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Welcome to the Office of Youth Ministry
“Youth Ministry is the response of the Christian Community to the needs of young people and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community”. (Vision of Youth Ministry 1976)
We, the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, pledge and commit ourselves to be joyful messengers of the Good News of our salvation. Mindful that “the witness of a Christian life is the first and irreplaceable form of mission.” (Redemptoris Missio, 42)
We the office of Youth Ministry adheres by the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ document Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (1997). Renewing the Vision is the preferred approach to doingministry with adolescents. The U.S. Bishops offer a set of generic guidelines and working definition for coordinators of youth ministry and adult youth leaders (volunteers) to follow while doing comprehensive youth ministry.
The goals of the Youth Ministry are the empowerment of young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today; the drawing of young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the Catholic faith community; and the fostering of the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
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August 31, 2011 | by Chris Albracht
“One thing indicative from last month’s World Youth Day happened at the Vigil on Saturday night. In the middle of the Vigil, a storm blew through the area, which delayed Pope Benedict’s message by 10 to 20 minutes. So the announcer told the young people that Adoration would begin earlier than scheduled. It was incredible to watch 2 million young people enter into absolute silence at the request of the Holy Father.
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July 27, 2011 | by Chris Albracht
Life these days is fast and furious for Diocesan Youth Director Oscar Guzman. And for good reason. Guzman is taking care of the final few details for a diocesan delegation of 53 pilgrims who will be attending World Youth Day in Madrid next month. “I’m trying to make sure I get all these people to Madrid and safely back to Amarillo,” he said.
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May 2, 2011 | by Chris Albracht
As the annual Diocesan Youth Rally wraps up, a group of teens have been active throughout the rally, leading their peers into a deeper relationship with God during the three-day Rally. “God Squad teens prepared for the Youth Rally to lead their peers into a deeper relationship with God at the Rally,” said Oscar Guzman, Youth Director for the Diocese of Amarillo.
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April 4, 2011 | by Chris Albracht
The prayers, fundraising and planning paid off for the youth of St. Mary’s Church, as 12 kids and 14 adults, including pastor Father Scott L. Raef, traveled to Rome March 13-21 for Spring Break. “The planning for this trip began after our kids talked about going to World Youth Day in Madrid,” said parishioner Alicia Bezner, who helped coordinate the trip.