YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
tvc.dsj.org | September 5, 2017
9
Our Lady of Refuge Parish’s Youth Ministry Institute for Teens
When Pope Francis gave his homily
at the closing Mass at World Youth Day
(WYD) in August, 2016 in Krakow, Po-
land he expressed to the young church
that “God loves all of us with a special
love; for him all of us are important:
you are important! God counts on you
for what you are, not for what you pos-
sess. In his eyes the clothes you wear or
the kinds of cell phone you use are of
absolutely no concern. He doesn’t care
whether you are stylish or not; he cares
about you! In his eyes, you are precious,
and your value is inestimable.”
Motivated by Pope Francis’ words,
on July 6, 2017, Deanery 6 under the
direction of Our Lady of Refuge Parish
launched the very fi rst “Youth Ministry
Institute for Teens.” The Youth Ministry
Institute (YMI4T) envisions healthy,
vibrant and dynamic training for
teenagers who are seeking to develop
their skills and to become effective
youth ministers who lead youth in the
formation of their faith so that they will
positively impact their community and
our local churches.
Our vision focuses on the local
Church. We are simply helping to
develop what we know about youth
by Father Steve Kim: “Evangelization
trough Actions, How to prepare an
authentic testimonial.”
Row David, Y&YA minister from
Holy Spirit Parish spoke on how to be an
eff ective small group discussion leader.
Steve Do, Diocese of San Jose (DSJ)
Director of Y&YA: Organization Skills,
How to prepare an effective Youth
Ministry Sessions.
Sandra Torres, Associate Director of
the Hispanic Apostolate and Pastoral
Juvenile : Ethics in Ministry.
Robbie Ocampo, DSJ Associate Di-
rector of Y&YA: How to keep a Prayer-
Our Lady of Refuge Parish launched the very fi rst Youth Ministry Institute for teens.
ful Life. We also had the opportunity
to train the teens as lectors and Eucha-
ministry, empowering our current
total of 62 participants came from fi ve
ristic ministers. We concluded the Insti-
teenage ministers to become skilled and
parishes: Most Holy Trinity, Saint John
tute with a Mass celebrating the fruits
eff ective leaders. Our responsibility is
Vianney, Saint Catherine, Saint Simon,
of their work, presided by Monsignor
to provide the necessary tools and em-
and Our Lady of Refuge. The support
Francisco Rios and concelebrated by
power these young individuals to be the
of the Diocesan Offi ces of Youth and
Father Steven Brown.
new sowers of the vineyard and to help
Young Adults and the Pastoral Juve-
This program was partially spon-
their Church become more dynamic.
nile were fundamental for these six
sored by the participant parishes,
Our Church needs to continue to engage
successful training sessions. YMI4T
Deanery 6 and The Catholic Commu-
young people in the formation of their
opened its doors with a Eucharistic
nity Foundation Grant: “Empowering
faith so they may use their lifetime to
Celebration presided by Father Joe Kim,
the Young Generati ons.” A teen from
make more disciples as Jesus instructed.
DSJ Director of Vocations. He also gave
Most Holy Trinity commented: “This
YMI4T consisted of 6 sessions of 3
a presentation, “The formation of a
training lit my heart on fi re and I will
1
8/10/15
hours each, on Thursday evenings. A
leader – CCH153_CarDonateAd2_4.937x6in_PressQuality.pdf
Identity.” Sessions were given
come next
year.” 7:41 PM
Young Women Attend
Discernment Retreat
A group of young women attended
a Discernment Retreat at Presentation
Center in Los Gatos in late spring. It
was sponsored by the Diocese of San
Jose and the Serra Club.
The planning group consisted of
Sandra Torres, Associate for the His-
panic Apostolate, and Sister Rosalie
Pizzo, SNDdeN, Bishop’s Delegate
to Religious along with Sisters from
eight diff erent Religious Congrega-
tions: Sisters Rosheen Glennon CSJ;
Sara Postlethwaite VDMF; Guadalupe
Lopez OJS; Gisela Enriquez MESST;
Marie Annette Burkhart SNDdeN;
Lisa Laguna DC and Mary Yun OP.
The presentations were bilingual
and centered on how to make life
choices based on values that give
meaningful direction to one’s life. The
emphasis was on God’s initiative and
our response to an invitation to the
single, married or religious life. The
theme “Listening to the Heartbeat of
God” was expressed in music, talks,
sharing and dance. Gillian Wallace
shared her story of how she heard
God’s call through many and varied
life experiences and had fi nally been
accepted into the initial formation
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program for the Sisters of Notre Dame.
Sandra Torres shared the joy and
commitment of responding to God’s
call to the single life. Servando & Ke-
nia Sandoval shared the many steps
in the discernment process which led
them to respond to the vocation to
married life. They emphasized that
prayer and hard work are essential
elements in living a life of faith. Father
Joe Kim celebrated Mass followed by
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
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