In keeping with the theme of this newsletter, Co-Workers in the Vineyard, I went straight to the Vineyard in Napa Valley, California for this column.
I PRESSED Nichole Waechtler, who is a youth minister at St. John the Baptist Church, located in the Diocese of Santa Rosa.
There are about 12-15 active youth ministers who meet regularly for support, education, and social events. This BALANCE of youth ministers includes full-time, part-time, and many volunteer youth ministers and even some who wear two or more ministry hats.
The diocese provides a quarterly meeting and a focus of the year is decided upon. The group shares an overview of parish and diocesan events with frequent BLENDING of events among parishes. One attraction each year is the annual Congress event. It allows special catechetical opportunities for youth ministers as keeping on top of their profession is important and attending the Congress allows FORTIFICATION, adding to their ministry. A strong emphasis has been placed on bilingual ministry this year as the need becomes more prominent.
Wine-Making Terms
http://winemaking.jackkeller.net
Aging: The process by which wine matures to achieve smoothness, mellowness, and unique character and complexity.
Balance: The pleasurable, proportional correctness of a wine's many aromatic and taste components in harmony.
Blending: The process of combining different wines to create a composite that's better than any of the wines separately.
Bung: A wooden stopper used to seal the cask, keg or barrel. In glassware, usually a rubber stopper used to seal a demijohn, carboy or jug.
Doux: The French word for "sweet," which in wine is usually perceived when residual sugar is at or above a specific gravity of 1.008.
Fortification: The process of adding distilled spirits to a finished wine to increase its alcohol content, improve its preservation qualities, or improve its flavor.
Press: To use pressure to force juice out of fruit pulp, or a device used to achieve this result.
Solera: The Spanish system of maintaining quality and style consistency in some fortified wines. One-quarter to one-third of the oldest wine is drawn off for bottling and replaced with the next oldest wine, which in turn is replaced with the next-yet oldest wine, and so on until the youngest wine is being used to replace the next youngest wine.
Yeast Energizer: An extraordinary nutrient, energizer is useful when making wines of high alcoholic content (over 14%) and to restart fermentation when the secondary fermentation seems "stuck."
I always ask the question, “What is unique about your group?” Nichole had a great answer. Their group is not an AGING group, but rather most are in their twenties. Many of the current youth ministers actually met while involved in their own junior high youth ministry and have remained close friends for over fourteen years now. These youth ministers have attended each other’s weddings, had parties together, and hang out during their free time (do they actually have free time?!) Do not take this the wrong way—being young is not a requirement in their diocese—there is also SOLERA with a nice mixing of newbies and experienced youth ministers.
Youth ministry does not end with a BUNG in parishes but rather there is a DOUX mix with the local Catholic schools. 
Recently the diocesan youth groups were invited to a concert with Matt Maher among many activities done together.
How does this exciting ministry happen? It helps that communication regarding upcoming events and meetings is sent out from the diocese, lending support and emphasis to the importance of gathering together. Nichole mentioned the YEAST ENERGIZER in the diocese, Stan Cordero, whom she referred to as a dynamic diocesan director.
We can all take a hint from Napa Valley, grab a glass of wine, and get together with other youth ministers for collaboration, education, and social events.
What is your diocese doing for youth ministers? Do you have a professional diocesan organization? Contact Kelly to see your group highlighted and Share Your Bread With the Hungry.