This event is for High School students (9th-12) excited to see a few hundred of their peers from around the diocese on fire for their faith. We are offering extraordinary talks, groups discussions, Mass with the Bishop, Adoration, and finishing with an extraordinary concert. Also all seniors present will receive a crucifix blessed by Bishop Burbidge.

Parishes should wearing their youth ministry t-shirt to the event.  Teens will be receiving a buff (red/blue/yellow).  Enjoy different types of food?  Be ready for dinner as we are going to have food trucks ready for the teens.

For those far from Raleigh, St Michael the Archangel in Cary has agreed to allow teens and chaperones to spend the night before or on the day of the event in their classrooms free of charge. Make sure to complete the form so you can receive more information about it.  For materials requiring prior preparation before Convention, please see the Wooden Cross document.

ATTENTION: At the end of CONVENTION 45 THE OFFICIAL 2015-2016 CALENDAR FOR THE OFFICE OF YOUTH MINISTRY will be given out to all participants.  Be sure to bring all your teens!

On Thursday, May 28th from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm, all Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders are invited to an important gathering at The Fallon Center at Our Lady of Lourdes in Raleigh.  Among the topics we will be discussing are

• Sacramental Preparation for Confirmation
• Year of Consecrated Life
• Year of Mercy
• Our many new Doorways courses!

Registration is required so please contact Diane Quintal at 919-821-9710 or diane.quintal@raldioc.org.  There is no cost for the day and lunch is provided.  Please note our flyer for the day.

St. Francis of Assisi, a member of the Charis Partner Program, presents this retreat for couples in their first five years of marriage. Take this opportunity to reflect on the meaning of your vocation and how you are being invited to live out your faith. Spend the day hearing talks by other young couples, talking with your spouse and other couples, and praying and reflecting as a couple.

Please join us at St. Francis of Assisi (11401 Leesville Road Raleigh) on Saturday, May 30, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 5:15 p.m. The cost is only $25/couple, which  includes lunch and materials. For registration and more information, visit charisministries.org.  Feel free to distribute our flyer.  Or if you have questions, contact Jason Lillis at 919-847-8205 x244 or jasonelillis@gmail.com.

Dolores Hart did just that. Join the Band of Sisters at Avila Retreat Center on Tuesday, May 12 from 9:30-2:30 as they reflect on the sacred life of Dolores Hart.

The Band of Sisters has developed a series of reflections celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life announced by Pope Francis.The May session will be lead by Jo Katherine Dessaw. Ms. Dessaw is a Master Catechist in the Diocese of Raleigh and the Archdiocese of Military Services.

She is the Director of Faith Formation at Fort Bragg and a certified Spiritual Director.

The $40 fee includes lunch and all materials. To register go to Band of Sisters or bandofsistersraleigh@gmail.com.

Imagine this! Thousands of people from around the country, gathering together to learn how to better help young people Encounter the Living Christ in the Church!

The NACYML MOOC is a five-week FREE course entitled Fostering a Culture of Encounter with Young Disciples. Each week, there will be a keynote presenter focusing on a chapter from the Papal Encyclical Evangelii Gaudium. Other experts and practitioners will offer practical advice for implemention with parents and families, confirmation prep, youth evangelization, young adult ministry, pastors and clergy, and more!  All you need to do is register! Go to www.NACYML.org.  Flyer is available here.

Give your marriage a spring energy booster by attending the Marriage Enrichment Workshop: "7 Essential Tools for Good Communication".  Join hosts, Charlie and Marty Coe, at St. Michaels Church in Cary on May 8th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The workshop will be presented by the Marriage Enrichment team from the Raleigh Diocese.  The cost is free, but reservations are necessary.  To register, contact Deacon Mark Westrick at mwestrick@stmcary.org.  For more information or for a copy of the workshop's outline, contact:  Charlie and Marty Coe at ccoe@nc.rr.com.

Holy Infant Catholic Church, a parish of 800 households in Durham, NC, is seeking a full-time Director of Formation for Children and Youth. This person is responsible for implementing the faith formation programs of the parish from infancy through high school consistent with the parish whole community catechetical process (HI-life).  Responsibilities include sacrament preparation (Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation), Rite of Christian Initiation adapted for Children, Children's Faith Development, Vacation Bible Camp,  JYM (Junior Youth Ministry) for middle school, TYM (Total Youth Ministry) for high school and serving on the HI-life team. The director will recruit, train and support volunteer catechists and work with them to encourage and nurture parental involvement in the faith formation of their children. This person will work in collaboration with the Pastor and Pastoral staff and will report to the Pastoral Associate, Lynn Sale.

The ideal candidate is a faithful, practicing Catholic in good standing, holds a Bachelor's degree or beyond in religious education/theology or other related field, has experience in parish religious education and demonstrates effective administrative and management skills. This is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits. References and background check required. Qualified candidates should email their resume, references and letter of interest by May 1st to the Parish Administrator, Blaine Short at bshort@holyinfantchurch.org.

Two new illustrated storybooks offer elementary school-aged children, their parents and teachers examples of how to put their faith in action and participate in solutions to important problems related to the life and dignity of others. The books provide much-needed resources in Catholic social teaching for this age group and are accompanied by age-appropriate learning resources.

"Green Street Park" is a story about a young boy, his family, and community, who learn to care for God's creation and their own neighborhood by imitating the model of St. Francis of Assisi. In "Drop by Drop," students at a Catholic school "journey" across the world to Burkina Faso, West Africa, and learn how a lack of water affects the lives of children there. The students learn about the work of Catholic Relief Services, see how the problem gets solved, and make a plan to help.  Both books are published by USCCB through Loyola Press.
 
Click here to learn more.