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This is a thirteen-month program for teams of two high school youths and their parish youth minister, director of religious education, or Catholic High School religion teacher.  These teams attend together the two-week YTM Summer Institute in June, return to their parish and school to develop and lead a service justice leadership project during the school year, attend an overnight January retreat, and then return for a second two-week YTM Summer Institute. 

At the YTM Summer Institutes youth engage in theological study with professors of theology from Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict, do community service at a variety of sites around Saint Cloud, and experience a variety of Christian prayer forms.   Youth in Theology and Ministry (YTM) is for high school age Catholic leadership youth (who have completed 9th grade) who have had positive experiences of Church and want to gather with other like-minded youth and adults to explore faith and leadership. 

The goals of the YTM program are to:

1. Stimulate and nurture excitement about theological learning among youth and adults.      
2. Create space for a new generation of young Christians to consider God's call for their life.
3. Foster the development of discipleship practices and leadership skills.
4. Become a laboratory for Catholic youth ministry research.

YTM Youth Outcomes.  The youth participants will...

1. Engage in theological study, reflection and prayer.
2. Learn service-leadership strategic planning skills.
3. Use service-leadership skills to develop and implement a parish project.
4. Learn about and consider vocational careers in theology and ministry.
5. Grow in understanding of social and biblical justice and in empathy toward the poor and marginalized.
6. Engage in theological reflection about leadership and service.
7. Experience and lead a faith community of service and see themselves as agents of change.
8. Learn to work collaboratively with community service agencies and with one another.
9. Experience a faith community of learning while establishing a network of relationships.

Last updated: 2/1/08  CG

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Youth in Theology and Ministry Program
Saint John's School of Theology·Seminary
Box 7288, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321