Diocesan Youth Office Seeks Assistant Director

By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/29/03)

It has become quite obvious recently that the Diocese of Arlington is growing. In response to this, the Office of Youth Ministry is seeking to hire an assistant director to join the current staff, which consists of Kevin Bohli, director, and Deanna Andrew, administrative assistant. There are currently 33 full-time youth ministers employed in the diocese and thousands of youths participating in youth activities.

Since he assumed the director’s position 18 months ago, Bohli has created a leadership retreats for teens, Deeper Waters youth ministry seminars, Advent and Lenten days of reflection, the Junior High Bash, several pro-life activities, implemented a youth board and led a successful pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2002. Since he has joined the youth office, the office, which is funded by the Bishops’ Lenten Appeal, has been able to reduce costs and meet its budget.

However, with all these added activities, Bohli still feels there are priorities he has not been able to address.

The assistant director will assist Bohli with continuing these popular activities, and allow him more time to dedicate to his growing number of responsibilities.

The specific roles of the assistant youth director are yet to be determined, Bohli said. "Whatever their skill set is, that’s what they’ll be in charge of doing. They will have a great opportunity to create the position"

There are numerous writing assignments stacked on Bohli’s desk, which are one priority for either the new assistant, or for him once he has free time. Included in the stack are plans to create a brochure for the office; a regular newsletter; Web page updates; compile a list of emergency contact numbers for youths; compile a list of speakers and resources for dealing with AIDS, homosexuality, alcohol, drugs, sexual education, etc.; and create a youth ministry handbook for parish youth ministers.

Bohli is also looking for someone who might be able to serve as director of WorkCamp. He is seeking someone who would be willing to learn how to write grants to see additional funding for the popular summer outreach program. This summer, WorkCamp will take place June 21-27 in Montross.

The youth office also would like to be able to provide more training opportunities for youth ministers. While the ministers are already encouraged to attend yearly conferences, Bohli would like for them to be able to learn more, locally, about legal and liability issues, child abuse, instituting the Charter for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct, counseling services, dealing with homosexuality in line with Church teaching, how to do group building programs and how to reach Hispanic and other minority populations.

Bohli is also working on implementing more family-based ministry to "place parents back in the role of being the main teacher for the youth." He is currently planning a parent/teen conference in October.

While youth ministers are usually concerned primarily with teens in high school, Bohli said, "If we’re waiting until the ninth grade to reach the youth, we’re waiting too long." He would like for more ministers to be involved with junior high students and offer more programs, such as the Junior High Bash held earlier this month, for younger teens.

Applicants for the position must be practicing Catholics with a deep prayer life and regular participation in the sacraments. Bohli is also looking for someone with experience in youth ministry in the spirit of the United States Catholic Bishops’ "Renewing the Vision," a suggested plan for development of effective youth ministry.

Goals included in "Renewing the Vision" are: "to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today; to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community; and to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.

Other preferences for the assistant director would include familiarity with Hispanic culture and language, strong computer and/or graphic design skills and strong writing, speaking and organizational skills.

Aside from hiring an assistant director, Bohli is also working to establish a youth advisory panel to be able to provide him with input on youth activities and the state of youth ministry throughout the diocese. The group of 12 will represent 12 different parishes in five out of six of the diocesan deaneries. The committee will include a diocesan priest, a nun, a principal, a family counselor, a clinical psychologist, two youth ministers, a director of stewardship and development, an RCIA coordinator, a mother, a business owner, a politician and a Hispanic youth director.

"I’m just one person and I present one style of youth ministry," said Bohli. "Anyone who has ever done ministry knows that it takes different styles and different approaches to reach a variety of people. Hopefully we will work together to create a more complete vision of youth ministry for the Diocese of Arlington."

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