Auckland hui explores need for youth leader support

Youth leaders from throughout the diocese attended the hui and were invited to focus on two areas: the formation and support of youth leaders as they begin ministry and the ongoing formation and leadership development for more experienced leaders.

Participants reflected on these questions using the method of spiritual conversation, a method of discernment that seeks to listen to God through prayerfully listening to each other.

Introducing the process, Sam Brebner, head of pastoral services at Auckland Diocese, encouraged participants to move beyond personal agendas and focus instead on what they sensed God was saying.

Youth leaders gathered in small groups and participated in three rounds of conversation, with periods of silence between each round.

The process began with each person sharing without interruption, followed by reflection on what had resonated, before moving into a final round of communal discernment about where the Holy Spirit appeared to be leading the group.

The conversations produced several key themes, including: the importance of greater collaboration between parish youth ministries; the value of mentoring relationships; the need for spiritual as well as practical formation; and the benefit of shared resources to support common ministry needs.

Each group reported back to the wider gathering, contributing to a collective discernment about the future of youth ministry leadership formation within the diocese. A report summarising the feedback will be shared with youth leaders.

FULL STORY

NZ Catholic Issue 19 (Catholic Diocese of Auckland)