More than 70 diocesan youth ministry leaders gathered at St. John Neumann Church in Reston Aug. 17 for the annual Director of Youth Ministry Summit to pray, be encouraged in their ministry and build a community.
In his homily at Mass, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge looked at this year’s theme of “Renew” and encouraged those gathered by saying, “We need to ask the Lord: ‘Give me a new heart, a new mind, a new strength, a new joy, a new life and he will respond.”
The afternoon included an inspiring speech about renewal from keynote speaker Mike Patin, which led to discussions.
Each participant received a new compact Bible and journal, a date set for their first deanery meeting of the year, and a renewed enthusiasm for serving youths in the church.
The diocesan Office of Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries presented to directors of youth ministry a new toolkit on stewardship of creation, designed to introduce youth to the teachings of Laudato Si’ and to engage young people in glorifying God by protecting and nurturing the health of the earth, which supports human life.
