By Renée St. Martin Wizeman

By almost any account, the past year has been filled with uncertainty, at least on the financial front. Yet, in spite of the national and international economic freefall, youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of Helena is growing at an exponential rate.

Diocesan Youth Minister Doug Tooke calls this a “microburst” – with activity, enthusiasm and reinvigoration blasting out in every direction. Tooke said that in the past fiscal year, diocesan youth and young adult ministry activities went from two to 11.

“In fiscal year 2008-09, the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry quintupled its events schedule,” he said. The year’s offerings included a fall conference for youth, young adult and campus ministry training and discussion; the renewal of the Catholic Youth Coalition Junior High Rally (following a 17-year hiatus); continued growth of the largest diocesan high school leadership development ministry (CYC Board) in the country; the second year of the Kickball Tournament, with doubled numbers; and training by expert youth ministry trainers for diocesan catechists.

Two new summer opportunities began this fiscal year. Over 100 participants traveled to the Gorge Amphitheater for the Creation Northwest Christian Music festival for formation in ecumenical dialogue and evangelization. And nearly 50 participants from more than 15 parish communities in the Diocese of Helena ventured to Browning, Mont. for the first Justice Outreach Project, incorporating Catholic social teaching and lessons in Native culture with the work of service in solidarity.

Tooke said the expansion is meant to serve a broader demographic by including junior high youth, young adults and parents; additionally, he said that events ministry helps to develop local parish youth ministry via increased interest, fellowship and energy.

Any new initiative requires funding, and beneath this whirlwind of activity, there’s a solid financial foundation in the capital campaign from Age to Age.

Most of the campaign’s case elements were structured as endowments, in order to ensure funding for generations to come. But the youth and young adult ministry case element was specifically structured to allow for immediate use of 75 percent of funds. Tooke proposed using the restricted cash funds for three major initiatives from the OYYAM: expanding events ministry, funding youth and young adult ministry grants for sustainable parish and campus ministry programs; and funding the Center for Ministry Development Youth Ministry Certificate program. The remaining 25 percent of funds is placed in a permanent endowment with the Foundation for the Diocese of Helena.

Pete McNamee, director of Financial Services, explained that eventually those ratios will be flipped, with 75 percent going into the permanent endowment, and 25 percent for funding operations. The start-up approach allows for new initiatives to be pursued, and once they are established, they can be sustained by the interest earned in an endowment, as well as other income sources in the fiscal year budget.

As of June 30, 2009, a total of $454,982 had been directed to the Youth and Young Adult case element of the capital campaign, according to Foundation for the Diocese of Helena Executive Director Beth Yeakel. Of the unendowed amount, $7,500 was used for expanding the youth ministry events line item in the OYYAM annual budget. For the second proposal, $65,000, including $15,000 specifically for campus ministry, was allocated for the sustainable parish ministry grant program, specific to youth and young adult ministry enrichment. And for the third proposed item, the CMD Youth Ministry Certificate Program was funded with $25,000. The nationally recognized youth ministry training program was offered in the diocese in 2007, and Tooke wanted to offer it again. “It’s the best youth ministry continuing education we can offer at a relatively low price,” he said, noting that those who complete the program receive a nationally recognized Youth Ministry Certificate.

“The language of the Come to the Light diocesan pastoral plan is coming to life before our very eyes. It is an incredible time to witness the explosion of ministry in service to the young participants of our shared faith,” said Tooke.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 25, No. 9, Sept. 18, 2009.