Diocesan, Events, Initiatives, Trainings, and Models

Youth Rallies

Commotion (Jr. High Youth Rally)

Diocese of Providence
This annual event is a great day of fun and youth-filled events just for 6, 7 and 8 graders. Music, workshops, games and social time, liturgy, pizza and snacks are all included!
Contact:"Duce" Dussault, Office of Youth Ministry
One Cathedral Square. Providence, RI 02903-3695
Phone: 401-278-4626

Extreme Faith (Middle School Youth Event)

Diocese of Charlotte
An annual event to excite and inform the young church. The day includes extreme games, catechesis, prayer, lunch and fellowship. The students choose 3-4 options from a menu of workshops, creative activities and games. Themes have included "It Is Love That I Desire" and "Here I Am Lord.”
Contact: Paul Kotlowski, Office for Youth Ministry
1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203
pjkotlowski@charlottediocese.org
Phone: 704-370-3359

JrFest

Archdiocese of Philadelphia
A fun, faith-filled day for 6-8 graders. The event happens annually in the spring from 12:00-6:00 PM. High school students plan and lead the day. During the course of the day, participants listen to a short keynote presentation and then rotate through stations: service station, a music station and two fun and games stations related to the theme. The day ends with Mass. Themes for the event have included “Fired Up!” and “Faith Factor.”
Contact: Paul Manion, Office for Youth and Young Adults
222 N 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
pamanion@adphila.org
Phone: 215-965-4639

Initiatives and Projects

Early Adolescent Ministry Initiative

Diocese of Dallas
The Catholic Diocese of Dallas, with a profound belief in the giftedness of young adolescents, embarked upon a Jubilee Year 2000 initiative with a special focus upon the needs of youth in grades six through eight. An intensive form of mentoring and partnership with a diverse group of thirteen parish settings culminated in the spring of 2001. The 18-month adventure in ministry was christened the Early Adolescent Ministry Initiative (EAMI). The “second wave” began in January 2002 with nineteen parishes committing to intentional focus on ministry with early adolescents. In 2004, the diocese began developing concrete evaluation and measurement tools for assessing the effectiveness of the initiative and the growth of early adolescent ministry.
Contact: Susan Dorfmeister, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
P O Box 190507, Dallas, TX 75219
sdorfmei@cathdal.org
Phone: 214-528-2360

Liturgical Taste of Hartford

Archdiocese of Hartford
Meets the second Sunday of the month and exposes young people to the diversity of the church through a variety of cultures, languages, architecture, and styles of Catholic liturgy. Youth gather at a different Hartford church each month for a mini youth rally that centers on Mass and includes icebreakers, a short lesson, and food. The purpose is to bring young people together around the Eucharist, to grow our faith, deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, and strengthen our commitment to social justice and a Catholic lifestyle through our relationships with each other.
Contact: Shawnee Baldwin, Office of Religious Education
650 Willard Ave. Newington, CT 06111
Sbaldwin@adh-ore.org
Phone: 860-667-0891

Prayers by Young Adolescents - Prayer Book Project

Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Biennially, the Office for Youth and Young adults solicits prayers from junior high youth groups and parish schools. Selected prayers are compiled into a prayer book which is distributed to new coaches at CYO coach orientations. The book is also for sale through the youth office. Students whose prayers are published receive a complimentary copy of the book.
Contact: Andrea Meyer, Office for Youth and Young Adults
222 N 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Ameyer@adphila.org
Phone: 215-965-4636

Trainings

Jr. Disciple (6-8 grade) Leadership Training

Archdiocese of Hartford
Contact: Shawnee Baldwin, Office of Religious Education
650 Willard Ave. Newington, CT 06111
Sbaldwin@adh-ore.org
Phone: 860-667-0891

Middle School & Junior High Catholic Leadership Forum Handbook and Video

Archdiocese of Milwaukee
A Catholic Leadership Youth Forum is a great way to bring together young people from different Catholic schools and/or parishes, and help spread excitement for being Catholic. The participants meet first in mixed groups to learn from each other and to share ideas; later they return to their school/parish groups to design events, projects or activities that will create more energy and enthusiasm around being involved in the mission and ministries of the Catholic church. The video gives an overview of a youth forum, and the handbook gives step-by-step information and resources for creating your own Catholic Leadership Youth Forum for young teens.
Contact: Lisa Calderone-Stewart, Youth Ministry
3501 S. Lake Drive, PO Box 070912, Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912
calderonel@archmil.org
Phone: 414-769-3360

“Let’s Get Rolling” - Leadership Training

Archdiocese of Milwaukee
This program introduces young teens to basic leadership skills, such as making decisions based on values, solving problems cooperatively, accommodating and celebrating personal differences, and planning balanced programs based on the components of total youth ministry.
For general questions,
Contact: Lisa Calderone-Stewart, Youth Ministry
3501 S. Lake Drive, PO Box 070912 in Milwaukee, WI 53207-0912.
calderonel@archmil.org
Phone: 414-769-3360
(The retreat is also available in the Saint Mary’s Press book, Retreat Ideas for Ministry with Young Teens, from the HELP series. “Let’s Get Rolling” is the last of six “retreats” outlined in that book.)
For the book, Retreat ideas for Ministry with Young Teens,
Contact: Saint Mary’s Press
Phone: 1-800-533-8095
www.smp.org

Retreats

Retreats for Young Adolescents

Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Parishes and schools in the diocese schedule confirmation (6 grade), and 7 and 8 grade retreats through the Office for Youth and Young Adults. Two members of the archdiocesan retreat team facilitate the 3-4 hour retreats. Standard models are adapted to meet the specific needs of each group. The models work best with groups of 30–50 students. Visit www.oyya.org for more complete retreat information.
Contact: Andrea Meyer, Office for Youth and Young Adults
222 N 17th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
ameyer@adphila.org
Phone: 215-965-4636

Parish Models

Teens I.N.C. (In the Name of Christ)

Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. Francis of Assisi, Springfield, PA
A relational, spirit-filled youth ministry program created specifically for the 7 and 8 graders of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Springfield, PA. Facilitated by adult core members, along with the coordinator of religious education and the parish youth minister, teens engage in interactive events designed to help them apply their faith to every day living...WWJD? Each month the core team plans an I.N.C. Night with a topic of interest to the teens, making sure to weave the Catholic faith into the topic. They also meet for social and service events during the month. Core Members personally invite the teens in early September by visiting their homes with a TEENS I.N.C. shirt, an invitation to the opening rally and a schedule for the year. They continue the invitation with monthly mailings.
Contact: Madelyn McBride
St. Francis of Assisi Rectory
136 Saxer Ave., Springfield, PA 19064
madelynmcbride@hotmail.com
Phone: 610-543-0848
www.sfaparish.org