Highlights of this Issue

Focus on Evangelization "Perhaps one of the finest gifts we could offer to Jesus Christ would be that the Good News will at least be made known to every person in the world—first of all through the living witness of Christian example . . . " (Pope John Paul II) The April issue of NACYML News focuses on the topic of evangelization, and how it should be an integral part of our ministry with young people. How do we, as ministers, evangelize and how do we encourage our young people to do the same? Continue reading for answers to these and other questions. Also, be sure to check out the highlights from the NACYML members’ website outlined below.

Evangelization: An Important Aspect of Youth Ministry The work of youth ministry is challenging. We all know that. In order for a youth ministry program to be successful, it should contain certain elements. These include catechesis, prayer, service, and social activities. But we can not forget about evangelization. Read more of Sean's article . . . Holiness and Evangelization: What Can I Do? In his great document "The Mission of the Redeemer," the Holy Father says that there is an intimate connection between our call to holiness and our call to evangelize. When we bring our light into the mission field, we have to make sure it’s shining with the holiness of Jesus. What does that mean? It means that if you skip the mission to evangelize, you’re no saint, and it means that if you’re no saint, you won’t do a great job at the mission. You have to do both. Continue reading Fr. Tom's article here . . . Christ in Our Midst I use the phrase, “Christ in our midst” to greet our community at the start of liturgy every Sunday. They respond, “He is and always shall be.” Independently, and together these two statements are filled with good news. The sharing of this good news in essence is evangelization—the focus of this quarter’s newsletter. Read the rest of Dean's article here . . . Hospitality and Welcome We are called to extend hospitality to teens who live in a world where they are often viewed as too noisy, too messy, and just too unpredictable. We are called to help create a community that listens to the voices of our young people and helps them to discover and use their gifts in the parish community and the world. Read more of Beth's article . . .		From the Chair I admit to shamelessly eavesdropping on my flight the morning following the election. The two men in front of me were engaged in animated (and loud) conversation about the results from the previous evening. Read more of Mary's article . . . Using Noise to Evangelize In today’s fast-paced, electronic world, the Good News can get lost among the noise of daily life: movies, cell phones, games, IMs, and the Internet among the noise makers. But that does not have to be the case. Check out these resources to help you evangelize by blending the Good News with our media world. Continue reading Jenn's article here . . . And a Youth Shall Lead Them: How Young People Evangelize A wise mentor once told me the root of evangelization is letting your faith shine through as friendship and hospitality. As I work with young people in my parish and throughout the diocese, I find this to be true. Continue reading Faye's article here . . . Founders of Faith Our diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting developed an award program that leads young people through the history of the Catholic Church in America. It recounts the great story of evangelization in our country. Read more of Deacon Bob's article here . . . Recharging Yourself for Ministry As a diocesan director for youth ministry, one of my most important roles is to help those who work and minister in parishes connect with the resources that will help them succeed in their ministry efforts. I find the metaphor of the sycamore tree in the Scripture passage above most appropriate for some of the things I do to support others. Read more of Kyle's article . . .

Highlights of Important and Useful Information on the NACYML Members' Website NACYML and the NFCYM are supporting the Climate Change Initiative and the St. Francis Pledge Join the NACYML group on the LinkedIn website OnCourse Online Formation Program - 50% Registration Discount and Diocesan/Parish Group Discount for the Final Session Institute for New Youth Ministers Sponsored by Cultivation Ministries and NACYML Additional Articles on Social Justice and Peace by Catholic News Service (CNS) columnist Tony Magliano

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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