Held at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, “it is open to anyone who is concerned about the faith development of young people,” said Michelle Braden, interim chair of the CCYMN and youth ministry co-ordinator in the archdiocese of Regina. She includes youth ministers, priests, pastoral workers, volunteers, parish councils, parents, grandparents, teachers, members of the Catholic Women’s League and the Knights of Columbus as Catholics interested in faith development for youth.
Braden says attendees should expect “great worship, prayer, community and professional development.”
CCYMN was founded in 2005 and the conference takes place every other year. This year’s theme is “@Home.” Braden said the theme will be exercised during the conference by examining what home means to attendees and how they can offer a safe place of love and acceptance to those they aim to evangelize.
“As we move forward with the new evangelization, it is becoming increasingly apparent that what we are lacking in our faith communities is solid relationships. And our young people are especially longing for relationship,” said Braden. “So ‘home’ just seemed a natural theme as it is the place where we find and build our most meaningful and lasting relationships. We decided to look at how we can create a welcoming sense of home in all our faith communities.”
The keynote speaker is Frank Mercadente, author of Engaging A New Generation: A Vision for Reaching Catholic Teens. Attendees will also be exposed to the Ukrainian Catholic Church and aboriginal spirituality. They can hear three bishops speak: Bishop Bryan Bayda of the eparchy of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Bishop Don Bolen and Prince Albert Bishop Albert Thévenot. They will also hear testimony from young people on their faith journey and can choose from eight workshops.
“The workshops all focus on implementing the new evangelization in the setting that is most meaningful to those choosing,” such as schools, parishes, online, etc., said Braden. Attendees can learn how to create a “faith home” with kids in crisis, those who don’t attend church or have no faith, families and young adults.
“There will also be a workshop for those who run retreats and those seeking to learn how to reach out to others with radical hospitality,” she said.
Braden would like attendees to walk away with “a renewed sense of hope and vision, an understanding that the young Church is changing drastically, but is not dead.” She adds: “We live in a time of great opportunity for evangelization and not only is everyone capable of evangelizing in some way, but as followers of Christ, we are responsible to do so.”
The price to attend the conference is $175 and includes all workshops and speakers, social events, meals and snacks.
CCYMN is a joint effort between dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church and eparchies of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and began as a gathering of youth directors in Ottawa.
“Its goal is to be both a connection to youth ministry for our bishops and a source of support and professional development for diocesan (and) eparchial youth directors across the country,” said Braden.
For more information, visit www.ccymn.ca.