Youth Minister Formation

Continually Growing in Formation

With this in mind, we have committed ourselves to what we consider the three most important aspects of a minister's formation: spiritual formation, theological education and professional development.

Spiritual Formation

All staff are expected to:

• Attend Mass regularly (and daily Mass when possible)
• Frequent the sacrament of Reconciliation
• Spend time each day in prayer
• Devote time each week in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
• Attend 2 individual retreats per year

Together as a team we:

• Attend Mass together regularly
• Meet daily during the week to pray together
• Attend extended staff retreats twice a year

Theological Education and Professional Development

As a team, we work closely with the Diocese of Austin to ensure all staff members are Certified Catechists, to the highest degree possible in their tenure with ABLAZE Ministries. We are also members of AYME and attend several conferences per year (provided we are able to raise the funds):

National Youth Workers Conference
St. John Bosco Conference
National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry

After these conferences, ABLAZE Missionaries leave feeling supported and equipped with tools to effectively reach youth and lead them in formation. Here are two testimonies from staff members after leaving the St. John Bosco Conference in Steubenville, Ohio:

The most significant thing I'll be taking away from the John Bosco conference will be the model of making disciples. I have been inspired and empowered to let others know how to intentionally guide young people along the journey of faith. We're going to be taking tools for measurement that we received from this conference, teaching them to adults and then having those adults raise up a generation of disciples in all the parishes we work in. This discipleship will affect their daily lives and all the people that they know, who will be able to see the Holy Spirit moving more powerfully in the lives of these young people. -Alyssa Trutter

This was my fourth year attending the Bosco Conference at Franciscan University, and every year I have learned something new. This year, God seemed to place the perfect sessions at the conference. I'm going to be starting as the Campus Minister at St. Joseph School as an ABLAZE Missionary, and I've been thinking and praying about how to start. The sessions on discipleship and multiplication were perfect for me. The speaker was Curtis Martin, the Executive Director and founder of FOCUS Ministries. He showed us how we can have an incredible impact on the world by investing in a few through discipleship. Jesus showed us this too, where he had many disciples, only 12 Apostles, and a close, inner circle of three. By walking with them in life, He passed on His teaching and example, and was able to completely change the world. This year, I will be taking up that challenge to disciple students at St. Joseph School. I am so excited to model Jesus' ministry in this way, and I know that He will give me the ability and the words to say to walk with these youth in their faith journey. - Jennifer Masters