Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 9/23/04)

The Office of Youth Ministry began the new school year with a new theme, a new resource, a new retreat and a new staff position.

In response to Pope John Paul II’s call for a "special year of the Eucharist," the Office of Youth Ministry has applied this theme to all of its 2004-05 activities and programs. "Get real…the real presence" will be echoed throughout all of this year’s programs and be the basis for the teaching at each event. In a time where reality television has taken over nighttime entertainment and postmodern youth have abandoned an absolute truth, the Youth Office will attempt to remind young people of what is real.

"It is our hope that each young person that attends one of our programs will leave knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ is really and truly present in the Eucharist," said Kate Iadipaolo, assistant director of the Office of Youth Ministry.

The theme will be announced and "unpacked" at Youth Rally — the kick-off event for the year on Oct. 17. All of the events for the year — from this year’s Junior High BASH to WorkCamp 2005 and the Youth Minister Retreat — will be formed and planned with this theme in mind.

The office also announced the release of a new "Youth Ministry Resource Manual" for coordinators of youth ministry. The more than 200 page manual is designed to assist parish staff in ministering to young people of their parish. The manual contains a detailed overview of the eight components of youth ministry as defined in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, "Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry" along with helpful ideas on how to implement these components within a parish. In addition, the manual contains the latest code of conduct for youth workers, the recommended Catholic curriculum for teenagers, the "Policy on the Protection of Children" and the latest recommendations on permission slips from the Office of Risk Management. The manual can be read online at www.ArlingtonCatholicYouth.org.

The Youth Office is working with the Office of Catechetics to offer a new Diocesan Confirmation Retreat in April. While many parishes run their own retreats, this diocesan retreat can be a resource for parishes to bring students who were unable to attend their retreats, or for smaller parishes that are unable to run their own. The day-long retreat will feature talks on the Holy Spirit and the sacrament of confirmation, small groups for discussion, confessions and Mass. Bob Rice, a professor from Franciscan University of Steubenville and an entertainer at the annual Steubenville Conferences will speak and perform at the retreat.

The youth office has hired a new coordinator of Hispanic Youth Ministry. Gabriela Castañeda will begin working in October to assist the office to reach out to young Hispanics and get them involved at their parishes. She will assist parish staff in understanding Hispanic culture and how to better attract Hispanic youth into their current programs. Castañeda grew up in Honduras, studied in Spain and graduated from Mary Washington College.