Hi everyone

Happy New Year everyone!   Hope you have all had a lovely break over the summer and that you are all ready for another busy year of youth and young adult ministry.  I have lots to tell you about.... new programmes, events that are coming up and even job vacancies!   Read on people...  

Rise Up:   Faith Formation Programme for those aged 13-17

Rise Up is a six week personal and faith development programme for 13-17 year olds running throughout 2012, led by The Logos Project on behalf of the Diocese of Auckland.  It helps young people to strengthen their sense of identity and develop their relationship with God through prayer, reflection, creative activities and building new relationships.  It runs for five consecutive weeks, including a weekend retreat in week 3, and a graduation event after the five weeks have finished. Sessions run from 12-5pm, starting with lunch.

Rise Up starts in the South and East area on 19 February, in Central and West area on 29 April and in City and North Shore area on 22 July (venues tbc).  Participants may join any programme if they cannot attend the one in their area.  Rise Up is funded by the Diocese of Auckland, but a donation of $100 is suggested to help cover the costs of the weekend retreat travel and resources.

Key scripture for the programme:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.’ 1 Timothy 4:12
For more information, please contact Anna Field at The Logos Project on 09 307 2712 or anna.field@logos.org.nz.  
Posters and a registration form will be available on the Auckland Diocesan Website (www.akyouth.org.nz) from Friday of this week.

Intro to Youth Ministry

We are offering a new programme in 2012 for people leading youth and/or young adult ministry in the Auckland Diocese.  The programme consists of two one-day sessions.  The first session will share everything you need to know about Tu Kahikatea, the framework our New Zealand Bishops put in place for ministering to young people.   Whilst the programme has been designed for those who are new (or relatively new) to youth ministry it will be useful to anybody who would like a better understanding of Tu Kahikatea or some new tips and tricks for ministering with young people.  There will be the opportunity to put what you learn at the first session into practice and then debrief on this at the second session.  The programme will be led by experienced leaders from the Auckland Diocese.   The dates are on 19 February and 6 May.   A poster advertising this programme is available from our website and registrations are now open – simply click reply and let me know if you would like to join this programme. 

Logo design competition: 

The search is on for a new and unique logo for Auckland Catholic Youth Ministry.  In order to ensure that everyone has a chance to contribute and to be sure that we get the best logo possible it has been decided to have a competition to find a new logo.  You can download competition information from our website www.akyouth.org.nz.  Closing date for designs is 24 February so please pass the details on to creative people that you know and/or get a group together and come up with a design.    We already have one design submitted so get those creative ideas flowing and on to paper or the computer! 

Building Leaders

We have an exciting new leadership programme for young people aged 18-25 starting on 4 March.   Open to young people from across the Diocese, this programme will build confidence, grow faith and lead participants to an increased participation in their parish or group community.   Each participant will be encouraged to apply what they learn through completion of a practical project in their parish/community.    Watch for more details within the next couple of weeks and in the meantime start thinking about who you know that could benefit from this programme.  

New Resources

Those who are regulars to this weekly newsletter will know that there are resources on the Youthmin website that you can download and use for your youth group meetings (for free!).   Some of the less experienced leaders have said that they would like some complete packages of resources linked in to Tu Kahikatea – Standing Tall (the framework for Catholic Youth Ministry in NZ) and to the time of the Church year.   The goal is to put up a new resource each month.  If you check the Resources page at www.akyouth.org.nz you will find resources for:

- February 2012: Appreciating Diversity of Identity

- March 2012: Turning over a new leaf this Lent

- Caritas Lent 2012 | Partnerships for change – hearts filled with hope. This theme is explored through stories/images from the Holy Land

Do drop me an email and let me know what works for your group and what doesn’t .... and of course any ideas for future resources are welcome too!!

Events organised by other groups coming up:

·         Adoration for Young Adults:  On every Friday night at 7.30pm at Sacred Heart Parish in Vermont Street, Ponsonby.  More detailed information on our website.

·         Come Now is the Time to Worship: Divine Mercy Devotion/ Benediction & Holy Mass, 3 February at 7.00pm, St Francis Friary Chapel

·         SetFree Catholic Youth Festival:  From 30 March to 1 April in Matamata – for those in Years 10-13.

·         Eucharistic Convention:  On from 13-15 April at Westlake Boys High School.  

Job Vacancies:

·         Vacancy for Senior Youth Worker with the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Auckland.   Refer to the attached document for the advertisement and specifications of the role.  All queries about this role to Delphina Soti (Del@stvinnies.co.nz or Ph 815 6122).  

·         Young Adults Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch – email Chris Lysaght on clysaght@chch.catholic.org.nz for more details.  

Blessings on all that you do!

Teresa

Teresa McNamara

Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Catholic Diocese of Auckland Direct dial 360 3021 | Mobile 021 649 012 www.akyouth.org.nz Be the first to know what’s happening for young Catholics in Auckland.  Subscribe for email updates on the events page at www.akyouth.org.nz or email your name, parish and email address to youthmin@cda.org.nz.