YOUTH LEADERS FORMATION COURSE

'If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.' Pope Benedict XVI at WYD 2005

The purpose of the WYD08 Youth Leaders Formation Course (the Course) is to provide intensive formation and training of youth leaders - drawing upon international and local expertise in youth ministry schools. Download the Youth Leaders Formation Course brochure.

What is the Course all about?

The Course will provide spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, human and missionary formation for the participants, with a focus on youth leadership and ministry. It is hoped that some of those who take part in the Course will provide long-term leadership and service in youth ministry in their local Church and that in the meantime they will help train others at a local level for this purpose.

The Course will also offer specific exposure to and skills in implementing and supplementing the WYD08 programmes of evangelization, catechesis and prayer. Specific attention will be given to the various elements of the Activ8 program, including the journey of the WYD Cross and Icon of Our Lady for the year leading up to WYD08, the Days in the Dioceses, and various local initiatives. The Course will also focus on the post-WYD08 experience of young people and the need to prepare for this.

Why participate in the WYD08 Youth Leaders Formation Course?

Participants in the Course will be formed for service in their dioceses, religious congregations, movements and groups:

• as 'teachers' of other youth leaders and ministers 'on the ground'
• to help lead and prepare young people and others for WYD08
• to help their local Church receive young WYD08-returnees back and be ready to offer them new opportunities to enrich their faith, serve and lead locally
• to otherwise assist the local Church in enriching their youth ministry and participation of young people in the Church.

The Course will be rich in spiritual, intellectual, pastoral and missionary formation, providing a long-term investment for the future in the local Church.

When will the Course be held?

Saturday 3 March 2007: Candidates will arrive on this date

Sunday 3 June 2007: Course concludes

What outcomes can a person undertaking the course expect?

At the conclusion of the program each candidate will:

• become a more enthusiastic witness to faith in Jesus Christ for youth, young adults and the wider Australian community
• be ready to be an agent for the new evangelisation, a builder of a culture of life, and an architect of a new civilisation founded on love
• have increased their understanding and practice of many aspects of the Catholic faith: beliefs, sacraments, Christian life and prayer
• have developed skills in pastoral leadership and service of youth people
• have a solid understanding of the WYD08 preparatory programs with a view to adapting, implementing and supplementing them locally
• be able to assist in ensuring WYD08 is a moving and sanctifying pilgrimage in faith for members of their local community
• be equipped to help young people to experience the power of the Holy Spirit especially in the Word of God and the Sacraments

治治

Who will run the Youth Leaders Formation Course?

The day to day running of the life of the Course including pastoral care and support has been entrusted by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP (Coordinator of World Youth Day Sydney 2008) to a team of the Emmanuel Community, who have extensive experience in Australia and internationally in youth ministry and the pastoral and missionary formation of young people. The team will report directly to Bishop Anthony Fisher.

Courses will be offered by a wide variety of people including Australian Bishops, Australian Diocesan Youth Ministry coordinators, theologians and philosophers, priests and religious, politicians and business executives, married couples and youth and of course the many members of the WYD08 and the Course Teams.

There will be a strong theoretical and practical dimension to the Course including project work and workshops. Specific areas of faith and personal formation include:

(The following quotes are taken from Message of the Holy Father to the Youth of the World on the Occasion of the XV World Youth Day, Rome 2000.)

Pastoral

'The Lord wants you to be intrepid apostles of his Gospel and builders of a new humanity.'

Being Apostles of the 21st Century!

Forming youth leaders with the heart of Christ and the mind of the Church in the areas of evangelisation, service and youth leadership with a balance of theoretical and practical elements.

Specific areas covered: evangelisation, youth leadership, apostolic life, evangelisation through visual arts, evangelisation through music, evangelisation through the media, evangelisation and politics, evangelisation and business.

The candidates will plan and run a parish mission during the course which will take in a variety of pastoral services. Regular works of compassion, mercy and evangelisation will take place throughout the Course.

WYD08

'If you believe that Christ has revealed the Father's love for every person, you cannot fail to strive to contribute to the building of a new world.'

The implementation and pastoral preparation for the three phases of the WYD08 vision: Activ8, WYD08 week and the 20 year legacy of faith, service and prayer.

Specific areas covered: WYD history and pilgrimage, Activ8, Journey of the WYD Cross and Icon, the Popes, Days in the Dioceses, WYD08 week - practical info, post WYD08 - vision, legacy and plan.

Spiritual

'Be contemplative, love prayer? continue to listen to His Word, draw strength from the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance.'

Contemplate to Activ8!

Living a life in the Holy Spirit: daily prayer, regular celebration of the sacraments, retreats and the inspiration of the saints.

Specific areas covered: introduction to Scriptures and Dei Verbum, The Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, Letters of St Paul, The Eucharist, Reconciliation and the Sacraments, youth liturgy, prayer, saints, Blessed Mary MacKillop and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

There will be two retreats - one on the Orientation week of the Course and a Pentecost silent retreat with Lectio Divina.

Intellectual

'Be coherent with your faith.'

Faith foundations to deepen knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the Church's teachings resulting in the ability to be articulate and inspired witnesses for the new millennium.

Specific areas covered: introduction to philosophy and theology, introduction to the Catechism, Christology and Redemptor Hominis, The Church, The Trinity, Mary - Mother of the Church, Catholic Social Teaching, Benedict XVI and Deus Caritas Est, Theology of the New Evangelisation, Fundamentals of Christian Ethics, Veritatis Splendour and Youth Culture, Vocations, Theology of the Body and Redemption of Sexuality, Marriage and Family, Gospel of Life and Bioethics.

Human formation

Young people of every continent do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium!'

Living the day to day life of holiness - through our prayer, work, studies and mission. Offering your talents and sharing these with others.

Specific areas covered: daily life in the Course community, virtues and the call to holiness, being a Christian man or woman in the world, social service and mission, street evangelisation.

What are the accommodation and venue details of the Course?

The Course will be a live-in experience at St Joseph's Vietnamese Centre Bringelly, south-western Sydney.

What is the cost of the course?

Participants will contribute to the cost of accommodation and catering. WYD08 will cover the cost of courses, retreats and transport to course related workshops, services and events as well as other incidental course related costs.

The course fee is $3000 - to be paid in full prior to the course commencement. Payment details will be available at the time of acceptance).

Each participant will require personal funds for health care, some public transport (not related to the course programme) and other personal expenses.

How to apply

Applications are open NOW and close Wednesday 31 January 2007

Each prospective candidate will be required to send

1. a letter of personal motivation
2. a CV including pastoral experience and recent passport/portrait photo
3. a letter of reference by a parish priest or group leader with a personal knowledge of the candidate
4. a commissioning letter from your Bishop or the leader of your congregation or movement

Send applications to:

WYD08 Youth Leaders Formation Course
World Youth Day 2008
Level 15
Polding Centre 133
Liverpool St
Sydney NSW 2000

Candidates may be interviewed personally (face-to-face or by phone) as part of this process.

Acceptance into the course will be determined by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP on the advice of the Youth Leadership Formation Course Team.

Applicants will be interviewed and notified of the outcome of their application by 15 February 2007.

Inquiries to: youthleaders@wyd2008.org

治治

治治