One of the greatest challenges of the Office of Youth Ministry is to educate the entire Catholic Diocese of Arlington about what “youth ministry” is. We need to break away from the old models of CCD, CYO, and the idea that Catholic School students do not need to be involved in parish programs. In order to begin that education, the youth workers of the Diocese need to work together from the same understanding, or vision. Below are the key points that we should all be working towards:

• Each parish will hire a full-time, paid Coordinator of Youth Ministry (CYM).

• The CYM will oversee the formation of all high school aged young people within their parish. In addition, they will work with the Director of Religious Education to provide activities and to build relationships with the young people during 7th and 8th grades.

• The CYM will work to catechize the young people of the Church using the Secondary Religion Guidelines of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington as the curriculum. The young people should also be provided with experiences of all major Catholic devotions and prayers and given a firm understanding of the traditions of the Catholic Church.

• The CYM will work to fully incorporate young people into the life of the parish using the framework that the USCCB has outlined in Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry. The focus should not be on a “youth group”, rather upon inclusion of young people into all groups and ministries within the parish.

• The CYM will work to offer whatever programs are necessary so that all young people from all cultures feel welcomed and valued by the Church.

• The CYM will emphasize parental involvement and offer family-based programs. Parents should be empowered and educated in their role as the primary catechist of their children.

• The CYM will work to educate their parish about each person’s role in ministering and welcoming young people. They will enforce all Diocesan and parish regulations regarding the safety of young people.

• The CYM will work to become certified in Youth Ministry within the first three years of ministry, and will continue to attend training and formation throughout their entire career.

• The CYM will practice a deep prayer life, rooted in a regular participation in the sacraments. They will attend an annual spiritual retreat. A visible relationship with Christ will encourage the young people to seek the same.

• The CYM will encourage participation at Diocesan, national, and international events to expose young people to the larger, universal Catholic Church.