Highlights

You Asked For It! Various members have asked for a streamlined process for printing the NACYML News—whether one article at a time or the whole online issue at once. With this issue that capability becomes a reality. You now have two print options: Each article (webpage) can be printed using a special style sheet that will format the article for reading while stripping away web navigation and other presentational elements. Simply use your browser's print function or click on the " Print this page" link at the bottom of the right-hand navigation column. The entire issue can be printed by using the link below. This will open a single PDF document made up of "printed pages" of each article in order. (You can also download this PDF to your computer by right-clicking the link and selecting "Save Target As...") With the PDF file open, click the printer command in the Adobe Reader interface and the entire issue will be printed. Open or download the PDF print file for this entire issue. (144 KB)

Are you constantly on the lookout for the perfect resource for building your ministry? As you sit down and relax with this latest edition of the NACYML NEWS, know that the writing team has done some homework for you! You will find some new perspectives on resources in books, technology, and of the human form. Take some time to reflect on which resources you go to most frequently, and what this says about your ministry, your needs as a youth ministry leader, and your own faith life. This newsletter informs members on some new favorites and invites your sharing of resources, gifts, and ideas in the discussion forums.

From the Vice-Chair NACYML as a Resource In our mission statement, NACYML states that we are about “promoting the profession and practice of Catholic youth ministry.” As such, it is time to take a look at how NACYML is a resource for youth ministry leaders. Continue reading Mary's article… Quid Est Veritas? Keeping on Track with the New Youth Catechism Last year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published a catechism that was “proposed and developed for the purpose of catechizing teens and young adults.” It is called the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I think we should just call it the Youth Catechism. The bishops recommend that the text be used as a “standard reference companion to which teachers and catechists refer their students in much the same way that they use Bibles for instruction. It is not meant to replace religion textbooks, but to augment and compliment them.” Read more… Ready, Set, Serve! Twenty-two years old, the ink was barely dry on my college diploma when I officially started as director of youth ministry in my parish. Armed with a notebook full of ideas, a heart ready to serve, and a head full of idealism I set out to change the world, one teenager at a time. While I still hold many of the ideals that I started this youth ministry journey with, I have learned that sometimes it takes a few props to keep things rolling smoothly. Read more…		Other Feature Articles... Human Resources! Who Do I Ask for Help? Often when we think of looking for resources in ministry, we look to our bookshelves or to the Internet, but some of our best resources for ministry are other people. Read more… Tangible Media Resources for Youth Ministry It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since I wrote about the top ten things that new youth ministry leaders need to know to get started in their ministry. In that article I included some of my favorite ‘must have’ resources to get started. Here are some more tangible media sources to help you in your ministry. They range from free to minimal cost, and all contain great stuff. Read more… Call Me, Call Me Any Time We seldom find ourselves out of cell phone range these days. They interrupt meetings, help locate parents, and every once in a while cause a disruption during liturgy. What are we supposed to do? Jenn Ledonne offers some suggestions about how to integrate the cell phone into ministry with young people. Read more…

Share your favorite resources with other NACYML members. Follow the link to the discussion forum and offer your own insights into favorite resources in the areas of: youth focused activities and gatherings spirituality leadership development theology parish life

Share Your Bread Resource Reviews from the NACYML Leadership Team The NACYML leadership team brings a variety of gifts to the association, with each member sharing a perspective that is invaluable in the growing of this organization. For this edition of Sharing Our Bread, the group was asked to share some of their favorite ‘go to’ resources with us.

A Picture Is Worth... Articles in this newsletter correspond to the Core Competencies detailed in the National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. Look for the symbol in the article that indicates which core competency the article addresses. To learn more about the standards, see the resource page which is always accessible from the newsletter navigation bar. It provides a summary of the core competencies and the specialized competencies for youth ministry leaders.

A Special Offer YOUTH MINISTRY ACCESS: One Free Month The Center for Ministry Development is currently offering a 13-month subscription to Youth Ministry Access for the cost of a 12-month subscription. To look at the site, visit the Center for Ministry Development website.