A fledgling outreach at Resurrection Parish in Randolph is helping teens stay committed to their Catholic faith after receiving Confirmation.
Only five months old, Resurrection’s new Post Confirmation Ministry sponsors periodic events for 11th- and 12th-graders that appeal to their diverse interests in spirituality, socialization, and service. So far, they have enjoyed a firepit gathering and hosted a Family Fun Night for young religious education students and their families, which included a Mass. They also are involved in many service projects through Resurrection and the community.
“With the Post Confirmation Ministry, we want to keep older high-school youth engaged. More young people are identifying as ‘nones’: people with no religious practice,” said Anita Calotta, a Resurrection parishioner who started the outreach, assisted by a young person, Angela Solazzo.
Calotta was inspired to help start the Post Confirmation Ministry last summer, as she participated in First Things in Youth Ministry, a six-session online formation program for those new to youth ministry — volunteer or paid. Developed by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), the program provides comprehensive training for the first six months of people taking on a new leadership role. NFCYM’s overall goal is to empower 15,000 ministers in the United States to advocate for young people to become integral voices in their local communities.
“The First Things in Youth Ministry training ensures that all participating ministers have the same foundation. I was grateful to learn about the current thinking about youth and how to reach out to them. I recommend it,” said Calotta, who previously served as a Confirmation preparation volunteer at Resurrection.
The Youth Ministry Office of the Paterson Diocese encourages new and experienced youth ministers to take the program offered in the spring, summer, and fall. It consists of six 90-minute sessions that cover First Things in Personal, Parish, and Diocesan Contexts of Youth Ministry; First Things to Know about Comprehensive Youth Ministry; First Things to Know about Young People, their Needs, and Their Families; First Things in Volunteers and Safe Environment; First Things in Youth Ministry Programming; and First Things in Budgeting and Fundraising.
Each participant joins an online group of 8 to 12 new leaders nationwide and a coach. They engage in group discussions and learn practical ways to build a comprehensive youth ministry. Trainees also spend about two hours reading, viewing content, and completing reflection activities before each session.
“Young people want a community — a safe place to grow in Christ and with each other. They want to hear testimony from their peers about how faith made them better people,” Calotta said. “For ministers, it’s about creating multiple ways to connect with the youth like through prayer, service, social activities, and social media.”
John Cammarata, director of diocesan Youth Ministry, said, “First Things in Youth Ministry gives new hires at parishes a foundation in youth ministry.”
“The ministers can talk out ideas with their other group members. They have a support system,” Cammarata said.
Information: visit NFCYM and email John Cammarata at jcammarata@patersondiocese.org