CCYMS: Canadian Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies

Please note that you are able to begin the program at any stage

The Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies is an education program for those in ministry with youth in both parish and school settings. It equips leaders with the knowledge, skills, practical tools and techniques needed for creative and comprehensive ministry with youth.

This program is designed for persons involved professionally or as volunteers with younger (10-14) or older (14-19) adolescents in a parish or school setting.  The primary aim of the program is to promote personal, spiritual, and ministerial growth.

**New** Summer Residential Seminar to be hosted by the Office of Catholic Youth, Archdiocese of Toronto:  August 13-19, 2012

Three courses:

• Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth Through Prayer and Worship
  
• Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Justice and Service
  
• Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Pastoral Care
  

For more information contact:  Dean Penafiel (dean@ocytoronto.org)
     Telephone: 416-599-7676

Future section dates are not yet available.

Additional Forms:

Youth Ministry Studies - Personal Info Application form | Youth Ministry Studies - Reference form

Course Description and Requirements

The Canadian Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies is designed for coordinators of youth ministry, volunteer youth ministers, pastors, pastoral workers, high school chaplains and teachers, guidance counselors, campus ministers and parents. It provides an introductory understanding of core areas of Catholic beliefs as well as Scripture, Christology, Ecclesiology, Christian Ministry, Sacraments, Morality and Social Justice. Participants will develop techniques for a creative and comprehensive youth ministry in any setting whether it is in a church, a school, with families or in the community.

To obtain a certificate a student must:

• Participate in all 8 courses.
• Complete the learning journal questions.
• Complete the assignments and required reading for each course.
• Submit all journals and assignments by required deadline.
• Attend small group learning team meetings.
• Demonstrate a basic level of theological competence.

Required Courses

Principles of Youth Ministry
Principles of Youth Ministry presents the foundational understandings and principles for developing effective, comprehensive ministry with young and older adolescents. It presents the vision and principles for comprehensive youth ministry and a model for developing youth ministry which incorporates developmentally appropriate youth programming, strengthens family life, involves young people as integral members of the faith community, and collaborates with civic organizations in a common effort to promote positive youth development.

Practices of Youth Ministry
Practices of Youth Ministry explores the development of comprehensive youth ministry through the collaborative sharing of the resources in the community. Rooted in a theological and pastoral vision of community life, this course develops foundational understandings that will assist leaders in setting and implementing a vision for dynamic ministry with youth. This will include skills for advocacy, planning and organizing youth ministry efforts. Methods for collaborative leadership among ministries and within ministry teams will also be developed.

Foundations for Ministry Leadership
Foundations for Ministry Leadership explores the theology, principles, and practices of effective leadership in Christian ministry. Participants will explore current leadership concepts and approaches, as well as Christian perspectives on leadership. Participants will also learn how to empower individuals and teams of leaders for ministry with youth. The course combines theory presentation with experiential learning as participants explore (a) leadership theory and an assessment of styles for effective leadership; (b) theological and pastoral foundations for understanding leadership and empowerment; and (c) processes and tools for inviting, preparing and nurturing adult and youth leaders in ministry.

Skills for Christian Leadership
Skills for Christian Leadership addresses the theories and skills needed for principle centered leadership in ministry. Participants will develop a practical, working understanding of leadership process and skills and the experiential ability to use the skills. The course stresses the application of leadership skills to various ministry settings, problems, and issues.

Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Evangelization and Catechesis
This course develops the foundations and practices for nurturing faith growth and Catholic identity in young and older adolescents through evangelization and catechesis. Participants will explore a variety of ways to learn of and from Jesus, and how to promote a living relationship with Jesus in the lives of adolescents. They will examine a contemporary approach to developing Catholic identity and Catholic practices in the lives of adolescents today. Participants will experience and analyze the "postmodern" culture and develop strategies for faith formation with adolescents in a postmodern world. They will learn creative approaches for evangelization and catechesis and develop skills and methods for evangelizing and catechizing adolescents.

Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Prayer and Worship
Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Prayer and Worship investigates the foundational role that prayer and worship have in fostering the spiritual growth of youth. Participants develop understandings and practical skills necessary for: (a) preparing liturgy and worship experiences, (b) fostering the prayer life of youth and preparing prayer services, and (c) understanding the role of youth retreat experiences. Participants will apply these understandings by developing a realistic and integrated approach to worship within a comprehensive ministry to youth.

Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Justice and Service
Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Justice and Service explores the foundations for fostering a justice and service consciousness and spirituality in youth drawn from: Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching, adolescent development, and contemporary catechetical principles. It develops skills for creating integrated, action-learning models for the justice and service component of a comprehensive youth ministry.

Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Pastoral Care
Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Pastoral Care explores the principles and methods of caring for young people from various cultures and their families. The course develops an understanding of the breadth and depth of pastoral care. This includes exploration of family systems, adolescent development and the role that cultural identity plays in the development of adolescents. The goal is two-fold: (a) to promote healthy adolescent development from a pastoral care perspective, and (b) to develop preventative interventions for families with adolescents.

For more information contact:  Dean Penafiel (dean@ocytoronto.org)
     Telephone: 416-599-7676

The Certificate in Canadian Youth Ministry Studies will still be awarded by the Univeresity of St. Michael's College to candidates who successfully complete all requirements of this course of study.

Graduate credits are available at the following institutions. Please contact institutions directly.

• Newman Theological College Edmonton, AB
• Assumption University, Windsor, ON
• Toronto School of Theology (apply through University of St. Michael's College, Faculty of Theology)