Just starting out in youth ministry?

History of Catholic Youth Ministry in the United States:
Dr. Bob Rice gave a talk for the Diocese of Shreveport that gives a great overview of where Catholic youth ministry in America started, and how we got to where we are now. Check it out:

Key Documents:

• Renewing the Vision: The U.S. bishops' foundational document for youth ministry
• Co-Workers in the Vineyard: The U.S. bishops' foundational document for lay ecclesial ministry
• Sons and Daughters of the Light: The U.S. bishops' foundational document for young adult ministry
• The National Directory for Catechesis: The application of the General Directory for Catechesis to the context of the United States
• The USSCB has many more documents on various topics -- check them out!

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Key Resources:

• APYM's Facebook Group (the group is "closed," meaning posts can only be seen by group members; simply request to join!)
• APYM's gathering archives (meeting notes, videos, prayers, and more!)
• The Institute for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Baltimore
• Be Missionary Disciples: Pastoral Planning for the Archdiocese of Baltimore
• The Office of Child & Youth Protection for the Archdiocese of Baltimore
• NFCYM (the National Foundation for Catholic Youth Ministry)​
• The Monsignor O'Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, MD (the official Archbalt youth retreat house)
• Did you know that the Catholic Relief Services headquarters is in downtown Baltimore?

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advocating for yourself & THE PROFESSION

When You're Not Sure Where to Turn:

• Employee Assistance Program (Mental health, legal, and other support through the Archdiocese benefit plan)
• Archdiocese of Baltimore Ethics Hotline (Confidentially report concerns related to HR issues or financial misconduct)
• The Office of Child & Youth Protection for the Archdiocese of Baltimore (receive support and guidance for reporting abuse or suspected abuse, whether within and outside Archdiocesan entities)
• The Human Resources Office for parishes & school in the Archdiocese of Baltimore (for all questions related to benefits, management, and what employees are entitled to by law and policy)
• The Office of Risk Management for the Archdiocese of Baltimore (for questions related to liability, safety, incident reports, transportation, and many other legal questions)
  • ​2018 Risk Management presentation to New Youth Ministers
• The Chancery (get answers to questions related to canon law)

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Professional Self-Advocacy:​

• We Love Our Youth Worker (An interdenominational organization which provides a covenant establishing expectations between youth workers and their churches)
• Archdiocesan Annual Salary Scale document - contact the Servant Team
• 2018 Project YM Discussion of the National Study of Catholic Youth Ministry Leaders (including salary data) 
• When and How to Ask for a Raise (blog post)
• Communicating with Your Pastor (blog post)
• 5 Keys to Being Professional in Youth Ministry (blog post)
• What It Takes to Be a Professional Youth Minister (blog post)
• Simple Disciplines (Habits) for Professional Youth Ministers:
  • http://projectym.com/simple-daily-disciplines/
  • http://projectym.com/simple-weekly-disciplines/ 
  • http://projectym.com/simple-monthly-disciplines/ 
  • http://projectym.com/simple-yearly-disciplines/

Self-Care for Ministers:​

• Self-Care 101
• Day Off Do’s and Don’t’s
• How Your Emotional Health May Be Killing Your Ministry

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Professional Development:​

• Mid-Atlantic Congress ("the MAC," right here in Baltimore each year!)
• NCCYM (the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry)
• The Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary & University (scholarships are available!)
• Alliance for the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers (ask for support in this process!)

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OTHER STUFF we like

Sites, Blogs, Podcasts, Webinars, etc.​

• NFCYM Webinars (check out that archive!)
• Marathon Youth Ministry blog, podcasts, & services (founded by the Archbalt's own Christopher Wesley)
• Project YM blog & other resources (with contributions by Baltimore locals)
• Ascension Roundtable Blog/Podcast (topics of interest to Catholic ministry professionals in general)
• Stuff You Can Use (ecumenical; one-stop shop for things like games, office inspiration, curriculu, resources; blog, podcast, and more.)
• ​Download Youth Ministry (ecumenical; lots of up-to-the-minute screen games and other resources in their shop)
• Ministry to Youth (ecumenical; tons of topical one-off lessons)
• The Source for Youth Ministry (ecumenical; a great starting place for game inspiration)

Facebook Groups

• APYM's Facebook Group
• Catholic Youth Ministry Discussion Facebook Group (including CYM Live)
• Catholic Youth Ministers Facebook Group
• ​CYM Essentials Facebook Group
• Stuff You Can Use: A Youth Ministry Community Facebook Group (ecumenical)
• Forming Intentional Disciples Forum (a very active group talking about the New Evangelization in action, with Sherry Weddell's work as a foundation to conversation)

​​Speakers/Presenters/Ministry Support Services 

• Dr. Bob McCarty (local legend now working with St. Mary's Press on research and more)
• Katie Prejean
• NET Ministries (to learn more about the Archbalt's partnership with NET, contact Mark Hollcraft, Eastern Regional Director, at 651.450.6833 x201 or [email protected])
• 12 Noon Ministries (Local campus minister and speaker Ginny Dauses)
• InSpirited, LLC (Spiritual Direction and other services by local youth ministry veteran Joanne Cahoon)​
• Youth In Christ (middle-school-focused resources, sponsor of the Archdiocesan Middle School Day)
• Ministry Training Source (training, consulting, and research, including important research into Catholic youth ministry full- and part-time professionals' compensation trends in the U.S.)
• THRIVE Online Catholic Youth Ministry Community
• Center for Ministry Development (including the Youth Ministry Access resource database)
• StrengthsFinder Assessment (contact the DYYAM before you pay for an assessment, as there is sometimes funding available to receive your Top 5)
• Catholic Speakers Organization (database of speakers by topic and region)

Books for Youth Ministry Professionals
​*NOTE: Many of the books below are from a non-Catholic perspective but contain lots of wisdom around effective ministry.

• Sabbath (Wayne Muller)
• The Rebuilt series, especially Rebuilding Youth Ministry & Rebuilding Confirmation (both by Christopher Wesley)
• The Forming Intentional Disciples series (Sherry Weddell & others)
• The Divine Renovation series (Fr. James Mallon & others)
• Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do About It​ (Mark DeVries)
• Purpose Driven Youth Ministry: 9 Essential Foundations for Healthy Growth (Doug Fields)
• Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church (Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, Brad M. Griffin)
• Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics (Bob McCarty)
• Pat Lencioni's many resources around leadership & organizational theory and practice

Curricula/Programs/Publishers

• Alpha Catholic
• Ascension
• Ave Maria Press
• Christlife
• Communications Center (clearinghouse that stocks resources from many different publishers)
• Creative Communications for the Parish
• Formed.org
• Good Ground Press
• LifeTeen/Edge
• Loyola Press
• St. Mary's Press
• Pflaum
• RCL/Benziger
• Redeemed Online
• Word On Fire

DID we MISS A GREAT RESOURCE?

Let Us Know!

APYM is not responsible for the content of any of the above links or other sources, which are collected here merely as a service to our members. Their inclusion on the APYM site does not constitute endorsement, but serves as a recommendation for further inquiry, charitable reading, and prudent application in particular ministry contexts.