The Gathering for Youth Ministry Leaders

• Spiritual growth and retreat
• Creative ministry resources
• A strong community of like professionals that provides collaboration and new resources
• Dynamic presentations to expand your knowledge of the Church and youth ministry

The Gathering for Youth Ministry Leaders meets the second Thursday of every month, from September to May.

View a PDF of the 2018-19 brochure.

Upcoming Gathering Dates

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Why Your Teens Might Leave the Church After High School: And What You Can Do About It Now

Speaker: Ryan O’Hara, SPO
Celebrant: Fr. Brian Park, Annunciation, Minneapolis

9:15am Check-In & Registration
9:45am Mass & Program
12:30pm Lunch

According to a 2016 Pew research study, 79% of former Catholics had left the Church by the age of 23. With statistics like this, it is clear something isn’t working quite right for young people and the Church today. The number of people under age 40 who identify with “no religious affiliation” (the “nones”) is growing by leaps and bounds.

And if we aren’t intentional, the teenagers we are working with today might become the ex- Catholics we don’t get to work with tomorrow.

In this session, you will discover:

• Why are young people leaving the Church at such an alarming rate?
• Where do they go once they’ve left?
• What can be done now to ensure this trend does not continue?

Ryan O’Hara is a gifted speaker and trainer with over 20 years experience with Catholic youth and young adults. He serves as Mission Director for St. Paul’s Outreach, a national Catholic ministry that evangelizes and forms college students on campuses across America.

Cost: This event is complimentary, but pre-registration is required!

Register by Oct. 3rd for a complimentary lunch. Registrations after Oct. 3rd are most welcomed, but no lunch can be offered. Online Registration closes Oct. 9th.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Speaking On Your Feet: The Techniques That Start It All

Speaker: Michael Hoffman, Igniting Performance, Dallas
Celebrant: Fr. Andrew Jaspers, St. John Vianney Seminary, St. Paul

9:15am Hospitality
9:45am Mass & Program
2:30pm End

Giving a presentation is hard enough, but what about the times when you only have moments to prepare? Believe it or not, the majority of the time you’re being a “person of influence” is NOT giving prepared presentations…it’s thinking on your feet! It’s trusting what’s about to come out of your mouth! Whether you’re asked to give a program or standup and own the moment, you will discover the tips and techniques that professionals build to look so seamless and come across like they are always ready for the spotlight.

In this HIGHLY interactive program, 20+ year professional speaking veteran Michael Hoffman will pull back the curtain and show you his favorite tips and techniques the pros use to command an audience.

In this program you’ll learn:

• How to build a mental framework to be ready to speak on your feet at all times
• How to grab and hold attention
• How not to be afraid of the phrase: “Would you please say a few words?”

Michael Hoffman is back again with his bag of skills that will equip you and challenge you to be a minister with influence. Bringing his experience of working with top organizations for the last 20 years, you will spend the day in technique driven, process rich, hands on practice to help you become a more effective leader and communicator. He is President of “Igniting Performance”, a Dallas-based organization which ignites leaders in the corporate world with keynotes and training.

Cost:

• Advance Registration, including lunch (until October 31): $15
• Regular Registration (Nov 1-6): $20
• Walk-In Registration (after Nov 6): $25

Register by Oct. 31st to be included in the lunch numbers. Registrations after Oct. 31st are most welcomed, but no lunch can be offered. Online Registration closes Nov. 6th.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Retreats: Teens and the Encounter with Jesus

Speaker: Bob Swift, Youth Minister
Celebrant: Fr. Lenny Andrie, St. Therese, Deephaven

9:15am Check-In & Registration
9:45am Mass & Training Session
12:30pm End

In his apostolic exhortation Joy of the Gospel Pope Francis presents the invitation to a “renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ” for all believers.

In your role as a parish leader to young people have you considered how effective retreats can create the space for this personal divine encounter to occur?

Perhaps retreats in your ministry feel a little daunting, or you may have had some negative experiences leading retreats. Fear not! With a little guidance and wisdom, retreats can become a normal reality in your youth ministry.

In this session you will discover:

• The “why” behind retreat ministry
• Practical wisdom on how to lead your own retreats
• Do’s and don’ts of retreat ministry and where to start

Bob Swift has nearly 20 years of parish youth ministry experience. He is a graduate of the Augustine Institute and is currently serving as the Faith Formation Director at St. Michael Catholic Church in St. Michael, MN.

Cost: This event is complimentary, but pre-registration is required.

Register by Feb. 6th for a complimentary lunch. Registrations after Feb. 6th are most welcomed, but no lunch can be offered. Online Registration closes Feb. 12th.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Conditions of Discipleship: An Extended & Specialized Gathering Event!

Speaker and Celebrant: Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR

9:15am Check-in & Registration
9:45am Mass & Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR
2:30pm End

There has been a great deal of discussion in the last many years about making disciples, and this is a wonderful blessing in the Church. But, before we can make disciples we have to be a disciple.

It’s my belief that so many of the struggles in the Church are the result of Catholics’ failure to BE disciples.

Our day we will focus on:

• What it means to be a disciple of Jesus
• What the conditions are for discipleship
• What the key elements and pitfalls are

Father Dave Pivonka, TOR is a nationally known speaker and author who has held several ministry positions at Franciscan University of Steubenville and is actively involved in the highly successful summer conferences program. He is featured on the “The Wild Goose” video series – a powerful series of short videos on the Holy Spirit (free and online). He is the director of Franciscan Pathways, an evangelistic outreach of his Franciscan Community.

Cost: 

• Advance Registration and lunch deadline (until March 6): $15
• Regular Registration (until March 12): $20
• Walk-In Registration (after March 12): $25

Register by March 6 to be included in the lunch numbers. Registrations after March 6 are most welcomed, but no lunch can be offered. Online Registration closes March 12.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

What Does the Body Have to Do With Faith Formation?

Speaker: Jen Messing, Into the Deep
Celebrant: Fr. Andrew Jaspers, St. John Vianney Seminary

9:15am Hospitality
9:45am Mass & Program
12:45pm Lunch

The theology of the body has become a fairly popular topic over the years, but the degree of exposure for students and teachers alike is quite varied. Whether it’s seen as a chastity or sexuality program, just a term we’ve heard in passing, or understood to be a baseline for knowing who we are as persons, we can all go a little deeper. Just like math or science, it needs to be revisited over and over to really draw upon its benefits in everyday life.

In this session, you will discover how the theology of the body and our Catholic Christian faith are wholly intertwined. By revisiting our body-soul reality with particular vocabulary, we will get to the heart of everything from the story of salvation history to prayer and sacraments to the hard moral issues our culture is facing.

Jen Messing has been teaching both youth and adults how to apply the theology of the body since 2002. She founded Into the Deep in 2012 to formally speak, teach, and lead camping retreats around the country.

Cost: This event is complimentary, but pre-registration is required!

Register by Apr. 3 for a complimentary lunch. Registrations after Apr. 3rd are most welcomed, but no lunch can be offered. Online Registration closes Apr. 9.