March 12, 2019

Topic: Steering the Ship
Church of the Resurrection (Ellicott City), Youth Room

Icebreaker – Hum that Tune
Opening Prayer – Lord’s Prayer for Justice (link)
Keynote Talk – Christina Lamas, NFCYM Director
  • Evaluating your Programming document (link)
  • Elements of a Model for Dynamic Youth Ministry (link)
  • Youth Ministry Team Evaluation document (link)
  • SOAR Process Description (link)
  • SOAR Worksheet (link)
***We broke for lunch, followed by...
PSAs (Public Service Announcements)
  • Pacione Foundation: Wayne Hipley...details coming soon
  • Rise Up Middle School Day is May 4th, 2019 at Mount St. Joseph 
    • Flyer and Permission Form is available here
    • There will be parent and take-home components this year!
    • ​Invitational video for youth ministers is available here
  • Young Adult Connect is on March 16th, 2019. Following up on the Synod on Youth & Vocations, the Archdiocese is hosting a session to listen to young adults (18-29) share their stories in a “non-churchy” atmosphere.  This day is especially appropriate for young adults who have drifted away from their faith and those who have never been affiliated with the Church.  Details and registration link is available here
  • The Mid-Atlantic Congress (MAC) is scheduled for January 30 – February 1, 2020.  Craig pointed out that this conflicts with DYYAM’s Bosco Day.  He’s working on alternatives; perhaps even something at the MAC put on by the division specific to Youth Ministry…stay tuned for more information.
  • APYM Retreat is June 13 & 14 (day and overnight options available). Make it a priority to take yourself on retreat - put that oxygen mask on yourself first! Details and registration link is available here
  • 2019-2020 APYM Save the Dates
***We ended our day with Reconciliation and Mass***

DECEMber 12, 2018

Topic: Pastoral Care & Healthy Boundaries
Church of the Immaculate Conception (Towson), Parish Hall

Icebreaker - Download Youth Ministry games, available for purchase below:
  • Would You Rather? Christmas Edition (link)
  • Nativity or Nah (link)
Opening Prayer - Inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe (link)
Keynote Talk - Dr. Kristin Witte
  • Talk PowerPoint (link coming soon)
  • Supplementary notes (link - part one)
***We broke for Reconciliation, Mass with Fr. Steven Roth, & lunch, followed by...
PSAs (Public Service Announcements)
  • Vocations: Fr. Steven encouraged us not just to pray for vocations (to ordained life and otherwise!), but to actually make the invitation. Shockingly, priests and youth ministers are actually the least likely to invite a person to discern a vocation; let's change that statistic! See bmorevocations.org to lean more!
  • NCCYM 2018 (conference for youth ministers) in Tampa was awesome (per Rudy and other attendees)! The next NCCYM is December of 2020, in New Orleans. The next NCYC (for teens) is in November 2019.
  • Bosco Day is January 31st at St. Michael's, Mount Airy. Be there!
  • Synod follow up: Craig is working on a lot of good stuff following up on the Synod on Youth & Vocations. We need to strike while the iron is hot, so keep on the lookout for more details!
  • The Mid-Atlantic Congress (MAC) is February 14-16. Join us on the Thursday evening of MAC at Pickles - the first drink is free for APYM members!
    • ***Don't forget to use the "MAC2019" promo code for Archbalt folks for a discount on a full conference registration.
  • APYM's Next Gathering is March 12th @ Church of the Resurrection, Ellicott City, 9:00 am (hospitality) through 2:30 pm. Watch for the gathering RSVP as the day approaches!
  • APYM Retreat is June 13 & 14 (day and overnight options available). Make it a priority to take yourself on retreat - put that oxygen mask on yourself first!
  • Marathon Youth Ministry Huddles are beginning soon. If you're interested in participating but money is an issue, reach out to Chris and he'll work something out.
  • Rise Up! Middle School Day is May 4th, 2019 at Mount St. Joseph (NOT in Hagerstown as originally advertized)
    • There will be parent and take-home components this year!
    • ​Invitational video for youth ministers is available here
Guest Speaker - Cathy O'Brien, Archdiocese of Baltimore Office of Risk Management
  • Talk Powerpoint (link)
  • Supplementary Notes (link - part two)
Large Group Discussion - What do you wish was in your "pastoral care toolkit"? Closing Prayer - Reflection on your place in the Nativity Scene ​(link coming soon)

September 13, 2018

Topic: Peer Ministry
Our Lady of Victory, Gathering Space

Opening Prayer - Inspired by St. John Chrysostom (link)
Icebreaker - This or That (link)
TED Talk #1 - John Russell
  • Bio: John Russell has been the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Crofton for six years. Prior to becoming a professional youth minister, John had a 20-year career in the biotech industry - first as an engineer and then as a project manager. He lives in Severna Park with his wife, Rachel, his two teenage daughters, Taylor and Clare, and two German shepherds.
  • Talk PowerPoint (link)
  • Whiteboard notes from small/large group time (image 1,  image 2, image 3)
TED Talk #2 - Susanna Twining
  • Bio: Susanna Twining is a housewife and mother of three. Aside from guiding her adult stepson, homeschooling her teenage stepson, and fostering her little one's growth and wellbeing, she also tries to get dinner on the table before 9pm. She is sometimes successful. Prior to this new adventure, Susanna served at as an Archdiocesan and Parish youth minister for 15 years. Her most recent position was at St. Ignatius- Hickory. Although refocused, her biggest passion is still good ministry, solid theology, and a deep philosophical conversation with friends. That, and monosyllabic conversations with her daughter.
  • Talk Notes (link)
  • SSL Application sample (link)
***We broke for Mass & lunch, followed by...
PSAs (Public Service Announcements)
  • AYAC (Archdiocesan Youth Advisory Council) registration is open now!
  • BYCC (Baltimore Youth Catholic Conference) registration is open now!
    • ​Promo videos are available here and here.
  • DYYAM Calendar - make sure you've put the key dates on your own calendar. See you at Pastoral Staff Day (Sept. 26) and Youth Contact (Oct. 27)!
  • High LI (The High School Leadership Institute), now entering its FIFTH DECADE, is a great resource for forming peer ministers! Contact Kristin Rupprecht ([email protected]) for more information.
  • New in your position? Don't forget to take advantage of APYM Mentoring!
  • NCCYM is coming up! Check out the APYM FB group to find a roomie and get connected!
  • Youth In Christ (middle school resources) is a sponsor for the Middle School Day - the next one is May 4th, 2019 at Mount St. Joseph!
  • APYM's Next Gathering is December 12th @ Immaculate Conception, Towson, 9:00 am (hospitality) through 2:30 pm. Watch for gathering RSVP and Servant Team nomination information in early November!
 TED Talk #3 - Dr. Pat Sprankle
  • Bio: Dr. Patrick Sprankle (Pat), husband and father, is currently Director of Youth Ministry at St. Louis Church in Clarksville, MD.  He has served two parishes over a 33+ year span, and works with middle and high school young people, young adults and many great volunteer youth ministers. Pat graduated from Graduate Theological Foundation with a doctorate in Ministry (2007) and holds a Master’s in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and University (1995).  Pat authored Crawling in the Dark: Searching for the Light, a book about doubting faith for young adults. 
  • Talk Notes (link)
  • PowerPoint (link)
Closing Prayer - Litany of Humility (link)