Highlights of this Issue
Youth Ministry and Parents: A Team ApproachParents are essential to engaging young people in a life of discipleship. Our church documents make this point and all of the research reiterates this. As youth ministry leaders we often share the challenges of involving parents in the youth ministry programs of the parish, as well as encouraging them to fulfill the role of teacher/catechist for their children in their homes. Often, this is not as easy as it may sound. In this issue of the NACYML Newsletter, several authors have written articles and compiled resources in the hope of providing assisting and insight into teaming up with parents in the context of youth ministry. We hope that you find the contents of this issue beneficial. Blessings on each of you, and your ministry, during the upcoming summer months! |
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Ministry to and with Parents: The Pain and the PromiseI do believe that most parents want their children to have faith. However, most parents feel inadequate to talk about faith because they think it is theology. Rather than call parents the “primary religious educator of their children”, which implies the cognitive dimension of education, perhaps we need to use a different title in addressing their critical role. Continue reading Bob McCarty's article... Strong Catholic Families: Strong Catholic YouthThere is an unspoken fear that leading a gathering of parents will take on qualities of a Charlie Brown comic, with parents hearing only ‘wah-wah-wah’. The experiences of this past year in the Diocese of Orlando with the Strong Catholic Families program have been putting that fear to rest while offering hope to parishes interested in establishing a vibrant and life-giving relationship with parents. Read Michelle Fischer's article here... Communicating, Connecting, and Partnering with ParentsWe have the privilege of working with our teens’ parents to teach the faith to their children by giving them resources, opportunities for growth, and our full encouragement in their God-given task, as well as backing up their efforts with programming on the parish, deanery, diocesan, and national levels. It is a great plan. But while both sides of this partnership know that we should be working together, very often it seems as though we are at odds with one another. |
From the Chair
Read more of Glen McCall's article... Perspectives: Dying to Know You BetterLisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart is a youth ministry pioneer and tireless advocate of adolescents. She has authored dozens of youth ministry books and articles, served as associate director of early adolescent ministry for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and founded a leadership development program for teens called Tomorrow’s Present. In spring of 2009 she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and last October doctors told her she had six months to live. Continue reading the article here... Challenges and ChangeParents are not the problem (but they are a huge part of the solution). Church workers who rail at parents because they ‘stop, drop and roll’ (stop at the parish, to drop off their children, and roll on to more important things) need to look more deeply at what is happening. As the venerable Pogo cartoon says… |
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Announcements and Important InformationNational Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders
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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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When I was asked by a group of parents if I would give a presentation on parenting, I decided to borrow an approach from David Letterman and offer to the parents a top ten list. This list was something I put together based on the needs I have seen in working with young people. I share it with you in the hope that you, too, may find it helpful in ministering to the parents in your community. 
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