Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed the coming year the year of St. Paul.  The Most Reverend Michael A. Saltarelli, D.D. has issued "Celebrating the Year of Saint Paul, June 28, 2008 - June 29, 2009," a Pastoral Letter to the people of the Diocese of Wilmington in Celebration of the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle. To help youth ministers more completely break open the Bishop’s letter with young people, CYM has received permission to offer six sessions published by Youth Ministry Access free of charge to our youth ministry community. Please consider asking CYM to send you the following sessions which directly correspond with the themes of Bishop Saltarelli’s letter:

• St. Paul’s Conversion: How an Experience Can Change a Life. This session helps young people unpack the conversion experience of St. Paul as it relates to their own experience of God.
• A Traditional Valentines Day. Young people learn about saints, describe his or her qualities and pray for the strength to emulate these saintly attributes.
• Encountering the Living Christ: From Faith to Evangelization. Help participants engage in reflections and discussion on the ways in which they encounter Christ in their daily interactions and faith life.
• When the Saints Come Marching in: Feast Days in March. This session has participants (middle school and/or families) explore the saints whose feast days fall in March.
• Lectio Divina. Invite participants to learn how to use a version of the Lectio Divina process for reflecting and praying the Scriptures.
• Do You Have to Be Dead to Be a Saint?  Called to Be Holy. Participants will examine the universal call to holiness, exploring that call in the Gospel and the teachings of the Church.

You may request the sessions by contacting CYM. When you receive the sessions, you will also receive an overview of Youth Ministry Access so you can see first hand what a valuable resource it can be for your parish.

Need Help with Adolescent Catechesis?

The USCCB has recently published the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age. Click here to see the document. If you are in charge of AC for your parish or school, you should have received an invitation to an upcoming meeting. If you haven’t, contact the Office for Religious Education.  

Disciples Now – All New

Check out the new and improved version of Disciples Now. Your ministry will thank you for it.

2008 Youth Ministry Resource Manual

The 2008 Youth Ministry Resource Manual, Our God, the Great I Am is now available. It is designed to help Catholic young people know God as creator, challenger, comforter, and friend. The sessions are developed so that youth ministry, campus, and catechetical leaders may address the many salient ways we encounter God through Scripture, sacraments, the discernment of gifts, in our family and friends, by serving others, and in the Eucharist. Each book is sold with one (1) bookmark and one (1) poster. Order from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry online store.