As I start my new ministry I have been training myself to think about ways I can best equip the youth ministers and volunteers from around the Diocese.  Through prayer I have really been pointed towards this idea of trimming the fat.  As youth ministers we want to give our youth the best and provide the best ministry opportunities and sometimes we get caught up in the busyness of planning and decorating things that would ‘taste’ better if the fat were just cut off.

Here are some pointers as you prepare for this Fall and planning that will help you, your family and friends, and especially the youth.

Plan for YOU first!

You can not give what you do not have.  Yes you have heard that many times and there is a reason for that.  I recently was able to hear a quick talk from Fr. Dave Pivonka.  He talked about why the burnout rate of Youth Ministers is so high.  He said you can live off of your own creativity and ideas for about two to three years.  When you run out of your own ideas and have not allowed the Holy Spirit to feed you more.  You will run empty.

Plan for one hour of prayer EVERY SINGLE DAY.   I assume most of you work right next door to a church or even closer.  Put yourself in front of our Lord in the tabernacle and spend some time with Him.  He will give you everything that you need.  It is sad that we have to be reminded of that but we do.

Plan for Your Family/Friends second!

Set a limit right away with the amount of time that you will regularly put in the office and at events.  I would recommend no more than two nights a week and one weekend a month are committed to your ministry.  Also no more than two committee meetings a month that meet on week nights.

Also make sure you intentionally take time off for yourself and for your family/friends.  I have heard several times to take at least 1 hour a day (prayer), 1 day a week, and one week a year where you do absolutely NOTHING for your ministry.  Your youth may not understand right away how you can choose to ignore their texts on that one day a week, but they will respect for choosing your family first.  It teaches them more than you could have ever taught them in putting in a days work.

Not sure what to do with your time?  Then you got major issues that we will definitely need to discuss in another post.

Try a New Evangelization

Pope Benedict XVI recently created a new council focused on a New Evangelization.  Pope Benedict says “I have decided to create a new organism, in the form of pontifical council, with the specific task of promoting a renewed evangelization in countries where the first proclamation of the faith already resounded.”  You have probably done great things with your youth group and in your parish.  Pick two or three things that you have done in the past that worked great and throw in the one thing that really worked just this last year.  Now pick one of those things that add a new spice to it.

So step three would be to start with a foundational program that you know is an excellent tool in leading the youth the Christ and make it even better.  If it is simply your weekly youth group meetings that have been the best, then try adding a new flavor to the meetings.

Trim The Fat

I always cut something back as I get in to the new year.  This makes room to try new things and to grow.  What are some of the things you do that do not really bring any meat in to the program.  Do you have unneccesary meetings, programs, or duties during work time?  What are some of the things you do for your parish that are not part of your paid ministry?  How do you spend your office time throughout the day?

Trim things down and trim until it begins to hurt a little.

Meaten the Calf

The real meat of your program is going to be the sacraments and the trained volunteers.  Take the time from the things you have cut back and devote as much time as you can to incorporating the sacraments and adoration into your meeting and training your volunteers.  This does not necessarily mean more programs or meetings in these areas, but working to make the quality of these programs even better.

Develop the best training series you have ever developed and make the sacraments and adoration as beautiful as you are able.

Hope that helps you as you plan for this Fall.

Enjoy!