Middle Secondary Yrs 9 & 10

Introduction to Youth Ministry & Leadership

Key Phases

These phases can occur in different modes and sequences in a school depending on the availability of resources, staff, Religious Education requirements, retreat teams, etc. Year 10 students may also be members of the Senior Youth Ministry Team.

The units of work are taught as electives within the school’s Religious Education program. In order to implement the CSYMI curriculum successfully, students should complete Unit 1 in Year 9, then progress into Year 10 together. They can potentially continue together through the senior years. The alternative to running across year 9 and 10, is to complete the program across Year 10 only (two units), with Catch the Wave conducted at the end of Year 9. This may be easier to implement within a school’s timetable and is an intense formation experience.

Phase 1

Youth Ministry Retreat or Conference

Essential to the unit is the Catch the Wave Phase One retreat or youth ministry experience. This can be completed before the unit promoting and helping students to decide to do the program. Alternatively, it can be completed during the course. This retreat or student youth ministry experience needs to be based on principles of youth ministry including having staff, and ideally a youth retreat team, who are trained in and committed to the CSYMI vision and model for youth ministry. In this way students can see youth ministers in action. This experience could be conducted either before the formal course in youth ministry serving as a launching pad for the course or during the actual course.

Phase 2

Curriculum Component

CSYMI has the following principles that are used when implementing the program into the RE Curriculum:

Units of study are offered as electives in Religious Education.
Given CSYMI provides a national curriculum pathway, the units should be implemented in accord with the teaching outlines and guidelines provided by CSYMI.
Staff implementing and teaching the program need to have completed a Youth Ministry Equipping School or the online training module at csymi.org

The curriculum pathway includes two units of study:

Leadership and Ministry

Introduction to Youth Ministry

These units of study need to be incorporated in a pathway that is best suited for each school. When the unit of study is completed as a class, it is preferable that this group stays together building a sense of trust, fellowship and identity as a youth ministry class. Such a class would complete the normal Religious Education program with electives built in.

The Introduction to Youth Ministry begins by looking at the relevance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus for young people today. Students develop an understanding of the basic Kerygma through the Catch the Wave retreat or youth ministry experience during weeks 1 – 3 before looking at the core principles of youth ministry. The concept of discipleship is foundational to the unit and is integral to understanding youth ministry. Students plan, conduct and evaluate a small class-based liturgy. This unit of study would ideally include an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The focus of the Youth Ministry and Leadership unit is for students to develop a Christ-centred vision for leadership. Students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and knowledge through planning, conducting and evaluating a major youth ministry project. Examples of a youth ministry project include conducting sacramental retreats for local primary schools and parishes, and mini-retreats with junior classes or whole-school liturgies. This unit of study can be presented as a leadership training program for students interested in taking up leadership positions as seniors such as faith leaders, sports captains as well as being part of a school youth ministry team. Such a strategy enables students to develop their leadership potential and develop a strong understanding of faith leadership.

Phase 3

Establishment of Senior Youth Ministry Team

After completing Phase 1 and Phase 2, the youth ministry students who desire to continue together in senior secondary (Years 11 and 12) form the ‘Senior Youth Ministry Team’. These students meet on a regular basis to pray, receive formation and plan for various youth ministry activities within the school. The senior Youth Ministry Team could conduct activities such as:

School liturgies – Ash Wednesday and Holy Week and Easter ceremonies
A formation and mission week for primary students at the end of Year 11 as an induction into the team
Family retreats together with staff
A mission trip during the year
Service and justice programs

At the completion of the program the students who complete the three phases receive a ‘Youth Ministry Training Certificate’.

Curriculum resources