Jun 23
Schools are where the next generation is formed. Sometimes, negative things happen there but there is so much positive going on as well. I wanted to know how being Catholic positively affected students’ lives, so I asked them. I offered a free student planner to the best response to a simple question: “What is different …
Nov 08
A few months ago, I heard about this great new initiative to combine a bunch of Catholic youth ministry blogs under one roof. Well the launch was Thursday November 7th, yesterday. I usually blog once a week near the beginning of the week but I delayed a great post I already wrote to appear right …
Oct 23
How often do we wish that Catholic schools got funding like public schools? How often do we see parents struggle to pay for a Catholic education? There are a few places that Catholic schools are publicly funded. Now I want to use my experience of both realities to present the advantages and disadvantages. I grew …
Oct 16
This Sunday is mission Sunday. You probably didn’t remember that. Don’t worry, I didn’t either but someone reminded me. Would you call the kids in your youth group missionaries? Most of us wouldn’t. But do you strive for them to become missionaries? That’s the tough question. I’ve been reading Rebuilt: The Story of a Catholic …
Oct 08
Here’s my top 12 list of things we can’t say in Catholic youth ministry. I hope it’s enjoyable and informative. 12. I never learned that in theology Of course you didn’t. If you think that you will learn every practical detail from your theology degree, you’re dreaming. There is a lot of practical stuff theology …
Oct 03
I’ve decided I won’t read any more commentaries on Pope Francis’ big interview with Fr Antonio Spadaro, SJ. I read the interview and a few commentaries. Now people just try to use the interview to beat their ideological opponents with it or to critique whether his wording was most prudent here or there. I don’t …
Sep 24
Over at Bad Catholic, Marc recently wrote about “The Problem With Youth Ministry.” His basic argument is true: a part-time underpaid gimmicky youth minister can’t replace the authority of parents forming their kids. Bravo, bravo! However, I think he makes 3 key errors. He forgets the real relationship youth ministry should have with parents. He …
Sep 17
Lightening Reaction Xtreme is a different type of game. Two to four players grab a metal handle out of a plastic base and one presses a button on the base to begin. Spooky music plays while the light flashes red. Then it flashes green and beeps. Last one to press the button on their handle …
Sep 04
We always need to tweak our standards to see if a certain person should be a model for our teens. One star, Miley Cyrus, just “twerked” most people’s perception of her. However, I saw red flags back when she first started as Hannah Montana. Hollywood and the movie industry seems to pump out some new starlet …
Aug 12
I just got back from Arcatheos. It may just be the best summer camp in North America. It was recently rated the 2nd coolest in the world on Cracked.com. The number 1 camp cost $10,000, and includes supersonic flights and close in encounters with African wildlife. Coming second to that is impressive, especially considering it …
Jun 19
The goal of Catholic Youth Ministry is to help teens know and experience Christ. To do this we need to reach teens. But where are teens? Today many are on social media. Yet social media can seem daunting to those of us just a few years older. I figured I could offer some things that …
May 23
What does it feel like to be in front of a group and have open questions? Just imagine when you know they have tough questions; when they are going to question what you do. How does everyone look at you? Let me describe a question session and then how it changed my look. On Thursday …
What You’ve Said (Comments)