Leadership weekend offers youth valuable skills

IC photo courtesy of Matt Boerke

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Youth Minister Shelly Valdez (back left) from Blessed Sacrament Parish leads the youth in a team building activity making marshmallow and spaghetti towers.

LOGAN — "We put God first, others second, and ourselves third in leadership because being a leader sometimes means being the low man on the totem pole," said Matt Boerke, director of the Diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office.

The Diocesan Youth Leadership Weekend was held at Utah State University in Logan July 13-15. The youth were given T-shirts that read "God, Others, Me." The theme "I’m Third," was taken from Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

"The theme was based on servant leadership and how sometimes being a leader means doing the dirty work," said Boerke. "In leadership, we do what is necessary to lead and think of ourselves last. The youth leaders met to learn leadership skills and received encouragement to go back to their parishes to enhance their youth groups already in place, or develop new groups to do youth ministry projects and services for their peers and the larger parish community."

One of the first activities was to help the youth to get to know one another. In keeping with the servant leader theme, they were put into small groups and into circles. Each of them washed the foot of the person seated to their right. They said the activity was different, interesting, and humbling.

Rochelle Cowley, from Blessed Sacrament Parish said, "It felt awkward at first, but gave me a sense of service."

As an altar server, Patricia Graham from St. John the Baptist Parish, had carried the bowl of water and the towel during the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday, but had never experienced having her feet washed. She said the activity changed the mood of the group and brought them all closer together.

The youth were given skills on how to communicate with each other and with the greater community.

Graham said they discussed when it is most appropriate to use the telephone, send a fax, e-mail, or text message. The goal behind learning communication skills was to get more youth involved in their groups and make them feel welcome.

The youth learned how to plan an event, which involves deciding what kind of activity to hold and when it should be held, what is needed in planning an activity, and when and how to advertise the event.

The youth were taught how to run meetings and how to deal with those individuals who are not conforming to the rules.

Shelly Valdez, the youth minister from Blessed Sacrament Parish, told the group when they are in a public setting they represent all Catholics. If, for example, one student starts swearing, the youth leaders will have to take action to stop the behavior.

Valdez discussed how to deal with individuals who come in late. It was determined they should not start over. Those who come in late will have to catch up or miss out. They discussed the problems associated with deciding when to hold youth meetings as a result of so many outside sports activities being held. They also determined the best thing a youth group can do is stop the development of cliques. All members in the group are equal and it is important for the peer ministers to mingle with everyone.

Finally, each parish group met to determine how they want to proceed in the future based on their new leadership skills and plans they already have in place.

Janet Gordon from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and three youth leaders, Amanda Repko, Emily Gordon, and Chris Guillen attended the weekend to learn how to start a youth group in their parish.

"We feel alone and isolated and it was good to be among Catholics from throughout the diocese," said Janet.

"It was nice to learn you can be shy and still be a leader," said Repko.

Russell Aivazian from St. John the Baptist Parish said he liked making new friends.

Camry Martinez from St. John the Baptist Parish said, "Together, all the groups can make a difference."

The weekend also involved praying, Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Logan, and a question and answer discussion about the Catholic faith.

"It was a powerful and moving experience having so many youth in one small area kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet," said Boerke. "They also were given the opportunity to go to confession before Mass. We also had an optional scripture study where we talked about the readings for the weekend."

Following Mass the group went to the park to socialize and play games. When they returned to the university, they spent time writing affirmations about each other. The affirmations were placed in a gift bag and handed out as the weekend came to a close as a positive reminder of the weekend.