September 13, 2022

EMPOWER Life Teen Training inspires youth ministers to lead teens to Christ

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath

 

WESTFIELD – More than 50 youth ministers, directors of religious education and others who volunteer with youth attended the EMPOWER Core Impact Training by Life Teen Sept. 10 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield. The training, which was held 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., provided practical tools to help grow youth ministry programs.

The topics covered included intentional strategies for discipleship; bringing depth to small groups; reaching modern teens; and embracing the mission mindset.

“We’re here to empower them that they can do this. They don’t need a degree in theology or have gone to school to learn how to be a youth minister. If they have a heart for Jesus and are willing to serve him in the church in this ministry, then they can go out and reach our teens,” said Jill Patten, Steubenville East site coordinator.

Life Teen also partners with Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio to put on summer retreats for teenagers across the country, including Steubenville East, which was held in Springfield for the first time last July. Some of the participants at the Empower training also chaperoned at Steubenville East.

“This is a great crowd. The soil has been tilled, hearts are open and they’re very excited to learn how to pack their toolbox with functional things they can bring back and develop youth ministry or enhance their youth ministry back at their parish,” Patten said.

Fernando Rodriguez was among the chaperones who went to Steubenville East with youth from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Springfield (OLSH). He attended with his son, Nomar.

“Since he (Nomar) went to both of these last retreats, Encuentro and Steubenville, it seems like he wants to be more active and what better way for me to get prepared, to help him through all of that,” Rodriguez said. “So that’s what I’m hoping to get out of this, how to start up a group, how to get kids closer to Christ.”

The Saturday event was the only EMPOWER conference held in the Northeast this year.

“If you look at any positive outcomes that you wish for your child, we know that teenagers who are involved with youth ministry programs, engaged in their church, are going to have much better outcomes in the things important to parents,” said Jill Bagshaw, director of catechesis and research for Life Teen.

More than 1,000 teenagers attended the Steubenville East conference in July.

“Everyone around the diocese is hyped up after Steubenville. Even those who didn’t go to Steubenville are seeing others and feeling that hype. So this was a perfect opportunity for all the adults gathered together to build off the Steubenville hype and figure out how can we build lasting youth ministry in our diocese, in our parishes,” said Joseph Austin, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Springfield Diocese.

In addition to training for adults, the youth ministry office also kicked off the Diocesan Youth Leadership Team on Sept. 10 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard. The program is open to teenagers 14-18 years old.

“There are a number of teens interested in giving back in their own community, starting youth ministry in their parish or community. We’ll start meeting monthly with the leadership team, just starting to grow in formation and leadership skills, eventually to build leadership opportunities,” Austin said.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.