Grant Revitalizes Youth Leadership
Leadership Intensive Training Project in Diocese of Beaumont
Thirty-eight youth and sixteen adults representing fourteen parishes participated in a two-day Leadership Intensive Training at St. Charles Parish in Nederland, Texas, February 18-19, 2012.
Ann Marie Eckert, Center for Ministry Development, gave the seminar. The youth discovered their gifts, set a direction for their lives, and learned effective leadership skills. “The young people really understood what leadership truly is—servant leadership—and realized they can lead others,” said Tex Phelps, Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Beaumont. One young man immediately saw the connection, “This will make me a better leader on the football field.”
In addition to leadership skills, the young people also learned how to plan a good prayer experience and worked on their listening skills. As one young person noted, “I have a natural instinct to take over a conversation. I was really happy to learn that I could be quiet and listen to others.”
“I am very pleased with the results,” noted Phelps. “These young people will be the seeds for youth ministry in their parish and in their vicariates. They will be vital to the success of our upcoming youth convention in June. And the program really encouraged the adult youth ministry leaders as well and made them hungry for more formation.”
Leadership Intensive Training Project was funded, in part, by the Catholic Youth Foundation USA. CYFUSA serves youth by providing scholarships for faith formation and grants for ministry development. In 2011, CYFUSA provided over 550 scholarships to youth and adults and funded eight innovative youth ministry programs—totaling over $130,000.
