Moving Forward

It is with a different perspective that I approach this quarter’s newsletter. I have written these columns as a voice of the leadership team and have offered articles as a member of the newsletter committee. This is the first time I have actually written as the Leadership Team Chairperson. There is no better topic for me at this time than leadership development.

As Grace Cassetta, NACYML’s founding chairperson moves into the role of member in this member driven organization, I think of how she has worked with the development of leaders. Her commitment to shared leadership, collaboration, and upholding the mission and vision of this association have moved us from brand new to fledgling. Grace’s ability to call forth the gifts of others inspired and focused a newly formed leadership team and fostered the growth of confident spokespersons for NACYML. She has, indeed, developed leaders. And we are grateful.

As youth ministry leaders, we concern ourselves with the development of leadership skills and abilities in our young people. We create opportunities for involvement, and we challenge teens to move into areas that may be beyond their comfort zones. We develop camps, retreats, and workshops designed to empower and encourage young people to take their places as leaders within our communities. This issue contains information on all of these aspects of leadership development.

In focusing on developing leaders, we sometimes neglect our own need for leadership development. In the weeks since the NACYML Leadership Team met, I have spent a fair amount of time reflecting on where I need to focus some of my own energies in development. How wonderful if the perfect book, course, or seminar should find its way into my mailbox. In reality, the responsibility is my own. Recognizing gifts and shortcomings, and acting on each, is part of the leadership development which we, as responsible church leaders, must act.

But we need not act alone. NACYML, as a member driven organization, is a vehicle that can promote our development as youth ministry leaders. An opportunity to come together as a network, as people called to ministry, NACYML is a venue for challenge and growth for each of us personally and professionally.

Discover Members in Your Area

Have you checked the NACYML Member Directory lately? You can search our membership database by parish, diocese, region, or member name. Make it a point to contact a member nearby. Have coffee together. Find out what gifts and needs you share. Discover how you can help each other develop as youth ministry leaders.

Share Your Gifts

Have you been invited to share your leadership to promote the growth and success of NACYML? With over six hundred members from all over the country, our needs are great because your needs are great. How can we come together as leaders to meet these professional needs? Take a look at the work that is on the table for the next year.

Plan to join us at the NACYML Biennial Membership Meeting in Cleveland on December 4, immediately preceding the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry. Meet other youth ministry leaders face to face and begin to move forward as professionals.

As leaders, we are stretched, challenged and called to grow. As leaders, we have a responsibility to continue to develop our skills and abilities. I look forward to the challenge and gift of growing with NACYML, and with each of you.