The Gathering for Youth Ministry Leaders (Youth Ministers,

Directors of Religious Education, Core Team Members, Volunteers) offers:
• Spiritual growth and retreat
• Modern and 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. A typical Gathering includes hospitality at 9:15am, a training session, Mass, and a complimentary lunch beginning at 12:15pm.

Contact the Local Outreach Department with any questions, suggestions or concerns.

Upcoming Gathering Dates

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Thursday, December 12, 2013
Our Lady, Queen of Victory

Advent Morning Mass & Conference with Fr. John Paul Erickson

The call to love God and to do His will as youth ministry leaders is a rewarding call. There are high points in ministry that keep us going – often when we need it the most.

Then there are those times deep within our heart when we experience the inescapable reality of suffering as we do the Lord’s work and will. The sources of suffering can come from people and situations both inside and outside the Church and on many levels.

So, how are we to respond to suffering? How are we to make sense of suffering when it comes our way? What can we do, practically and spiritually speaking, when we meet with this experience?

On this feast day of Mary, we will discover the truth of suffering and what to do when faced with suffering to make it meaningful.

With us this month is Fr. John Paul Erickson. He serves as Director of the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. With a gift of preaching and teaching, Fr. Erickson will help us discover from the life of Mary how to enter into suffering when it comes our way.

Register:

1. Online registration closes Dec. 10th (Tues) @ 12 Midnight.
2. You will receive an email confirmation after we receive your registration.
Cost:
• Advance Registration: Until Dec. 1st (Sun) @ 12 Midnight: $15/person
• Regular Registration: Dec. 2nd – Dec. 10th (Tues. @ 12 Midnight): $20/person
• Walk-In Registration: After Dec. 10th : $30/person

Thursday, January 16, 2014
Foundations of an Effective Youth Ministry Leader II

Note the special date!

with Michael Hoffman

Michael Hoffman returns in his series of “Foundations of an Effective Youth Ministry Leader.” This year Michael will once again bring the challenge to the table of what makes an effective leader and what we need to do “on purpose” to be people of influence in our parishes.

In this session you will learn how to:
• Engage and facilitate group brainstorming techniques that build ownership in your group
• Develop and communicate
• Conduct tactical conversations to set expectations and facilitate improvement
• Identify and use your charisms and strengths to the utmost!

These are just some of the take away skill sets of this tactical day of development. Always interactive, this seminar will give you what to do and say to be a person of influence that demands immediate action. We’ll see you here!

Michael Hoffman is president of Igniting Performance, a Dallas-based organization that has been igniting leaders in the corporate world with keynotes and training for the last 16 years. Now he turns his expertise to equip and motivate Catholic leaders for the Lord. This high-impact seminar will help you learn, laugh and walk with away with tools you will need to have a leadership impact in your parish community.

Register:

1. Online registration closes Jan. 14th (Tues) @ 12 Midnight.
2. You will receive an email confirmation after we receive your registration.
Cost:
• Advance Registration: Until Jan. 8th (Wed.) @ 12 Midnight: $25/person
• Regular Registration: Jan. 9th – Jan. 14th (Tues.) @ 12 Midnight: $35/person
• Walk-In Registration: After Jan. 14th: $50/person

Thursday, February 13, 2014
The Mass Exodus: Turning The Tide

with Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR

What is the long-term impact of your youth ministry and faith formation programs? Have you ever given serious consideration to this question? Is the message and teaching on track with producing the young apostles and authentic disciples of Jesus?

According to empirical data and numerous studies taken over the past several years in the United States, evidence shows that within eight years after their Confirmation, 85 percent of Catholic young people have given up the practice of the faith. 85 percent! That figure is stunning, shocking, and sobering, to say the least.

Why this mass exodus? What may be missing in your youth programs, sacramental preparation, and youth events that must be identified and actualized in our ministry to Catholic young people?

What can be done in our programs, catechists, and ourselves to stem the tide and produce strong, faith-filled, Spirit-filled Catholic young apostles for the Church?

With us will be Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, who is widely known for his dynamic preaching and teaching at Steubenville Youth Conferences and for his extensive work with Catholic youth ministry throughout the United States. He currently serves as the director of post-novitiate formation for the Franciscan province in Washington, D.C.

Register:

1. Online registration closes Feb 11th (Tues) @ 12 Midnight.
2. You will receive an email confirmation after we receive your registration.
Cost:
• Advance Registration: Until Feb 2nd (Sun) @ 12 Midnight: $15/person
• Regular Registration: Feb. 3rd – 11th (Tues) @ 12 Midnight: $20/person
• Walk-In Registration: After Feb. 11th: $30/person

Thursday, March 13, 2014
The Eucharist: The Power House of Grace

with Gina Bauer

As youth ministry and faith formation leaders, we can be overtaken so subtly. Before we know it, the demands of planning, prep, and paperwork have dominated our time. Even our great efforts to evangelize, catechize, and disciple can be sabotaged if we don’t keep the main thing the main thing…young people must be brought into an encounter with Jesus Christ truly present in the Holy Eucharist.

This is not only vital for young people, but for catechists, families, Confirmation candidates, and sponsors.

This month you will learn:
• Why this is vital and the centerpiece of all faith building
• How to plan a “user-friendly” and “youth friendly” Eucharistic encounter with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
• How this “Powerhouse of Grace” can reach the heart and transform the soul

With us this month is national youth ministry speaker and trainer Gina Bauer from the church of St. Joseph in West St. Paul, MN. She has spoken at the Ave Maria Youth Conference (Ave Maria University, FL), St. John Bosco Conference for Catechists and Religious Educators, the Steubenville Youth Conferences (Franciscan University), and throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and beyond.

Register:

1. Register by March 5th (Wed) @ 12 Midnight for a complimentary lunch. (Registrations after March 5th are most welcomed but no lunch can be offered.)
2. Registration closes March 11th (Tues) @ 12 Midnight.
3. You will receive an email confirmation after we receive your registration.

Thursday, April 10, 2014
Three Pitfalls of Youth Ministry Leaders… And Three Keys For God’s Blessing

with Sr. Mary Juliana

As a youth ministry leader you are in a position of great influence with potential for great good. You may be blessed and fortunate enough to offer youth retreats, Confirmation programs, and ministry events which are considered effective and life-changing. By God’s grace, good things are happening (or you are moving mountains to make it happen).

However, the good you do can be destroyed by subtle (or glaring!) blind spots, vices, or pitfalls. No matter how skilled or gifted a leader you may be, these blind spots can destroy the good you do and ruin your influence. Your pastor, parish staff, and ministry volunteers are also affected.

What are the three most common pitfalls (those vices) that void our effectiveness, ruin our influence, and negatively impact our career in youth ministry?

What are the three key attitudes (those virtues) that will enable you to minister in freedom with the blessing of God?

With us this month is Sr. Mary Juliana, O.P., who serves as Principal at St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater, MN. She has committed her life to the task of the Dominican Order, namely, sacred preaching for the salvation of souls.

Register:

1. Register by April 2nd (Wed) @ 12 Midnight for a complimentary lunch. (Registrations after April 2nd are most welcomed but no lunch can be offered.)
2. Registration closes April 8th (Tues) @ 12 Midnight.
3. You will receive an email confirmation after we receive your registration.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Youth Ministers’ Dinner With Archbishop Nienstedt

Note: This serves as the final Gathering of the year

• 5pm- 9pm
• St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Doran Hall) in St. Anthony, MN
• Pre-Registration Required

Register:

1. Please note: This dinner is for official Youth Ministers of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis only.
2. Check your mail and email for registration information.