As youth ministry leaders in the United States, our bishops have charged us with comprehensive ministry to, for, and with young people. One of the components of that ministry is catechesis. According to Renewing The Vision of Youth Ministry, we are to assist adolescents in developing their relationships with Jesus Christ and the Christian community, and to know the core teachings of our faith. Luckily, this is not a role that you need to tackle alone. Look to your diocesan office for assistance.

Regardless of how your diocesan office is structured, there are a couple ofthings you should be able to count on:

• In promoting the profession of youth ministry, diocesan offices should know the standards for competency, and assist youth ministry leaders to know the diocesan requirements for certification and what methods of training are available for certification.
• Opportunities for networking, and the catechetical and spiritual development of youth ministry leaders should be encouraged and/or provided by the diocesan office.
• Knowledge of available resources and diocesan policies to assist youth ministry leaders in developing comprehensive programs.

While this is by no means an exhaustive list of what a diocesan youth ministryoffice does, know that the staff of the diocesan office are advocates for our youth and adult leaders. Adolescent catechesis is everyone’s job, and as a diocesan office the goal is to promote the skills and knowledge that assist youth ministry leaders in doing that job well.

For additional information, visit the resource and development sections on the NFCYM website.