Diocese now seeks nominations for youth ministry award

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
July 8, 2004

The Bishop Soens Youth Ministry Award is being offered again this year to honor youth and adults throughout the Diocese of Sioux City that are involved in youth ministry.

"We encourage anyone to nominate someone," said Kay Morrissey, director of the Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Sioux City. "We encourage them to avail themselves of this opportunity. It is certainly a way of recognizing them and expressing gratitude for people who really devote time, energy and passion to youth ministry."

This award was started several years ago to recognize youth and adults who are exemplary for youth ministry. The individual should be a model and live what they believe for youth ministry, noted Morrissey.

"Affirming people for their goodness, acknowledging their giftedness and thanking them for their service, whether it be in an immediate youth ministry or an area, is simply what we should be about as church," said Morrissey. "There are a tremendous number of people who in most cases volunteer an incredible amount of time and invest that because they understand youth ministry as a very crucial, vital investment in our present as well as our future."

Morrissey continued that youth and adults have many things to choose from and decide to be involved youth ministry. They make a commitment to it and do it selflessly and consistently.

"The very least we can do as a diocesan church is recognize that," said Morrissey.

A person can nominate a young person or an adult or both. Nomination forms were sent to parishes on June 18 in general mail. A letter of recommendation also needs to be included along with the nomination form. It can be sent in separately to the Office of Faith Formation.

"The form looks at comprehensive youth ministry and the eight components," said Morrissey. "We say certainly that no person needs to exhibit all the qualities, but please tell us what you have seen in this person or why is it that you would nominate him or her or them."

The Diocesan Youth Ministry Core Group, a team of youth and adults from across the diocese, will select the winners from the pool of nominees at their meeting in August. The award will be given on Oct. 24 at the youth rally in Carroll.

In the past, both youth and adults have been recognized. Last year there were two adults and one student that received the award at the youth rally.

The eight components of youth ministry that are outlined in the U. S. bishops' Renewing the Vision are part of the nomination application. The nominee does not have to be involved in each of the areas, but each of components is described and has questions pertaining to it.

Community life, one of the components, is described as building relationships with young people and creating a healthy environment for growth in which young people can experience acceptance, belonging and participation.

Evangelization includes reaching out to young people in relationship, inviting them into community, listening to their stories, sharing the good news and guiding them to faith in Jesus.

Catechesis involves fostering growth in faith through learning and a systematic and structured process of teaching and learning which emphasizes understanding, reflection and transformation.

The category of justice and service is about introducing young people to the Gospel lifestyle of justice, to the tradition of the church's social teaching and to an analysis of social problems. This also includes responding to young people who suffer in justice and motivating and equipping them for service/action on behalf of others.

Another component of youth ministry is worship and prayer which involves celebrating and deepening relationships in the community and with the Lord through communal worship, group and personal prayer and the development of spiritual life.

Guidance and healing center on responding to youth needs for spiritual, moral and personal counseling, vocational guidance and reconciliation with self, others and God.

Leadership development is the calling forth of adults and youth to become ministers and equipping them with the understandings and skills needed for effective ministry.

The last component is advocacy, which involves working on behalf of young people, listening and interpreting their concerns and needs and acting on behalf of them in the Christian community and society.

For more information or to nominate a person who is involved in youth ministry, contact Sandy in the Office of Faith Formation at (712) 233-7530. Nomination forms must be received by July 24 and should be sent to the Office of Youth Ministry, PO Box 3379, Sioux City, IA 51102-3379.

The nomination form is also available on the diocesan Web site at www.scdiocese.org, see Faith Formation link.