Nominations sought for youth ministry awards

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Sept. 13, 2007

The Diocese of Sioux City is looking for two outstanding individuals who are involved in youth ministry to receive this year's Youth Ministry Awards.

Nominations are currently being sought for these annual awards that are given to one youth and one adult.

Letters have been sent to DREs, youth ministers, pastors and Catholic schools to notify them of the awards and ask them to nominate youth and adults for the youth ministry awards.

"The award is a way of recognizing how youth ministry has been affected by a person and how it has grown," said Jessica La Fleur Malm, director of youth and youth adult ministry for the diocese. "By nominating someone it is recognizing them for the work they have done for youth ministry and the dedication they have towards their faith."

Nominating someone recognizes not only the person but also recognizes youth ministry as being significant, she said.

One person can nominate as many people as they want. If one person knows of five people to nominate, they are more than welcome to nominate all of them.

To nominate someone, a person should fill out the nomination form as well as write a letter explaining why the nominee is deserving of the award and how they are involved in youth ministry.

"The adult would be an advocate for youth - a voice that looks out for youth and makes sure that they have good representation," she explained.

Adult nominees should empower youth and encourage the teens to become involved in their faith and church. Many past adult recipients have been youth ministers, but the award is open to others as well, such as a pastor or a member of the religious education board. This individual should be active in comprehensive middle or high school youth ministry and not just a particular component of it like service or music ministry.

Youth nominees should have many of the same qualities suggested for adults - a strong youth advocate for their peers with good leadership skills. The youth recipient must be high school age through 22 years old and single.

"They should be someone who is dependable who has great ideas to give to ministry to the youth," she said. "Both (adults and youth) should be people of faith."

Generally, youth are nominated by the youth minister, DRE or parish priest. A religion teacher or campus spiritual life director sometimes nominates youth from Catholic schools.

Adults may be nominated by a wide array of people ranging from youth, parish priest or parent to Catholic school principals.

When the nominations are received, La Fleur will read the letters and consider them for the award. She and a small committee will choose the recipients of the awards.

The awards are presented at the diocesan High School Youth Rally, which will be Oct. 28 in Spencer this year. The recipients will be notified in advance.

"It is part of the High School Youth Rally because the youth rally is not only our kick off for youth ministry for the year, but it is a gathering of our local church - to pray together, to celebrate together and to learn together," said La Fleur. "This is another part of diocesan youth ministry - recognizing someone who has been dedicated to that. The youth rally is really the key to diocesan youth ministry, so this is a part of that."

Nominations must be submitted to the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry by Sept. 30 to be considered for the award.

Anyone may make a nomination for the award. Those who did not receive a nomination form or who would like more information, should contact La Fleur at (712) 233-7561 or jessical@scdiocese.org.