Pastors, Parents, and Adult Leaders

Helping You Serve

OYM/CYO is committed to helping you serve the young people in your care. Please don’t hesitate to call the OYM/CYO office if there is some aspect of your parish program for which we might be able to provide some personal assistance. We are all here for them! Check out the links below for a variety of Archdiocesan programs, events and activities that can enhance what you are already doing in the community where you have been called to serve.

“The good that we can propose to young people is always expressed in this exhortation: Follow Christ!” says Pope John Paul II. “We have no other good to propose; no one has a better good to propose. To say ‘Follow Christ!’ means, above all, try to find yourself as a person. For—as the [Second Vatican] Council teaches—it is precisely Christ who ‘fully reveals man to himself and brings to light His highest calling.’ ” - Pope John Paul II, 1985 Letter to Priests

Leadership Training

National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry
National Catholic Youth Conference
Awards Available through OYM
Resources Available through OYM

Certification Guidelines for Adults working with Youth

Basic Certification
Initiative for Protecting Children
Masters Certification - Certificate in Youth Ministry
National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers
African American Youth Ministers’ Think Tank
African American Youth Ministry Resource Team
Hispanic Youth Ministry Leaders’ Meetings
National Youth Ministry Certification Program

Leadership Training

National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM)
The Archdiocese of Washington is an active supporting member of the NFCYM. The Federation exists to support and promote development of Catholic Youth Ministry through diocesan affiliation and services. It provides a vehicle for regional and national gatherings for youth and adults; provides resources, vision, leadership and support for adults; and advocates and enables youth involvement in the Church.

National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry
The biennial National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry gathers more than 2,200 adults who work and volunteer in parish youth ministry and school campus ministry.

National Catholic Youth Conference
The National Catholic Youth Conference is open to all Catholic high school age youth and their chaperones. The majority of youth participants are between 16 and 18 years old. They are often leaders in their local parishes, schools and/or diocese, though many are just beginning to connect to their faith. Some attendees may have participated in previous national or international events such as World Youth Day. Many are experiencing this type of gathering for the first time.

Awards Available through OYM

Eagle of the Cross Award is given to high school youth who best exemplify personal integrity, apostolic awareness, and Christian Leadership. The award is given by the parish to an extraordinary youth, who selflessly serves their peers and youth ministry with unwavering commitment and dedication.
For God and Youth Award is given to adults whose service to youth and youth ministry is truly exceptional.
Recognition Pins are given to youth and adults who provide exemplary service.

Certification Guidelines for Adults Working with Youth

Throughout the Archdiocese we are gifted with adult youth advisors that are committed to the following:

Inviting youth to participate in God’s friendship
Sharing God’s saving love
Being protagonists of God’s transforming presence in a world

The youth of our Archdiocese have the right to trained and committed leaders. It is our responsibility to prepare ourselves to walk the road of faith with them. We have but one aim in publishing these guidelines: that we as an Archdiocese might be better prepared to do that – by our words, by our creative energy and by our very presence.

Basic Certification (Required for all adults working in parish youth ministry; recommended for coaches, scout leaders and high school campus ministers):

Empowering Adult Leadership training is offered each winter. Training is intended to provide knowledge at the foundational areas of Middle and High School youth ministry. Workshops vary yearly.

Initiative for Protecting Children
All adults age 18 and over who have substantial contact with youth (such as coordinators of youth ministry, chaperones, youth ministry advisors, core team members, youth ministry volunteers and catechists, coaches and scout leaders) MUST be in compliance with the Archdiocesan Child Protection Policy. This includes completing FBI and Maryland state background checks before volunteering or working with children (fingerprinting is offered at three locations in the Archdiocese; scheduling information is on the Child Protection page); reading the Archdiocesan Child Protection Policy; and attending a three-hour, practical child protection workshop called Protecting God’s Children (by Virtus). Coordinators of Youth Ministry must do follow up sessions via Virtus on-line sessions; an annual refresher will be offered for others. Register online for a Virtus session.

Masters Certification - Certificate in Youth Ministry (Recommended for all paid staff and interested volunteers)

The Center for Ministry Development awards a National Youth Ministry Certificate to all candidates who complete the eight courses over a two-year period. Up to 12 graduate credits can be earned and applied to an M.A. in Religious Education. Application forms are available at cmdnet.org.

National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers
All professional coordinators of youth ministry must complete a self-assessment utilizing the document National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Minister and create a personal plan for compliance with the core competencies.

African American Youth Ministers’ Think Tank
Serves as a vehicle to provide organization, spiritual experiences and cultural and social nourishment for youth ministers/coordinators who work with African American youth. The presence of youth ministry programs is vital to the future of our parish communities. Through the Think Tank, youth ministers can gather together to collaborate and share ideas that strengthen youth programs.

African American Youth Ministry Resource Team
The African American Youth Resource Team serves as a vehicle to provide organization, spiritual experiences and cultural and social nourishment for African American youth and youth ministers. The presence of youth ministry programs is vital to the futures of our parish communities. Through the Resource Team, youth and youth ministers can gather together to collaborate and share ideas that will strengthen youth programs as they ultimately become an asset to our church. For more information, contact Darren Foster at 202-281-2469.

Hispanic Youth Ministry Leaders’ Meetings
Proposito: Coordinar y promover las distintas actividades programadas. Crear un espacio adecuado para la activa participación de todos los grupos parroquiales de la Arquidiócesis.

Purpose: To coordinate and to promote the year's scheduled activities. Special emphasis is given to creating an appropriate environment to encourage the participation of all the parish groups of the Archdiocese.

National Youth Ministry Certification Program
The Center for Ministry Development Certificate of Youth Ministry provides a foundational background in youth ministry. Course works offers practical hands on ministry skills, leadership development, and integration of youth ministry principles into day-to-day ministry.

Who should attend? Coordinators of youth ministry, directors of faith development, youth ministry advisors, teachers, campus ministers, middle school leaders, pastors and youth ministry volunteers. Courses are offered in a two-year, eight-session cycle. The Dioceses of Wilmington and Arlington are cosponsoring courses. Courses include:

Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth Through Justice and Service
Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth Through Evangelization and Catechesis
Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Pastoral Care
Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Prayer and Worship
Principles of Youth Ministry
Developing Youth Ministry
Foundations for Christian Leadership