Lay Vicariate Council Meeting

May 2, 2001

 

Vicariate Developments

The Pastors have agreed to oversee the development of a Youth Executive Board. Each pastor will name two adult parishioners to this board. While the mission statement may evolve the primary purpose of this board is to provide better communication, support, goal-setting and assist with continuity of ministry efforts within the parishes. This board will meet four times during the school year. The first meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 5^th at St Joe’s Albion.

 

Parish Participation

 

St Joseph, Lyndonville

Direct Services: Bible Mystery Adventure, Sexuality and Dating Seminars (two sessions), 9^th & 10^th Grade Religious Ed Substitute Teacher, Pastoral Counseling with Youth, Peace in our Schools Seminar (Apr 8).

E-mail contacts: 12

Vicariate Level: Vicariate Jubilee Mass Sacred Dance, Vicariate World Youth Sunday Celebration, Walking with Youth in the Third Millennium, High School Food Fast, Diocesan Youth Convention, SUNY Lock-In

 

Future Participation

Junior High Camp-Out, Youth Extravaganza, Young Disciples in the Lead, Young Christians in Action Service Week, National Catholic Youth Conference, Dec ‘01,World Youth Day, July ’02, (young adults only).

Youth Vignette

Jim Wolfe has been one of the most active young people in Lyndonville. Jim and his parents were in constant conflict over Jim’s participation in a local fundamentalist community. Jim & I met and talked about the development of faith and the particular questions that the fundamentalist had created for him. We worked with his parents on communication skills, respect & responsible behavior. Jim’s relationship with his parents is back to normal and Jim is actively involved in his religious ed. program and his parish.

 

Sacred Heart, Medina

Direct Services: Peace in our Schools Seminar. E-mail contacts: 9

Vicariate Level: Vicariate Jubilee Mass Sacred Dance, Young Disciples in Action Service Week, Vicariate World Youth Sunday Celebration, Walking with Youth in the Third Millennium, High School Food Fast, Diocesan Youth Convention, Junior High Food Fast, SUNY Lock-In

 

Future Participation

Junior High Camp-Out, Youth Extravaganza, Young Disciples in the Lead, Young Christians in Action Service Week, National Catholic Youth Conference Dec ‘01,World Youth Day, July ’02, (young adults only).

Youth Vignette

St Mary, Medina

Direct Services: Visits to classrooms to recruitment for Food Fast & Lock-In, Pastoral Counseling with Youth Meetings with Parish Staff to brainstorm Meeting regularly with Junior High Teachers to create a Junior High youth group, (their first activity will be a bonfire on May 4^th).

E-mail Contacts: 5 high school, 20 junior high school.

Vicariate Level: Vicariate Jubilee Mass Sacred Dance, Vicariate World Youth Sunday Celebration, Walking with Youth in the Third Millennium, Diocesan Youth Convention, Junior High Food Fast, SUNY Lock-In

 

Future Participation

Junior High Camp-Out, Young Disciples in the Lead, Young Christians in Action Service Week, National Catholic Youth Conference Dec ‘01,World Youth Day, July ’02, (young adults only).

St Joseph, Albion/St Mary, Albion

Direct Services: Monthly Social Justice catechetical sessions, Junior High Youth Group formation meeting Apr 5^th, Pastoral Counseling with Youth. Meeting with adults in parish to form a Junior High Youth Group, (their first activity is an Ice Cream Social on June 11^th)

E-mail contacts: 18 high school, 11 junior high

Vicariate Level: Vicariate Jubilee Mass Sacred Dance, Young Disciples in Action Service Week, Vicariate World Youth Sunday Celebration, Walking with Youth in the Third Millennium, High School Food Fast, Diocesan Youth Convention.

St Mary, Holley

Direct Services: "Joy in the Lord" Parent-Teen Retreat, Advent Celebration Planning, Youth Ministry Consultation with Pastoral Associate, Confirmation Session, "Called to be Church", Speaker for First Priority Christian Club.

Jon Klatt is dynamic young fellow who has been active at all levels of parish and vicariate ministry despite his exceptionally busy schedule. His ability to lead his peers and his ability to lead those younger than he is superlative. Jon’s open and genuine nature will help many others to feel included in the work he does.

 

St Mark, Kendall

Direct Services: Youth Ministry Consultation with Pastoral Associate and Youth Team Members as requested, Confirmation Session, "Called to be Church", Speaker for First Priority Christian Club.

E-mail contacts: 9

Vicariate Level: Vicariate Jubilee Mass Sacred Dance, Young Disciples in Action Service Week, Vicariate World Youth Sunday Celebration, Walking with Youth in the Third Millennium, Diocesan Lights for the World, High School Food Fast, Diocesan Youth Convention, Junior High Food Fast, SUNY Lock-In.

 

Future Participation

Christine Halter has a difficult time finding her niche. Her physical challenges make her an easy target for unkind schoolmates. Many of those schoolmates belong to St Mark parish, so Christine appreciates the outlet that Vicariate level programming offers. She can feel comfortable knowing that those young people at these shared activities will make an extra effort to be more tolerant and kind.

 

Regular Meetings attended:

Vicariate Directors of Religious Education (DRE) Meeting

Lay Vicariate Council Meeting

Colleagues in Youth Ministry Meeting

Genesee-Orleans County Human Service Council Meeting

Other Related Material

Quarterly Newsletter sent to 625 young people.

Maintain Vicariate Youth Ministry website and Email Updates 5 to 15 times monthly (110 email contacts).

Meet individually with DRE's, Pastors and Youth Contacts when invited.

 

Description of Programs

Bible Mystery Adventure, A 4 to 6 hour mystery play with a hidden connection to scripture & daily life

Diocesan Lights for the World program, an all day "mini-convention" focusing on giving young people skills to take back to their parish youth programs (I presented two workshops at this event).

Diocesan Youth Convention, a weekend long event in Niagara Falls stressing the larger nature of being a member of the Catholic Church, catechetical session are offered on personal issues that affect the lives of teens (I presented one workshop at this event).

High School Food Fast, a 24-hour catechetical event focusing on the causes of hunger throughout the world and the ways that young people can help.

Junior High Camp-Out a single night to help our younger adolescents get to know one another and explore their faith in a fun context

Junior High Food Fast Almost identical to the High School Food Fast, this program is more active and some catechetical sessions have been modified to suit early adolescent needs.

Peace in our Schools hour-long seminar for junior high religion classes focusing on the responsibility to develop peace within ourselves as well as reach out being a person of peace within our schools

Sexuality and Dating Seminars (two sessions) these sessions help young people to explore and deal with issues of sexuality as well as make choices in dating that will help them grow into strong Christian young people.

Vicariate SUNY Lock-In an overnight outreach event for active and inactive youth in our parishes. The gym facilities are used for athletics, social and prayer activities are planned (parents resist this event initially, but afterwards they love it!).

Vicariate World Youth Sunday Celebration, a 4 hour vicariate celebration of the young people in our parishes.

Young Disciples in Action Service Week a Summer program held here in Orleans County as a "precursor" to attendance at the Diocesan Social Justice program. YdinA educates the young people in Social Justice issues as well as involving them in the local agencies that serve our communities.

Young Disciples in the Lead, a one-day leadership-training program that will help our most gifted youth develop their skills to assist in parish level or other activities. Youth Extravaganza this ecumenical celebration of faith will bring our young people into contact with the youth of many other faiths; it will cross racial barriers and help them to become enthused about their own faith community.

Walking with Youth in the Third Millennium, a 2 hour gathering with Fr. Gary investigating the needs of young people in Orleans County.