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The Office of Lifelong Faith Formation:
Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministries |
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Upcoming Events
Diocesan Youth Congress:
Sunday, March 24, 2013 (Location TBD)
New Jersey State Catholic Youth Rally at Six Flags - Great Adventure
Jackson, New Jersey
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Workshop
Retreats with Teens
Saturday, January 26, 2013
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Stockton Catholic Campus Ministry Center, Pomona, NJ
Go-to-Meeting Opportunities
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
10 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Technology and Ministry
with Denise York
Denise is a youth minister at Immaculate Conception Parish in East Aurora, NY. She has written articles for the National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Confirmation & Beyond: Engaging Teens
with Denis Kurtz from
St. Mary's Press at 10a.m. & 1 p.m.
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Resources for World Youth Sunday
October 28, 2012
Prayers & Blessings are found here too!
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Year of Faith Online Resources
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Prayer
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
Amen.
Excerpted from Canticle of St. Francis of Assisi |
Earn Your Catholic Award!
Boy and Girl Scouts of all ages can earn patches, recognition pins and medals at each level of scouting. Adult awards are also available.
Contact Joe Brennan at jpbrenfsa@verizon.net or at 856-428-2645 for Boy Scout information.
Contact Joanne Di Gennaro at digenna1@aol.com or 856-845-2825 for Girl Scout information. |
Adults helping Girl and Cub/Boy Scouts to earn Catholic awards should complete training provided by the Camden Diocesan Scouting Committee.
Join them on Sat., Nov. 3, at
Our Lady of Hope Parish in Blackwood, from
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Boy Scout Chaplain's Aide training will also be provided at this meeting.
For details, contact Joe Brennan, jpbrenfsa@verizon.net or 856-428-2645. Fee of $5 includes materials. |
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October Greetings!
Greetings!
Thank you for all you do for the young church! Your ministry is making a difference in the lives of countless young people. As we continue to help form disciples of the Lord Jesus, I would like to highlight three ways we can best engage both youth (ages 13 - 18) and young adults (ages 18 - 39, single and married).
Engage & Involve Our diocese encourages young people to be a part of all aspects of parish and school life, especially the "source and summit" of our life, Sunday Eucharist. - Are youth and young adults encouraged and invited to be involved in all of the parish's and school's liturgical ministries? If so, please share with us by email.
Both Youth & Young Adult Ministries as well as the Office of Worship encourage middle school, high school, college students and young adults to be given the opportunity and training to help proclaim the Word. Given the maturity and readiness of your young people, invite them to share their gifts with the community. Visit the School of Liturgy's website for dates and times. Encourage Extra-ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Our diocese encourages young people over the age of 15 who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation to help distribute Communion at Liturgy and to the sick. Contact your pastor to begin the process for proper training. The School of Liturgy offered through the diocese will help prepare candidates. Please do not let registration costs be the determining factor for participation. Youth and Young Adult Ministry leaders are encouraged to participate in the School of Liturgy sessions, too.
Are there youth and young adults in your music ministry? Please find below a wonderful reflection of a young adult engaged in music ministry. The School of Liturgy also prepares cantors to lead the assembly in song.
Are young people encouraged and invited to be greeters or ushers (Ministers of Hospitality) at your parish? Are young people encouraged and invited to be altar servers beyond grade 8?
We are poised for an inspirational afternoon of care for the minister and growth of the ministry at the Emerging Best Practices session on October 21, 2012, from 1 - 4 p.m., at The Church of the Holy Family in Sewell. Hope to see you there! - Celebrate a Year of Faith!
October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013
(and World Youth Sunday)
The United States Bishops designated the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time as World Youth Day. This year the 30th Sunday is October 28, 2012. However, parishes are free to celebrate World Youth Day on a different Sunday if there is a conflict with the parish calendar. Below are some resources and ideas to help your parish celebrate World Youth Day and the Year of Faith. You are encouraged to use this opportunity to connect youth with the larger parish community.
Please click here for great ideas of how to celebrate the young church!
Thank you for all you do! But most importantly who you ARE!
Be blessed,
Greg Coogan |
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| Emerging Best Practices Showcase |
 Need to jump start new (or next) steps in ministry with youth in your parish? Come to discover ideas and tools to do just that at the Emerging Best Practices Showcase! Throughout the diocese of Camden, many parishes have taken intentional steps to create avenues of connection for teens (ages 14 -18). Let's be inspired and learn from each other!
Sunday, October 21, 2012 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Church of the Holy Family 226 Hurfville Road
Sewell, NJ 08080
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| Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministries on Social Media | |
Did you know that we have social media outlets? Think about pushing the "like" button.
Theology on Tap - South Jersey
Stockton College Catholic Campus Ministry
Rowan University Newman House - Catholic Campus Ministry |
| Celebrating the Year of Faith |
October 11, 2012 - November 24, 2013 
The Year of Faith is intended "to contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus and to rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the risen Lord in the world today." Origins, January 2012 Strategic Opportunities During the Year of Faith:
Highlight and showcase what currently exists as it correlates to the Year of Faith: Allow the Year of Faith to help parish members and staff to become more aware of faith formation as the foundation and goal of youth and young adult ministry.
Promote new efforts: Launch a new ministry opportunity using a Year of Faith focus.
Encourage collaboration with other ministries: Use the Year of Faith as a common focus through which to network with other ministries or organizations in the parish, especially those not previously involved with youth or young adult ministry. Click here to visit the Diocese of Dallas' Year of Faith newsletter with ideas for youth. Click here to visit the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry newsletter for Year of Faith activities with young adults. |
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Evangelizing Youth | |
The Diocese of Camden is pleased to host the first of the 2012 - 2013 National Workshop Series from the Center for Ministry Development.
This workshop will: - Share the Church's vision for the New Evangelization
- Identify trends and the current opportunities for engaging a new generation of youth and their families
- Equip leaders with skills for witnessing to God's presence in their life
- Explore processes that help youth reflect on their experiences of faith and conversion
- Energize current ministry efforts through dynamic resources, practical methods, and innovative strategies
- Support leaders as they envision their parish or school as an evangelizing community.
When: Thursday, October 18, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Where: St. Thomas More Parish, 1439 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cost: $54 per person includes workshop materials, as well as lunch and refreshments
Presenter: Tom East, Director of The Center for Ministry Development
Registration is required. Contact the Center for Ministry Development to register - please click here.
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| Free Webinars & Professional Association | |
Sign up as a member of NACYML - the National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders- and you can access a great professional development opportunity for FREE! NACYML membership is only $60 each year, and in addition to other great member benefits (discount on NCCYM registration, free registration for NACYML Membership Meeting at NCCYM, networking and connection to peers around the country, etc.), you can register for any of the OnCourse Webinars for free. The first webinar is:
- October 18: Finding Balance in Youth Ministry, with Bob McCarty
Five other webinars (on great topics with excellent presenters) are scheduled later in the year. Make plans to join in for one, two, or all six of these webinars!
Click here for more information. |
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Theology on Tap @ Chickie's and Pete's -
Egg Harbor Township, NJ |
 The Superhero Powers of an Acorn - Are You Nuts?: Living Faith Today
Speaker: Carrie Ford
Carrie Ann Ford is a singer, songwriter, actress and teacher who has been sharing her message of God's unfailing love with audiences across the globe for nearly 20 years. Carrie spent seven years touring the United States, Europe and East Africa using drama and music to communicate the awesome, healing, saving power of God in her life.
Date: Thursday, October 18, 2012 Location: Chickie's and Pete's, 6055 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor, NJ Time: 7:00 p.m. Optional-all-you-can-eat buffet: $10
Theology on Tap is a discussion series for Catholic young adults and their friends, married and single, in their late teens, 20s & 30s.
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| March for Life - Youth Rally |
March for Life Youth Rally & Mass- January 25, 2013
Ticket Requests
Tickets for this event will be available through the Diocese of Camden's Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministries.
Make your request between October 4 - 12. Please note: The Archdiocese of Washington does not guarantee that we will receive all requested tickets.
For more information on the rally, visit:
Mass for Life and Youth Rally
Please contact Greg Coogan at gregory.coogan@camdendiocese.org or 856-583-6122 for ticket requests
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| Busted HaloŽ Ministries |
Under the direction of Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP, Busted HaloŽ Ministries helps young adults explore their spirituality, listen to and encourage one another, discover (or re-discover) the rich depths of Catholic tradition, and connect to communities of faith where their unique gifts will be respected and used and where they will find support on their journey towards God. They also promote ministry to-by-and-for young adults in Catholic parishes and dioceses across the United States and Canada. They help local communities of faith better incorporate those in their 20s and 30s into the lay mission of the Church in society. Founded in September of 2000 by Fr. Brett Hoover, CSP, and Mike Hayes, Busted HaloŽ continues to seek out new ways to make the connection between young, spiritual seekers and the community of the Church. |
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How will you respond? RESPONSE 2013
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Would you like to make a difference in your community, the country, or the world? Do you want to serve those in need and work for social justice? With nearly 200 programs and thousands of opportunities, RESPONSE 2013, the most comprehensive guide of faith-based service opportunities is now available - and it's free. Volunteers serve full-time for periods of one week to one year or more across the United States and in more than 100 countries worldwide. Summer and school break opportunities are also available. Our volunteers are from all walks of life- from high school to senior citizens and every stage in between. Positions are available for both single and married volunteers, including those with children.
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Diocese of Camden
Office of Lifelong Faith Formation - Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministries
631 Market Street
Camden, New Jersey 08102
(856) 583-6122 |
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| Youth & Young Adults in Music Ministry | |
 By Andrew Ennis, St. Joachim Parish, Bellmawr, New Jersey
Just this past summer I attended my first NPM (National Association of Pastoral Musicians) Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. For someone such as myself, I found this to be an absolutely incredible experience. I was able to learn so much from so many different people who are from completely different backgrounds than I am. But as a young liturgical leader, I found that learning from the people who have been doing this for a long time is always the most beneficial thing.
There is one major point that I feel young people within music ministry should have in mind - and that is versatility. I had chosen a variety of sessions to attend while at NPM and I have to say that no two were the same, save for a few organ methods. I was bouncing back and forth between hymn resources, piano techniques and literature, organ basics, technology, and music education in the liturgical space. As parish musicians we need to be able to tackle any situation that gets thrown our way, whether it's in the Mass or even the planning. And learning how to do this in our younger years will only help us immensely as we get older and take over our mentor's place as the mentor.
In my ministry I serve as a trumpet player, pianist, organist, bass guitarist, and as cantor/choir member. It's a lot of different hats to wear and there are many times when I have to put on multiple hats during a single Mass. During the convention there was a speaker who explained that we have to be ready for whatever might happen at Mass. The organist could get sick and you have to take over, or the cantor could call at the last minute and say that he can't make it due to an emergency and you have to cover. And in my ministry these things have happened already on more than one occasion, but having the ability to move back and forth between different roles is one of the most important things that I have learned how to do.
But versatility also is not limited to confines of Mass time. Planning meetings and rehearsals are all majorly important and could even be as important or more important than liturgical time of year at Mass. Planning music is not just one of those, "Oh I like this song so we will do this for this week". There is actually a seasonal aspect to planning your music. As musicians we need to be able to aid the congregation in understanding the time in which they are (i.e. Ordinary Time, Lent, Advent) by picking music that we can use over the course of the season. So, yes, that means playing a song or hymn more than one week in a row!
The music of Mass reinforces the readings and gospels of the liturgical year. For example, during the season in ordinary time when we are hearing the Bread of Life Gospels, songs such as "Taste and See", "I am the Bread of Life", and "Ave Verum Corpus" all textually refer to the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord. So it would make sense to play songs such as these for that particular time in the church year. One thing that we do in my parish is that when it comes to the time of Advent, we play "O Come O Come Emmanuel" every week for communion. These are just a few ideas of what one can do to plan a season of music. Actually go in and read the readings before Mass to better understand the day's Mass.
Even though a parish musician's life is a lot of work and can be hard at times, it still is, to me, one of the most rewarding aspects of life. You get to quite literally "sing praise to the almighty God" and give the talent that was bestowed upon you back to the Lord. So remember, be ready to do anything, because you never know when God is going to throw you a curve ball!
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| Porta Fidei |
"Faith is the lifelong companion that makes it possible to perceive, ever anew, the marvels that God works for us. Intent on gathering the signs of the times in the present history, faith commits every one of us to become the living sign of the risen Lord in the world." Pope Benedict XVI | |
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