Student Ministry
The Four-Phase Model
Key Principles
Key Principles for the CSYMI Four - Phase Model include:
Teachers and school leaders are the key to youth evangelisation in Catholic schools.
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A school needs to build a ‘zone’ for effective catechesis within the school.
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Student ministry training courses are needed within the heart of a school curriculum to train students effectively.
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Peer to peer ministry is key to effective evangelisation.
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Working with other schools and linking with the broader Catholic Church is foundational to effective ministry.
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The development of an effective leadership team overseeing student ministry within a school is key to success.
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The youth ministry model is essentially a leadership formation model for students to take up effective leadership roles.
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The youth ministry units of study are best offered as electives.
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The units should be implemented as outlined in the programs provided by CSYMI.
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Staff implementing need to have completed the CSYMI professional learning.
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Through CSYMI students have an exciting opportunity to progress in leadership of peers and leadership of school spiritual activities. Multi-media presentations, retreat team training and a knowledge of the Catholic Church’s teachings are key components taught in CSYMI units of work. Outlines of units of work including teaching programs, assessment tasks and resources are available to CSYMI members through the website at csymi.org.
Four-Phase Model
The CSYMI youth ministry student program consists of students participating in four phases.
These phases can potentially occur in different modes and sequences in a school depending on availability of resources, staff, Religious Education requirements, retreat teams, etc. The Four - Phase Model is built on the evangelisation process consisting of witness, proclamation, conversion, discipleship, community and mission outreach.
Phase 1
Youth Ministry Retreat Experience
This retreat or student conference experience needs to be based on principles of youth ministry including having staff and ideally a youth retreat team who are trained in the vision and methods for youth ministry.
The retreat experience can take different forms.
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It can be used as a launching pad before the program or while the students are completing the course.
It can be run in both a classroom or retreat style context with implementation by either a classroom teacher or youth ministry team respectively.
The essential elements of the retreat experience include:
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A proclamation of the Kerygma or basic Gospel message of love. in the words of Pope Francis, ‘The first proclamation (kerygma) must ring out over and over. Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013, §164)
Phase 2
Catechetical Pathway within the Religious Education Curriculum
CSYMI provides the resources for a distinctive but complementary catechetical and youth ministry training ‘pathway’ or ‘zone’ within the formal Religious Education program which is determined by the school or mandated within the diocese. This pathway or zone takes different forms from upper primary to upper secondary school. In each of these stages, students are invited to be formed and trained for youth ministry to other students. Optional units of study and training are undertaken by students interested in youth ministry within a youth ministry class or at a particular time of the year when Religious Education classes are offered at the same time.
Phase 3
Establishment of Youth Ministry Team
After completing Phase 1 and Phase 2, students are invited to form a youth ministry team. These students meet on a regular basis to pray, receive formation and plan for various youth ministry activities within the school.
Phase 4
Beyond School
(Participation in the Catholic Church beyond school)
The goal of the Four-Phase Model is to connect students to further opportunities for mission and ministry within the broader Catholic Church. This is best done in partnership with the Parish Priest and other ministry leaders in the parish and diocese.