PRIESTS and pastoral leaders in Toowoomba diocese will learn more about ministry with young people at the next continuing education in-service in July.
Toowoomba’s Diocesan Youth Office has invited Bob and Maggie McCarty, founding members of the National Federation of Youth Ministry Co-ordinators in the US, to run the next continuing education in-service days on July 11 and 12.
The two days will include keynote addresses as well as workshops facilitated by the McCartys covering themes such as Developing a New Ministry Map for a Changing Landscape; Parish Youth Ministry: Renewing the Vision; Youth, Relationships and Meaning; Catholic Youth Evangelisation; Pastoral Care of the Adolescent: A Church and Community Challenge and Forming Youth for Leadership: A Challenge and a Promise.
Toowoomba’s Ministry with Young People co-ordinator James Bryant said he has been working with the diocese’s continuing education committee and priests and pastoral leaders to put together a relevant and informative two-day in-service.
“The vision for this in-service is to create a common language for ministry with young people in the leadership community of our diocese and to lay the foundation for ministry with young people in communities of all sizes,” James said.
“While we are always aware of the ongoing challenge of ministry with young people in our communities, with World Youth Day 2008 looming around the corner we currently have a heightened sense of importance of the need to address this topic.
“We are hoping many young people’s interest in the Catholic faith will be rekindled by the journey towards World Youth Day and need to be realistic and ask the question: ‘How are we preparing to meet the pastoral needs of these young people and their families?'”
He said the diocese hoped the two days would be a great opportunity for leaders and their communities to begin to address this question.
James said although the in-service days are aimed primarily at priests and pastoral leaders, anyone interested in the development of ministry with young people was welcome.
For more information visit the diocesan youth ministry Web site at www.youngcatholic.org.au
