contains resources for persons preparing for, currently in, or returning from service or mission experiences. An improved search function also gives viewers access to over one hundred Catholic-based mission and volunteer programs. Check it out today! NACYML polo shirts, complete with full-color NACYML logo, are perfect for any occasion. The black, short sleeved shirts are available in all sizes. Order yours today at the NFCYM Online Store. Check out the NACYML members' website for more important updates, resources, and information.

A Picture Is Worth . . . Articles in this newsletter correspond to the Core Competencies detailed in the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. Look for the symbol in the article that indicates which core competency the article addresses. To learn more about the standards, see the resource page which is always accessible from the newsletter navigation bar. It provides a summary of the core competencies and the specialized competencies for youth ministry leaders.

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